LP QC Regina Leisure Guide 2020 by Postmedia Saskatchewan

WINTER 2020

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LEISURE GUIDE

Your guide to sports, arts, culture and recreation programs in and around Regina.

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WINTER 2020

LEISURE GUIDE LEISURE GUIDE CONTENTS FEATURED ACTIVITIES Hobbies promote personal growth

SUNTEP continues culturally responsive education degree program

Regina Sports Performance Centre

Regina Ski Club all about fun, friendship and ﬁtness

Skiing in the prairies: a great way to spend your winter!

A school year like no other needs a solution like no other 8 Saskatchewan Science Centre’s ode to joy

Make more of life through art

Activities for your kids to do over winter break

Here’s inspiration for new outdoor adventures!

Feeling cooped up? Get out in the great outdoors this winter

Unleash her potential: Girl Guides Canada

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX SUNTEP-Faculty of Education

Regina Sports Performance Centre

Mission Ridge Winter Park

Oxford Learning Centre Regina

Nature Regina

Girl Guides of Canada

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

THIS SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION.

Hobbyists may be surprised to learn just how much their favourite form of escapism is benefitting their lives. PHOTO: GETTY

Hobbies promote

personal growth

HOBBIES CAN HELP people escape the daily grind. Though it’s easy to view hobbies as enjoyable ways to pass the time, they also can be vehicles that enrich your life. Hobbies are especially good at helping people learn new skills. They also may help boost professional and personal development. Hobbies play a vital role for a variety of reasons, and some hobbyists may be surprised to learn just how much their favourite form of escapism is beneﬁtting their lives. • Hobbies may help to relieve stress by keeping you engaged with something you enjoy. Reducing stress may help you remain calm and be more productive at home, at work and in school. Reduced stress also translates into improved mental and physical health. • People who engage in hob-

bies experience new things and may interact with different people through their interests. This can give you various topics to discuss in conversation and make you more interesting to others. Learning skills through hobbies also means you will obtain specialized knowledge that you can impart on people with similar interests. • Hobbies can be creative outlets that take your mind off of other things. For people who have trouble with meditation and other mindful ways to shut off their brains, hobbies can be a form of escapism that leaves you alone with your thoughts. According to the self-improvement resource Personal Growth, most hobbies actually have a meditative effect on your thoughts because, no matter what you are doing, your awareness becomes completely focused on the hobby.

• Hobbies can improve your social life and foster creative bonds with others, providing great ways to meet and get closer to people who share your interests. • Hobbies can help stave off boredom, providing productive outlets when there is nothing else available to fill the time. Hobbies can be more beneficial ways to spend your time than playing games on a phone or watching television. • Hobbies also may be educational and enrich knowledge through skill building. People who start with one hobby may find connections to other ones, further developing their knowledge and skill sets. If embracing new hobbies is on your list of resolutions for the upcoming year, individuals can rest assured that engaging in hobbies promotes personal growth in various ways. (Metro)

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SUNTEP continues culturally responsive education degree program

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The Gabriel Dumont Institute - Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program & Gabriel Dumont College (GDI-SUNTEP/GDI-GDC) is recruiting students. SUNTEP is a four year accredited Bachelor of Education program, offered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute in conjunction with the Ministry of Advanced Education and the University of Regina. Tuition is fully sponsored for Métis students. SUNTEP offers smaller classes, tutoring and counselling support, accessible instructors and an on-campus location. If you are Métis and interested in teacher education, please contact us at College West Building, Room 227, University of Regina, or at the number below. Qualifying First Nation students with band funding are welcome. GDC offers the first two years of classes toward the University of Regina Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree with sponsored tuition for Métis students.

Pre-service student teacher candidate Paige LaRose interacts with students during her classroom experience in fall 2019. ( P H O T O CRE D I T : SU N TE P RE G I NA)

For over forty years, SUNTEP Regina has offered a fouryear, fully accredited Bachelor of Education program, delivered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Advanced Education and the University of Regina. The SUNTEP program focuses on pre-service teacher training in elementary education that includes a cross-cultural specialization, with an emphasis on Métis/First Nations history, culture and the Michif language. Foundational education theories embrace the pedagogy of relations, culturally responsive education and skills of teaching. The provincial curriculum and societal issues are framed in anti-oppressive

and anti-racist education lenses which extend to the schools and classroom experience. SUNTEP pre-service student teacher candidates spend a significant amount of time in urban schools working with students, teachers and the school community to gain invaluable experiences that initiate a career pathway in education. The professional school placement experience progresses each year in the program finishing off with a sixteen-week internship in year four. The primar y goals of SUNTEP are: To ensure that people of Métis ancestry are adequately represented in the teaching profession, and to ensure that SUNTEP

graduates are educated to be sensitive to the individual needs of all students, and those of Indigenous ancestry. SUNTEP has graduated over 1,300 pre-service student candidates who have gained excellent reputations as teachers, role models and leaders in Saskatchewan schools, across western Canada, and internationally. The program offers post-secondary academic education with extensive classroom experience and a thorough knowledge of issues facing students in our society. Contact us to learn more about our program and the application process embracing a community of practice that continues to build. We are waiting for you!

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY SUNTEP REGINA FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

Application deadline date for both SUNTEP & GDC is May 1. For more information or applications, contact SUNTEP Regina

Email us at the address below: Erma.Taylor@uregina.ca www.gdins.org

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Regina Sports Performance Centre: “Find out what it means to me” Born from an idea that came to him on a trip, Aubrey Steadman embarked on a journey to make his dream of the Regina Sports Performance Centre (RSPC) reality. “Good thing I didn’t open a sports facility during a pandemic,” he laughs. Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. In 2019, the family real estate business, Gene’s Realty Partnership, came to own the former Tartan Curling Club at 1464 Broadway Ave. Built in 1956 (coincidentally the same year Gene’s was founded by Gene Ciuca), the building itself was structurally sound but was in need of a little TLC. Steadman says, “We owned the building next door, the former SGEU building, so it made sense from a commercial development purpose. However, there was an oversupply of office and retail space so it wasn’t the best time to build more retail space.” Step back to the summer of 2018 and Steadman was on a trip with his 16 year-old son, Emmett Steadman, now a receiver with the University of Regina Rams, and several other young football players and coaches. The group travelled to several American university football camps including Northwestern, South Dakota and Cornell University. The camps were an eye-opener for the players, coaches and the parents as to how seriously they took training in the U.S. and the top-notch facilities they possessed. Fast forward to February, 2019. Having seen these incredible training facilities, Steadman thought he could replicate, to a degree, the same training facilities he saw in the U.S. His son Emmett had just torn his ACL, MCL and meniscus in January playing for the U18 Team Canada team versus

The Regina Sports Performance Centre boasts almost 40,000 square feet of training and classroom/meeting space over two adjacent buildings. The RSPC offers 20,000 square feet of FieldTurf and Polyturf field and court amenities, accommodating football, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, junior baseball, pickleball, badminton and volleyball. ( P HOT O: R SP C)

the U18 Team USA in the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas. He knew this facility would be a further opportunity for his son to both rehabilitate and train for the Rams. “I was selfish. I wanted to see the best for my son and this would benefit him—but I also knew it would benefit many generations of kids and athletes—not just my son.” On September 1, 2020 the Regina Sports Performance Centre (RSPC) opened for business. “The pandemic added a definite twist. Our rubberized surface was installed in the summer by a specialized crew based out of New Brunswick. They quarantined for 14 days in New Brunswick before embarking on a three-day road trip with all their supplies and a letter from my company authorizing them to travel to an outof-province work site. It took 14 days to install during which

no local trades were allowed on site and then the site itself was closed for seven days after their departure,” says Steadman. Today the RSPC boasts almost 40,000 square feet of training and classroom/meeting space over two adjacent buildings. The RSPC offers 20,000 square feet of FieldTurf and Polyturf field and court amenities, accommodating football, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, junior baseball, pickleball, badminton and volleyball. The RSPC also offers 15,000 square feet of cardio and weight equipment training space at Next Level Fitness including a 50 yard long two-lane turf running track and 2,000 square feet of FieldTurf crossfit training space. Anderson and Associates Physiotherapy clinic is also onsite. Training and rehabilitation is also enhanced by Regina’s only publicly available

underwater treadmill. While it has been a labour of love and a significant financial outlay for Steadman, he hopes the community will see the value in supporting such a facility. It is also a family affair with his oldest son, Aidan, serving as the facility’s general manager. Emmett also helps out as a facility manager when not attending university. “Nothing is better than being able to work with family,” says Aubrey, who still works with his sister and father in Gene’s Ltd. “We have an experienced sports physiotherapist, Scott Anderson, who has a clinic onsite which allows the clinic to use our facilities to provide further rehabilitation to their clients and provides onsite access to our athletes in need. We have specialized equipment specific to rehabilitation and strength building. We installed the same quality and brand of turf you

find at Mosaic Stadium and have foam padding and netting to minimize player injuries.” COVID-19 protocols are strictly adhered to. “We have purchased $20,000 in state-ofthe-art sanitization equipment used by professional sports teams for both our field and equipment including an electrostatic Clorox 360 machine. The Clorox 360 completely envelops the area electrostatically in disinfectant, dries in 30 seconds and is ready to use in less than two minutes without ever touching the equipment. Health and safety were top of mind prior to the pandemic and we have stepped that up even more. From the day we opened, we required masks in the facility, social distancing when not engaged in an activity, undertook temperature checks and contact tracing of all entering the RSPC. We also have been cleaning and disinfecting high-

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY REGINA SPORTS PERFORMANCE CENTRE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

touch surfaces and sanitize the fields and equipment on a regular basis,” says Steadman. Currently the RSPC is hosting the Regina Youth Flag Football League and the RYFFL 3 vs 3 Youth Basketball League with a flag rugby league starting in January. They also have numerous football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse and other sports teams undertaking training along with individual clients. All the leagues and teams have Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) approval and must follow their own strict SHA-required health protocols as well. While the RSPC is booked for the winter during the weekends and weeknight, Steadman indicates there are still some limited openings. Next Level Fitness also has a limited number of memberships available. To enquire about rental and fitness membership enquiries visit: reginasports.ca.

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Regina Ski Club all about fun, friendship and fitness

BY GERALD VANDER PYL

THE REGINA SKI CLUB is ready for another winter of fun on snow with some changes to reflect the times and also to encourage new members to join the club and get outdoors. “Skiing is fun, it’s very enjoyable and it is an excellent fitness activity,” says club president Dale Hjertaas. “And it is a life activity too. Our club members run from ages three to 87.” Hjertaas says while it’s always a good time to ski, with so many other recreational options not being available due to COVID-19, this winter is a great year to try skiing, or get back into the sport. He says the pandemic has resulted in some changes to the club’s usual programs, but has also led to the introduction of new initiatives. While ski club bus trips are not possible, people can still ski at the many Regina locations where club volunteers groom cross country ski trails. Hjertaas says there is also the new Ski Ambassador program that will see volunteer ambassadors leading ski outings outside the city where club members drive themselves to the trailhead and then head out skiing, either with the ambassador or by themselves. “What we’re really wanting to do is encourage ski-

ers who popped into one of the city parks to take that first step into the broader world of skiing,” he says. Hjertaas says there will be regular ambassador outings to White Butte as a great introduction to skiing outside the city for beginners. There will also be seven trips further afield to places like Echo Valley Park, Buffalo Pound Park, Good Spirit Park and Moose Mountain Park. He says club members will meet in the city, register, head out around 8 a.m. in a cavalcade of their own vehicles, and regroup with their Ski Ambassador leader at the trails. Another great offering for club members, new or otherwise, are cross country ski lessons for youth and adults. Hjertaas says they have lessons for ages three and up on groomed trails around the city, and new members receive a free adult beginner Nordic lesson, and can later sign up for more lessons if they like, including a five-lesson package for adults for $100. The club’s popular Wednesday Night Nordic Races will go ahead but on a more informal training basis, with a timing clock on site and skiers spaced out for the start, and then able to time their own ski laps. The event will focus on being a fun out-

The Regina Ski Club is encouraging people of all ages to get outdoors this winter and experience skiing. A new Ski Ambassador program has been introduced to encourage participation. PHOTO: REGINA SKI CLUB

The Regina Ski Club’s Biathlon Program uses the White Butte trail network and the nearby Regina Wildlife Federation shooting range. Skiers ages eight and up are invited to participate in the Biathlon Program. PHOTO: REGINA SKI CLUB

ing, and take place at the various city parks where trails are groomed each winter. He says the Regina Ski Club also has some well-developed programs for other ski disciplines. The Alpine Race Team/ Snow Stars provides race training to youth ages five to 18. An Alpine Adaptive Ski Program provides instruction and use of adaptive equipment, “since it’s our belief that everybody should be able to participate in skiing,” says Hjertaas. The club even has a Biathlon Program that uses the White Butte trail network and the nearby Regina Wildlife Federation shooting range as venues for skiers ages eight and up to participate in that ski sport. Hjertaas says the Regina Ski Club’s motto is Fun, Friendship and Fitness. He says with people feeling cooped up at home, joining the club is a great way to get out of the house, get active and try something new. “It’s absolutely a great year to do it. I’ve made many friends—so many people that I’ve only met through skiing. It really is all about fun, friendship and fitness.” Visit ReginaSkiClub.com for more information on memberships and ski club programs.

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Skiing in the prairies: a great way to spend your winter! Saskatchewan isn’t known for its endless mountain ranges and deep powder, but a little gem only 45 minutes east of Regina in the beautiful Qu’Appelle Valley almost guarantees to revive your love for winter! On its opening day in 1972, Mission Ridge Winter Park looked much different than it does today: a quaint Daylodge looked out over two T-Bar Lifts and one rope tow serviced eight runs. The resort relied on 100 per cent natural snow that was loaded and hauled off its namesake ‘Mission’ Lake to be packed by a sixcylinder gas-powered Foremost Spider Snowcat. Mo d e r n - d a y M i s s i o n Ridge began its evolution in 2001 with a 100-square foot addition to the daylodge followed by a 4,000-square foot lounge and rental shop

for the 2009 season. The long-awaited Tube Park was completed for winter 2019 and has since been expanded by adding a fifth land and an additional 50 tubes. The most recent addition to the park was completed in summer 2020 with the comple tion of the new 5,500 square foot Mission Place which now houses guest ser vices, resort daycare, rental shop, washrooms and business offices. The resort is now serviced by a triple chairlift and three modern conveyor lifts. Mission Ridge now boasts an impressive 30 acres of skiable and tubing terrain groomed fresh daily. There are two separate beginner areas as well as two freestyle terrain parks with a range of beginner-to-expert

features. In addition to the multitude of structural improvements, Mission Ridge Winter Park has grown to employ over 100 staff and teaches a whopping 10,000 lessons per season. Fort Qu’Appelle’s famous Bubba’s Pizza now resides in the Daylodge to create the ultimate dining experience—a far cry from the precooked burgers and fries you might associate with a ski hill cafeteria. Remarkably with the vast improvements over the past 46 years of operation, Mission Ridge remains locally owned and operated. Whether you’re a seasoned vet or new to the sport of skiing or snowboarding, Mission Ridge Winter Park needs to be on the top of your family’s to-do list this winter season!

Mission Ridge Winter Park now boasts an impressive 30 acres of skiable and tubing terrain groomed fresh daily. There are two separate beginner areas as well as two freestyle terrain parks with a range of beginner-to-expert features. Amenities include the new 5,500 square foot Mission Place, housing guest services, rental shop, washrooms, resort daycare and more. ( PHOTO: MISSION RIDGE)

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY MISSION RIDGE WINTER PARK FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

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A school year like no other needs a solution like no other This school year has been unlike any other in history. The past nine months or so have been all about adaptability; students, parents, and teachers alike have been required to adapt to rapidly changing education requirements and expectations as best they can, not to mention all the societal changes. To say it has not been simple is an understatement. As we all learn to navigate new education expectations and figure out what is best for students and families, one thing is clear: we all could use a little support. Whether your family has children attending in-school classes, learning exclusively at home, or some combination of both, ensuring that students feel safe and supported is the key to ensuring students of all ages are on track with their learning. Beyond ongoing communication with your child’s teachers and the school, as well as being familiar with the learning guidelines and available resources for your province, reaching out for support from the education experts at Oxford Learning can help make navigating the ongoing education changes simple for your family. Online or in-person, Oxford Learning’s comprehensive tutoring programs help students customize their support to learn at their own pace. This individualization plays a key role in student success as it enhances his or her learning according to each student’s personal needs rather than focusing on the school curriculum. A key focus of our programs is helping students

Study Studios make learning at home simple!

Reaching out for support from the education experts at Oxford Learning can help make navigating the ongoing education changes simple for your family. G E T TY I M AG E S

become active thinkers. Active thinking is a key skill that students can draw on as they are asked to face an uncertain educational future. This skill helps students take ownership and responsibility for their learning, even at an early age. This skill is important to success, especially with distance learning; it becomes much easier for students to disengage and not focus on learning when they are not learning in a classroom environment. When students see learning as something that they have active participation in

and have the skills needed to be successful in various environments, it helps remove the stress often associated with rapid changes such as those we have experienced this year. Full-time or part-time, learning at home is a major shift for many students, and it can be a struggle. It requires students to filter out the distractions of home and adopt a learning mindset in an environment that is usually reserved for family and relaxation. Oxford Learning is more than simply a tutor to help

your child bring up marks in a school subject. Our mission is to become your family’s education partner to provide guidance and support all along your children’s academic journey. We will work with your child’s school to ensure that we are on the same team regarding your child’s goals. Our programs help your child with so much more than school learning; by developing new thinking and learning skills, we help your child develop tools to become more confident and motivated, which reduces stress related

to school. Your child’s success is important to the whole team. Let us help you determine the best way to proceed. The most important message? Don’t stress. These are unusual times, and we can get through this together. If your child is struggling with a changing learning environment this year (or any year), please reach out. Oxford Learning can help. For more information, visit Oxfordlearning.com/ locations/regina-tutoring/ or call (306) 994-7549.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY OXFORD LEARNING REGINA FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

Do you have an area designated for learning at home? With online learning part of the new normal, having a go-to home study space helps students’ brains learn to associate this area with learning. When students sit at their “Study Studio,” their brains enter ‘learnmode’ sooner, making learning time more effective. Students pay better attention to the lesson, are more engaged in learning, and remember more about what they just learned. The goal of a Study Studio is to maximize the attention students devote to their learning time. Whether it’s online with teachers and tutors or when completing work offline, Study Studios minimizes the amount of effort necessary to get ready for an online class. A kitchen table, a desk in a bedroom or office, or a card table in the basement, the Study Studio doesn’t have to be fancy to be effective! Something as simple as equipping it properly with school supplies and headphones to cancel out excessive noise, makes a world of difference! The point of the Study Studio is to help students make the most of their learning time. Choose a dedicated space to learn, reduce distractions, and place all the materials children will need within reach. This ensures that when students log onto their next zoom class, they are ready to learn and able to stay focused for the entire class.

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Saskatchewan Science Centre’s BY CAROL TODD

AS PRAIRIE RESIDENTS hunker down for a winter with coronavirus concerns adding to the weather, there is not only pleasure, but joy, to be found at the Saskatchewan Science Centre. JoyLab 2.0 is described as a collection of experiences to help visitors discover how simple things can bring a feeling of joy. Based on the book Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee, the Centre oﬀers several rooms set up to provide a backdrop, not only for photos, but feelings as well. “They’re designed to help you spark joy and to have a discussion about that,” says Ryan Holota, vice-president of operations at the Saskatchewan Science Centre. With JoyLab 2.0 and in all its dealings with the public, the centre is taking steps to ensure everyone stays safe. The centre’s exhibits remain closed and visitors to other areas must wear masks at all times. There are hand sanitizers for visitors and all surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. Because only 40 people are allowed inside the centre to visit JoyLab 2.0 at one time, it’s recommended that a time be reserved on line at sasksciencecentre.com/visiting-exhibitions. Family groups or “bubbles” can continue to enjoy the Kramer IMAX Theatre, where groups will be seated

ODE TO JOY

JoyLab 2.0 provides fun Instagram-ready moments for visitors that are sure to bring about a feeling of joy. PHOTO: SASKATCHEWAN SCIENCE CENTRE

The Saskatchewan Science Centre’s JoyLab 2.0 curated experiences include is an “upside down” room, offering a different perspective on life. PHOTO: SASKATCHEWAN SCIENCE CENTRE

by centre staﬀ to ensure safe distancing, as well as JoyLab 2.0. There are also information links and online activities on the centre’s website at sasksciencecentre.com. One of the online attractions is Bubo, the Great Horned Owl. And, congratulations may be in order, as it was just recently determined that the owl is female. Bubo has been at the centre since 2010 when she was brought in missing a wing. Not eli-

gible for rehabilitation, she has taken up residence at the Science Centre and has her own web cam as an education ambassador for the centre. But, it’s the search for joy in these days of pandemic that will likely bring visitors to the Science Centre over the coming months, Holota says. “It’s a great way to get together with other people you care about and share these experiences of

being in these rooms. It’s a great way to make some memories together,” he says. Among the rooms is one that was hand-painted by Regina artist Jason Robins, perhaps best known for his downtown Regina murals. Another is upside down to play with perspective while a third room takes visitors inside the pages of a comic book. More than photo backdrops, the rooms are designed to spark conversa-

tion, and joy, something we can all use right now, Holota agrees. The second version of JoyLab follows on the success of the original, which ran in 2019 and proved to be a great success. “When we were reopening in 2020, we wanted something that we knew that people really loved, that was low-touch and would provide a spark of joy to people's lives, so we re-invented it with 2.0,” Holota says. With a new JoyLab, the Kramer IMAX and online information and activities, the Saskatchewan Science Centre is also thinking outside the box to continue to oﬀer science fun and educa-

tion this winter. A new “virtual” event is aimed for the holiday season this year. The “Out of the Box” New Year’s Eve activity box will soon be available. For $60, the “box” will include more than four hours of activities, as well as links to online content. Of course, they can be done anytime, but Holota says the main goal is for New Year’s Eve. “This is a great way to sit down and get everybody engaged and have a lot of fun,” Holota says. Staying safe at home with an activity box or staying safe at the Saskatchewan Science Centre, the search for winter activities—and joy—need go no further.

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Make more of life BY HILARY KLASSEN

BECOMING A VISUAL ARTIST was not on the radar when Patricia Katz was mapping out her career and building her consulting business. She’d found success as an educator, author, speaker, syndicated columnist and consultant. She’d helped people enhance their wellbeing by revealing how to “balance the press for performance with an equally critical pause for renewal.” She’d written five books on time, stress, life balance, perspective and appreciation. Outwardly, a lot of boxes had been ticked. The marriage, the kids and the business were on track. A master’s degree had been completed. Things were ‘fine.’ So why were some days so grey? Why the midlife malaise? Katz began listening to a voice whispering in the background that perhaps there was more, a spark of something that could enrich her life. One day, Katz spied a random advertisement for a five-day watercolour workshop. On impulse, she struck a match and wrote the cheque. What flamed to life that day was a lasting new direction. “I had really terrible paintings at the end of it. But I was hooked by the possibility of getting better at it, so there was that pull to try and learn more,” says Katz.

through art

While best known as the founder of Optimus Consulting and the author of six books, Patricia Katz is now finding acclaim as an artist. She first began painting in 2002 after taking a watercolour workshop and found this new kind of creative expression rekindled her spirit. Patricia began selling her art in 2011, establishing the Pat Katz Pauseworks Studio website. PHOTO: HILARY KLASSEN

Katz developed her skills, attended workshops and learned from artists like Judi Whitton, Charles Reid and others, revelling in the novelty of this new kind of creative expression. Grey days were banished as her life took on more colour. Her new pursuit blended

well with her love of travel. When a spectacular scene in a new destination presented itself, her “itchy fingers,” responding to some undefined itch in her soul, reached for her sketchbook and paints. Katz has captured scenes in multiple destinations like France, the Amalfi Coast,

the Caribbean, the South Seas and Waskesiu, to name a few. Since that first class, the thrill is unabated, the quest undimmed. Sketch books and paints have become Katz’s constant companions. She’s eaten abysmal food so she could sit at a

sidewalk café or restaurant and capture a scene from there. Sometimes interested bystanders stop and chat. One café worker asked why she didn’t sketch their café. Katz’s immersion in art found a natural segue into her work with “Press Pause.” Painting became the oxygen

for wellbeing. “For me, it’s not possible to continue to be stressed about something else because doing watercolour painting is so engaging. Time falls away. There is a that element of relaxation and it feels meditative.” To help others ignite that spark, Katz produced a TEDx talk called, “Light a spark: navigating the mid-life malaise.” To people in midlife who wonder, “Is this all there is?” she says, definitely not. Possibilities abound, but in a world that rewards performance over pause, uncovering the ‘more’ requires a deeper level of listening. “In order to explore more possibilities for life, you have to back off and give yourself a chance to let them bubble to surface,” she explains. “You have permission to invest some time and energy in yourself and explore what that might be.” Diving into watercolour painting wasn’t an entirely random choice, it was an extension of her long-standing interest in colour and design. She had designed clothes for her own kids, enjoyed landscape gardening, and had a lifelong appreciation for art and beauty. Threads from the past guided her forward. Finding that spark can be as simple as tracing what intrigues you and what you’re curious about, Katz says. For SEE ART ON PAGE 12

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Activities for your kids to do over winter break THERE’S THE BUSY leadup to Christmas, the happy frenzy of the day itself and that sweet spot afterwards, when children’s gifts are still new and interesting. But most kids get two weeks off school, and because of COVID-19, many families have been home for months already. It’s easy to default to Netflix to watch another movie or play one more video game, but these can leave some climbing the walls after awhile. If you’re home with your kids, there are many things to do to fill the time. Many involve learning something together—not a bad idea for kids who’ll need to think again in January. Here are five things to do over the winter break: 1. Take advantage of free activities.

Gather the kids together, grab your sled or crazy carpet and head for the hills—toboggan hills that is. There are over a dozen great toboggan hills located across Regina. PHOTO: GETTY

Check the “What’s on?” schedule for your community. Community centres, libraries, public parks and rinks often have great ways to spend time together both outdoors and virtually. 2. Download an educational app or two. Try giving your kids a series of challenges to complete. Google Earth can take them anywhere in the world. What are five things they see when standing beside Big Ben? 3. Deliver a gift overseas. The World Vision gift catalogue offers a window into the lives of kids in developing countries. Have your child browse the site and select a gift from your family to theirs. Your donation before December 31 means a 2020 tax receipt.

4. Read a new book together. You can read together or individually, then chat about the latest chapter at dinnertime each day. Which character do they like best? Can they guess what will happen next? If a new book arrived under the tree, there’s no better time to crack it open. 5. Be a socially distant local tourist. Is there a part of the city you haven’t visited? A nearby town you’d like to see? Pack a lunch, then hit the road. Document the day with pictures. Come the first day of school, kids are often asked to write about what they did on their vacation. They may not have been to Florida this year, but they will have had some interesting experiences with you. (News Canada)

attending shows and openings at galleries, searching out artists whose work she admired and finding ways to study with them, and finding the resources to take tours with other artists. Katz ending up doing things she never imagined, like teaching art classes and publishing a book. “Sketches of Saskatoon” immortalized beloved local landmarks around our city and stayed on the McNally Robinson Top Ten Bestseller list for almost a year. Soon, she hopes to do a solo art show. Katz has seen people who went after ‘more’ and those who didn’t. “The ones that

are more fun to be around at old age are those who actually took care of themselves and opened themselves up to good things they wanted to do, because they’re not resentful,” she notes. A palliative care study that found that the number one regret among patients was, “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself and not the life others expected of me.” Katz’s advice is, don’t listen to doubters and detractors. Listen to the nudge, the twinges and tugs, the voice inside you, the quiet whisper that says, there could be more.

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some it might be a forgotten wish to play guitar or perform on stage. One woman said for her it was playing with carburetors after work. It could be anything. “If you find yourself really absorbed and immersed in whatever it is, it’s a sign you might be on the right track,” Katz says. Once you’ve been brave enough to open that door, other doors will start opening. “Dive in and swim around! Immerse yourself in an interest and see where it takes you,” she says. Painting started to elbow its way further into Katz’s life. She began spending hours in the studio or sketching plein air,

Patricia’s sketchbook is her constant companion when she travels. She is inspired by the art and architecture of Europe. Patricia has also captured favourite sights and scenes from home in her book “Sketches of Saskatoon.” PHOTO: HILARY KLASSEN

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Here’s inspiration for new outdoor adventures! Nature Regina is hosting monthly Get Outside! free public events at a different Wandering Wednesdays location each month. Explore little known green spaces in and around Regina with a newly created Get Outside! Outdoor Adventure Guide every two weeks—free and for all ages! Find inspiration to spend time outside this winter to support positive mental and physical health. Get Outside! Outdoor Adventure Guides can be downloaded from Nature Regina’s website, Facebook or Instagram. Go to nature re g i n a . c a /g e t - o u t s i d e family-hikes. Wandering Wednesdays – Winter Edition activities will include winter walking, hiking, birdwatching, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and other

fun winter activities. You’ll discover how to get started with winter birdwatching, cross country skiing, biathlon and downhill skiing. Find little known green spaces in and around Regina for winter hiking and tobogganing. The first edition of Wandering Wednesdays – Winter Edition featured A.E. Wilson Park. You’ ll discover two secret islands in the city, what birds make it home in the winter (30 different species), what plants help birds out in the winter, what is happening under the ice and discover a beaver lodge (with real live beavers inside). Classroom teachers can use the Get Outside! Outdoor Adventure Guides to support outdoor education. Teaching activities and resources are developed for

each Wandering Wednesdays location. Geared towards children ages six to 12, Nature Regina, Nature Saskatchewan and SaskOutdoors host the Get Outside! Kids Club every Wednesday. It’s an outdoor education program where kids learn about science (and a bit of French) as well while participating in hands-on learning activities. Come and safely meet other home learners including distance, e-school and homeschool learners. COVID 19 health and safety precautions are in place. Follow Nature Regina on Facebook or Instagram to receive notification of upcoming sessions. Advance registration for each session is required at natureregina. ca/events. Nature Regina is a local non-profit organization

Get Outside! Free public events are hosted by Nature Regina at a different Wandering Wednesday’s location each month. Download the Get Outside! Outdoor Adventure Guide every two weeks, from Nature Regina’s website, Facebook or Instagram pages. (PHOTO: NATURE REGINA) whose mission is to foster environmental advocacy. since 1933 and incorporated an appreciation of the nat- Nature Regina is the oldest on February 7, 1942. ural environment through natural history society in Let’s get outside and have education programs, field Saskatchewan, having been an outdoor adventure this trips, presentations and in continuous existence winter!

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L e a d e r P o s T. c o m / Q c Fat tire bikes are a great choice for exploring snow trails during the winter, as the wide tires offer extra grip and flotation. They can be rented at several locations in the city. PHOTO: TOURISM REGINA/ ASHLYN GEORGE

FEELING COOPED UP?

Get out in the great outdoors this winter BY GERALD VANDER PYL

THE SNOW IS FLYING and temperatures are dropping, so it’s time to gear up for some fun winter adventures in Regina. Trevor Norgan, store manager with Fresh Air Experience’s Regina location, says given the current pandemic, he feels people are ready to embrace the season. “They’re going to be tired of being stuck at home, so for their mental health they’ll want to get outside and get active,” says Norgan. “So I think this winter, people are really going to be excited about the idea of being outdoors.” He says cross country skiing is one of the most popular winter sports, and has wide appeal with both classic-style technique and equipment and also skate skiing.

Norgan says classic skiing is low impact, great for all ages, and beginners can start out learning on gentle terrain. It’s also relatively aﬀordable, as an adult can get a complete ski package for about $360. He says skate skiing has appeal for people looking for a good workout, and has a bit more of a learning curve. “You have to have a little bit more of a drive and motivation to do it, so it appeals to people who are more active." Snowshoeing is another activity that Norgan says has wide appeal, from seniors who love the chance to go for a walk on snow, to backcountry enthusiasts who use snowshoes to go out into the wilderness for an overnight trip. He says a good pair of snowshoes can be bought for about $180, and poles can

Snowshoeing is an ideal way to make the most of a Regina winter, no matter your age or fitness level. PHOTO: TOURISM REGINA/ASHLYN GEORGE

be used for added stability if someone is planning to go on terrain with climbs or descents. Norgan says just going for a walk in the winter is a great idea, and there are traction devices that ﬁt under your boots to add extra grip for

snow and especially icy surfaces. He says people don’t really have to know a lot about the equipment for the various winter activities as staﬀ at a good outdoors store can help them select the gear they need.

“It’s pretty easy, because when do you have the equipment, you can grab it and go anytime.” Regina is also home to a variety of other winter adventures, many which are focused around Wascana Park—the largest urban park

in North America that is all within one municipality, says Ashley Stone, Destination & Tourism Director with Economic Development Regina - Tourism Regina. Stone says the park is near shopping, restaurants, and other attractions, making for some unique winter adventures. Approximately 13 kilometres of cross country ski trails extend along Wascana Lake and the Saskatchewan Science Centre where exhibits such as their beautiful Joy Lab are worth a visit during a ski outing. “You can go and warm up and check the Science Centre out, then hop back on your skis and continue your trek around the park,” says Stone. She says people can also take a refreshing outdoor walk while absorbing some history. Government House has tours of the outdoor gardens, which Stone says are still very impressive in winter and have a lot of history that is explained on the tours. There are also walking tours of the Legislative Assembly during winter which include Trafalgar Fountain, one of the original fountains from London’s Trafalgar Square. “There are many walking trails throughout the city that you can winter bike on or go for a walk with your family,” she adds, “All which really encourage people to get out and to spend time together in the outdoors.” Fat tire bikes are a great choice for exploring snow trails during the winter, as the wide tires oﬀer extra grip and ﬂotation. They can be rented at several locations in the city. Check out tourismregina.com or #SeeYQR for monthly updates on events and activities all winter long.

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Unleash her potential! Members say volunteering with GGC is one of their most personally rewarding experiences. Your next adventure starts right here: Volunteer with Girl Guides and unleash her potential! Imagine a place where you can spark extraordinary moments for girls in your community. As a Girl Guide volunteer, you’ll inspire girls and be their mentor as they e x p l o re n e w c ha l l e n g e s, develop ready-for-anything skills and empower each other along the way. Picture all of the fun, adventure and confidence-building moments— that’s what you’ll help create for girls, and for yourself, too. Interested in volunteering? Get started at https://www.girlguides.ca/WEB/AdultReg. The

impact you’ll make as a Guiding volunteer—for yourself and for girls—is so rewarding! • Have a profound impact on girls in your community as you help them unleash their potential; • Develop highly transferrable and LinkedIn-worthy skills; • Connect with other amazing women as you volunteer together; • Access to member-only training, special events and scholarships. THE GIRL EXPERIENCE We call our program “Girls First” because it’s built to put you (the girl!) in charge of your

own Guiding experience. Face-to-face connection and real-life adventures have always been a core part of Guiding, but 2020 challenged us to be prepared and adapt. We found lots of ways for girls to connect, explore, and jump into new experiences while protecting the health and safety of our members and the greater community. Guiding in Saskatchewan has been going strong and so many groups have shared their wonderful outdoor and virtual meetings on our Facebook and Instagram accounts (@saskgirlguides). However, we know that regulations may vary and change across different areas

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As a Girl Guide volunteer, you’ll change their world – and your own. of the province and that there may be interruptions to regular in-person meetings. We follow all government, public health, and facility advisories that are in place. In case of any interruptions to in-person meetings we have developed great virtual programming

opportunities to ensure girls can still actively participate. Join any time of year: Sparks (ages 5-6), Brownies (7-8), Guides (9-11), Pathfinders (1214), Rangers (15-17). Registration is always open via the girlguides.ca/jointoday website. Cookie sales are GGC’s main

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source of revenue, funding all of the fun activities members have come to love! If you’ve missed getting your hands on a box (or four) of chocolately mint cookies this fall, there are some still available in stores; units are selling both virtually and in-person too!

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