Elementary Schools

You've got two excellent public school options in your backyard, and they opened on the same day in September 2017. That's important context because it means the staff and families didn't inherit decades of entrenched cultures—they built them together from day one.

École Wascana Plains School serves K-8 and runs a dual-track system. That means half the school operates in English and half in French Immersion. So if you want your kids in a fully immersive French program, it's right here. If you don't, your kids will learn alongside French Immersion students but in English classrooms. The school sits at about 650 students when fully enrolled, which is a solid size—not overwhelming, not so small that programs feel thin. The French Immersion program here is legitimate. Kids are spending 50% of their day in French from kindergarten on. I've talked to parents who specifically moved here for that option.

St. Elizabeth School is your Catholic option, also K-8, also new as of 2017. Catholic schools in Regina operate under the Catholic school division, so admission isn't automatic—you'll need to register through the Catholic division even if you live in catchment. Same size range as Wascana Plains, same solid community feel. If a Catholic education aligns with your family's values, this is a legitimate neighbourhood asset.

Here's what I'll be honest about: both schools are popular, and they're filling up. I've got clients who got their preferred choice, and I've got clients who didn't. It's not a guarantee. You'll want to verify your exact home's catchment with Regina Public Schools before you make an offer—school boundaries can shift. Hit reginapublicschools.ca and use their online school finder tool. It'll take you five minutes and save you heartache.

High Schools

Here's where things get a little less convenient, and I won't pretend otherwise. Greens on Gardiner sits on the south side of Regina, so your kids won't be walking to high school. Campbell Collegiate is your closest public option, and it's got an AP program plus a French Immersion track if your kids want to continue their French from Wascana Plains. That's legitimate—not every high school keeps French Immersion going. Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic High School is the Catholic route. Both are solid schools, and both have decent programming. You're looking at a drive or a bus ride, though. That's just geography—there's no high school in the neighbourhood itself, and there won't be.

Childcare and Early Learning

The two schools share a joint-use facility with 90 licensed daycare spaces total. That sounds good in theory, and it is—having daycare right at your kid's school means less driving around. But here's the real talk: 90 spaces across a neighbourhood that's filling up fast with young families means the waitlist is real. I've had clients get into the facility, and I've had clients wait months. If childcare is urgent for your family, don't assume you'll get a spot here. Have a backup plan.

First Years Learning Center is a private daycare also located in the neighbourhood, serving both school catchments. Private daycares tend to move faster than public facilities—you'll usually get on faster—but they cost more. Still, it's an option that's actually here, which beats having nothing.

The reality is that childcare in Regina is tight overall. If you're moving here with young kids, I'd recommend getting on the waitlist for the school facility as soon as you can, but also researching private options in the area. No rush, no pressure—just get informed early so you're not scrambling in August.

Family-Friendly Features

Greens on Gardiner was designed around families, and you can see it. Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is a 10-minute walk from most of the neighbourhood. It's got a pool, a gym, a spray pad, and it's busy. Your kids will have somewhere to go when it's summer and they're bored out of their minds. The Sunrise Branch Library is right there too, in the same building.

The neighbourhood itself has 40+ acres of integrated parks, walking paths that are lit at night, and an environmental reserve. That means kids can actually get outside and move around. You'll see families on the paths all the time. The lit pathways matter in Saskatchewan winters—they make evening walks feel safe. Crime rates here are below the city average. That's measurable, and it matters.

Acre 21, the commercial hub, is walkable—5 to 10 minutes depending on where you live in the neighbourhood. Grocery stores, coffee, a few restaurants. You don't need a car for every errand.

What Parents Should Know

Before you commit, here's what I tell every family considering Greens on Gardiner:

Verify your school catchment. I can't stress this enough. Your home's exact location determines which school you're assigned to. Use the school finder tool on reginapublicschools.ca. School boundaries shift sometimes. Get it in writing.

Registration timing matters. If you want French Immersion at Wascana Plains, there's usually a registration window in the spring for the following September. If you move mid-year, you might not get your first choice. Start asking questions early.

Catholic school registration is separate. If St. Elizabeth is on your radar, you'll register through the Catholic school division, not Regina Public Schools. It's a different process.

Childcare is competitive. Get on waitlists before you move if you can. Private options exist but cost more. Have a plan B.

This neighbourhood does family life really well. The infrastructure is there, the schools are solid, and the community is genuinely young and active. There are limitations—high school isn't nearby, childcare is tight, and boundaries can change. But none of these are dealbreakers. They're just the real details that help you make an actual decision instead of guessing.

If you want to see what homes are available in Greens on Gardiner, I'll give you all the options. No rush, no pressure. And if you want to talk specifics about schools or family life here, I've got families living it right now. I'll connect you with them if it helps.

Want to explore Greens on Gardiner listings? Or curious about the Living In guide for this neighbourhood? If you're weighing homes in Greens on Gardiner against nearby options, I can walk you through Spruce Meadows too. Or check out the broader east Regina picture. Let's talk.

Greens on Gardiner came first. It's the established suburban community that's been built out since the mid-2000s. The Towns started going up in the mid-2010s right next door, and it's still being developed. On the surface, they look similar — both have parks, both have commercial areas, both are in east Regina. But the design philosophy is totally different, and that difference affects everything from your daily commute to where your kids go to school.

Price and What You Get

Here's the honest pricing breakdown. In Greens on Gardiner, single-family homes run $450K to $650K depending on size and how close you are to Acre 21. If you're looking at townhouses or condos in Greens, you're looking at $250K to $400K. There's more inventory here because the community's older, so homes turn over more often.

The Towns is newer, so pricing reflects that. Street towns (which are basically fancy row housing) run $380K to $420K. Single-family homes are $420K to $520K, and the premium homes push up to $630K. You'll pay a bit more per square foot in The Towns because you're getting newer construction and that modern design. But here's what matters: there's less turnover in The Towns because people move in and stay. That means fewer homes for sale, and the ones that do come on market can move quickly.

If you're budget-sensitive or want more resale options down the road, Greens probably makes more sense. If you want brand-new everything and don't mind paying for it, The Towns is built for you.

Neighbourhood Character

Greens on Gardiner feels like a traditional suburb. You've got front-loading garages, conventional lot layouts, wider streets. There's 40+ acres of integrated parks, green spaces, and lit pathways that genuinely get used. The environmental reserve adds some buffer and naturalness to the feel. The demographics here are pretty mixed — young families, professionals, retirees all mixed together. It's established, which means mature trees and landscaping that actually looks like it's been there a while. I wrote a full guide on what it's like living in Greens on Gardiner if you want the deep dive.

The Towns is New Urbanism design. That means street towns with rear garages down the lanes instead of front-facing garages. Higher density. The Welcome Woodland commercial hub (The Everyday Kitchen, Dandy's ice cream, that chocolate store) has this Scandinavian-inspired look that's either going to feel charming or try-hard depending on your taste — I'll give you all the options here. It's newer energy. The parks were actually designed with Grade 5 student input, which is kind of cool. But construction's still ongoing, so you'll live with some disruption. Here's my full guide on what it's like living in The Towns.

Real talk: if you like the idea of neighbours actually being on the street and walkable commercial spaces with a design statement, The Towns delivers that. If you want established, quiet, and "I'll see the same faces in a few years," Greens is more your speed.

Schools and Family Life

This is where it gets interesting. In Greens on Gardiner, you've got École Wascana Plains School (K-8 with English and French Immersion options) and St. Elizabeth School for Catholic elementary. These are established schools with known reputations. If you have school-age kids, you know what you're getting into.

The Towns just announced new joint-use schools that haven't opened yet. I'm talking a 1,400-student elementary (split between 800 public and 600 Catholic spots), a 2,000-student high school, and 180 childcare spots. That's coming, but it's not here yet. For the next few years, kids in The Towns are bussed to other schools in east Regina. If you've got young kids and you're choosing The Towns, you're betting on those new schools delivering. And honestly, I think they will — the planning's solid. But there's no guarantee until they're open and running.

Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is near Greens, which matters if your family does organized sports. The Towns will have access to the same thing eventually, but again — still building.

If you need established schools right now, Greens wins. If you're okay with transition and you're betting on The Towns' new schools being great, that's fine too — just go in with your eyes open.

Lifestyle and Amenities

Both neighbourhoods have commercial areas, but they function differently. Acre 21 in Greens has Save-On-Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, The Keg, Boston Pizza, Dollarama, and a gas bar. All walkable in 5 to 10 minutes via the pathway system. It's practical, convenient, and gets the job done.

The Towns has Welcome Woodland, which is smaller and more curated. The Everyday Kitchen, Dandy's ice cream, the chocolate place — it's designed to be a destination, not just a grocery run. And The Towns residents get access to Acre 21 too because the neighbourhoods are literally next door.

Both have extensive park systems. Greens has had longer to build out 40+ acres of green space and lit pathways. The Towns is adding parks as it develops, so what you see now isn't the full picture.

Commute-wise, both are in east Regina, so your drive downtown or to the west side is similar. Walkability in The Towns is higher because of the street town design and mixed-use planning. Greens is more car-dependent for getting around, though the path system helps.

The Bottom Line

Here's who I'd recommend for each:

Choose Greens on Gardiner if: You want an established community with mature landscaping, more inventory to choose from, lower density, traditional suburban layout, and schools that are already running. You'll probably save some money, and you won't live through construction. It's the safer choice if you want predictability.

Choose The Towns if: You're okay with newer everything, you like the idea of mixed-use design and rear-lane living (even though it takes adjustment), you want to be part of building a community, and you're confident about those new schools. You'll pay a bit more, and you'll live with some disruption. But the bones are really good.

No rush, no pressure — both are solid east Regina neighbourhoods. But they're not interchangeable. Figure out what matters to you: established or emerging, traditional or designed, more choices or newer everything. Once you know that, the answer's pretty clear.

I'll give you all the options. That's what I'm here for.

Who Lives in Greens on Gardiner?

This is a neighbourhood that skews young families and working professionals. The average household income sits around $165,000, which is well above the Regina average, and about 31% of residents are under 20. That tells you a lot — strollers on the pathways, kids biking to school, parents walking dogs after supper. The community has over 20 different builders who've put up homes here, so you're not looking at a sea of identical houses. You'll see everything from Crawford Homes and Pacesetter to smaller local builders like Gilroy and Ironstone Custom Homes. It gives the neighbourhood a bit of variety you don't always get in newer developments. There's a strong community feel here — the kind of place where you'll actually know your neighbours' names.

What You'll Pay for a Home in Greens on Gardiner

I'll be straightforward — this isn't the cheapest neighbourhood in Regina. Here's where prices generally land:

• Entry level ($350K-$500K): Townhomes, semi-detached homes, and smaller single-family homes. These go fast, especially anything under $450K.

• Mid-range ($500K-$650K): This is where most of the action is. Two-storey family homes with double or triple attached garages. High demand in this bracket.

• Premium ($650K-$950K+): Upgraded homes backing onto green space or the environmental reserve. Larger lots, walkout basements, and all the finishes.

The citywide benchmark price in Regina is around $330,000, so you're paying a premium here. But you're getting modern construction with high energy-efficiency standards, walkable amenities, and a neighbourhood that's held its value better than most. With new lot inventory drying up as the community nears completion, resale values have been climbing. If you want to see what's currently available, you can browse Greens on Gardiner listings to get a sense of the market.

Schools and Families

This is one of the biggest draws for families moving here, and honestly one of the main reasons I show this neighbourhood as much as I do.

• Ecole Wascana Plains (K-8, Public/French Immersion) — Right in the neighbourhood, connected by pathways so kids can walk or bike without crossing major streets. It's got a large community centre attached and some of the best play structures in the east end.

• Ecole St. Elizabeth (K-8, Catholic/French Immersion) — Shares the same joint-use facility. Catholic families get French immersion without having to bus across the city.

• First Years Learning Center — A licensed childcare centre right in the area with 90 full-time spots. Not easy to find that kind of capacity in newer neighbourhoods.

• Campbell Collegiate (Grades 9-12) — The main public high school for the area. It's about a 10-15 minute drive in the Whitmore Park area, so not walkable, but manageable. New high schools are planned for The Towns next door, which will eventually shorten that commute.

Having both public and Catholic French immersion elementary schools within walking distance is genuinely rare in Regina. It's a major reason families choose this neighbourhood over competing options.

Parks, Trails, and Things to Do

If you like being outside, this neighbourhood delivers.

• 40+ acres of parks and green space spread through the community, not just crammed into one corner.

• The Greenways — a network of lit, paved walking and cycling paths that connect homes to schools, parks, and Acre 21. Kids can get to school without touching a major road.

• McKell Wascana Conservation Park — a 170-acre nature reserve right on the neighbourhood's edge. It preserves native prairie and wetland habitat, and there are about 4 km of interpretive walking trails. It feels like you're out of the city entirely.

• Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre — nearby on East Woodhams Drive. Pool with slides, a warm tot pool, whirlpool, sauna, fitness centre, and programming. It also houses a branch of the Regina Public Library.

• Acre 21 — the neighbourhood's commercial hub with Save-On-Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, Co-Op gas bar, Dollarama, The Keg, Boston Pizza, Dairy Queen, and more. Most residents can walk here for daily errands.

• Aurora area — Costco, Landmark Cinemas, and additional retail are about a 5-10 minute drive east.

For a broader look at what's available across this part of the city, check out East Regina homes for sale — I cover all the neighbourhoods in the area there.

The Honest Downsides

I wouldn't be doing my job if I only told you the good parts. Here's what you should know:

• Above-average pricing. Most family homes here start in the $500Ks when you can buy a home in other Regina neighbourhoods for $300K-$350K. You're paying for the walkability, the schools, and the newer construction.

• High school commute. Until a new high school opens in The Towns, your teen is heading to Campbell Collegiate — a 10-15 minute drive. Not the end of the world, but it's not as convenient as the elementary school situation.

• Some construction still happening. The neighbourhood's nearing completion, but you'll still see the tail end of building activity, especially on the edges near The Towns.

• You still need a car. Acre 21 covers groceries and daily errands on foot, but anything beyond that — work, healthcare, entertainment — you're driving. Transit exists (Route 60), but most people here rely on their vehicles.

• Young trees. There's no mature canopy yet. The neighbourhood is only about 10-15 years into its growth, so you're looking at another decade or more before the streetscape has that established, leafy feel. If mature elms and ash trees matter to you, look at Windsor Park or Woodland Grove instead.

None of these are dealbreakers for most buyers, but they're worth knowing before you commit. If you're weighing Greens on Gardiner against other east-side options like The Creeks (which runs $1M+ for most homes) or The Towns (which is earlier in its development), I'm happy to walk you through the differences.

Ready to take a closer look? Browse current Greens on Gardiner homes for sale or give me a call at 306-581-1212 and I'll set up a tour.