The Ultimate Relocation Checklist for Moving to Regina

Why Is Everyone Moving To Regina?

Saskatchewan's capital, Regina, is a fast-growing city with a lot to offer current and future residents.

Some of the reasons people are moving to Regina include:

Employment: Regina has a robust economy, built on a base of raw-materials and agriculture, Regina is also a centre for entertainment, culture (do Riders fans count?), and education.

Low cost of living: Move to Regina and you can expect to pay some of the lowest rent and sales tax in the country. Houses are similarly priced - fully a third to one quarter the price of what you'll pay for similar properties in Vancouver.

Regina also offers a host of incentives for students (or families with students), like the Graduate Retention Program which promises to reimburse tuition for graduates that stay in Regina.

The Great Outdoors: Regina residents love their sports, enjoying everything from skiing, to fishing, to (of course) football. And all of this in one of Canada's sunniest major cities.

Balanced Lifestyle: Regina is great if you're looking for that sweet spot between small-town and big-city.

So now that you've decided to make the move, what's next?

Well, read on to make sure you have all of these points covered:

Step 1: Get Ready for the Weather

Yes I know we said that Regina is sunny, but it's also... unpredictable. Except for the winters - those are predictably cold.

Now, you may be from a place with similar weather, in which case you're ready to go. Otherwise, keep this information in mind and prepare accordingly.

• Winters are snowy, windy, and temperatures can fall as low as -40'C (although the average is around -10'C).
• Make sure you have the necessary equipment, like an ice-scraper, snow-shovel, boots, clothing and so on.
• Get used to layering, as the shoulder seasons can surprise you.

Step 2: Decide Where You Want To Live

Regina is generally divided up into 5 broad regions: Central, North, South, East, and West.

These designations only match the cardinal points vaguely, so make sure to check a map.

You can find a handy neighborhood map of Regina here. 

Newer and more affluent communities tend to cluster around the edges, or along the river.

Young and single? Try Liberty Village, Argyle Park, Lakeview, or somewhere downtown.

Family? Consider Coronation Park, Qu'appelle Village, or Arcola East

Student? Whitmore Park is a safe bet.

If you're moving with children and schools are your focus, do some research on Regina's three school divisions:

• The Regina Public School Board
• Regina Catholic School Board
• Conseil des écoles fransaskoises

Now you have some idea where you're moving to in Regina, how will you get all your stuff there?

Step 3: Find a Reputable, Canada-Wide Moving Company

If you're moving to Regina from out of town, you'll need a way to get your stuff there.

More than a small apartment's worth of stuff will probably require a professional moving company to make sure it gets where it needs to go safely and quickly (and with less work for you).

We'll take the guesswork out of this one and recommend three great moving companies:

• Big Steel Box 
• Great Canadian Van Lines 
• Two Small Men with Big Hearts 

Before you get moving:

• Go through your things and find what you can throw out, sell, or give away.
• If there's something that needs replacing, upgrading, or is just cheap to acquire, consider ditching it before the move.
• Sort your essentials from things you'll only need later. Take the essentials (like a winter coat, important documents, etc.) with you.

Step 4: Make a Budget!

This probably should've been further up the list. Budgeting is important.

Moving companies, transport, time away from work. These all cost money.

When you budget, be pessimistic, that way the only surprises are good ones.

Some unexpected moving costs to take into account:

• You might not be able to cook right away, so budget for a few nights of takeout.
• Entertainment . Especially important if you have kids. Also: daycare.
• Cancellation fees. Which brings us to...

Step 5: Disconnect

There are many aspects of life that connect to your address. Now is the time to start switching these over to your new home in Regina.

Places to check for accounts or profiles that need to be updated:

• Bank
• Credit card
• Utilities
• Insurance
• Government Services
• Subscriptions

Step 6: Get Connected

Now the next step is to reconnect to your new place of residence.

Utilities are probably the most important to get started:

Electricity: You'll be working with SaskPower, 

Natural Gas: Providers is Sask Energy

Internet: Access Communications and SaskTel are the biggest providers in Regina.

You'll also need to pick up your Saskatchewan provincial health card if needed.

Getting connected isn't just about making sure the lights work.

It's also about plugging into your local community.

As soon as you get the chance, take a dive into one of the many popular things-to-do in Regina. Like...

• Take in a game - hockey and football are popular
• Go for a beer - drinks at a local pub are a city-wide pastime
• Take a walk - stroll through one of the city's many parks.

Experience Regina

And finally, have fun! You're in a new place, an exciting new city, and new possibilities await.

Just remember this checklist of what you should do to make your move to Regina successful:

1. Prepare for the Weather
2. Decide Where To Go
3. Find A Mover
4. Budget
5. Update your Information
6. Connect to Your New Community

And, have a look at some of the other resources out there for those moving to Regina:

• Immigration Services
• Moving to Saskatchewan
• New Resident Materials

When you've made the decision to move to Regina, please contact the Tourney Group online or call 306-789-1700 to get in touch with truly local professionals.