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Police in Regina are appealing to the public for assistance as officers investigate a fire that damaged a cultural organization’s hall on Saturday morning.
According to police, firefighters were dispatched to a fire in the 1700 block of St. John Street at around 6:40 a.m., where they saw smoke and flames coming from the rear of the hall. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, police said, but when fire investigators determined that it had been intentionally set, the investigation was handed over to police.
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The fire destroyed much of the interior of the hall belonging to the Ukrainian National Federation’s Regina Branch, and the organization said the city’s Ukrainian cultural community was left devastated by the loss.
“While the building remains standing and from the outside looks untouched, the interior is destroyed,” the federation said in a social media post. “The UNF community has been deeply affected by this event.”
The inside of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada’s Regina Branch building on St. John Street after a fire on June 13, 2026. (Ukrainian National Federation of Canada – Regina Branch/Facebook)
The federation said its hall has “been home to generations of Ukrainian families ” in Regina. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the hall has also functioned as a hub for newcomers fleeing the conflict.
The police force asked any members of the public who can identify the people in three photos to contact police or make a report anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Police did not say if the people in the images are suspected of perpetrating the arson, instead only saying police “would like to speak to them in relation to this investigation.”
Anyone who can identify this individual was encouraged to contact Regina police or make a report anonymously through Crime Stoppers. (Regina Police Service/Submitted)
Sean McEachern, vice-president of the federation’s Regina branch, said the hall has served as a gathering place for both recent arrivals from Ukraine and generations of Ukrainian-Canadians in Regina.
He said the building “serves a huge purpose as sort of that central meeting place for the community.”
Police shared three photos of persons of interest in the arson investigation, and asked the public for help identifying them. (Regina Police Service/Submitted)
“The hardwood floors have seen hundreds of dances, socials, weddings and banquets. It’s hosted public theatre and movie showings, and is home to the Chaban Ukrainian Dance School, Ridna Shkola (a Ukrainian language and culture school for children), UNF Youth, Chumaky Dragon Boat team and various social and cultural events,” McEachern added.
He noted that the federation has launched an online fundraising campaign in the wake of the fire, and is accepting donations.
–with files from 980 CJME’s Joshua Potter
