Trying to find a spot to build a parkade at the Regina General Hospital site, surveyors noticed some anomalies buried under the surface of one of the areas.
John Ash, executive director of acute care Regina, said ground penetrating radar identified anomalies that could be old building structures, foundations, or potentially, historical burials.
“While it’s just one of the several possibilities or explanations for these anomalies, we know it requires us to proceed carefully, thoughtfully and in a methodical manner,” Ash said.
Ash said all the appropriate agencies and ministries have been notified of the exploratory work that will begin shortly.
“It is an anomaly and so there is a great history on this site,” said Miguel Morrissette, assistant deputy minister at Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement. “The world has changed a great deal since this place was a hospital. It was historically a hospital… it was historically a children’s site as well. There’s also gaps in our history. We’re not sure what the data is showing yet and so we’re going to have to get in the ground and take a look.”
According to information provided by the Ministry of Health, a cottage hospital was opened on the site in 1895. There were additions and changes in owners and operations and the site was also near a children’s aid home. The part of the parking lot in question had been a green space prior to the parking lot going overtop of it.
The area of the parking lot at the Regina General will be blocked off for the time being while work is underway.
Morrissette said it will take a few days to get the permits in place.
“Work will start after that and so we’re thinking within the next month, we should have the work completed in terms of the excavation and careful removals of soils to see what the anomalies are,” he said.
