Black Bird Commons: More Than a Bookstore, a Regina Community Hub
Local author Tim Blackett discovered his writing talent in high school, but Regina's lack of an independent bookstore meant he couldn't connect with fellow writers until much later in life. "I grew up thinking I was kind of the only writer here," says Blackett, author of Grandview Drive, a 2023 short fiction collection. This isolation inspired him and partner Chantelle O'Connor to create Black Bird Commons, a forthcoming bookstore and coffee shop designed as a vibrant community space for Regina's artistic community.
Filling the Void in Regina's Cultural Landscape
After Regina's independent Penny University Bookstore closed in September 2024, just four years after opening, Blackett felt the significant gap it left in the community. "I want to have a place where those authors will be able to make themselves visible to the public here," explains Blackett, who also works as a librarian. The couple began seriously planning their own establishment, envisioning it as more than just another retail space.
Blackett eventually found his writing community, but it required traveling to Saskatoon for readings at McNally Robinson, the large independent bookstore that has operated on 8th Street since 1998. This experience highlighted Regina's need for a similar cultural anchor.
A Third Space for Creative Expression
Black Bird Commons aims to be what urban planners call a "third space"—a gathering spot outside of home and work where community forms naturally. Rather than focusing exclusively on wall-to-wall bookshelves, the space will serve as a community hub displaying emerging artists' work and eventually hosting workshops for beading, sewing ribbon skirts, and other creative mediums.
"We just felt like Regina has a lot of artists and writers and individuals that have a lot to offer but don't have the space to go and be themselves," says O'Connor, an Anishinaabek artist from Fishing Lake First Nation. The couple envisions an inclusive environment that fosters community through shared appreciation of art and literature.
Curating Diverse Voices
The bookstore plans to stock titles from Prairie-based and Indigenous writers, along with literature from queer, disabled, and marginalized authors who often receive limited exposure at corporate bookstores. This curated approach reflects their commitment to representing diverse voices within Regina's literary scene.
"I'm determined to make it happen no matter what, whether it's in the spring like we're hoping, or if it's later down the road," Blackett emphasizes. "This is the thing that I think the city needs."
Fundraising for Spring Opening
Blackett and O'Connor have launched a Kickstarter campaign to cover upfront costs, with plans to open in Regina's Warehouse District this spring. As of February 2026, the campaign had raised nearly $20,000 toward its $30,000 goal, with one week remaining before the February 20 deadline.
The couple's home portrait from February 12, 2026, captures their determination as they work toward making Black Bird Commons a reality. Their vision extends beyond commerce to creating a sustainable cultural institution that nurtures Regina's artistic talent for years to come.
