Classrooms at Regina's new Harbour Landing school might not be ready for 2027 opening after break

Classrooms at Regina's new Harbour Landing school might not be ready for 2027 opening after break-in

Areas damaged by smoke must be cleaned by hand, Regina Catholic Schools says

The joint-use school under construction in Regina's Harbour Landing neighbourhood could be without functioning classrooms on its second floor when it opens in 2027 because of damage from a break-in.

The Regina Catholic School Division says classrooms on that floor might not be ready for the planned opening due to smoke damage.

The Regina Police Service confirmed the damage resulted from a break-in at the construction site earlier this year. Officers were sent to the construction site on May 13.

It's unclear what the damage could mean for staffing and classroom sizes at the facility.

"Because we always look ahead, we’re working on contingency plans should they be unavailable to open in September 2027," said Twylla West, a spokesperson for Regina Catholic Schools.

West said Regina Catholic Schools is waiting for more specifics from an insurance company but there are some extra steps involved because it does not own the site.

The damage is believed to be primarily smoke-related, West said, and the residue needs to be cleaned by hand.

The joint-use facility is a partnership between Regina Public Schools and Regina Catholic Schools. It will serve up to 500 public school students and 350 Catholic school students and include 90 new child-care spaces, reporters were told at a news conference in August 2025.

Construction starts on new Harbour Landing school in Regina, with expected 2027 opening

Regina Public Schools did not immediately return a request for comment.

Investigators were told the building had been broken into and that several small fires had been lit throughout the building, police said.

Graffiti was also spray-painted inside and a window on a construction trailer was broken, police confirmed.

Police said the incident reported on May 13 followed at least three other incidents of break-ins and vandalism.

The investigation into the fires is ongoing. Police asked anyone with information that might help investigators to call them, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Alexander Quon is the provincial affairs reporter for CBC Saskatchewan. He has been a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan since 2021 and is happy to be working in his hometown of Regina after half a decade in Atlantic Canada. He has previously worked with the CBC News investigative unit in Nova Scotia and Global News in Halifax. Alexander specializes in freedom of information requests and data reporting. He can be reached at: alexander.quon@cbc.ca.