September 2026 Highlights

Behind The Scenes at Pepsi Park

The pollinator is the connector of ecosystems. EnviroCollective strives to be the connector of communities. Just as pollinators transfer the pollen that allows nature to flourish, ECN shares knowledge, resources, and relationships that help environmental ideas grow into community action.

+ Many of our images, logos, and graphics are clickable links that lead to more content +

Eastview Gets Fixed: September By The Numbers

On September 5, Eastview brought us their wobbly, frayed and mysteriously dead. 56 items came in. 31 were fixed, 11 were partly fixed, and only 7 were beyond saving. That's an 85.7% success rate, our best this season!

21 volunteers put in 107 hours, more than four days of repair work crammed into one Saturday. We saw 52 appointments and 12 walk-ins, plus $92.50 in donations for the Youth Empowerment Fund.

That's dozens of things rescued from the landfill. Bring your broken stuff next time. We'll bring the tools!

University of Regina Volunteer Fair

On September 23, EnviroCollective joined the University of Regina's Volunteer Fair, and it was a busy one! New and returning students came looking for ways to get involved. For many, volunteering is a chance to learn more about the community around them. For students who are new to Regina or far from home, it's a great way to meet local residents and build connections. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Coffee and Connection

On September 22, EnviroCollective joined colleagues from across Regina's nonprofit and voluntary sector for Coffee and Connection at the Safe Café in the Conexus Building. The come-and-go morning was a relaxed chance to catch up with familiar faces, meet new people and strengthen relationships across the sector. Events like this remind us that the work of building a greener, more caring community happens together, and we're grateful for the chance to connect.

Seniors' Climate Caravan Stops in Regina

On September 12, EnviroCollective joined the Regina send-off for the Western Canada Seniors' Climate Caravan. Seniors, people of faith and allies travelled to Ottawa in electric vehicles for Seniors' Climate Witness, September 19 to 24, calling for stronger climate commitments and an end to new publicly funded fossil fuel pipelines. Travellers, hosts and supporters shared breakfast at Prairie Spruce before the send-off, where ECN Chair Rob Deglau announced a $1,000 gift to the caravan from one of our supporters. Local volunteers provided billets and overnight EV charging. It was inspiring to see seniors proving climate action has no age limit. Follow them on Facebook

Another Angel is Here

EnviroCollective received a call from volunteers at Pepsi Park asking whether the Repair Café might host a bike repair pop-up. I took the chance to stop by, meet the volunteers who had reached out and talk about how we could help.

What I found was an incredible outpouring of love and service. Over the weeks I spent visiting the camp, I met a remarkable group of people caring for their fellow human beings. A steady stream of people came by simply to sit with residents, share a conversation, and offer a coffee or a cigarette. Every so often, a volunteer would call out, "Another angel is here!" as someone arrived with food, clothing or supplies, and everyone pitched in to help unload.

Many of the volunteers were familiar faces from my years working in the inner city. What shook me to my core was recognizing some of the young people I once worked with, now grown, struggling with addiction and living without a home. In that moment, this became personal.

This month's Pollinator offers only a glimpse of how big this challenge is. But it also shows the kindness of Regina residents who show up, however they can, to offer support and remind our neighbours they are not forgotten.

Rob Deglau is Chair of EnviroCollective Network and retired Executive Director of the North Central Community Association, with a background in asset based community development. The views expressed here are his own, shared to encourage community conversation.

Sign at Camp

Residents put up this sign to tell visitors, in their own words, what life at the camp needs. It mixes the practical, like firewood and showers, with the deeply human, like respect and second chances. Some requests can be met with a donation, while others ask for lasting change. Together, they're a reminder that the people living here know best what would help.

Left Side

Fire pits, Power, Social mandate for housing, taking out SaskParty, Wood, Healthcare, more bathrooms, more sober living houses, Tiny homes, volunteers,

Right Side

housing/food, Showers, Storage, food security, coffee, rent control, firepit, legal support, second chances, RESPECT, community support, connection center, ACAB, headcount of people here, senior housing,

• Homelessness in Regina has more than tripled in ten years, from about 230 people to between 767 and 824.



• Tammy, outreach worker from Carmichael told us: "we only need one thing to fix the problem.... and that's love."

Make Tomorrow a Little Better

Shawn Koch, Community Organizer, Peoples Park

I earned an education degree at McGill and worked in a Housing First program, where I saw the formula that works. I also helped out at the City Hall camp and now here. Once people get the basics sorted, you can ask: what's the next step? How do we make tomorrow a little better, and the next day, and the next? It's incremental, and it's all about relationships built over time. Think of a hockey team. The third line has to touch the ice eventually, so you coach them up instead of cutting them. Being a good parent or teacher means not giving up. Society shouldn't either. There's a lot we can do.

You Serve the People in

Front of You

Sarah Kozusko, Manager Queen City Wellness

I didn't choose this neighbourhood to build a business. I was hired to work at Queen City Wellness Pharmacy, and over time I moved into managing it. One day, a woman came in to spend her last five dollars on chips and pop. That didn't sit right with me. So I began bringing cheese strings, oranges and coffee, then shoes, then food bought from Carmichael Outreach. As a manager, I believe you serve the people in front of you. You don't tell them what they need. We've spent seven or eight years trying things, keeping what works and dropping what doesn't. We're a pharmacy, but first we're a safe space. Sleeping on the floor somewhere safe is part of your healthcare. Everything we do is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive. Whether someone needs a coffee and a conversation or a pair of shoes, they're welcome here. Follow them on Instagram

Voices From the Camp - Camp resident Jackie stated that if it wasn't for Sarah, she would be dead now. It was her help years ago that allowed me to get clean

Banker, Mail Carrier, Counsellor, Kokum

Before Solee was hired, Queen City Wellnes had planned to bring in a security guard. I'd already retired from Pasqua Hospital and home care, so they asked me to join the team instead. That's how Kokum at the pharmacy was born. I keep a tight rein, and the rules are the same for everybody. Most days I'm a banker, a mail carrier, a counsellor and a telephone operator. People leave their ID and money with me because they've been robbed too many times. I hold their mail for six months, and I call before court dates and probation appointments so nobody misses one. Beyond the counter, people can get help with housing applications, harm reduction and finding their way through the health system.

Did You Know - At Queen City Wellness Pharmacy, no birthday goes unnoticed. Kokum Solee has a card for every client

Guru Nanak Free Kitchen

Every Sunday from noon to 2 p.m., rain or shine, volunteers from Regina's Sikh community serve free meals at Dewdney Avenue and Angus Street in North Central. Named for the founder of Sikhism, the Guru Nanak Free Kitchen is rooted in Sewa, selfless service with no expectation of anything in return. Volunteers cook early Sunday morning at the Sikh temple, then serve hundreds of people from a food truck, even on the coldest winter days. For more than seven years, they've shown up to make sure no one in Regina goes hungry. Want to help? Visit their Facebook page.

Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Transformations

Where some people see old candle holders, canning jars and thrift-store vases, Regina artist Credell Simeon sees a blank canvas. A self-taught eco-artist, Credell rescues discarded glassware and hand-paints it into one-of-a-kind vases full of colour and character. Each piece carries its own story, whether it brightens a wedding, anchors a family's

Thanksgiving table or simply warms up a living room. The glass may lose its see-through sparkle, but it gains something more lasting: meaning, memory and a second life. It's a beautiful reminder that sustainability and creativity go hand in hand. Read Credell's full story 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.

Nowhere to Go: Regina Councillors Write to the Province

In her September 16 open letter to Saskatchewan's Minister of Social Services, Councillor Victoria Flores argues that the people doing the work, including outreach workers, Indigenous organizations, health staff, the City and volunteers, are already doing all they can. What's missing is places for people to go. About twenty encampment residents have been assessed and are ready to move into housing, but no housing has come through. She also argues that the province is already paying for homelessness through emergency rooms, policing, courts and shelters, and that housing people would cost less over time. Read the Full Letter Here

It makes three main requests of the province:

• Housing First funding: dedicated, multi-year money for permanent supportive housing in the next budget.
• Affordable rent: raise SIS and SAID income assistance rates to match actual rent, and pay rent directly to landlords by default.
• No discharges into homelessness: a plan so people don't leave hospital or jail with nowhere to go.

Political Theatre or Opening Act?

An open letter doesn't change policy or funding by itself and it isn't a council motion. What it does is put specific, measurable requests on the public record, show that six councillors stand behind them, and put public pressure on the province to respond. It also acknowledges steps the province has already taken, including higher outreach funding and five years of SIS and SAID increases. The province may point to those investments in any reply.

What Homelessness Really Costs

In his 2006 New Yorker essay "Million-Dollar Murray," Malcolm Gladwell tells the story of Murray Barr, a homeless man in Reno, Nevada. Two police officers who knew him estimated that his ambulance rides, hospital stays and trips to detox over ten years had cost about a million dollars. Gladwell's point is that a small group of chronically homeless people drives most of the cost, and housing them is cheaper than managing the crisis. Regina's councillors make the same argument: we're already paying for homelessness. The question is whether we keep paying for crisis or start paying for homes. Read a part of the book at the Housing Matters or buy a 2nd hand copy of What the Dog Saw at Thrift Books .. Its Really Good!

Queen City Wellness Pharmacy: More Than Prescriptions

In Regina's Heritage neighbourhood, Queen City Wellness Pharmacy fills prescriptions like any other pharmacy. Step inside, though, and you'll find a whole team under one roof: pharmacists, a nurse practitioner, a recovery coach, Social Services and community partners.

On the pharmacy side, they offer medication reviews, blister packs, delivery, and help managing ongoing conditions like diabetes and breathing problems. Pharmacists can also prescribe, and the team provides help quitting smoking, HIV prevention and care, and gender-affirming care.

Beyond the counter, people can get help with housing applications, harm reduction and finding their way through the health system. The nurse practitioner sees people on weekdays, by appointment or walk-in. For anyone in recovery, whether just starting out or staying on track, the team connects people to medication, housing and programs without judgment.

Everything they do is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive. Whether someone needs a coffee and a conversation or a pair of shoes, they're welcome here.

Street Team Finds a New Home

The Regina Street Team has moved from the YWCA to the Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre, with John Whitestar as its new coordinator. The team responds to non-emergency calls from people who are homeless or in a mental health crisis, and it offers an alternative to police for non-criminal calls. Team members hand out water, food and other supplies, and connect people to shelters, supportive housing, detox, recovery and other services. Its new home is a non-profit that supports urban Indigenous people and families in Regina. Welcome to your new role, John! Learn more about Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre

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Winnipeg Students Ride Transit Free

Winnipeg students in Grades 7 to 12 can now ride the bus for free. Through a new pilot with the Province of Manitoba, Winnipeg Transit is giving youth passes to students aged 11 to 21 at public, independent and homeschool programs. Passes are good until August 2027 for trips to school, work and activities. It aims to make transit more affordable for families. Could Regina be next?

Imagine That: Kids on Buses

If it works as intended, Winnipeg's pilot could pay off in several ways. Every student on a bus instead of in a car drop-off line means less traffic and fewer emissions (SDG 13). Free passes remove a cost barrier, so students can more easily reach school, jobs and activities, which helps families on tight budgets most (SDG 4 and SDG 10). And young people who get used to riding transit are more likely to keep using it as adults, building a more sustainable city over time (SDG 11). The trade-off is busier buses at rush hour, which the City says it will watch closely.

Bring your kids our Smash Lab: Gadget Guts Workshop is back

Refresh Your Wardrobe for Free!

Community Clothing Swap Friday, October 9 · 1:00 to 5:00 Riddell Centre, University of Regina. Bring gently used clothes you no longer wear and swap them for something new to you. Nothing to bring? Come anyway! Everything is free, and you don't need to drop anything off to take something home. Hosted by EnviroCollective and the University of Regina Sustainability Office.

Conflict in the Non-Profit Sector Workplace

October 20, 2026, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. in Person at the mâmawêyatitân centre

A practical workshop exploring workplace conflict, difficult conversations, relationships, trust, and organizational mission.

AI Judgement Literacy for Nonprofit Organizations

October 28, 2026, from 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. on Zoom

Explore how nonprofit organizations can use AI thoughtfully while maintaining human judgment, authentic voice, organizational values, and local context.

Working with the Media to Advance Community Change

November 4, 2026, from 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. on Zoom

Learn practical strategies for developing media relationships, pitching stories, preparing for interviews, and using media to advance advocacy and community change.

Coercive Control Framework in the Context of Non-Profit Safety

November 25, 2026, from 12:00–1:15 p.m. on Zoom

Explore how a coercive-control framework can help nonprofit organizations better understand safety, risk, and organizational responsibilities.

All Growing Nonprofits sessions are complimentary, but registration is required. Link Here

Micro-Grants for Student Climate Action

Regina teachers, have students with a big green idea? Built from donations left by Fridays for Future Regina, the Fridays for Future Youth Empowerment Fund offers micro-grants of $100 to $200 to K–12 educators for student-led environmental projects. Think classroom composting, energy audits, upcycling projects or Earth Day events. Funds can cover supplies, guest presenters, transportation, entrance fees and more. Applications are accepted year-round, with decisions within six weeks. Afterwards, recipients send a short report with photos. Download the application Online , or email info@envirocollective.ca if you'd like help getting started.

Fix Your Flat Downtown

Cyclists downtown have a handy place to fix a flat. Pat Fiacco Square is home to a bike repair station from the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, stocked with common repair tools and a manual air pump. A loose chain or soft tire doesn't have to end your ride. The station was built by Greenspoke, an Ontario company that designs bike parking and repair equipment for communities across Canada and the US. Its products are made from about 67 per cent recycled steel, which can be recycled again without losing strength. Questions about it? Ask at the Visitor Services Pavilion.

Ever Wild Gives Back to the Repair Café

Ever Wild Sustainable Living Co., a Regina small business selling secondhand and vintage finds, is now donating 10 per cent of its net proceeds to local environmental projects, starting with EnviroCollective's Repair Café. The owner started Ever Wild while on maternity leave, not to make money but to promote sustainable living. By showcasing secondhand treasures, she hopes to inspire others to buy used, keeping items out of landfills and building a more circular economy. After visiting the Repair Café, she chose to support the volunteers who fix broken items for free. As she puts it, every choice we make matters. Thank you, Ever Wild!

Camp Life

Everyday life at the camp looks a lot like life anywhere else. Residents cook, clean, share meals and look out for one another, making the most of the space and amenities they have. With water from an outdoor fountain the City of Regina hooked up, residents share wash buckets to clean their clothes. Some shoot hoops on the basketball court alongside neighbourhood kids who stop by to play. Parents still bring their kids to the slides and swings. Nobody seems afraid, and the park remains a place everyone shares.

Sign at Camp

Left Side: Fire pits, Power, Social mandate for housing, taking out SaskParty, Wood, Healthcare, more bathrooms, more sober living houses, Tiny homes, volunteers,

Right Side: housing/food, Showers, Storage, food security, coffee, rent control, firepit, legal support, second chances, RESPECT, community support, connection center, ACAB, headcount of people here, senior housing,

Do 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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