‘Big question’: Mosaic festival pavilion uncertain about future at REAL District in wake of sale to Brandt

Some Mosaic festival organizers are uncertain about their future at REAL District following Brandt’s purchase of several buildings. Donovan Maess reports.T

The ink is barely dry on an agreement between the City of Regina and Brandt for the sale of some buildings at the REAL District, but some local events are unsure about their future at the site.

‘Spirit of China’ has held its Mosaic Festival of Cultures pavilion at the Queensbury Convention Centre for the past few years.

“We’re up in the ballroom upstairs at the Queensbury,” organizing committee member Ginger Devernechuk-Merk told CTV News Tuesday. “It’s just been a beautiful place to have a pavilion; first of all, because it has air conditioning, but it’s just a beautiful spot to have our pavilion.”

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Devernechuk-Merk says communication with the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL) to host their pavilion has been fantastic.

The $6.5 million deal will see the purchase of the Ag-Ex Building, Canada Centre Building, Commercial Cattle Barn, Queensbury Convention Centre, Stockman’s Building, the Brandt Centre, the Agribition Building, the land lease for the McDonald’s located at 1810 Exhibition Parkway and the parking lot west of Mosaic Stadium.

As part of the deal, Brandt assumes existing leases, sponsorship, food and beverage and service agreements related to the buildings, as well as all event bookings or contracts. Brandt will also be assuming all REAL employment contracts.

However, now that the organization – along with the Queensbury – have been sold to Brandt, Spirit of China organizers are worried about the venue’s availability for the future.

“Everything is all good for this year,” Devernechuk-Merk said. “But next year, it’s a big thing. Whether it’s Mosaic or other events happening here, and the staff. It’s a big question for all of us.”

• Regina city council has approved REAL’s sale to Brandt: now what?

The terms of the proposal were approved by Regina City Council on May 6.

Following the approval, administration took the next steps in negotiations with Brandt.

Target closing date for phase one of the deal is July 1, 2026 and Brandt aims to have full possession of its buildings by Sept. 1, 2026, as long as negotiations go smoothly.

“There’s so many unknowns,” Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak said. “It boils down to that. Do we actually have a good grasp of all the unknowns here? And [do we] feel we’re adequately protected against risk, should things not go the way that folks are hoping they will?”

Zachidniak was one of three city councillors to vote against the proposal.

Part of the terms require Brandt to continue some marquee events at the REAL District, like Agribition and the Queen City Ex.

However, Mosaic is not one of them.

Zachidniak hoped the district continues to be the community hub it has been for decades, once the transfer is complete.

“It’s hugely important this site is somehow still able to accommodate both,” she said, “That we have the community presence here [though] community events, that the community is able to benefit from the site and that we’re attracting much more paid events.”

At a council meeting on May 6, Zachidniak did question Brandt owner Shaun Semple about the availability of venues for community events.

Semple assured councillors local events, like Mosaic, would continue to have access to the site.

“It means better hospitality, better events, more activities and more reasons for people to come to the grounds. Not just for a few times a year, but consistently,” he said. “It means creating a true hub of sports, entertainment, agriculture and community events.”

“There was reassurance provided that the Semple family was committed to continuing to host community events,” Zachidniak said Tuesday. “I understand there’s so much to be determined, but I think I probably got as much certainty as I could in that moment.”

• Brandt’s purchase of REAL properties approved by city council

The 2026 Mosaic Festival of Cultures is scheduled for June 4-6 at various venues across Regina.

Six pavilions are set to take place at the REAL District, but only Spirit of China and the Hispanic pavilions are in buildings a part of the Brandt takeover.

Although this year’s festival is unaffected because the close dates are not until after the event, Devernechuk-Merk is already making her pitch to the new owners of the festival’s importance for next year.

“It’s the longest running multicultural festival event in the Queen City,” she noted. “It’s a very important event because we do have a lot of different cultures and it’s really important for everyone to learn from each other, to be together. That’s what Mosaic does. For me, the number one thing is promotion of the event and what it actually does for everybody.”

“I’m hoping that in the future, [Brandt] really take that into consideration,” Devernechuk-Merk added.

She went on to say planning for 2027 will begin almost immediately following this year’s event.

One of her first calls will be to REAL’s new owners in hopes her pavilion, and others, may continue to host their pavilion at the Queensbury.