Regina's mayor looks ahead to 2016

The new year could be one of the most important years ever for the City of Regina. A couple of big projects are scheduled to be complete in 2016, while progress is expected on another major project.

“For all the indicators we have, we’re going to see another successful year,” said Mayor Michael Fougere as he looked ahead.

The new Mosaic Stadium is anticipated to be substantially complete this summer. As well, the new wastewater treatment plant is expected to be done in December. The two infrastructure projects have a combined dollar figure of $459 million.

Fougere also said the next step will be taken on the Regina Revitalization Initiative (RRI). That entails drafting up plans to develop the 17 acres of land along Dewdney Avenue near the rail tracks.

“It’s a blank slate. Do some dreaming. Think about what you want to see in there and hopefully we can match the vision of the city with what residents have,” the mayor explained.

The projects are all part of the city’s vision to continue growing to an eventual population of 300,000.

“We’re not growing for the sake of growth. It is people who want to be here, businesses who want to be here to grow,” said Fougere

If there wasn’t enough going on in 2016, the year will also see a civic election in the fall.

Fougere wouldn’t confirm whether he’ll be running for mayor again, but he did drop some pretty obvious hints.

“I’ll suspect I’ll be there,” he said.

“This is a steep learning curve and I’ve been a student of two mayors before me. So I have a lot to learn still, but really enjoying what I do.”