WASCANA CENTRE History

The name “Wascana” comes from the Cree word Oscana, which means “pile of bones,” and refers to the plains bison bones that were strewn near Wascana Creek before non-indigenous people arrived.

Wascana Lake was constructed in 1883 by damming Wascana Creek between Angus and Rae Streets, 112 blocks west of the current Albert Street dam and bridge, to serve as a “stock drinking place” for the CPR’s rolling stock. Reginans began to utilise the lake for leisure purposes, such as sailing and canoeing. In 1905, the newly established provincial government began construction on a capital building in Regina. Frederick Todd, a landscape architect, was commissioned to create a first design study for the grounds around the structure and lake, which was finished in 1907 and was inspired by the English Romantic Landscape movement. In 1908, the lake was significantly decreased when a new dam and bridge were built in their current position, based on Todd’s original drawings and park plans. As the project progressed, an enlarged design was sought from architect Thomas Mawson, which was completed in 1912 and served as the park’s pattern for the following 50 years.

Wascana Waterfowl Park

The lake was utilised as a residential water supply and for animal watering for a while, and it also supplied the new parliamentary building with water. However, when lake water was utilised to cool equipment in the eastern sector’s power plant (now the Powerhouse Museum), a longer-term impact occurred. Due to the return of heated water to the lake, that section remained ice-free during the winter, and many species of migrating birds made it their year-round home. Despite the fact that the old coal-fired power plant was shut down in the early 1970s, a permanent/non-migrating flock of Canada geese that had become used to wintering in the city had to be gathered up and either moved out of the city or, if wounded, kept in a waterfowl sanctuary. The yearly geese round-up was still going strong in the 1990s. The eastern part of the lake is still a haven for ducks.

As part of a government relief effort in the 1930s, Wascana Lake was drained and deepened. Using just hand tools and horse-drawn carts, 2,100 men expanded and excavated the lake bottom and built two islands. Beyond the College Avenue buildings, which date back to 1911 and began as a private Methodist secondary school that became the College Avenue Campus, it was decided to construct a new campus for the University of Saskatchewan in Regina.

Wascana Park was formerly one of Canada’s biggest urban parks, if not the largest, but in 1968, Pippy Park in St. John’s, Newfoundland, was created at 3,400 acres, making it 1100 acres bigger than Wascana. Since then, the list has grown to include more major cities. Wascana Park in Saint John, New Brunswick, edged out Rockwood Park, which was established in 1871 and has 2200 acres. With 843 acres (3.4 km2), Wascana Centre is bigger than Central Park in New York City and Stanley Park in Vancouver (4 km2). According to promotional material, Wascana Centre is Canada’s fourth biggest urban park.

Wascana Waterfowl Park, located east of the Broad Street bridge on Wascana Lake, is a haven for geese, ducks, and other species that do not migrate south for the winter “Around 225 pairs of Canada Geese begin nesting in the Park each April. The majority of them lay their eggs on the man-made Goose Island, which provides them with shelter while they are nesting. Mammals like as muskrats, minks, Jack rabbits, Richardson’s ground squirrels, red foxes, and beavers live in the Wascana Waterfowl Park.”

Wascana Conservation Park

Wascana Lake was drained in the 1930s as part of a government relief effort; 2,100 men used only hand tools and horse-drawn carts to expand and dredge the lake bed and construct two islands. Sediment accumulated at the lake’s bottom throughout the late twentieth century, ultimately reducing its depth by 35%, to 1.5 metres by 2003. In addition, there were a lot of weeds all around the lake. The federal, provincial, and local governments all contributed to the project’s financing. The Government of Canada contributed half of the financing, with the Province of Saskatchewan and the City of Regina each contributing $5 million and $4 million.

Dominion Construction of Regina and Broda Construction of Kamsack were in charge of excavating the lake. The lake was dredged to a depth of 5.5 metres overall, with a 7.5-meter deep portion acting as a fish habitat. Between 6 January and 21 March, workers worked 24 hours a day to remove almost 1.3 million cubic metres of dirt from the lake’s bottom.

The abutment of the Broad Street Bridge was used to construct a new island. The island has a pedestrian bridge, a pedestrian walkway, and a waterfall, and it’s a wonderful place to watch canoe/kayak and rowing competitions in Wascana Lake.

Wascana Racing Canoe Club, Regina Rowing Club, and Wascana Centre Authority completed the building of a Finish Line Tower on Pine Island in 2014, with substantial financial assistance from Tourism Regina. Wascana Lake is a world-class site for competitive canoe/kayak and rowing events as a result of this.

A dozen aeration filters were placed around the lake to generate oxygen and enhance the water’s life-supporting condition. In the middle of the lake, just across from the parliamentary building, a circular fountain was built. The addition of a new route next to the Albert Street Bridge now links the pathways on the north and south sides of the lake, allowing for a full walk around the lake. In addition, the south pedestrian route now connects the east and west recreation areas by passing under the Broad Street Bridge.