Community Impact

PROFILE
Situated in the heart of the Queen City -- Regina, Evraz Place is one of the largest and most influential event complexes in the country. It is a centre of excellence for entertainment, agri-business, sporting, recreational and cultural activities. Evraz Place boasts 1.2 million square feet of indoor space and close to 42 acres of usable outdoor tradeshow space. Registered as a not-for-profit organization, Evraz Place receives no subsidization for operating expenses from the public sector. The organization produces and hosts the majority of Regina’s major events every year, including the Western Canada Farm Progress Show presented by Viterra, the provincial exhibition -- Queen City Ex and Prairie Mobile Taste of Spring. It is home to Canadian Western Agribition, the WHL’s Regina Pats, Regina Soccer Association, Spring Home & Garden Show & Sale, First Nations University of Canada Pow Wow and numerous concerts, tradeshows and conventions.

ECONOMIC IMPACT
Evraz Place is an economic engine that generates a $75 million impact annually on Regina and the surrounding areas’ economy. It supports over 3,100 jobs in the province, creating $50 million in labour income. The event site impacts on a broad range of people with more than 70 percent of them coming from outside an 80km radius. It was estimated that more than 2.5 million people pass through the gates of Evraz Place annually, attending over 1,000 events. These events and activities also provide opportunities for local, regional and national media exposure.

EMPLOYMENT
Evraz Place operates on an annual budget of $27 million and employs approximately 160 full-time and more than 925 part-time and casual employees. Recognizing this ongoing success would not be possible without the support of its dedicated employees. In 2010, Evraz Place celebrated the long term commitment and contributions of 50 employees recognizing their service ranging from 5 – 35 years of dedication to serving Evraz Place customers. Evraz Place is committed to ongoing staff training, appreciation and professional development. Various staff appreciation events are held throughout the year. The organization also offers the Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP), which provides counselling services and assistance to Evraz Place employees and their families.

CORPORATE ROLE
Evraz Place gives back to the community that it serves and is the largest employer of residents from the North Central community. Through gainful employment with Evraz Place, many of these individuals have overcome the challenges of alcohol and/or substance abuse and enduring a subsistent state of being.

To serve the organization’s corporate social responsibility, Evraz Place staff is taking a part in supporting the Wascana/Herchmer School partnership through volunteer activities and fundraising for an annual Christmas lunch and gifts for all students, and its Adopt-A-Family Christmas program. Evraz Place encourages student leadership and academic achievements by sponsoring the monthly Wascana School virtue awards as well as an annual year-end school barbecue. In addition, every student receives a day tripper pass to the provincial exhibition -- Queen City Ex. Grade 8 students are provided with a half day work experience at Evraz Place. Evraz Place also provides a $2,000 scholarship to a former student of Wascana School to assist him/her in the pursuit of post-secondary studies.

TOURISM
Evraz Place is an important anchor within the tourism industry - provincially, nationally and internationally. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the province and brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

In recognition of hte numerous spin-offs created by the tourism industry, management and staff at Evraz Place are committed to fostering and maintaining partnerships that work to strengthen the tourism network. Members of the management team sit on the Board of Directors of Regina Regional Opportunities Commission (RROC) and various tourism committees. Evraz Place is also an active member of RROC, participating in many of their marketing programs and also involved with other tourism organizations such as the Regina Airport Authority, Tourism Saskatchewan, Special Events Regina (SER) and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP). Management members have been key participants in major event bids, and organizing committees, which have been successful in attracting events like the 2006 Tim Horton's Brier, 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards, 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships