Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) and SaskTel are exploring the possibility of combining their respective head offices in Regina. In a news release issued Monday morning, the two Crown corporations announced the collaboration to “address the aging head office buildings of both organizations.” The proposal would see the two Crowns operate out of SaskTel’s head office at 2121 Saskatchewan Drive. Both buildings are approaching the 50-year mark as the Crowns consider their long-term facility needs. A shared facility emerged as the leading option, as it would utilize an existing crown property and maintain a “strong employment presence” in downtown Regina, according to the announcement. SGI President and CEO Kent Campbell said both organizations will engage with experts, complete assessments and identify costs. “This will help both of our organizations confirm whether collaboration continues to represent the strongest long-term option,” Campbell said. SaskTel President and CEO Charlene Gavel noted the similar challenges both Crown corporations face. “Our focus over the coming months will be on validating this opportunity and ensuring any recommendation we bring forward is supported by thorough analysis and due diligence,” Gavel wrote. SGI’s head office, located at 2260 11th Avenue in the CM Fines Building, officially opened its doors on June 14, 1979. According to the Crown, the tower’s distinct gold highlights comes from gold dust on its windows, which was done to conserve energy. SaskTel’s head office was constructed in 1981. According to the latest publicly available annual reports, SGI and SaskTel employ 2,500 and 3,242 workers respectively.
