Looking back at CVCA’s roots

The 2024 Cathedral Arts Festival is finally here! In celebrating our theme, FROM THE GROUND UP, we wanted to reflect briefly on what one element that theme means to us. You may not know it, but the Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre turns 41 years old this year. The CVAF has given me (Kelly, the busking coordinator) the incredible privilege of looking into the photo archives – getting to glimpse what it all looked like before I was born (let’s not think about that) was so special to me and these “baby” photos of the community centre have to be celebrated!

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CVCA (then CACA)’s first home at 13th and Rae Street (now the location of Aware House Books). Apparently, this building did not have heat in its first winter which in Regina is… not ideal.
Mayor Schneider helps break ground on our current location. +20 points for all the skinny ties the men are wearing, which was all the rage in the early 80’s
We’re under construction! Taken in November of 1983. The community centre officially opened in March of 1984 which makes the Neighbourhood Centre an Aries. According to Allure magazine, Aries are ” passionate, motivated, and confident leaders who build community with their cheerful disposition and relentless determination“. That sounds about right.
Our Neighbourhood Centre today. Not pictured are the lovely, amazing, and all-around stellar office staff that keep this place running! If these walls could talk, they would have some STORIES!

We feel incredibly lucky to have you as our neighbours – those who’ve been with us for all 41 years and those who have just joined us. We stand here on the backs of giants who paved the way for our neighbourhood to be what it is today. As a new neighbour myself, I can’t wait to see what we grow into. We hope to see you at this year’s festival, whether you’re into music, film, visual art, literature, or… even just the picnic smokies!

We are on the traditional lands referred to as Treaty 4, the territory of the nêhiyawak, Anihsināpēk, Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda and the homeland of the Métis/Michif Nation. We respect and honour the Treaties and acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past.

We are committed to moving forward in friendship and respect with the Indigenous Nations in the spirit of true reconciliation.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

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MAY 24th

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MAY 29th