• Age: 3 to 18
• Grade: p to 12

“This is the lake in the middle of town, a sparkling gem in the Queen City ’s crown.”

It is amazing to comprehend the foresight of Regina’s first settlers in creating Wascana Lake. The evolution from the little creek in the middle of nowhere to the jewel-like lake in the middle of a capital city is a compelling story — a story that demonstrates the spirit and determination of a community whose vision and cooperative efforts created a very special place.

Explore the sights and seasons around Wascana Lake, the centrepiece of Regina, Saskatchewan, in this delightful children’s book that highlights the vibrant history, events and activities that make our lake everyone’s favourite gathering place.

Neil Sawatzky lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he enjoys an active retirement following the pursuits of his ten grandchildren. As a grandfather, he has gained an even greater appreciation for the importance of maintaining family ties and promoting healthy lifestyles—particularly during challenging times! Reflecting on these thoughts and reading to his grandchildren inspired the concept of a children’s book that illustrated the parallel daily activities of a young boy and his grandfather. This is Neil’s second children’s picture book produced in collaboration with Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing. The Lake in the Middle of Town was a finalist in the Children’s Literature category of the Saskatchewan Book Awards in 2005.

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Julio Salazar was born in Pedro de Valdivia, a small mining town in the arid desert of northern Chile. As a child he was passionate about image creating and was encouraged from an early age to pursue this talent. His family emigrated to Canada in 1975. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art, Julio currently works as a graphic designer in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he and his wife raised their family. Compelled by his Hispanic heritage to create strong graphic compositions and richly coloured imagery, he continually seeks visual inspiration and creative challenge — it’s what keeps his spirit alive.

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