Fonds consist of records created, accumulated and used by the Regina Riot Inquiry Commission that held hearings from November 1935 to March 1936. The Commission examined the issues that contributed to the riot in the Regina Market Square on 1 July 1935, between relief camp workers travelling east to Ottawa and the RCMP and Regina City Police. Lawyers representing the interests of the Dominion Government (and RCMP), the Regina City Police, and the Commission as well as the Commissioners themselves questioned witnesses that included relief camp workers, police officers, public officials, and private citizens . At the conclusion of its hearings, the Commission created a final report that summarized its findings and provided recommendations to prevent a future occurrence of similar events.
The types of records included are the final report of the Commission, proceedings, exhibits (incomplete set), counsel presentations and factums, exhibit and witness indices, chequebooks, and bankbook. Exhibits include objects (bullets), photographs, newspaper clippings, telegrams, correspondence, blueprints, plans, and a drawing.
Records begin with indices to the exhibits and witnesses, followed by the Commission proceedings (in chronological order), and the exhibits. Exhibits are filed in the following groupings: 1-19, 20-84, 85-93, 94-122, 123, 124-144, 145-211, 212-266, 267-280, and 281-307. The exhibits are then followed by the factum of Frank J.G. Cunningham, exhibit list, final report (volumes 1 and 2), and the other supporting material from the operations of the Commission.
Microfilm records consist of the Commission proceedings and final report, exhibits 20-52, 59-70 and 74-84; factums of F.J.G. Cunningham and E.C. Leslie; Regina Leader-Post and Regina Daily Star articles from 14 June to 5 July 1935; proceedings of the coroner's inquest into the death of Detective Charles Millar during the riot; factum of Government of Canada and RCMP. Microfilm also includes records of the preliminary hearing against Ivan Bell, George Black, John (Cowan) Cosgrave, Arthur H. Evans, Ernest Edwards and Matthew Shaw (charged with being members of an unlawful association), and records of the evidence and proceedings taken at the trials of Rex vs. K. Forsyth on 24 April 1936 and of J. Kyle, J. Mynnie and S. Coury 28 April 1936 (charged with rioting).