About the University of Regina
The University of Regina—with campuses located in Regina and Saskatoon on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories, the ancestral lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakoda, and Lakota nations and the homeland of the Métis—is a comprehensive, mid-sized university that traces its roots back to the creation of Regina College, a small residential high school established by the Methodist church in 1911. The College grew in size and significance becoming a campus of the University of Saskatchewan and, ultimately, an independent degree granting university – the University of Regina – in 1974.
In 2019, the University experienced 11 consecutive years of enrolment growth and the largest enrolment increase in 37 years. Our student body in Fall 2019 was 16,501 full-time and part-time students – a record number, registered in our 10 faculties, 25 academic departments and schools, 18 research centres and institutes, and three federated colleges (Campion College, First Nations University of Canada, and Luther College). Our Colleges bring excellence and diversity to the educational experience we offer.
In 2017, the University of Regina was ranked in the Top 200 Best Young Universities in the world by Times Higher Education, building on our established reputation for excellence and innovative programs that lead to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.
Tuition remains below the national average and the University ranks second nationally among comprehensive universities in the level of student financial support – scholarships, awards, and bursaries – available as a percentage of tuition.
In Regina, our main campus and historic College Avenue campus are located on 239 acres and provide an attractive study and work environment for our students, faculty and staff. Both Regina campuses are located in Wascana Centre, one of the largest urban parks in North America.
On August 1, 2018, the University of Regina campuses became 100 per cent smoke-free as part of our commitment to providing a safe and healthy place in which to study, work, live, and visit.
History of University of Regina Athletics
The modern era of intercollegiate athletics at the U of R dates back to 1968, when the men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, and men’s wrestling teams participated in the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association. After four seasons in the WCIAA, the Cougars and Cougettes became charter members of the newly formed Great Plains Athletic Conference prior to the 1972-73 season.
The U of R took a brief hiatus from intercollegiate play during the mid-1970s but quickly returned all five varsity teams to the GPAC and added a men’s hockey team which rose to national prominence almost immediately. Under the guidance of head coach Reg Higgs, the Cougars won four GPAC banners in their first six years of existence. The team had its finest finish in the CIAU in 1980, when the Cougars defeated Moncton and Guelph to advance to the national championship game.
Regina hosted its first national tournament in 1979, when the CIAU women’s basketball championship came to town. Making their first appearance in a CIAU tournament, the Cougettes were defeated in the quarterfinals by Laurentian, which would go on to win the CIAU title with a win over Victoria.
Prior to the 1983-84 season, the U of R changed the name of its women’s teams from the Cougettes to the Lady Cougars, as they would be known until the 1990s. Currently, all U of R teams – with the exception of the Rams – are known as, simply, the Cougars.
After nine seasons in the GPAC, the U of R’s men’s hockey team – along with Brandon and Manitoba – joined Canada West in 1985-86, creating a highly competitive eight-team conference.
The late 1980s saw the quality of the U of R’s athletic teams grow stronger and stronger. Led by coach Ken Murray, the men’s basketball team qualified for the 1989 CIAU Championship in Halifax, where they advanced to the semifinals before bowing out to Victoria. 1989 also saw the U of R’s first Canada West title, as the men’s wrestling team claimed the conference championship. The women’s volleyball team qualified for the 1990 CIAU Championship, while the women’s basketball team played in the national tournament in 1989, 1990, and 1991.
Guided by head coach Leo McGee, the men’s wrestling team brought home the U of R’s first national championship in 1997 and successfully repeated as CIAU champions in 1998. The Cougars won an incredible six Canada West championships in a row in the mid to late-1990s.
The late 1990s saw the addition of women's hockey, men’s and women’s track & field, women's wrestling, and men’s and women’s swimming. Through a community partnership agreement, the Regina Rams ascended from the junior ranks to the CIAU and retained their moniker while operating as a University of Regina team. The Rams had a meteoric introduction to CIS football, going all the way to the Vanier Cup game in just their second season of university ball.
By the time the early 2000s had arrived, the U of R’s women’s basketball team had established itself as a force on the CIS scene. Head coach Christine Stapleton guided the Cougars to the national championship in 2001, finishing off a spectacular season that saw the team lose just two games all year long.
The GPAC was merged into Canada West following the 2000-01 season, paving the way for women's soccer to join prior to the 2001 season along with men's and women's cross country.
The 2005-06 season heralded the opening of the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport, which was originally built to host the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina. The main gym of the CKHS seats over 2000 and is the home court for the school's basketball and volleyball teams.
Curling became an official CIS sport beginning in 2007-08, and the University of Regina's teams - run under the auspices of the school's Recreation Services department - has brought home two national championships. Chris Busby's rink won the men's CIS/CCA nationals in 2009, while Brooklyn Lemon's rink took home the women's title in 2010.
The U of R has hosted six national tournaments in the past two decades, including the 2002 and 2003 CIS Women's Hockey Championship at what is now the Brandt Centre and the 2009, 2013, and 2018 CIS/U SPORTS Women's Basketball Championships and the 2014 CIS Women's Volleyball Championship on campus at the CKHS.
National Champions
1997 – Men’s Wrestling (
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1998 – Men’s Wrestling (
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2001 – Women’s Basketball (
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2009 – Men's Curling (
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2010 – Women's Curling (
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2024 – Men's Curling
Conference Champions (Canada West)
1989 – Men’s Wrestling (
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1994 – Men’s Wrestling (
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1995 – Men’s Wrestling (
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1996 – Men’s Wrestling (
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1997 – Men’s Wrestling (
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1998 – Men’s Wrestling (
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1999 – Men’s Wrestling (
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2000 – Football (
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2001 – Women’s Hockey (
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2002 – Men’s Wrestling (
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2004 – Women’s Basketball (
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2009 – Men's Cross Country (
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2010 – Men's Track & Field (
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2011 – Men's Track & Field (
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2011 – Men's Wrestling (
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2012 – Men's Wrestling (
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2013 – Women's Basketball (
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2014 – Men's Track & Field (
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2018 – Women's Basketball (
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2022 – Women's Curling
Conference Champions (Great Plains)
1978 – Men’s Hockey (
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1979 – Men’s Hockey (
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1980 – Men’s Hockey (
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1982 – Men’s Hockey (
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1989 – Women's Basketball (
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1990 – Women’s Basketball (
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1991 – Women’s Basketball (
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1999 – Women’s Basketball (
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2000 – Women’s Basketball (
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2001 – Women’s Basketball (
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