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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Wascana Centre unveils new master plan for area's future
WATCH: Regina's Wascana Centre has unveiled the final draft of a master plan for its future. Wayne Mantyka has the details. The Wascana Centre, home to the Saskatchewan Legislative Building and the University of Regina, has unveiled a master plan that showcases its future. The area has long been recognized as the heart of Regina and has gradually evolved over the decades. The latest change is to the shoreline near the legislative building with new pathways and additional benches. A new master plan is released every 10 years. 'Things that we are going to be working on is continuing to invest in the pathways system, renewing our picnic sites, renewing our washrooms and then we also have an example of if we were to do a seasonal lane closure,' Jenna Schroeder, executive director of the Provincial Capital Commission said. The final draft of the 2025 Wascana Centre Master Plan can be seen on the centre's website. 'Anybody can take a look, they can download the draft and email your feedback,' Schroeder said. Wascana Centre Master Plan Wascana Park was founded in 1912 and was incorporated into Wascana Centre 50 years later. The latest master plan is aiming to ensure the area remains one of Regina's most cherished places to visit. Nick and Barn Eugelmi are a prime example of how many people have enjoyed the centre for decades. They come to the legislative building's flower garden every year on Barb's birthday. 'We love nature, especially flowers and things like that and here is an ideal thing,' Nick Eugelmi said. The two have many happy memories together from over the decades at Wascana Centre. 'We took our children here into the park for walking and looking around and things like that,' Barb Eugelmi said.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Our Guide To The Best Lawn Sprinklers In Canada In 2025 (And Where To Get Them)
Discover the best lawn sprinklers in Canada : compare watering patterns, coverage, durability, and find the best places to buy for a greener, healthier lawn. Lawn care is an important part of home ownership for most people, but in many areas in Canada, the climate is too prone to hot sun and too stingy on rainfall. That can spell disaster for the health and appearance of your grass. Plus, hot summer days can be draining for kids, adults, and pets. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a solution for both problems in one? Well, there is! A lawn sprinkler is the easiest way to take care of your lawn in the warmer months, and they provide tons of summer fun for the whole family, too. They're incredibly easy to set up and maintain, and many of them are so durable that they come with a lifetime warranty. A variety of styles and spray patterns guarantees a perfect fit for every lawn, too. If you're ready to buy a new or replacement lawn sprinkler to keep your grass looking great for as long as possible, we're here to help make sure you find the best fit. Lawn sprinklers will vary in a variety of features, including price, style, coverage area, maximum pressure, and much more. Each factor deserves some thought! This comprehensive guide will investigate the best lawn sprinklers in Canada in 2025 and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let's dive right into our top five products. The Best Lawn Sprinklers Right Now Our Oscillating Pick for The Best Lawn Sprinkler Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler Review What We Think of the Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler The Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler is something to admire, folks. It's got a long list of great features, and we're going to dive in right now. Its maximum coverage area is quite staggering at 4,500 sq. ft. No matter how big your lawn is, this sprinkler can keep it hydrated. It's even usable with well water, so you won't need to worry about any grit in the water causing damage over time. Thank goodness. We're also really impressed by the adjustability of this thing. With the zoom knob, you can shrink or expand the water spread in both directions simultaneously, but you can also control each dimension separately. You'll never waste water watering the driveway or the sidewalk again. With a solid metal base, it doesn't flop around, either. It stays where you put it. That metal base also provides an insane amount of longevity—this thing is warrantied for life. Imagine that. The only reason you might find for skipping over this option and finding something else is the price tag. It's one of the more expensive lawn sprinklers out there right now, and while we feel that its value is deserving of a higher price, it still won't be accessible—or worthwhile—to everyone. All in all, the Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler is one of the best lawn sprinklers we've ever seen. Whether you're prioritizing ease of use, adjustability, or longevity, you'll be extremely happy with this option. We promise you won't regret it. Performance: 5/5 Usability: 5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Quality: 5/5 What Reviewers Are Saying About the Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler Reviewers have a lot of great things to say about the Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler. They love being able to adjust the water spread in three different ways, and they have a lot of faith in its ability to last for a decade or more. The coverage area has been perfect for everyone, too. They highly recommend it to others and agree it's worth the higher price. Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler Pros and Cons Buy If… You'd appreciate a lot of adjustability in the coverage area You'll need to use your sprinkler with well water Longevity is important to you You're tired of sprinklers that flop around Don't Buy If… An affordable sprinkler is what you're after Melnor 65154AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler Specifications Dimensions: 7.1' x 17.2' x 3.4' Weight: 2.5 lbs Colour: Silver Style: Oscillating Number of Nozzles: 20 Maximum Pressure: 120 PSI Coverage Area: 4,500 sq. ft Warranty: Lifetime Our Alternative Oscillating Pick Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler Review What We Think of the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler The Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler is another great choice that we feel confident recommending to just about anybody. Since the coverage area can be adjusted easily in both dimensions, you'll be able to make sure that all of the water is actually watering your grass, not the sidewalk, fence, or driveway. It moves at a good pace, too, so it saturates the lawn thoroughly without taking forever. This sprinkler is very easy to set up with any standard garden hose, too, and you won't have to worry about any leaks at the connection site. What a relief! We also love that you'll get a nozzle cleaning tool with the sprinkler—if any of the nozzles ever get clogged, it'll only take you a few seconds with the tool to get them back to full function. Every inch of lawn deserves the same care, right? There are only two shortcomings that might make you think twice about this lawn sprinkler. First, the coverage area is limited to 3,600 sq. ft, so if that won't work for your property, you'll need to look elsewhere. The oscillation feature also has a risk of failing, so you might end up with a sprinkler that gets stuck at some point in the cycle. Not ideal, we know. All in all, the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler is a fantastic choice if you're set on having this style and you'd like to save some money. Aside from the low risk of oscillation trouble in the future, this sprinkler is pretty perfect. Performance: 4.5/5 Usability: 5/5 Price: 4.5/5 Quality: 4/5 What Reviewers Are Saying About the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler Reviewers have mostly great things to say about the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler. The one complaint that popped up repeatedly is the oscillation—multiple people experienced the sprinkler getting stuck at some point along the rotation. They really appreciate the adjustability when it works, though, and the range is perfect for most properties. Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler Pros and Cons Buy If… You don't like wasting water with a leaky connection You'd appreciate a sprinkler that can water quickly Adjustability is important You want an easy way to clear clogged nozzles Don't Buy If… You need coverage for a really large yard Durability is a priority Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Oscillating Sprinkler Specifications Dimensions: 16' x 5.2' x 2.4' Weight: 1.6 lbs Colour: Blue Style: Oscillating Number of Nozzles: 16 Maximum Pressure: 120 PSI Maximum Spray Distance: 70 ft Maximum Spray Width: 37.8 ft Coverage Area: 3,600 sq. ft Warranty: 2 years Our Fixed Spike Pick Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike Review What We Think of the Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike The Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike is pretty cool. The head rotates 360 degrees, and you're also able to adjust the water spread in both dimensions independently or simultaneously. Talk about maximum versatility! It even has a flo-thru base so you can connect multiple sprinklers to the same water source. That's absolutely brilliant! This sprinkler is also compatible with well water, so you won't have to worry about it accumulating damage over time due to any grit that's in the water. We love that for you. We also love how easily and firmly it secures in the ground. The step spike design makes it really easy to plant firmly in the ground, so no amount of wind or water pressure will mess with your watering plan. Of course, the main downside of choosing a spike sprinkler is that it's fixed in the ground. If you're looking for a sprinkler that's easy to move around the yard to target different areas, this one won't be a good fit. It also sits a good distance above the ground, so it might become a tripping hazard if you're not paying close attention to where you're putting your feet. All in all, the Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike was an easy favourite for us this year. No matter what type of property you're looking to care for, this sprinkler has all the features you'll need to get the job done right. Performance: 5/5 Usability: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Quality: 5/5 What Reviewers Are Saying About the Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike Reviewers are impressed by the performance of the Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike, considering its small size. It works just as well, if not better, than the traditional oscillating sprinklers they've used in the past. They love that the entire head rotates, that it can oscillate or be locked in one position, and offers adjustable water spread. Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike Pros and Cons Buy If… You want a sprinkler that can be secured in the ground You need multiple sprinklers in your yard You'll be using well water 360-degree adjustability appeals to you Don't Buy If… You need a sprinkler that can easily be moved around You don't want any tripping hazards on your lawn Melnor 65137AMZ MiniMax Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler on Step Spike Specifications Dimensions: 2.8' x 4.9' x 14.2' Weight: 1.4 lbs Colour: Black and yellow Style: Fixed oscillating spike Number of Nozzles: 16 Maximum Spray Distance: 69 ft Maximum Spray Width: 58 ft Coverage Area: 4,000 sq. ft Warranty: Lifetime Our Rotating Spike Pick Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler Review What We Think of the Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler As one of the most affordable sprinklers currently available right now, the Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler is pretty popular. It has more going for it than just a low price, though. It's also the absolute best if you have an uneven lawn and need something that will water each area perfectly. With the rotating design, even water saturation is something you can count on. This sprinkler is also incredibly compact and lightweight, so if you need something that can move around the property or even travel with you to the cottage or second home, this is a great choice. It stores easily for the winter, too. We also enjoy that you can adjust the water direction from each arm of the sprinkler, so it can suit your property even better. Unfortunately, this sprinkler also comes with a couple of downsides. First, it's made of pretty cheap and flimsy plastic, so durability is understandably pretty poor. That's the main tradeoff for the extremely low price tag. Our other concern is the coverage area. It's advertised as 3,000 sq. ft, but it's extremely dependent on your water pressure and luck. Overall, the Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler is a solid choice if affordability and even watering are your main priorities. Its longevity is extremely questionable, and it doesn't offer the best coverage area, but it should still be well-suited to most lawns. Performance: 4/5 Usability: 4/5 Price: 5/5 Quality: 3.5/5 What Reviewers Are Saying About the Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler Reviewers have mixed feelings about the Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler. They appreciate that the price was so low and that it does a great job of spreading water around evenly (no flooding in low areas or underwatering high areas), but the build quality is very poor, and the rotation gets stuck sometimes. They were expecting better in those areas. Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler Pros and Cons Buy If… You'd like to adjust the spray direction easily Affordability is a big priority You're looking for an ultra-compact sprinkler Even water saturation is essential for your lawn Don't Buy If… You need a lawn sprinkler that can cover big distances You want a sprinkler that'll last Kadaon Rotating Lawn Sprinkler Specifications Colour: Light blue Style: Fixed rotating spike Number of Nozzles: 12 Maximum Pressure: 60 PSI Maximum Spray Distance: 24-49 ft (water pressure dependent) Coverage Area: 3,000 sq. ft Our Stationary Turret Pick Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler Review What We Think of the Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler There are so many things we like about the Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler. One of them is how many vibrant colours it comes in—six options guarantee you'll be able to find a favourite for you and your kids, and you'll never lose the sprinkler in tall grass! What a bonus. It's incredibly durable, too, so it can hold up to kids stepping on it for year after year. The pattern selection is another compelling feature you'll get to enjoy. Nine different spray patterns are available so your lawn gets exactly the water coverage it needs and your kids get to enjoy different games with different patterns. This sprinkler even has a molded hook so you can store it on a wall and keep it out of the way in the off-season. There's only one reason why this sprinkler won't work for everybody, and that's because of its coverage area. While the coverage of each pattern will be different, none of them offers any compatibility with large lawns. As long as your property is small or medium in size, you'll be perfectly happy with its performance in this area. All in all, the Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler is an amazing option if you've got a small-medium lawn to take care of and kids to entertain. With many unique patterns and vibrant colours to choose from, easy storage, and even lawn coverage, it's a pretty superb choice. Wouldn't you agree? Performance: 5/5 Usability: 4.5/5 Price: 4/5 Quality: 5/5 What Reviewers Are Saying About the Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler Reviewers are very happy with the Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler. All of the different patterns make it easy to find one that works for their lawn, and their kids have lots of fun playing with it, too. They appreciate that it can be stored on the wall, and it feels really durable. They'd all recommend this one for others and buy it again themselves. Some of them already have! Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler Pros and Cons Buy If… You'd love a sprinkler that offers more than one spray pattern You're looking for a sprinkler for the lawn and for the kids You'll want to store your sprinkler on the wall over the winter Longevity is a priority Don't Buy If… You're watering a large property Dramm 15024 Colorstorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler Specifications Dimensions: 2.5' x 8.5' x 7' Weight: 0.9 lbs Colour: 6 options Style: Stationary turret Maximum Pressure: 90 PSI Maximum Spray Distance: 66 ft Coverage Area: Pattern dependent Warranty: Lifetime Why Trust Shopping Trends? At Shopping Trends, every product we review goes through rigorous hands-on testing to ensure we're recommending only the best for Canadian households. With over a decade of experience in product evaluation and consumer reporting, I personally oversee each test and comparison. Our process is transparent, methodical, and grounded in real-world usage. Whether it's a cordless vacuum, a 4K TV, or a hammock for your next camping trip, we evaluate items the way you'd use them at home. When needed, we also consult Canadian industry experts to offer context and help readers make confident, informed decisions. Every 'top pick' featured in our guides has earned its spot through careful analysis, not sponsorship. How to Properly Choose Your Lawn Sprinkler Price The price of a lawn sprinkler can fall anywhere between $15 and $70. Most people won't need to spend more than $50 to find something perfect, though. Generally, more expensive lawn sprinklers will offer larger coverage areas, better durability, and more versatility thanks to adjustable spray dimensions. Coverage Area The coverage of a lawn sprinkler will typically fall between 3,000 and 4,500 square feet. The exact dimensions will vary, though, especially with turret sprinklers that offer a variety of spray patterns. If you have an especially large property to water, you'll want to make sure that the spray distance and width will match your lawn. Maximum Spray Distance The maximum spray distance of a lawn sprinkler can land anywhere between 20 and 70 feet on average. The longer the distance, the more area can be watered without moving the sprinkler around, so if you have a large yard, it's a good idea to look for the largest spray distance you can find, just to be safe. Durability Not all lawn sprinklers are created equal, and that's especially true when you look at durability. Some sprinklers are made of really cheap plastic and don't hold up well to frequent use, weather exposure, or accidental stomps. Others are made of high-quality metal and are guaranteed for life. Logically, we recommend looking for a lawn sprinkler that'll last at least 5 seasons. Style There are many types of sprinklers out there, and they each have their own unique lists of pros and cons. Some of the more popular types include: oscillating sprinklers (prone to pooling water on uneven lawns but offer the largest coverage areas and adjustability); oscillating or rotating spike sprinklers (more limited coverage areas but are planted firmly in the ground for stability); and turret sprinklers (have the smallest coverage areas but offer tons of versatility with different spray patterns). The best style for your lawn is a personal decision, and it's best to make it before you start shopping! 17 Outdoor Furniture And Decor Pieces That'll Instantly Upgrade Your Backyard Our Guide To The Best Patio Heaters In Canada In 2025 (And Where To Get Them) 16 Budget Backyard Upgrades That Look Expensive But Aren't Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We'll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
Highway 2 expansion through Red Deer wetland prompts conservation concerns
The provincial government is expanding Alberta's busiest highway, but some are worried wetlands near Red Deer will be lost to make way for the widened route. The Highway 2 corridor will be expanded through three phases of construction that will see sections of the route expanded and realigned near the central Alberta city. In preliminary design documents, ministry planners tout the project as a way to provide a smoother, safer ride through the Red Deer region and ease congestion on a highway that serves millions of drivers each year. But as the highway shifts and expands, wetlands and forested areas in Red Deer's Maskepetoon Park will be lost to development — raising concern from conservationists and the City of Red Deer. According to preliminary designs, the highway will cut through the northwest edge of the park, a 30 hectare parcel of land within the Waskasoo Park system along the city's western boundary, just north of the Red Deer River. Todd Nivens, executive director of Waskasoo Environmental Education Society, said the project could cause unforeseen harm to a fragile habitat within Maskepetoon Park, which is rich in biodiversity. A 2007 master plan developed for the City of Red Deer described Maskepetoon Park as an "ecologically significant and valuable area containing many unique natural features." 'Extremely reactive' The wetland, which includes a tamarack fen surrounded by mixed wood forest, serves as an important buffer between the highway to the west, the Red Deer River to the east and south, Nivens said. "The reality is that wetlands are extremely dynamic environments and they are extremely reactive to changes in their inputs," he said. ''We need to really think about what the impacts are going to be. How do we offset that by providing habitat, with the expectation that this space may not survive this process." The province has promised to offset the loss of the wetlands through the creation of a new habitat. According to planning documents, a gravel pit from construction would be converted into a new natural area, with ponds and wetlands, when the highway expansion is finished. An open house in Red Deer on Tuesday was dominated with questions about the wetland. Greg Sikora, Red Deer's parks and public works manager, was there and said residents are concerned about the loss of a beloved habitat. The designs remain preliminary but city is working with the province to minimize the damage and determine how Red Deer can be compensated for the harms the highway is likely to cause to one of the city's cherished parks, he said. Sikora said design features like sound barriers or retaining walls have been considered to provide more protection to the park but such strategies will have a limited effect. "They're open to taking those courses measures," he said. "But putting a road right through a portion of the park, or through a section of it, that's pretty black and white," he said. The city is considering what it will take to compensate Red Deerians for the loss. No replacement will be perfect but city administration is mulling over what exactly they will be asking for in ongoing negotiations, he said. "It is a very sensitive area, but we also understand that we need to work collaboratively," Sikora said. "It is a coveted park by all Red Deerians and people who visit the city." A replacement wetland Sikora said the province has taken the city's concerns seriously and he understands that the safety upgrades must be done within the confines of map crowded by rail lines, parks, waterways and existing infrastructure. "They're trying to thread a highway through there," he said. "I'm very much a strong advocate for the park system, but I also understand the the challenge they're faced with." In a statement to CBC News Thursday, Devin Dreeshen, Alberta's transportation minister, said only areas of the park that were created through the original construction of the highway in the 1960s will be impacted. The design team is working closely with the city to study and minimize the potential impacts, Dreeshen said. Work to convert the gravel pit, an area upstream of the highway known as known as Burnt Lake, has been ongoing for several years, Dreeshen said. "It is approximately twice the size of Maskepetoon Park and contains several large ponds with a total area more than three times the size of the manmade ponds being impacted," Dreeshen said. "Once the construction project is complete, the remaining portion of the gravel pit will be reclaimed, completing the conversion to a natural area." Construction in three phases The project will proceed in three phases. The first phase, expected to begin in late 2025 and take about a year to complete, will see the existing Highway 2 overpass over the CN railway line, north of Red Deer, replaced. A pair of new, three-lane bridges will be constructed, expanding the stretch of highway to a total of six lanes. During the second phase, the highway between the Highway 11 interchange and the Highway 11A interchange, will be widened from four lanes to six. Once that work is complete, construction will move further south to a section of the highway that flanks the Red Deer River, and move in on Maskepetoon Park. Two Red Deer River bridges will be replaced by two, wider structures to the east of the existing bridges. The highway will be realigned with the new bridges, between the 32nd Street and 67th Street interchanges and widened to a total of eight lanes. The widened highway may also cut across the edge of Heritage Park and impact operations at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. The province said the new design will feature gentler curves and slopes for a safer drive through the Red Deer river valley. Only the first phase has been funded to date, with no clear start dates for construction on the rest of the project. Murray Cunningham, chair of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, said construction will likely cause some challenges for their operation, but they are awaiting more details from the province. He was among hundreds of people who attended the open house with provincial planners on Tuesday. "I work in construction and I know that it's always a headache but it's important that the province looks at improvements," Cunningham said. "It's a busy, important road to Red Deer.
