REGINA — New Year's is a time of celebration for many as the calendar flips to 2026.
While people prepare to celebrate with drinking or smoking, SGI is reminding residents to ensure they have a safe way to get home.
“There are many options for a safe ride home or to stay the night if that's a possibility. And we just wanna make sure everyone is safe,” said SGI spokesperson Michaela Solomon.
Solomon said planning ahead for a ride is key, whether it’s getting a lift from a friend/family member, a taxi or taking transit.
Transit in the two major Saskatchewan cities, Saskatoon and Regina, is free on New Year’s Eve thanks to a partnership with SGI.
For Saskatoon, free transit for all conventional routes is from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m., and access transit customers can ride from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Meanwhile, Regina’s conventional transit is free from 7 a.m. until 2:15 a.m., while paratransit is free from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m.
“[This] provides a safe ride home, and it's free, so people don't have to worry about if they haven't taken transit before,” said City of Regina transit director Nathan Luhning.
Last year, Luhning said roughly 2,600 people took advantage of free transit in Regina.
“[So] we play an important part in making sure that everybody can get a safe ride home on New Year's Eve,” said Luhning.
