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.
Some agricultural tenants of Regina’s REAL District have begun packing up to move out. But one of the most prominent says it’s not concerned about its future on the site.
“We’re preparing for the employees to work from home, and we’re renting a storage facility,” Scott Yule, executive director of the Canadian Bison Association, said in a phone interview Friday, “and so we’re in the midst of all of that.”
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Yule said it received formal notice June 19 that it was being evicted from its longtime home in the Stockman’s Arena, one of the buildings being acquired by Brandt.
“We kind of associate ourselves strongly with this building and with these facilities and with Agribition,” he said. “It’s upsetting for sure.”
In the same boat is the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, which is being forced to vacate its office space in the Canada Centre.
But what concerns past president Jeff Yorga is the impact on the agricultural community, especially if it forces major changes at Canadian Western Agribition.
“Agriculture has spent a lot of money funding the buildings on that site, lobbying the federal and provincial governments for funding to build the exhibition grounds in Regina,” Yorga, a longtime Agribition exhibitor, said Friday, “and now the usability of that site is up in the air, and that’s a broader concern to us.
“Office space, you know, we can find office space. Short-term, it’s going to be a challenge for the organization, but long-term we can find a place to do our business. The bigger concern, and the broader concern, is the impact this has on the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan.”
Shaun Kindopp, CEO of Canadian Western Agribition, said while there won’t be livestock in the Canada Centre for this year’s event, there will be space elsewhere on the property.
“We are working alongside Brandt to ensure that there is space for all of the livestock to remain on the property here for 2026, so we will not be displacing any livestock,” he said Friday.
However, Yorga is concerned about how that livestock might be accommodated.
“If you’re an exhibitor and you’re travelling from points all across North America to come to the premiere livestock event in Canada, you’re not going to house those livestock in a tent in November,” he said. “Producers need to understand how this is going to go.
“Now they need some certainty on what’s going to happen, and that has to come from the city of Regina, and from REAL and Brandt.”
Tenants in the Avana Centre, also known as the Canada Centre, and the Stockman’s Arena are among those who have started to move out. (City of Regina/Geoff Smith/980 CJME)
Brandt promises to work towards ‘continued success’ of Agribition
In a statement, Brandt called Agribition an “important event for Regina and the agricultural community.”
“Brandt is committed to working collaboratively with Agribition to support its continued success,” the company said.
“Discussions are ongoing and focused on ensuring continuity while considering long-term opportunities for the site.”
It also said it understands the concerns of agricultural tenants and that it’s working closely with REAL, which is leading the relations with tenants and managing existing leases.
“Brandt is working closely with REAL, who is engaging directly with tenants, to ensure a thoughtful and respectful approach and to explore options that help minimize impact and accommodate organizations where possible on site.”
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski recalled that continuing to accommodate Agribition was one of the top priorities in the city’s agreement with Brandt.
“I’m confident that those folks are together and trying to work out what will work for all parties, knowing that that space will evolve over time, knowing that if we’re going to host double the number of events there, both sides are going to have to come together and figure out how we navigate that,” Bachynski said.
The final sale agreement is still being worked out, but Bachynski said the talks are still on track to meet the anticipated closing dates. Acting city manager Jim Nicol added parts of the deal likely won’t be finalized until September, rather than the original July 1 target.
Bachynski said talks are still ongoing on the space requirements for Agribition.
“Whether they’re temporary buildings or new permanent buildings, or whatever that looks like, but that’s that’s part of the conversations ongoing, because at the end of the day, Agribition is a space requirement, and we need to make sure that that’s that’s met.”
Kindopp admitted things might look a little different for the 2026 edition.
“Potentially we’re looking to have an alternative location here on the property for the livestock that we are working alongside Brandt and the city on. So, yeah, things can look a little bit different, but we’re ensuring that Agribition 2026 is on par or better than 2025 as our goal.”
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