Queen City Ex gets underway, police boost presence to help ensure safety

The Queen City Ex opens today in Regina, with five days of music, rides and fun ahead.

The exhibition runs from Wednesday through Sunday, and will be open from noon until midnight each day at the REAL District.

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Blue Rodeo is set to hit the stage on Wednesday night, with plenty of other artists scheduled to play during the event. The Reklaws will perform on Thursday, followed by the Glorious Sons on Friday, Sam Roberts Band on Saturday. The exhibition will wrap up with shows by Bif Naked and Kim Mitchell on Sunday.

Visitors may notice a large police presence at the exhibition this year.

Lorilee Davies, acting chief of the Regina Police Service, said her top priority is keeping everyone safe.

Lorilee Davies, acting chief of the Regina Police Service, said officers in uniforms and in plainclothes will be patrolling the fair grounds during the QCX. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)

“Our goal is to ensure that everybody who attends QCX has a great time,” said Davies. “Just go there and enjoy the rides and the food. Don’t look to do any sort of harm there.”

She said their officers have a lot of experience working with the exhibition association and the security team at QCX. She said officers have been working on a security plan over the last number of months.

That includes a larger police presence at the QCX than they have had in the past.

Davies said officers in uniform and in plain clothes will be patrolling during the event, “just to ensure that we have eyes and ears out in all the parts of the midway.”

“If somebody is intent on going there to cause problems, they can be sure to know that they’ll be held accountable,” she added.

Davies said she hopes the additional resources on the exhibition grounds, including a collaborative and proactive police presence, will help lead to a safe and successful QCX.

“It’s pretty tough if somebody is coming in there intent on causing a problem; it is hard for us to prevent it, but we’ll also be looking for folks that we know who are wanted on warrants, for instance, or have been causing problems in the community,” she said.

Davies said officers will also help reunite lost kids with their parents, and will help deal with any sort of incidents that may arise.

All guests will be required to undergo a metal detector screening and a bag search when they arrive.

Prohibited items at the exhibition include:

• outside alcohol or illegal substances;
• coolers and outside food or drinks;
• air horns, sirens or other noisemakers;
• drones or remote-controlled vehicles;
• bikes, scooters, skateboards or roller skates;
• pets
• laser pointers;
• lawn chairs and umbrellas;
• weapons or dangerous items; and
• offensive or gang-affiliated clothing.

Guests are permitted to bring the following items:

• sealed water bottles;
• empty, reusaable water bottles (which can be filled at on-site stations);
• strollers, wheelchairs, wagons and other mobility aids;
• diaper bags (for those with children);
• baby food or forumla in plastic containers;
• sunscreen and hand sanitizer;
• medically necessary items like insulin or oxygen tanks;
• ear protection; and
• “non-professional” cameras.

More details and ticket information can be found on the exhibition’s website.