Regina’s city manager named REAL board chair

Regina city manager Niki Anderson has another job.

In a media release Wednesday, the City of Regina announced Anderson has been appointed chair of the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) board of directors. As well, Jennifer Johnson — the city’s executive director of corporate services — had been named the board’s vice-chair.

On Nov. 24, Anderson and Johnson were among six people appointed to the board as interim voting members. The others were: Barry Lacey, the city’s executive director of financial strategy and sustainability; Ly Pham, the chief of staff to the city manager; Jeff May, the city’s manager of sport facilities and special events; and Maria Burns, the city’s manager of client services.

The idea of the interim board was put forward Nov. 22 after city council voted to remove REAL’s previous board of directors. Shortly after that vote, the board resigned.

When the interim directors were announced, the city said using its employees “is the most efficient approach to swiftly and responsibly re-establish oversight of REAL at the Board level.”

“Each of the new interim directors has expertise that is well-aligned with the functions of REAL and that will allow them to provide effective, interim oversight of the corporation,” the release said. “These nominees are also an appropriate fit to lead Administration’s work, as directed by Council, on a report regarding structural changes to the management of assets currently overseen by REAL.”

The situation with the REAL board stems from council’s discussion about the possible dissolution of the organization.

Over the past year, REAL has been in the spotlight for its handling of Tourism Regina’s failed rebrand to Experience Regina, for a request by the board to the city to take back responsibility for the operation of the tourism body, and for its sizable budget request to address its growing debt.