June Highlights

Picture courtesy of Prairie Dog Magazine

Cathedral, see how a neighbourhood blends environmental action with community spirit

Pine Lodge Addiction Recovery

ECN was invited by Executive Director Andrew Love to tour Pine Lodge. We were introduced to the organization during the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. After the tour we discussed opportunities around various ECN projects such as Repair Cafe and potential social enterprise opportunities.

Native Plant and Seedling Sale

In celebration of the UN Decade of Restoration’s Make a Difference Week, Nature Regina hosted a successful Native Plant Seedling Sale on June 8 at the mâmawêyatitân centre. More than 5,000 seedlings representing over 70 native species were available, including pollinator-friendly varieties, night bloomers, grasses, and rare finds. Organized with support from mâmawêyatitân centre, the Regina Public Library, Growing Young Movers, North Central Strong and Nature Regina, the event promoted biodiversity, pollinator health, and ecological restoration. Gardeners and nature lovers gathered to support local ecosystems and learn about sustainable planting. The event highlighted community action and local dedication to environmental stewardship and urban greening. ECN gladly accepted the invitation to set up an information booth at the event.

Pallet Wrap Recycling

As part of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council conference, ECN toured several Regina facilities to explore local recycling initiatives. During the tour, ECN identified a potential opportunity to repurpose partially used rolls of pallet wrap, materials typically discarded by a local distribution center. After the conference they met with the facility’s team and proposed creating a business plan to redirect the leftover wrap to other potential markets and uses. To evaluate the plan’s feasibility, ECN is currently collecting data on the wrap’s size, usage patterns, and disposal rates. This circular economy initiative aligns with ECN’s mission as a social enterprise: reducing waste, empowering local businesses, and advancing practical, community-based environmental solutions.

100 Men Who Care

ECN was honoured to attend the latest 100 Men Who Care Regina meeting, a powerful gathering of community-minded individuals supporting local impact. The evening featured presentations from three outstanding charities: Queen City Disabled Sailing, aiding 110 people with disabilities; Health Arts Society of Saskatchewan, which delivered 155 concerts to seniors; and Street Culture Project, which supports 400 vulnerable youth, and was chosen as this quarter’s donation recipient. Ranch Ehrlo Sports Library also shared how they used the previous donation to purchase essential sports gear. ECN appreciated the opportunity to connect and witness the energy and generosity driving community change.

Read Their Stories

• Queen City Disabled Sailing – queencitydisabledsailing.ca
• Health Arts Society of Sask (Concerts in Care) – concertsincare.ca/saskatchewan
• Street Culture Project – streetcultureproject.ca
• Ranch Ehrlo Society – ehrlo.com

Another Successful Repair Cafe

Once again thanks to all our volunteers and clients who make the Repair Cafes as success

What our clients said

• This is such a good service. It was an enjoyable experience and meant we could extend the life of a small appliance which otherwise would have been tossed out.
• My experience with ECN was excellent! The volunteers were very cheerful and helpful. Thanks for creating a space that makes it easier to fix items instead of throwing them out!
• I'm so glad this exists!! It's a truly wonderful service and there's nothing like it

Auralee MacPherson

Auralee MacPherson is a sustainability advocate and community leader whose work bridges engineering, Indigenous knowledge, and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. She chairs the Calling Lakes Ecomuseum (CLEM), founded in response to a 2014 water crisis, and has led initiatives like the Blanket of Warmth project with Star Blanket Cree Nation. Her leadership helped secure geothermal design for Regina’s new aquatic centre—the first in Canada powered by clean energy. Auralee also serves on the BuildGreen Saskatchewan Conference committee, championing cultural inclusion in climate action. Her work has been recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Through collaboration, innovation, and deep respect for community, she continues to shape a more just and sustainable future.

The Next Repair Cafe: Saturday July 19th

July 24th 6:00 pm Wascana Park Bandstand (North Shore White Gazebo)

What is a Seed Sitter

Nature Regina’s Seed Sitters are a passionate group of volunteers helping to grow and share native prairie plants across the community. The initiative began in 2022 to address the limited commercial supply of native plants in the Regina area.

Here’s how it works: volunteers, many of whom are also part of the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project, grow native seeds into seedlings. These young plants are then distributed to public spaces and residential gardens, helping to restore local biodiversity and support pollinators like bees and butterflies.

It’s a grassroots effort with a big impact, literally planting the seeds for a healthier ecosystem. Want to get involved? You can learn more on Nature Regina’s website

What's With All The Seeds?

During dry summers in Saskatchewan, trees often experience environmental stress, especially from drought. In response, many species, like elm trees, ramp up seed production as a survival mechanism. It’s nature’s version of a contingency plan: when a tree senses it might not survive long-term due to harsh conditions, it shifts energy into reproduction to ensure its genetic legacy continues.

This overproduction of seeds, while messy for yards and sidewalks, is actually a sign that the tree is still functioning and trying to adapt. The seeds themselves often don’t mature fully, but the sheer volume increases the odds that some will take root when conditions improve.

From our in box

"You tell the real news I like to hear about." Gail F. Regina

Micro Infrastructure for Collective Wellbeing

From an environmental and sustainability perspective, these small but powerful acts of stewardship deserve recognition as grassroots climate resilience. When individuals beautify public-facing spaces with flowers, community book and stick libraries, or welcoming patios, they blur the lines between private and public, fostering shared care for place. These contributions promote biodiversity, reduce heat islands, support pollinators, and strengthen a neighbourhood's social fabric—critical ingredients for sustainable cities.

Cathedral Partner

A heartfelt thank-you to Klein’s Paint for providing gift certificates to EnviroCollective during the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. Their generous support added excitement to our sustainability quiz, offering participants a chance to win prizes while engaging in important conversations about our local environmental efforts. We deeply appreciate the partnership!

Cathedral Hospitality

A huge thank-you to Employment Network and Linda Langelier for their generous support in helping EnviroCollective stage our display booth at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. Your kindness and commitment to building an inclusive, vibrant community truly made a difference. We’re grateful to have such thoughtful neighbours in the Cathedral area!

YWCA Encore Market

by Autumn McDowell

Welcome to Encore on 8th, Regina’s secondhand market specializing in furniture and appliances. Conveniently located just across the street from The Everyday Kitchen, step one foot inside the door and you are instantly transported to a curated retail showroom. With everything from couches and dresser sets to cutlery and wall art, these previously loved items are perfectly staged so you can easily envision them in your own home. And the best part? All of the proceeds go back into the incredible programming that the YWCA already provides. You can feel good about shopping here.

Autumn McDowell, better known as @thriftmechic on Instagram and TikTok, calls Regina, home. As the Queen City's thrift-shopping guru, she shares unbeatable deals, creative finds, and second-hand style inspiration, while shining a light on local treasures and must-visit spots.

Test Drive the Future:

Meet EVs in Regina

This July From July 3 to 20, residents of Regina and surrounding communities can experience the thrill of driving electric as Plug’n Drive’s Mobile EV Education Trailer (MEET) rolls into the Saskatchewan Science Centre. Hosted Thursdays through Sundays, visitors can test drive six plug-in models, including the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Chevrolet Equinox BEVs. Presented by RBC, this stop on the EVs are for EVeryone tour promotes clean transportation with zero-pressure education. Drivers 21+ with a valid license are welcome. Booking in advance is encouraged, but walk-ins are accepted. Discover the power, peace, and possibilities of driving electric. Read it on Facebook

Gerry Ruecker: 

Cathedral Artist Spotlight

by Credell Simeon

This month, we spotlight Cathedral Neighbourhood artist Gerry Ruecker, a self-taught sculptor who turns recycled materials into evocative, story-rich art. With a practice rooted in improvisation and instinct, Gerry’s eclectic creations blend brass, copper, wood, and embroidery into functional sculptures that straddle the line between utility and fine art. His current collection, "How Can We If Your Heart is Not Broken", on view at The Lobby Gallery at Regina Performing Arts, explores displacement and identity through salvaged materials. Deeply engaged in Regina’s local art scene, Gerry’s work is a powerful reminder that beauty, and meaning, can be born from the discarded, transforming both space and spirit. Read the full article here.

Credell Simeon is a Regina-based freelance writer and artist passionate about sustainability and creative expression. She specializes in projects like bottle painting that promote zero-waste living and inspire her community to find beauty in repurposed materials.

We’ll share one sustainable development goal in each upcoming newsletter

SDG 16 and its Role in Regina's Sustainability Efforts

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, has meaningful ties to initiatives unfolding in Regina. The University of Regina, for example, actively supports this goal through inclusive governance, community-engaged research, and programs like the Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre, which uses storytelling to foster dialogue and healing.

Local efforts also focus on reconciliation with Indigenous communities, addressing systemic discrimination, and improving access to justice. Programs in North Central Regina aim to reduce crime and promote community safety, aligning with SDG 16’s emphasis on reducing violence and building trust in institutions. These actions reflect a broader commitment to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and peaceful society at the local level.

Building Community Through Art:

The CVAF’s Role in a Sustainable Regina

The Cathedral Village Arts Festival (CVAF) is a vital force for community development in Regina, strengthening local identity and cohesion through the arts. Each spring, it brings together up to 50,000 people to celebrate creativity, inclusion, and collaboration. With nearly 400 vendors and a large volunteer network, the festival empowers residents to actively shape their cultural landscape. Beyond its economic contributions, CVAF supports sustainable communities by championing local talent, reducing reliance on large-scale imports, and fostering year-round civic engagement. Rooted in grassroots beginnings, the festival reflects Regina’s commitment to building resilient, inclusive neighborhoods through arts, culture, and shared experience. Read more at Regina Leader Post (Photo courtesy Heywood Yu Regina Leader Post)

The Artesian: Cathedrals Creative Beacon

For over 65 years, the Artesian has stood proudly at 13th Avenue and Angus Street, evolving from a church into one of Regina’s most treasured cultural venues. Reborn in 2011 after extensive restoration, the Artesian now welcomes around 16,000 guests annually for concerts, theatre, dance, and community gatherings. Its transformation into a non-profit in 2016 further cemented its role as a hub for local artists and inclusive programming. With accessible facilities, flexible performance spaces, and a dedication to safe, diverse expression, the Artesian remains a vital stage for Regina’s creative heartbeat. Read more on the History

Mortise and Tenon - Refillery

Mortise & Tenon, Cathedral Regina’s eco‑friendly general store, champions a zero‑waste future. Their mission: reimagine everyday life by offering thoughtfully curated, refillable, and locally crafted products, from shampoo and laundry soap to self‑care apothecary goods, all Canadian-made and often sourced right here in Saskatchewan. Embracing carbon‑neutral delivery, they ensure each doorstep drop leaves no ecological footprint. Beyond products, they foster community through hands‑on soap‑making classes, empowering individuals to learn sustainable skills. Mortise & Tenon envisions a world where conscious consumption is the norm, waste is obsolete, and local creativity thrives,making green living accessible, educational, and truly regenerative.

Seed Sustainable Style

Seed Sustainable Style, a boutique on 13th Avenue in the Cathedral neighbourhood, is redefining fashion through sustainability and local collaboration. Owned by Lisa Wicklund, Seed features ethically made, small-batch clothing crafted from natural fibres by Canadian and independent designers. Each item is made-to-order, reducing waste and promoting fair wages. More than a retail space, Seed hosts workshops, local art shows, and community donation drives, making it a hub for creative and social engagement. From upcycled textile events to supporting women’s charities, Seed blends fashion with purpose—proving that style and sustainability can grow hand in hand.

Pause Coffee

A business becomes a community institution when it reaches beyond commerce to foster connection, learning, and sustainability. Pause Coffee exemplifies this transformation. Hosting regular teach-ins, like the recent series on Family Abolition in partnership with the folks from the Hampton Hub and Thomson Food Collective, it positions itself as a hub for public dialogue. Environmentally conscious initiatives such as composting 10 to 15 gallons of coffee grinds weekly with the Cathedral Community Fridge garden and repurposing cups for seedlings with City Street Farms deepen its roots. By supporting educators with recycled craft materials, Pause fosters creativity and care. It’s not just a café, it’s a catalyst for community.

Community bulletins are welcome

Used items are sorted for recycling

Cathedral’s Aware House Books

Blending Community, Culture, and Calm

Cathedral Forest

In Regina’s Cathedral neighbourhood, residents are reimagining urban space through the Cathedral Village Forest Project. This grassroots initiative aims to plant 7,311 trees, one for every resident, alongside over 2,000 fruiting shrubs in Les Sherman Park. In spring 2024 alone, volunteers planted 3,400 trees and 1,100 shrubs. More than just a greening effort, the project reflects a deep commitment to sustainability, community collaboration, and future generations. With support from the City of Regina, neighbours are transforming a public park into a living legacy, an urban forest that embodies hope, resilience, and the power of collective action.

A Neighbourhood Built for Footsteps

by Jennifer Fix

Cathedral Area was designed and developed before the rise of the personal automobile. This means that the neighbourhood’s lots, homes, businesses, and streets were created for the scale and pace of travel by foot. As a result, the Cathedral Area of today continues to be characterized by, and benefits from, higher residential densities and a diversity of land uses allowing people to shop, socialize, study, and recreate within walking distance of home. Alongside other assets like historic buildings, a mature tree canopy, and a diversity of local businesses, these urban ingredients make it convenient and delightful to travel by foot. Research shows that when more people are together in the public realm, when public life abounds, we are healthier, happier, and have higher levels of community trust and engagement. We also dramatically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

A resident of the Cathedral Area, Jennifer Fix is an urban planner and principal of Ahne Studio, an urbanism and engagement practice working at the intersection of place-making, climate action, and equity. www.ahne.ca

Cathedral Community

Explores Future of Business Improvement District

On June 18, 2025, Cathedral residents, business owners, and community stakeholders gathered at the Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre to discuss the possibility of establishing a Business Improvement District (BID). The meeting centered on Building Bridges: A Business Improvement District Strategy for Cathedral, a student-led report from the University of Regina’s Nonprofit Sector Leadership and Innovation program. The report outlined thoughtful strategies to enhance Cathedral’s economic and cultural vitality through a formal BID.

Led by community organizers Andrew Doan and Andrew Stevens, and supported by Councillor David Froh, the session encouraged open dialogue, addressed questions, and sparked optimism about what a community-driven BID could achieve.

A follow-up session is scheduled for September. In the meantime, local businesses are encouraged to collaborate, share their stories, and use the report’s recommendations to take initiative in marketing and beautification, amplifying Cathedral’s unique identity and community spirit.

Library of Things YXE Big Winner

Picture courtesy of Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Coucil

Library of Things YXE Wins Non-Profit Award for Driving Sustainability at Sask Waste Reduction Councils 2025 annual conference in Regina. Saskatoon’s Library of Things YXE has been recognized for its outstanding efforts in promoting sustainable living. By lending out donated tools, games, and appliances, this grassroots nonprofit helps reduce waste and curb overconsumption. The initiative empowers residents to borrow instead of buy, encouraging a circular economy and stronger community ties. From power drills to party supplies, each item is a step toward a greener future. Beyond lending, they host workshops and upcycling events, sparking conversations and skills around sustainability. Their impact proves that sharing isn’t just generous, it’s transformative.

From our Sister Organzation

Listen to "The Climate Lens’s New Podcast Episode: Canada’s Cities Go Head-to-Head (feat. Hannah Muhajarine) 

In this episode of The Climate Lens, Hannah Muhajarine, Policy and Data Projects Manager at Climate Reality Canada, joins the Calgary Climate Hub to unpack the latest edition of the National Climate League (NCL)! This volunteer-driven report tracks and compares how over 50 Canadian cities are tackling the climate crisis, from renewable energy use to public transit to housing affordability and more.

Tune in to hear what cities like Halifax, Nanaimo and Calgary are getting right (and where they still need to step up), and learn how the NCL can be used to spark local climate action in your community!

NewHydrogen Unveils Breakthrough in Green Energy

NewHydrogen is developing ThermoLoop™, a revolutionary technology that uses heat and water, rather than electricity, to produce green hydrogen. Aiming to disrupt the $12 trillion hydrogen market, the company’s innovation could dramatically lower costs and accelerate the global shift to clean energy

Changes to Regina’s Curbside Recycling

Program Begin July 1

Starting July 1, Regina’s curbside recycling program changes as SK Recycles takes over processing. New items like coffee cups and single-use pods are accepted, while glass, foam, and flexible plastics are banned. Residents will receive updated sorting guides, and AI-equipped trucks will help monitor compliance to reduce contamination.

This shift reflects a broader trend toward extended producer responsibility and centralized recycling systems. By aligning with SK Recycles, Regina is not only reducing costs but also streamlining recycling standards across Saskatchewan. However, the exclusion of glass and flexible plastics from curbside bins may inconvenience residents and risk increased landfill diversion unless depot access is equitable and well-communicated.

Overall, the program’s success will hinge on resident compliance, effective education, and ongoing monitoring. If executed well, it could serve as a model for other mid-sized cities navigating the evolving recycling landscape.Read more at the City of Regina Website

A Business Improvement District (BID)

A BID could be a powerful tool for Cathedral’s continued vibrancy and growth. By pooling resources through a modest levy, local businesses would gain the ability to collectively fund improvements, from street beautification and placemaking to marketing initiatives and cultural events. This shared investment can amplify Cathedral’s distinct identity as a creative, walkable hub, and attract more foot traffic, tourism, and local pride.

With strong collaboration already in motion and a clear strategic foundation laid by the Building Bridges student report, a BID could empower Cathedral’s small business community to shape its own future, sustainably, collectively, and creatively.

• What is a BID - Wikipedia
• How to Start a BID - Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance
• International Downtown Associations - How knowledge is shared
• Local BIDS: Regina Warehouse District, Regina Downtown,
• Saskatoon BIDS: Broadway Saskatoon, Riversdale, 33rd Street
• Iconic BIDS Times Square, Freemont Street, Downtown Vancouver

Tool Libraries, is Regina Ready?

Tool libraries are growing steadily around the world, though they’re still more common in certain regions. North America, particularly Canada and the U.S., has seen a notable rise in tool libraries over the past decade, Toronto’s Tool Library, for example, offers access to over 7,000 tools. Europe and Australia also host a number of successful models, often tied to broader “libraries of things.”

You have a story? Let us know, we need to pass on the good news!

GET INVOLVED WITH ENVIROCOLLECTIVE

Email us at info@envirocollective.ca to learn how you can contribute today!

EnviroCollective is a non-partisan, judgement free group that is open to everyone.

Email us at info@envirocollective.ca or DM us through our socials Facebook/Instagram @envirocollectiveyqr or Twitter @envirocollect1.

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