Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · 8h

It was indeed an excellent show and taught me that the one universal in city planning no matter where you are in Canada is that someone, at some point, has pitched the idea of putting a dome over public spaces because snow sucks.

Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · 1d

Regina’s Globe Theatre pulled off the difficult task of capturing the zaniness of city politics and the importance of municipal planning into a tight, well-placed package. A wonderful adaptation of @joshokane.bsky.social ‘s book.

Some worthwhile lessons for councillors and council watchers as well

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · 21d

From my colleague Brandon Harder: A scheduled vote to dissolve the University of Regina Students’ Union did not go as planned this afternoon, instead adjourning without any vote at all. The virtually-held special meeting ended after students pressed their concerns over its process & legitimacy. #yqr

URSU dissolution vote not held, heated meeting adjourned

A vote on whether to dissolve the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) did not go ahead as scheduled Wednesday.

leaderpost.com

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Sep 11

You've probably seen talk about a looming 13% mill rate increase floating around, b/c of the city's pre-budget meetings going on this month.

The inc. isn't set in stone, but rather a hypothetical from admin to illustrate the cost of public services — so we summarized what that includes. #yqr #yqrcc

Five things to know about how the City of Regina spends your tax dollars

While waiting for the bus or dodging a pothole on your morning commute, have you ever wondered where exactly your tax dollars go?

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Sep 5

ICYMI: 'Goldilocks zone:' Why Regina is well suited to use geothermal heat for new indoor aquatic centre #yqr #yqrcc

'Goldilocks zone:' Why Regina is well suited to use geothermal heat for new indoor aquatic centre

Shovels — or rather drills — will soon be whirring on the attached geothermal heating facility for Regina's indoor aquatic centre.

leaderpost.com

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Aug 27

The City of Regina is going to explore allowing a central homeless encampment site, as an alternative to existing dismantling policies.

"Our current approach is just moving people from one place to another. It’s clearly not working," said Coun. Victoria Flores, as the motion's mover. #yqr #yqrcc

UPDATED: Regina to look into designated homeless encampment site

Regina city council has voted unanimously to explore the idea of allowing a city-sanctioned tent encampment for houseless residents.

leaderpost.com

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Reposted by Larissa Kurz

Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · Aug 27

@larissagkurz.bsky.social would like to suggest Catalyst Committee 2: Electric Boogaloo

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Aug 7

Two employees from (now former) city manager Niki Anderson's office are suing the City of Regina for their abrupt termination earlier this spring, according to court documents obtained by Leader-Post. #yqr #yqrcc

Two former City of Regina employees suing city over termination, severance

Ly Pham, former city manager Niki Anderson's chief of staff, and Indigenous relations director Audra Young each filed a civil lawsuit on July 4

leaderpost.com

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Jul 30

Regina city council has voted to dismiss city manager Niki Anderson — the second ousting in a row from the city’s top-paid position, after council fired predecessor Chris Holden in 2022.

Anderson has been on a leave of absence since April.

Her contract wasn’t set to end until 2027. #yqrcc #yqr

Council votes to terminate Regina city manager Niki Anderson without cause

In a 10-1 vote, council approved the termination of city manager Niki Anderson without cause and effective immediately.

leaderpost.com

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Reposted by Larissa Kurz

Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · Jul 29

Regina city council will receive a city manager update on Wednesday. Details are not available in the meeting agenda.

City staff say the report is going to be walked in to the council chamber Wednesday and will not be available before then.

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Jul 24

The Lowe family evacuated from Denare Beach in June when wildfires raged towards their home — for a few days, they thought. When they returned weeks later, everything had changed.

This is their story. #sask

'It felt like a death': One Saskatchewan family's flight from wildfires

The Lowe family evacuated from Denare Beach in June — for a few days, they thought. When they returned weeks later, everything had changed.

leaderpost.com

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Jul 3

Michele Bear says 12 years is long enough & its time Regina's landfill is searched to find her daughter, Richele.

She's also ready to share who Richele was, before she was killed at just 23 years old in 2013.

"She always had a smile, was always happy... was always willing to help anybody." #yqr

'She wanted to help people': Mother on hunger strike at Regina landfill remembers Richele Bear

Also known by her Indigenous name Little Eagle Woman, Richele Bear loved to dance from a young age, recalled her mother.

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Jun 19

ICYMI: 'I think of this as my family': Regina encampment residents move as city dismantles their community

#yqr #yqrcc #sask

'I think of this as my family': Regina encampment residents move as city dismantles their community

An encampment in the Heritage area was dismantled peacefully on Tuesday, but advocates say more should have been done to support residents.

leaderpost.com

Reposted by Larissa Kurz

Phil Tank @thinktanksk.bsky.social · Jun 10

This might have been my last column in the StarPhoenix if I had the opportunity to write it. #Saskatoon #saskatchewan #skpoli #yxecc #newspaper #journalism

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Jun 11

As interim city manager Jim Nicol immediately pointed out, reports that come to city council in this way automatically open up the floor for delegates to come speak about them.

His comment points out the obvious: council already has a long-meeting meeting problem as it is. #yqr #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · Jun 11

Dude who got elected by complaining about the inefficiency of city government wants to add more bureaucracy onto council's plate. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · Jun 11

Bezo: I'd like to also see part of what we're doing is lessons learned & work w/ our communities work w/ our businesses & sit down on a monthly basis, bring it to council, not for the administration, we want to hear it at council table what's going on on a regular basis. #yqrcc

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Reposted by Larissa Kurz

Allan Corridor @allancorridor.bsky.social · May 22

Some pics from the live taping of the Queen City Improvement Bureau for the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. The QCIB is probably my favourite radio show/podcast and I'll always be awe by the amount of work that @pauldechene.bsky.social and Aidan do for their show #yqrcc

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · May 20

👋🏻🙋🏻‍♀️

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · May 20

Hey! The Queen City Improvement Bureau will be LIVE at the Artesian tomorrow evening (7:30pm) as part of the Arts Fest. We'll the CBC's Alex Quon as our guest & the return of Larissa Kurz from the Leader Post (if the council meeting ends in time). Games, politics, music & LANYARDS! Free admission!

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · May 7

It was REAL's 2024 annual submittal — not because there's issue with it, but because REAL has been so "public-facing" as of late and Coun. Mancinelli says he has a comment he wants to make.

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · May 7

Consent agenda passed. The Transit Pilot is coming off b/c there are delegations. And Mancinelli pulled one other item off but I missed it b/c I was grinding coffee beans. Now doing some public-notice bylaws. #yqrcc

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · May 3

BREAKING: Regina city council has held firm on adding fluoride to its water, after a gruelling 8+ hours of debate today. #yqrcc #yqr

Regina city council stands firm on plan to fluoridate city's water

City council shot down an attempt to walk back its plan to fluoridate the city's drinking water, after a long special meeting Friday.

leaderpost.com

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Reposted by Larissa Kurz

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · May 2

Holy shit… two hours ago… Dickson from the Calgary anti-fluoride group was talking about Mclaren's research like it supported his position. AND SHE'S HERE AS AN ADMIN EXPERT on fluoridation. #yqrcc

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Reposted by Larissa Kurz

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · May 2

Mancinelli: On dosage. If I wanted to kill myself by drinking fluoridated water. What would kill me first. The water or fluoride?
Dickinson: the water would kill you long before you could consume enough fluoride. #yqrcc

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Reposted by Larissa Kurz

Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · May 2

This fundamentally ignores the lengthy 2021 debate that happened and 9 if the 11 council members were not there for.

Should I be enjoying my holiday? Yes.

This is absolutely wild

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · May 2

Carson says there are serious concerns about the 2021 motion to fluoridate water b/c the motion was signed by 10 out of 11 council members before it even made it to the floor of council. #yqrcc

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · May 2

Today is fluoride day at #yqrcc & delegates are well underway.

Council is considering whether to rescind it's 2021 decision to add fluoride to Regina's water, at the behest of Coun. Clark Bezo (Ward 10).

Here's a story of mine from yesterday to chew on during as meeting unfolds:

Dental expert 'not surprised' Regina revisiting fluoridation, debunks studies

Dentist Gerry Uswak was somehow both "surprised and not surprised" to hear Regina plans to re-discuss adding fluoride to its drinking water.

tinyurl.com

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · May 1

Leader-Post has confirmed that city manager Niki Anderson's chief of staff, assistant and director of the Indigenous Relations department are no longer employed by the City of Regina.

Details as to why have not been offered by a city spokesperson. #yqr #yqrcc

City manager's chief of staff, two others 'no longer with' City of Regina

The city manager's chief of staff, Ly Pham, and two others who report to the city manager are 'no longer with the City of Regina.'

leaderpost.com

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Apr 30

As frustrating as it is to not know (& I get it), this is very true.

Another recent example is when council wanted to know if it could buy Glen Elm trailer park from a private landowner — negotiating a multi-million $$ real estate deal in public isn't the most responsible way to handle tax dollars.

Donovan Maess @donovanjmaess.bsky.social · Apr 30

As someone who has sat in on many meetings where council has gone in camera of late - many of the instances spawn from councillors wanting to make sweeping cuts to city operations, including the potential cutting of jobs.

Discussing particulars in public would be unfair to workers.

Julian Branch @jwbranch.bsky.social · Apr 30

There certainly are a lot of in-camera, closed door sessions at #yqrcc these days. City manager gone. Police chief gone. No reasons provided.
Good value for money?
@pauldechene.bsky.social
@sqirlgirly.bsky.social
@saskboy.bsky.social
@sasksafer.bsky.social

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Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · Apr 29

Have now moved over to the watch party for Conservative's Andrew Scheer, bidding for a seventh term in Regina-Qu'Appelle.

Also a fairly good-smelling buffet on here. Maybe I'm just hungry?