Gregory J. Leeson
The Life Chronicler
Regina
Saskatchewan
September 11, 2022
September 16, 2022
Regina was terrific for me. As of this writing, I have completed three interviews and have promises of a few more via Zoom. I interviewed a senior citizen resident, and I think this may work well in future cities. Of course, the challenge is finding those who are fully lucid. But they do have stories!
I also met Elvis. Apparently, he is alive and well in Regina. I was out taking photos of the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Garden and The Legislative Building, and there he was doing karaoke. We talked for about 30 minutes, and I learned he goes by “Memphis” now. He was an interesting chap with little time for governmental authorities.
My Airbnb hosts (a married couple) rented the house where I stayed from a University of Regina professor on a sabbatical in Costa Rica. They are from Brazil and decided to emigrate to Canada about a month prior. She is a professor, and he is a former cop. I interviewed them both. These are fascinating stories.
Finally, as a Chicago guy, I have to write about my one hour in Moose Jaw, SK, as I drove to Calgary. Moose Jaw is known as “Little Chicago” because of the Al Capone connection. Because there was a rail connection between the two towns, Capone made Moose Jaw the location from which he received shipments. Legend has it that he actually visited the place. I learned this while taking photos and saw a mural depicting the story. In the movie “The Untouchables” with Kevin Costner and Sean Connery, there was a scene of them intercepting hooch in Saskatchewan. Now, it makes sense. Who knew?