Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. appoints Trent Fraser as new interim CEO

As the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) searches for a permanent chief executive officer, Trent Fraser is taking on the role on an interim basis.

Fraser is a Regina business consultant and CEO of Fraser Strategy.

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According to a news release from REAL, Fraser has more than 30 years of experience in business development, marketing, sales and managing special events and projects. He’s also previously done consulting work with REAL.

Boar chair Jaime Boldt described Fraser as a “homegrown guy.”

“He’s worked, managed, volunteered at a number of events – Memorial Cups, Grey Cups, international (and) national hockey events at REAL. And he’s also a patron of REAL in terms of playing hockey on the site,” Boldt told 980 CJME on Thursday.

“We felt like Trent’s background, professional experience, his personal commitment to the city was a really nice fit to fill the interim role over the next three months or so.”

Fraser has previously worked with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and managed the Saskatchewan Pavilion at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Fraser also ran as a Conservative Party candidate in the 2015 federal election.

Fraser is taking over for Roberta Engel, who stepped down as interim CEO after taking on the position in January of 2024.

The municipal corporation is in a delicate state as it tries to right the course of its struggling finances.

In February, Regina City Council gave city administration up to 18 months to hash out options on what to do with REAL going forward, which could mean changing its governance model, changing its business model, or dissolving the organization altogether.

“We knew we were going to be rolling up our sleeves and be put to work, and that motion that city council put forward for us to have about an 18-month turnaround of providing some viable solutions for the future of REAL made us look at Trent as providing an opportunity to to help us down that pathway,” Boldt said.

Boldt said the board sees Fraser playing a key role in providing improvements in order to increase revenues and cut costs.

“We’re excited for Trent to dig into that work,” she said.

During its 2025 budget deliberations last month, council brought down REAL’s budget to $11.2 million for the year, after the organization lowered its initial $12.7 million request down to $11.5 million.

Boldt said REAL appreciates the funding it received and will do its best to budget appropriately while cutting costs.

But, the board chair added, the lowered budget comes with risks. Boldt cited maintenance and infrastructure issues at the Brand Centre, Co-operators Centre and Queensbury Convention Centre.

The search for a permanent CEO

REAL has been looking for permanent CEO ever since former CEO Tim Reid was fired in January of 2024.

Reid had come under scrutiny from city council and the public over the failed “Experience Regina” tourism campaign – a controversial incident that garnered international attention.

The issues around the failed tourism campaign, along with REAL’s shaky finances, eventually led the previous council to replace REAL’s board of directors and give control of Tourism Regina back to the city.

Reid also received criticism for running a consulting business on the side.

Boldt said REAL is looking to hire someone with a proven track record of running facilities of the same size and scope.

“We had an unbelievable candidate pool (that) far exceeded our expectations, and we’re just really excited,” Boldt said.