Distances by Highway:

Construction Costs

The cost of building a factory or a warehouse / office complex is significantly less in Regina than in any other corporate centre in Western Canada.

For Instance, savings in the order of $115,000 to $527,000 can be realized by building a 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse / office complex respectively.

Combined with the price of industrial land, it gives the city of Regina a tremendous cost advantage when choosing a location for a large manufacturing business.

Office and Industrial Rental Rates

When the size of business dictates the need to move into existing office of industrial space, Regina’s rental rates are considered very attractive.  Graph 7.0 illustrates Regina’s rental rates cost advantages in comparison to other major metropolitan centers in Western Canada.

Cost of Doing Business Summary

When all the costs of establishing and running a business in the Regina region are factored in and compared to other corporate centers in Canada, the United States and abroad, the Regina has the a lower business cost environment.

What does this mean for businesses that decide to settle here?  Lower cost structure compared to competition, more money to reinvest into the company to improve efficiencies and productivity and improved shareholder value.

Cost of Living

Affordable Housing

The Regina Region offers homebuyers a variety of homes, neighborhoods and prices.  There are many options to choose from such as a downtown condominium, a California style home in the southeast end of the city, a traditional farm home near Lumsden, or a lakeside home at Regina Beach.

Value for money comes to mind when shopping for a home in the Regina Region.  Homeowners relocating to the Regina Region can afford to move up in the housing market, write down their mortgages, or invest the cash difference elsewhere.

The most recent report from Royal LePage indicates that the City of Regina maintains one of the lowest housing prices in Canada.

Taxes and Household Charges

Regina compares favorably with other jurisdictions when it comes to total sales and household charges for a family of four with a total household income of $50,000.  In fact, total taxes and household charges in Regina are lower at $25,000, $50,000 and $75,000 income levels compared to other major cities in Canada. The following table and graph illustrate this point for a family of four with total income of $50,000.

A new provincial income tax system will further protect and enhance Regina’s favorable cost of living position.  This means more disposable income for Regina families.

Saskatchewan Legislative Building

Built from 1908-1912, the building was designed to reflect the architecture of English Renaissance and Louis XVI of France.  Formal gardens and daily-guided tours add to visitors’ enjoyment.

Casino Regina

Casino Regina is Saskatchewan’s number one tourist attraction, welcoming over one million visitors annually.  Western Canada’s finest full-service casino is located in Regina’s historic and beautifully restored Union Train Station and features a restaurant, show lounge, and gift shop.  Guests enjoy the custom designed Poker Room and a large variety of popular games, including 620 slot machines, progressive and mystery jackpots, electronic horse racing, blackjack, poker baccarat and roulette.

Regina Symphony Orchestra

One of Regina’s most distinguished cultural institutions, the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) is Canada’s oldest continuously performing symphony orchestra.  Guest conductors and performers from around the world often join the RSO.

Art Galleries

The MacKenzie Art Gallery is one of Saskatchewan’s finest public galleries, featuring an excellent collection of art ranging from historical to contemporary works by Canadian, American and international artists.  Other private and public galleries include the  Dunlop at the Regina Public Library with its fine permanent collection and popular traveling exhibits.

Theatres

Globe Theatre has been a part of Regina and the community of southern Saskatchewan for over thirty years.  Founded in 1966 by Ken and Sue Kramer, the Globe was Saskatchewan’s first professional theatre company and has grown to become the provinces largest arts organization.  Today, the Theatre is housed in downtown Regina in a designated heritage site.  Regina Little Theatre was founded in 1926, and it the oldest, continually producing, English-speaking theatre group in Western Canada.  Regina Little Theatre is a community theatre company that engages primarily amateur and professional participants in all aspects of production and administration.

Regina Sportplex

The Regina Sportplex is one of the largest fitness facilities in Saskatchewan.  It includes a 90,000 square foot Field house (featuring a track, tennis and badminton courts, and a weight room), the Olympic-size Lawson Aquatic Centre (sauna, whirlpool, diving), an on-site cafeteria and ample parking.  Individuals or organizations may purchase passes or rent the entire Field house or pool.

Golf Courses

Regina residents love their golf.  In fact, Saskatchewan has more golf courses per capita and residents play more rounds of golf per capita than anywhere in the world.  In 1999, Saskatchewan’s first golf course, the Regina Golf Club, joined an elite group of only five courses in Canada to receive the honor of Royal designation by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Wascana Centre

Wascana Centre is the largest urban park in North America.  It is a four-season recreational environment, spanning some 2,300 acres.  The man-made park, in the heart of downtown Regina, includes Wascana Lake and Willow Island, a secluded picnic island served by ferryboat.  Windsurfers and canoeists launch their craft from the Wascana Marina.  Thousands of outdoor enthusiasts cycle, roller blade, jog, and walk through the park in the summer, and cross-country ski and ice skate in the winter.  The park is home for a number of Regina’s most popular visitor attractions, as well as one of the major facilities to be used during the Canada Summer Games in August of 2005 and Canoe/Kayak Championships in August of 2006.

Conclusion

According to the study, Regina has the sixth lowest overall business cost of the 64 cities examined in eight countries (Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States), the lowest in Western Canada, all of the U.S., and the vast majority of Eastern Canada.

This independent report confirms that there are clear cost advantages to setting up, expanding, relocating or consolidating an international business in Regina.  The result…increased profitability and improved shareholder value.

Source – 2006 Regina Business Attraction Guide