The GF is from Regina, so had to make the trek there this spring to meet her family. I've known a lot of people FROM Regina who have universally shat on it so my expectations weren't high - they were pretty dismal actually.
I have to say, I was pleasantely surprised, although I admit to only having superficial exposure to the place. We were in the north end which I guess is the worse end of town and it still seemed to be pretty decent. Houses were generally older but reasonably kept. Lots of mini malls and what for all your basic shopping needs.
Downtown was non existent as you would expect. That said, it's better to have nothinh than to have blocks of squalor like Winnipeg's downtown. I asked to be taken to the crappy parts of town and was show something that resembled the Capitol Hill area of Calgary, circa 1985, but in poorer kept shape. The area was quite close to downtown. Older houses from the 50's, that had let the maintenance go. Many of the inhabitants did look a little sketchy though.
Overall, it's the career prospects and inability to increase earning power that keep people away from Regina and Saskatoon, so if that aspect is not a problem for you then it looks like an OK place to raise a family. Depending on your stage of life, perhaps a nice quiet place to raise a family matters more than having Pearl Jam play a set.
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