Regina, Saskatchewan, loves hockey and ice sports in general. The moderately sized prairie provincial capital sports eight indoor arenas and about 50 (yes, 50) smaller outdoor rinks operating mid-December to mid-February as ice rinks.
But here’s what really perked my ears up: eight of those 50 outdoor rinks become off-leash dog parks in the summer.
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That’s right, in addition to the five off-leash sites Regina already boasts, you can add five more during the summer months. From May 1 to September 30, long after the ice melts, you can run your dog in the fully enclosed ice rinks. Clearly, you must pick up after them.
Dog Park Ice Rinks in Regina
Granted, there’s nothing but open concrete for them to run on, but the rink ‘boards’ do provide a complete enclosure once the gate door is closed. However, unlike most dog parks, there is only one gate, not double-gated, so it is easy for dogs to dart out when someone else comes in.
Likely, most dogs and people don’t stay long in the ice-less rinks – since there’s no grass or trees, a good leg stretch is all this is about. And they don’t seem to be crowded often. The day I tracked one down to take a look, there was no one using it, so the chances are high of getting one to yourself.
Like the dog parks, the dog ‘rinks’ are open 6 am to 11 pm on non-school days (weekends) and 4 to 11 pm on school days (weekdays). Frankly, double duty seems like a great idea to me, especially considering the solid hockey boards provide a complete enclosure most dogs can’t jump and people will likely use them in the summer for this purpose anyway.
Here’s a list of seasonal off-leash rinks in Regina:
- M. J. Coldwell Park, 115 Fairview Road, Regina
- Glencairn Park (Judge Bryant School), 2626 Dewdney Avenue, Regina
- Leslie Park, 3820 Victoria Avenue, Regina
- Mike Badham Park (Grant Road School), 2606 Grant Road, Regina
- Rosemont School Park, 5310 4th Avenue, Regina
- Westhill Park Rink, 8045 Kestrel Drive (corner of Kestrel Dr and Doiron Rd), Regina
- Rochdale Park (North West Leisure Centre), 1127 North Arnason Road, Regnia
- Litzenberger Park, 100 Rink Avenue, Regnia
However, if you’re not visiting Regina in the summer – or want a longer leash-free romp in a bigger area – there are year-round off-leash dog parks located throughout the city.
Off-Leash Dog Parks in Regina
For a population of under 300,000, I find it impressive that Regina, Saskatchewan, has five year-round off-leash dog parks. Note, however, that not all are fully fenced. Completely fenced is an issue for me because my spaniel will catch sight of a bird and run for miles. All city dog parks are open from 6 am to 11 pm.
Here’s the list of leash-free dog parks open all year in Regina:
- Cathy Lauritsen Memorial Off-Leash Dog Park – Located at 2100 Forget Street, Regina, this is one large dog park (no separated areas) and is only partially fenced, bordering the Wascana Creek.
- Ross Industrial Off-Leash Park – Located at 624 Solomon Crescent, this park is fully fenced with no small dog area and street parking only.
- Mount Pleasant Off-Leash Dog Park – Located at 750 Winnipeg Street North, this dog park is near the Mount Pleasant Sport Park and features a small dog area. The small dog area is reserved for dogs less than 11 kilos and smaller than 46 cm tall. Note that the small dog section of this park is not available the first Tuesday of every month from 10 am to noon, according to the city’s website.
- Māmowimīwēyitamōwin Park Off-Leash Dog Park – Located at 3750 McKinley Avenue, this neighbourhood dog park is fully fenced, features a small dog area, and has street parking only.
- Horizon Station Off-Leash Park – Located at 4701 East Buckingham Drive, this is a smaller, neighbourhood fully-fenced dog run with street parking only.
Of course, Regina’s dog-friendly scene isn’t only about dog parks – though I do think the summer ice rinks for dogs are clever and a good use of existing resources – there are other places to take your pup if you’re visiting the Queen City.
Dog-friendly Brunch and River Walk
Weekend brunch at the Bar Willow Eatery (3000 Wascana Dr, Regina) is almost mandatory during any visit to Regina, especially in the summer and especially with your dog. Bar Willow Eatery is the only restaurant near Wascana Centre, one of the largest urban parks in North America. It’s also the best vantage point to photograph the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, across the lake. And Wascana Lake is the centrepiece of Wascana Centre park.
So where do we begin?
Start at Bar Willow Eatery, open at 10 am on the weekend (brunch is served until 1 pm), and get there early, especially if you want a seat on the dog-friendly patio, one of the city’s largest patios. Yes, you can brunch with Fido outdoors. Many do, the restaurant keeps a stack of water bowls for all the good boys. For you, there are chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, avocado flatbread and more. And yes, there’s a lunch and dinner menu too.
But if you start here, you’ll have enough fuel to take the dog on a leashed walk along the meandering paved paths through the scenic park along the shore of Wascana Lake, which was once a creek.
The lake was originally part of Wascana Creek, used for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples as a vital water source and gathering place. The name Wascana comes from a Cree word meaning “pile of bones,” referring to nearby bison hunting grounds. In the 1880s, the creek was dammed to create a reservoir for the new settlement of Regina, which later became the provincial capital.
From creek to reservoir to lake – the area was redesigned in the 1960s to create the lake, shoreline and parkland locals and residents use daily, mostly in the summer months but not exclusively. In the winter, the Regina Ski Club creates groomed cross-country ski trails through parts of the 930 acres. Of course, your dog can come along with you, if you’ve got a snow-loving breed.
Dog-friendly Beer Tour
The Hop Circuit is a self-guided tour of six different craft breweries in Regina, most (but not all) are pet dog-friendly to some capacity. Check out the dog-trotting.net article about the Regina Craft Brewery Tour, called the Hop Circuit, here – this thorough guide lets you know which breweries are dog-friendly – outdoors, at least – and any rules.
Dog-friendly Outdoor Farmer’s Market
The Regina Farmer’s Market (RFM) is a non-profit co-operative made up of Saskatchewan-based vendors who operate an indoor market from January to April, and an outdoor farmer’s market during the summer months. The RFM outdoor market is dog-friendly, and it’s the place to find some dog treats and products, too.
Since 1975, the RFM has operated in Regina, though the venues change depending on the season and day. For instance, if you’re in town in the summer on Wednesdays, head to Victoria Park (very convenient if you’re staying at The Hotel Saskatchewan). On Thursdays, there’s a satellite market at Kiswehap Park. But Saturday is the main event at Confederation Park in the REAL District, home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL football team.
Two rows of vendors and a very wide aisle at the Saturday Farmer’s Market make it easy to walk leashed dogs through. Lots of free parking in the area too, and several vendors sell locally made dog treats, including Jenny’s Bow & Meow, Fresh 4 Fido, The Good Dog Treats, and The PupCake Bakery. Other vendors range from traditional market vegetable stands, breads, honey, wood-carved products, wild rice (affiliate link), meats, flowers, beer and food trucks. Stop at the Roughriders football sculpture for an Instagram pic of your pup.
Dog-friendly Hotels and Accommodations
The crown jewel in Regina’s tiara is The Hotel Saskatchewan downtown. An updated left over from the early 20th century days when train travel was luxurious and the primary way to travel the country. This updated boutique hotel is dog-friendly for an additional fee – check out our review of The Hotel Saskatchewan here. Note that Victoria Park is across the street, and O’Hanlon’s Pub (1947 Scarth Street, Regina) nearby has a dog-friendly patio.
Other dog-friendly accommodations in the city include the following:
- Comfort Suites, two pets per room under 50 lbs, $25 per night fee, per pet (4300 Diefenbaker Drive, Regina)
- Days Inn by Wyndham Regina, small dogs only under 20 lbs, (3875 Eastgate Drive, 1 E., Regina)
- Comfort Inn Regina, two pets per room under 50 lbs, $20 per night fee (3221 Eastgate Drive, Regina)
- Fairfield by Marriott Regina, dogs only (no cats), limit 2 per room, maximum weight 50 lbs, $50 fee per stay (3915 Albert Street, Regina)
- Sandman Hotel & Suites Regina, maximum two pets per room, $25 per day fee, no size limit (1800 Victoria Avenue E., Regina)
Between the summer dog rinks (still my favourite Regina surprise), several off-leash options, scenic lake walks, and dog-friendly, outdoor markets, breweries, and a pet-friendly historic hotel, it’s possible to travel to Regina with your pup and still hit the highlights. Whether you’re passing through or planning a longer stay, the Queen City offers plenty of thoughtful, creative ways to explore with your fur-buddy. And Moose Jaw is a 30-minute drive away – check out all the dog-friendly spots in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan here.
If you go…
The dog-friendly outdoor summer farmers’ market runs May to October, Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm at the REAL District, 1700 Elphinstone Street, Regina.
The Hotel Saskatchewan, Autograph Collection, is at 2125 Victoria Ave., Regina. Pet fee is $50 the first night and $20 additional nights.
The Hop Circuit – a self-guided tour of Regina’s Craft Breweries is available here. A list of dog-friendly craft breweries and addresses is listed in detail on dogtrotting.net here.
Bar Willow Eatery – A favourite spot for weekend brunch, the restaurant has a lunch and dinner menu, along with a large dog-friendly patio with a view of Wascana Lake. Located at 3000 Wascana Dr, Regina.
Regina off-leash dog parks – There’s an extensive list of locations, rules, and an itemized map of off-leash dog parks, some seasonal, in Regina on the City of Regina’s website.
Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!
