#StadiumII Lackluster Design Produces No Energy

It’s hard to look at another new stadium, and not feel some shame about the new Mosaic Stadium with its 4 drinking fountains. Let me guess, the urinals in Regina’s use water too?

How could our elected officials permit construction of a stadium in this decade and not have it generate a single kilowatt of electricity, or use a drop of grey water? It was an opportunity squandered by people who don’t care that we’re a people living well beyond our world’s means.

The good news? We have a municipal recycling service, and it appears to be used to some degree at the new stadium.

A Few Steps Forward, Regina Moves Back

The progress of a city is not assured by the passage of time. Regina has unquestionably progressed in some areas of life, and unquestionably regressed in others. The following is an incomplete list.

100 years ago, chickens were allowed to roam free.
Now, the City prohibits them even in a backyard.

60 years ago, Electric Vehicles were common on some Regina streets, in the form of streetcars. Now, only a few dozen or so EVs are in the city, as electric bikes, cars, and SUVs. We also had a bus route to the airport, but no bus is available to the airport today.

Also 60 years ago, we allowed toxic waste dumping into our soil and groundwater, all over the city. Now that’s only permitted at the landfill.

28 years ago, you could leave Regina by STC bus, or by Via Rail train. Now, in 2017, neither of those modes of transportation are an option due to government cuts without environmental reviews being undertaken to guide those bad decisions.

27 years ago, Parking enforcement used sensibly sized vehicles. Now they use GMC gas burning SUVs.

January 1990 Parking enforcement vehicle

Food Security In Regina Needs Work

Quebec is getting way ahead of the rest of Canada in an important improvement to its food bank network.

It’s an idea I want many people from Regina to share with their City Councillors.

Quebec grocery stores in province-wide program to send unused produce to food banks

It’s so big, an English newspaper noticed the news and reported on it.

And Saskatoon looks poised to leap ahead of Regina on the backyard food security front also.

ADDED:

The City of Wastegina

Wastegina, SK – The City of Wastegina would like to remind you during this special time of year, the True Meaning of Recycling is its profitability.

Not all citizens agree.

Laura Mack said, “It’s extremely disappointing and disillusioning that they are refusing to recycle wrapping paper because it “would not bring in as much money for the company or the city,” and not because it cannot be recycled.”

With Wastegina’s Waste [mis]Management, it’s always the same crap, different pile.

Aug. 13, 2014: “Waste services manager with the City of Regina, Roberta Engel, said Wednesday they are at an 18 per cent diversion rate which is well on the way to the 2015 goal of diverting 40 per cent of household waste to the dump site.

“We’re easily keeping up with the demand on the collection and processing side, but the city would really like to encourage residents to recycle more.”

Engel added 12 per cent of what residents put into the blue pins is contaminated, meaning 15,000 tonnes of recyclables are still entering the landfill.”

Feb 13, 2015: “40 Per cent of residential waste that was hoped to be diverted from the landfill by the end of 2015. The diversion rate currently sits at 18.4 per cent.”

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