If you've got kids — or you're planning to — the neighbourhood you pick matters just as much as the house itself. You're not just buying four walls and a roof. You're choosing the school your kids'll walk to, the park they'll ride their bikes in, and the street they'll grow up on. That's a big deal, and it deserves real thought.

East Regina has quietly become one of the most popular parts of the city for families, and honestly, it makes sense. The southeast quadrant has newer builds, well-planned communities, and a mix of price points that works for a lot of different budgets. I've helped families move into nearly every East Regina neighbourhood, and each one brings something a little different to the table. So let me walk you through the ones I'd genuinely recommend if you've got a family to think about.

Greens on Gardiner — The Walkable Family Community

This is the neighbourhood I bring up most often when families tell me they want walkability without giving up space. Most homes here fall in the $500K to $600K range, though you'll find options from the low $400s up to around $700K depending on what you're after.

What sets Greens on Gardiner apart is the Acre 21 commercial hub right in the neighbourhood. You've got Save-On-Foods, restaurants, and services you can actually walk to — that's not something most Regina neighbourhoods can say. For parents juggling school drop-offs and grocery runs, having that within walking distance is a genuine time-saver.

The green space here is impressive too. There are over 40 acres of parks, lit walking paths that feel safe after dark, and an environmental reserve that gives the whole area a more natural feel. School-wise, families have access to Ecole Wascana Plains for K-8 French Immersion and Ecole St. Elizabeth on the Catholic side. And if you've got little ones, First Years Learning Center offers 90 licensed childcare spots — which, if you've ever tried to find daycare in Regina, you know how valuable that is.

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The Creeks — Luxury for Growing Families

If your budget allows for it, The Creeks is one of the most family-oriented luxury neighbourhoods in the entire city. The median home price sits around $900K to $920K, so this isn't for everyone — but if you're in that range, it's worth a serious look.

Here's what I find most families care about: safety. The Creeks consistently ranks in the top three safest neighbourhoods in Regina. The streets are almost entirely cul-de-sacs, there's no commercial traffic cutting through, and the architectural controls mean the neighbourhood maintains a consistent, well-kept feel. It's pure residential.

There are over 12 acres of parks within the community, and you've got the McKell Wascana Environmental Reserve — 171 acres of protected green space — right on your doorstep. For schools, Ecole W.S. Hawrylak offers both English and French Immersion from K to 8, which gives your kids options without having to leave the area.

One thing that tells you a lot about demand here: homes in The Creeks average just 19 days on market, compared to 77 days citywide. When something comes up, it moves fast.

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Woodland Grove — Mature Character with Room to Grow

Woodland Grove is one of those neighbourhoods that doesn't get as much attention as the newer builds, but families who find it tend to love it. The price range runs from about $265K up to $800K, with most homes landing in the $435K to $550K sweet spot — which gives you a lot of house for your money compared to some of the newer communities.

What you'll notice first are the mature trees. We're talking 30-plus years of growth, which gives the streets a settled, established feel that you just can't replicate in a new development. The Tyndall stone walls throughout the neighbourhood add real character. And from a safety standpoint, the cul-de-sac layout means very little through-traffic — a big plus when your kids are out on their bikes.

For schools, you've got Jack MacKenzie School covering K through 8, and older kids can attend Campbell Collegiate, which offers AP courses for students who want to push themselves academically. Most homes come with double garages and generous lot sizes, so you've got room to spread out.

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Eastbrook — The Intentionally Designed Neighbourhood

Eastbrook is one of the newer communities in East Regina, with construction starting around 2017. Homes range from about $479K to $670K, and everything here feels like someone actually sat down and thought about how families would use the space — because they did.

The partnership with Ducks Unlimited created naturalized wetland habitat woven right through the community, with 1.8 kilometres of trails connecting it all. Out of the 180-acre footprint, over 24 acres are dedicated parkland. For kids, Crosbie Park has a pirate-themed accessible playground that's become a real draw for families across the southeast.

I appreciate that the developers enforced architectural diversity here — you'll see Tudor, Prairie, Arts & Crafts, and Modern styles all on the same street. It means the neighbourhood has visual variety instead of that cookie-cutter feel that some new builds can have. The homes are well-built and designed with families in mind, with layouts that actually work for day-to-day life.

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Gardiner Heights — The Quiet Family Pick

Gardiner Heights doesn't generate the same buzz as the newer communities, and that's actually part of its appeal. It's an established neighbourhood with reasonable prices, good access to schools and parks, and the kind of quiet streets where you'll see kids playing outside after dinner.

If you're looking for something that's not brand new but well-maintained, with a real neighbourhood feel where people know their neighbours, Gardiner Heights is worth putting on your list. It's also well-positioned for families who work in different parts of the city — the location gives you easy access to major routes without being right on top of them.

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What Families Should Think About

Before you settle on a neighbourhood, here are a few things I'd encourage you to look into:

Verify school catchment boundaries. Don't assume — boundaries shift, and the school you think you're zoned for might not be the one your kids would actually attend. Check reginapublicschools.ca or rcsd.ca directly.

Watch for the new high schools. There are new high schools coming to The Towns area, which is going to change the commute picture for a lot of southeast families. That could be a positive or a negative depending on where you land.

Parks aren't all equal. Look for lit pathways and actual play structures, not just open fields. The difference matters when your kids want to be outside year-round — and in Saskatchewan, that means they need spaces that work even when it gets dark at 5 PM.

Think about your five-year plan. Will you outgrow this home? I always tell families to think ahead. Buying a home that works for the next two years but not the next five means you'll be moving again sooner than you'd like — and moving isn't cheap.

If you've got questions about any of these neighbourhoods, or you want to talk through what makes the most sense for your family, I'm here. I'll truly listen to what you need and give you all the options so you can make the right call.