When Tony Klotz began his post-secondary journey in 1958, the University of Regina was still known as the University of Saskatchewan—Regina Campus, operating from its original site on College Avenue. His wife, Arlene, attended the university a few years later, beginning a shared connection that shaped their lives and careers.
“The first year I went, it was on College Avenue,” Tony said. “Back then, you could take your first year here for the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.”
The Regina campus was small then, with just one or two buildings.
“There wasn’t even a library. It was just a vacant lot,” Tony said. “Now everything’s attached. You don’t even have to go outside anymore.”
Tony began his studies in the College of Arts and Science but transferred to Saskatoon for his second year to pursue pharmacy. After a summer working at a local drugstore near Regina’s General Hospital, he realized the field wasn’t for him.
“I didn’t like it,” he said. “So, I switched back to arts and sciences and majored in geology with a minor in chemistry and math.”
Life as a student in the 1960s was simpler yet challenging. Tony worked construction jobs in the summer to pay his tuition and living expenses.
“I could make enough in four and a half months to cover everything—tuition, books and room and board,” he said.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts in geology, Tony worked as a trainee appraiser for Canada Mortgage and Housing. However, the prospect of two months off in the summer drew him to a career in teaching.
“I thought, if I went into teaching, I’d get summers off,” he said with a chuckle.
While teaching in Strasbourg, Sask., Tony met Arlene, who was also pursuing a teaching career after attending Regina’s Teachers College.
“We both went through Teachers College, though at different times,” Arlene said. “Teaching in Strasbourg brought us together and we’ve been a team ever since.”
Arlene fondly recalls her time at the university and the sense of community among students.
“The Regina campus was small, but it felt like everyone was there to support each other,” she said. “Seeing how much it’s grown over the years is amazing.”
Tony and Arlene pursued further education while teaching, attending night classes and summer school to advance their qualifications. By the spring of 1967, Tony had earned his Bachelor of Education, using credits from his earlier studies to complete the degree.
While Tony and Arlene’s careers took them through classrooms and communities across Saskatchewan, the university’s legacy remained significant to them.
“The University of Regina’s 50th anniversary is a reminder of how far it’s come,” Arlene said. “From a few buildings on College Avenue to the institution, it is today, it’s been incredible to watch its transformation.”
Tony agreed. “It’s hard to imagine how far it’s come since those early days,” he said.
For the Klotz’s, their time at the university set the foundation for their careers and life together—a journey of growth, adaptation and connection.
