Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look back at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list ...
Regina’s mayor says turning over a 30-unit affordable supportive housing project to YWCA Regina is a “great partnership opportunity.”
Council gave its final approval to an agreement to transfer Orange Buffalo Lodge on 5th Avenue to the YWCA, with details still to be negotiated.
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Following Wednesday’s meeting, Mayor Chad Bachynski praised the YWCA’s chief executive officer, Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen.
“It’s a business model and an organization and a leader that I’m confident in, and so to see Melissa and the YWCA be successful in taking that on, I think it’s exciting,” Bachynski said.
“It’s much needed housing in our community, and so the faster we can get that up and running, the better it will be for everybody.”
Coomber-Bendtsen earlier told the city’s Executive Committee the organization is still working on additional funding to support the enhanced model the YWCA envisions, with a combination of supportive housing and family reunification.
The intent is a resource for Indigenous women and their families, with at least 17 units reserved for Indigenous clients.
Construction first began in 2023, after the city transferred $6.6 million in federal housing funding to the North Central Family Centre.
In 2025, after significant cost overruns, city council agreed to contribute up to $3 million in housing accelerator funding to finish construction. Earlier this year, the city became the owner.
YWCA Regina was selected from four finalists that sought to operate the facility.
The agreement includes using any leftover dollars from the accelerator funding to complete the community space planned in the building’s main floor.
