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Looking at what the new year brings, the first thing that comes to Mayor Michael Fougere’s mind is Regina hosting the CFL’s showcase event in November.
“This is a landmark. Every time we have a major event for our stadium, it shows how good it is. Having the Grey Cup there will be fantastic,” he said, noting last year’s West Division final was a good test run.
Given the success of back-to-back Garth Brooks concerts at Mosaic Stadium last summer, Fougere said he wants to see more things held there in 2020.
Garth Brooks performs at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium on Aug. 10, 2019. (Garth Brooks Twitter page)
“I’d like to continue to attract people here with major events in our city — both for tourism and for economic development,” he said, adding he’d like more timeless acts to perform, like U2 or Bruce Springsteen.
“Those two just really jump out as being two big game-changers for our city.”
When it comes to things council can control, Fougere said accelerating Regina’s Lead Service Connection Replacement Program is top priority.
“To me, that’s critical for public safety. That last five per cent of homes that have lead connections, either on the city’s side or their side, we want to make sure we get that right — that’s really important,” he said.
As for the former Capital Pointe lot on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Albert Street, Fougere emphasized he’d prefer to see some development there rather than a parking lot.
“I know it’s up to the private sector to do that, but a hotel would be really nice there,” he said. “It is a gateway to downtown and whatever goes in there has to match the importance of that intersection.”
The former Capital Pointe property at the corner of Albert Street and Victoria Avenue. (Jessie Anton/980 CJME)
The municipal election slated for this fall is also something in the back of Fougere’s mind. Having already served two terms as mayor, he said it’s likely that he’ll run for the position again; however, he hasn’t confirmed any plans.
“I’m talking with my wife and my family all the time about what I want to do, and I want to make sure I can achieve some goals that I have set,” he said. “I expect I’ll be running again, but I have not made any further announcement yet — but I will be doing that soon.”
In terms of goals for the next decade, Fougere said he’d like to see continued support for Regina’s booming small business community.
“We have a lot of young entrepreneurs who are building our city. There are new companies popping up all the time here and I want to make sure that bedrock of growth continues into the future,” he explained. “We’re an attractive place to be. I think the role of our city is to be sustainable, attractive and to grow — and to be showcased to the rest of the country that we are the best city in Canada.”
