Latest news with #REAL
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Seven people laid off from REAL as part of restructuring
Seven people laid off from REAL as part of restructuring WATCH: As part of restructuring their business model, seven people have been laid off from the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
REAL lays off 7 members of ‘senior management' as part of restructuring
Jaime Boldt, chair of the board of directors for the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), speaks to reporters on June 3, 2025. Seven people have been relieved of their duties at the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) as part of restructuring at the embattled organization. The staffing changes were confirmed by Jaime Boldt, the chair of REAL's board of directors, following a special city council meeting on Tuesday. The layoffs come as the company works to restructure itself towards a more 'efficient' and 'financially responsible' organization. 'Going back to the mandate that we were given, the motion that was passed a few months ago was asking REAL to go back to the business model – and to look at it and that's what we did,' Boldt told reporters. 'That in-turn led us to a point where we needed to take a really hard look at the structure.' REAL parted ways with the employees on Monday, June 2. Boldt did confirm the seven employees were part of the organization's senior leadership and that their positions were being completely eliminated. 'We also recognize that this impacted people's lives. You know we're talking about positions, we're talking about that, but these are people,' Boldt noted. 'I really want to stress that this was really important to us. It wasn't done without careful consideration and support of the board. Yesterday was not an easy day for many people.' The changes come as REAL is expected to name a permanent CEO in the coming days. 'We are very excited to be making that announcement early next week. Stay tuned,' Boldt added. REAL is due to announce its plans and concert lineups for the 2025 Queen City Ex on Friday, June 6.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
'It's not a favour': Shaun Semple gets 90-year lease at REAL for sports bar, music venue
Social Sharing One of Saskatchewan's most well-known businessmen now has a 90-year lease at Regina's exhibition grounds and a plan to build a "premium sports bar." The deal between Shaun Semple, owner and CEO of the Brandt group of companies, and Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) was approved by city council in an 8-3 vote Tuesday. 102207241 Saskatchewan Ltd., a numbered company owned by Semple, will take over the lease of YQR Distillery Ltd., which has failed to pay REAL approximately $500,000 in rent over the past six months. Jamie Boldt, chair of the REAL board of directors, portrayed the deal as a simple choice between putting REAL onto the path of profitability or having the 42,000-square-foot building tied up in eviction litigation for an undetermined amount of time. "It's an anchor and a real opportunity that we are excited about and it is not a favour," Boldt told council. "We've done our due diligence. We've done all of the things that that needed to be done." 'We don't have to settle' Councillors, including Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Turnbull, raised concerns about the proposed length of the 90-year lease. It was repeatedly pointed out that the lease would exist long after everyone involved in the debate was dead. The lease had to be approved by council because it runs longer than the lease REAL has with the City of Regina for its entire campus. There was also concern about the lack of details provided to city administration, a lack of a publicly available business case for the proposed bar and music venue, and the rush to get this deal across the line with minimal scrutiny. "We've never put this building out for tender. We've never asked anyone else who's doing it. And we don't have to settle. We just don't," Turnbull said. Turnbull unsuccessfully moved for amendments that would limit the length of the lease, increase the rate per square feet and cap the amount of money REAL could contribute to the project. The contract was approved only after council attempted to negotiate the terms of the lease deal with Semple over the phone as the businessman's private plane landed in Ottawa. Semple rejected any change to the terms of the lease he had negotiated with REAL in good faith. "We came to a conclusion of what we could agree on and, you know, what you're proposing is a complete revamp of the agreement. I have no interest in it," Semple said. Each of the proposed amendments were defeated. Only Coun. Turnbull, Ward 7 Coun. Shobna Radons and Ward 3 Coun. David Froh voted against approving the contract. Mayor Chad Bachynski told media he believed it was important to put trust in the new REAL board, which had been directed to make REAL commercially viable after it repeatedly came to council for millions in funding to stay afloat. "Based on what I heard from the experts who are negotiating that deal on the REAL board, I think this is a a good deal moving forward for Regina," Bachynski said. Ownership It emerged during debate that YQR Distillery had done very little work to turn the space into a functional distillery since it signed a lease agreement with REAL in 2021. REAL officials described the space as functioning as a warehouse for wholesale liquor sales. It's not clear why the YQR Distillery has not upgraded the building or why the company had failed to pay the nearly $500,000 it owes in rent over the past six months. The distillery's two shareholders Z Group Holding Ltd. and Sperling Silver Distilleries, which is owned by Adam Sperling, are locked in an ongoing legal dispute. According to the corporate records, Sperling was removed as the director of 102207241 Saskatchewan Ltd., Semple's company, on Feb. 26, 2025. Semple was added as a director for the numbered company on the same date. The plan Semple's vision for the space includes a 200-seat restaurant and bar, an expansion of the Regina Pats store and a 500-capacity music venue that Semple envisions as Saskatchewan's version of the House of Blues. "It will be a destination before and after the Pats and Rider Games, concerts and every other type of event that REAL produces. It will provide a performance home for local artists to gain exposure," Semple told council. The Brandt CEO said that once it is fully operational, it will create more than 100 new jobs with the possibility of as many as 200. To make it become reality, Semple plans to spend at least $12 million to upgrade the space. The lease will also prohibit any other new sports bars or pubs from opening at REAL, and no other company will be able to offer wholesale and distribution of alcoholic beverages. In exchange, Semple will pay $21 million in rent over the initial 50-year term of the lease, with the ability to extend the deal through two 20-year options. He will not pay back the $500,000 in rent owed by YQR Distilleries. Boldt described the venue as a "catalyst project" for the REAL campus. "It also shows that we are going to be around, that REAL is going to exist, and that we need other things to happen at the district," Boldt said. The goal is to have the space at least partially open by September, Boldt said. Layoffs at REAL confirmed Boldt also confirmed that seven people were laid off as REAL tries become more financially responsible. All seven, which Boldt described as being in senior leadership or management positions, were dismissed on Monday. "The positions have been eliminated and there's a total [organizational] restructure," Boldt said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Seven senior leadership positions eliminated at REAL in 'restructuring'
Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) has eliminated several upper management roles as part of an ongoing effort to update how it operates as an arms-length municipal entity. The organization operates the REAL sports complex and exhibition grounds for the City of Regina. Seven senior-level positions were terminated on Monday as part of a 'reorganization and restructuring,' REAL board chair Jaime Boldt confirmed on Tuesday. The eliminated roles were not provided. 'We recognize that this impacted people's lives,' she told media. 'I really want to stress that was important to us, and it wasn't done without careful consideration and support of the board.' Boldt said the layoffs were the next step in REAL's ongoing internal work to review its governance model and become financially stability, as directed by city council last June. 'That's what we did. That, in turn, led us to a point where we needed to take a really hard look at the structure,' Boldt said. 'Yesterday (Monday) was not easy for many, many people and we appreciate that. But this is a business decision, and we believe it's the right thing for REAL.' She said the positions have been rolled into a new management structure that aims 'to create efficiencies and be more financially responsible in the operations of REAL.' City council's directive for internal changes was the culmination of months of critical attention on REAL. That followed a failed tourism campaign that drew international attention for its 'sexist' undertones. The organization later revealed it has been running deficits since 2021. REAL has also been granted $15.4 million in funding top-ups from the city to cover its deficits in the last two years. City administration is separately exploring its own report on the future of the corporation. That includes assessing the risks to the city as REAL's sole stakeholder if the organization were to dissolve. During a special city council meeting Tuesday, Boldt noted an announcement is coming next week about REAL's efforts to hire a new president and CEO. lkurz@ REAL to stay, new board and financial plan to come this fall REAL's new interim CEO pulls 'inappropriate' comment from consulting website The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Newsweek
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Citizen Detained by ICE and Told His REAL ID Is 'Fake'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Leonardo García Venegas, a Florida-born U.S. citizen with a REAL ID, was forcibly arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at an Alabama construction site after agents claimed his identification was "fake," Venegas told Noticias Telemundo in Spanish on Friday. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Newsweek on Saturday morning that "there was no mistake" during the encounter, stating that Venegas "attempted to obstruct and prevent the lawful arrest of an illegal alien," thereby leading to his arrest. Newsweek reached out to ICE for comment via email on Sunday. Newsweek also reached out to Venegas' cousin, Shelah Venegas, via Facebook Messenger for comment on Saturday. Why It Matters Venegas' arrest comes amid an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, during which people with valid documentation—including green cards or visas—have been detained and face legal jeopardy. In April, President Donald Trump floated the idea of deporting U.S. citizens with violent criminal records to El Salvador. Trump campaigned on a hardline immigration stance, pledging to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. In the initial months of his presidency, his administration has deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants, many due to his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the president authority to deport non-citizens without appearing before a judge, among other wartime authorities. As of May 7, travelers need a REAL ID license or other specific state accepted identifications or passports to board federally regulated commercial aircraft and access certain federal facilities. What To Know On May 21, Venegas, 25, was wrestled down at a construction site in Foley, Alabama, by ICE agents. The video of the arrest was aired by Noticias Telemundo, and shows officers physically restraining him. His cousin, Shelah Venegas, posted the video of his arrest on Facebook, writing, "These federal agents without a single cause completely harassed a family member who is a US CITIZEN!!" Venegas provided the agents with his identification. The officials took it, told him it was fake, and then handcuffed him, he told Noticias Telemundo. "Apparently a REAL ID is not valid anymore. He has a REAL ID," Shelah Venegas told NBC News. "We all made sure we have the REAL ID and went through the protocols the administration is asking has his REAL ID and then they see him and I guess because his English isn't fluent and/or because he's brown it's fake, it's not real." Venegas, whose parents are from Mexico, told Noticias Telemundo that he was released hours later from the vehicle he was being held in after reciting his Social Security number to the officials, further proving his U.S. citizenship. When he returned to the construction site, ICE had detained other workers, including his 34-year-old brother who is reportedly undocumented, according to the Latin Times. The Department of Homeland Security seal is seen on the podium at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters on April 9 in Washington. Inset: Leonardo Garcia Venegas, provided by Telemundo, is seen. The Department of Homeland Security seal is seen on the podium at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters on April 9 in Washington. Inset: Leonardo Garcia Venegas, provided by Telemundo, is seen. AP Photo/Alex Brandon/Telemundo What People Are Saying A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek in an email Saturday: "During a targeted worksite operation, this individual attempted to obstruct and prevent the lawful arrest of an illegal alien. He physically got in between agents and the subject they were attempting to arrest and refused to comply with numerous verbal commands. Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties, including U.S. citizens, will of course face consequences which include arrest." Shelah Venegas, whose family owns a contracting company, told NBC News: "A lot of the people that work with us are not are refusing to go to work. They said they are not going to go until this stuff calms down." What Happens Next? Many have raised concerns about the Trump administration's detention and deportation practices, saying the process often lacks due process protections for individuals. Supporters say the crackdown is necessary to deter illegal immigration and remove criminals. Shelah Venegas told NBC News her cousin's brother has signed deportation papers as their family wanted to avoid him being detained "forever," a scenario they said happened with another family member.
