Best of Regina returns for its 22nd year, huzzah

Best of Regina | Stephen Whitworth

UPDATE: Best of Regina 2024 nominations are now closed. Look for the final, multiple-choice ballot Friday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.

Best of Regina is BACK. Surprise!

Most of you will (should? Might?) remember how this works. Best of Regina is an online poll that rolls out with a nomination round where you write in your pick in any category you want to. You can head over there right now if you want! Nominations close on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

After the first round, we compile the top nominees for the final ballot and eliminate ineligible candidates. For example, every year 78,000 people nominate “McDonald’s” under best French fires. No. We’re keeping things local. No McDonald’s, or Wendy’s, or Five Guys.

The final ballot, which launches Wednesday, Oct. 23 and runs until Monday, Nov. 18, is an easy-to-use multiple-choice form. You simply pick your preference from the available choices in as many categories as you like. If your preferred choice isn’t there, it’s because they didn’t get enough nominations in the nomination round. This is why people shouldn’t skip the nomination round!

We release the list of winners on Thursday, Dec. 12, at which point celebrations and/or bitter complaints may ensue.

That’s the basics! Remember, the quality of this enterprise depends on the quality of Regina’s efforts. Now go get it!

Housekeeping

DOUBLE THE FUN This year’s reader poll combines Prairie Dog’s beloved contest with our possibly-even-more-beloved Best of Food contest. Why not keep them separate? Because we do what we want. Ha! Anyway, we’ll assume this is welcome news for the hundreds of thousands of readers (estimated) who were sad there was no Best of Food poll this past spring.

WORST OF TIMES Our 2024 two-headed, Best of Regina/Best of Food mega-poll also brings back the possibly controversial Worst Of Regina section, which was originally intended to be a one-off. LOTS of readers voted in it last year, so it clearly resonated with people. Is it a bit mean? Is it potentially demoralizing? Maybe, but every city on the planet has foibles that irritate its residents and Regina is no exception, so we all might as well have some fun with it. And anyway, we can’t fix problems without first identifying them. That’s a basic rule of life. It goes for work, relationships, raising kids, health problems and Regina, Saskatchewan. And anyway, don’t you want to vote on Regina’s Worst Ugly Building? I mean, WE do…

HELP A DOG OUT Best of Regina can only be as awesome as this city makes it. The easiest way to boost the Best-of is by voting and promoting. For most of you, promoting just means spreading the word about the contest to family and friends — more votes = better results. Some of you might be looking for nominations or, later, votes, so by all means campaign hard! On top of that, many categories put a favourable spotlight on local businesses and organizations. Best of  Regina creates a LOT of value, which is why, when possible, businesses and organizations can and should support the contest with paid advertising. Best of Regina runs on revenue as well as imagination.

JUST THE FAQS Contests have rules. It’s true! Some examples: you must be from Saskatchewan to vote in Best of Regina. Also, one vote per person. Learn more here.

INSIDER ANGLE When you register to vote in Best of Regina you must sign up to our weekly local events and contests e-newsletter, PD Insider. If you’re new to the Insider, well, we think you’ll love it! If you hate it, you can opt out. If you’re already signed up, just follow the prompts. The point is, you must accept a free PD Insider subscription to vote.

That’s all for now. The contest is live! Have fun! Vote!