The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan is warning the public about long-term investment fraud where scammers build trust with the victims over time, often through social media or messaging apps. They are called "pig butchering" scams, because experts liken them to fattening a pig before slaughter.

About 40 drifters of varying experience levels came together over the weekend for the ninth annual Winter Drift Fest on Echo Lake in Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask.

There is a warning up for travellers in the eastbound lane on the Trans-Canada Highway outside Gull Lake. 

According to the Highway Hotline, survey work is being done in the area. 

Motorists are being asked to slow down and to watch out for surveyors. The speed limit is reduced to 60 kilometres per hour. 

Traffic is being reduced to a single lane for the duration of the work. 

“When I say ‘Tuánjié,’ you say ‘Lìliàng Dà’!” 

The rally MCs led this emphatic chant at the Chinatown community council and rally on May 25, 2023, and throughout the campaign to push back on the luxury condo development being proposed for 105 Keefer Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown. 

The first part of the chant, “Tuánjié,” in Mandarin, means “coming together in unity or in solidarity,” and the latter portion, “Lìliàng Dà,” literally translates to “big strength.” Not unlike other movement building, Tuánjié Lìliàng Dà or “together we are powerful” has become central to the theory of change in organizing to combat rapidly increasing gentrification, displacement, and racism in Chinatown. 

I became a part of the housing justice movement in Chinatown in 2016 during the 105 Keefer campaign. At the time, I was organizing with the Chinatown Concern Group, an intergenerational grassroots organization that pushes back on rampant gentrification and racism in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Since then, although Chinatown Concern Group no longer exists, many of the youth organizers and seniors have continued working together to fight for the rights of low-income and precariously housed residents in the area.  

[Bonita Lawrence and Enakshi Dua] warn, “Left unaddressed [in anti-racism theory] is the way in which people of color in settler formations are settlers on stolen lands. It ignores the complex relationships people of color have with settler projects. Although marginalized, at particular historical moments they may have been complicit with ongoing land theft and colonial domination of [Indigenous] peoples.”

What we have learned in all these years of organizing alongside low-income Chinese seniors and migrants as well as precariously housed tenants in the neighbouring Downtown Eastside (DTES) is that organizing for collective power means understanding the interconnectedness of our struggles. The work becomes finding ways to bridge the historical divide caused by ongoing colonial violence that manifests through white supremacist racism, material scarcity, and lateral violence. We thus began a journey to learn to align our anti-gentrification and anti-racism struggle with Indigenous struggles.

This decolonial solidarity work is paramount and necessary. In their seminal article, Decolonizing Antiracism, scholars Bonita Lawrence and Enakshi Dua highlight a crucial point: if we practise anti-racism without decolonization, our efforts can unintentionally support ongoing settler-colonial policies and structures.

They warn, “Left unaddressed [in anti-racism theory] is the way in which people of color in settler formations are settlers on stolen lands. It ignores the complex relationships people of color have with settler projects. Although marginalized, at particular historical moments they may have been complicit with ongoing land theft and colonial domination of [Indigenous] peoples.”

When fighting against anti-Asian racism and for migrant rights, if we don’t connect our work to the principles of decolonization, often we end up leaning on a colonial immigration system that depends on the erasure of Indigenous peoples, while also buying into the misleading idea of the model minority and the false promise of upward mobility. The Canadian citizenship test, for example, perpetuates this colonial mindset by requiring citizenship applicants to study the colonial history of Canada rather than the Indigenous history. Decolonization cannot be just a symbolic gesture or a mere metaphor; it’s essential for building a truly anti-racist community. 

One senior admitted that she hadn’t thought our voices would be heard. She thought, as immigrants, we should just keep our heads down and not make any trouble. But being a part of this campaign, she learned that we need to talk about injustice that’s happening to us and that we are powerful when we are united.

However, as many communities are feeling the urgency of this solidarity work, it can sometimes seem challenging to know how to even start. Here I want to share the journey that I and other organizers in Chinatown have been on and some lessons that we have learned along the way. The work that we have started in Vancouver’s Chinatown is nowhere near perfect and still in its beginning stages, but it’s a start to generating collective learning. 

The fight for 105 Keefer Street

Low-income Chinatown residents and Chinese youth activists began organizing to save 105 Keefer Street from the proposed condo development in 2012. The fight came about due to concerns that the proposed condo would lead to the displacement of low-income residents and change the character of Chinatown. Late Chinatown activist Godfrey Tang saw this gentrification process as a process of “replacing Chinatown with another culture.” 

After five years of intergenerational organizing and mobilizing support from all over the city, in 2017 the campaign had a historic win when the development licence was rejected by the city’s own development permit board. 

At our debriefing meeting after this victory, our seniors shared their reflections. One senior admitted that she hadn’t thought our voices would be heard. She thought, as immigrants, we should just keep our heads down and not make any trouble. But being a part of this campaign, she learned that we need to talk about injustice that’s happening to us and that we are powerful when we are united. Another senior also shared that before joining this campaign, she felt isolated in this city. She felt a certain hostility between Chinese and Indigenous community members, but seeing how her Indigenous neighbours and other people came out to lend support, she said she doesn’t feel alone anymore and that Chinese residents need to build friendships with and fight alongside Indigenous people. 

For every city council hearing or development permit board meeting, we had to fight hard for the city to provide proper language access. The youth organizers would many times act as interpreters at these functions, and once we were even scolded by a development permit board member who told us we were being “rude.” Because of translation needs, our seniors also automatically had less time to speak in the hearing than other people.

The 105 Keefer campaign was also the beginning of our collective journey to learn to decolonize our organizing and find ways to build Chinese and Indigenous solidarity. What we have learned is that this journey is twofold: on one hand, as immigrants to this place we need to empower ourselves as agents of change; and on the other, we need to question our relationship to the colonial Canadian state and reorient toward Indigenous people. 

Together, we need to reimagine Chinatown not simply as an ethnic enclave, but as a place of safety, mutual support, and community. It is essential to recognize that Chinatown's history is one that has always been shared by Japanese, Black, Indigenous, and working-class labourers, as well as other marginalized people.

This means so many things. We have to re-establish our intergenerational relationship between elders and youth and how to meaningfully engage with each other and exchange knowledge. Together, we need to reimagine Chinatown not simply as an ethnic enclave, but as a place of safety, mutual support, and community. It is essential to recognize that Chinatown's history is one that has always been shared by Japanese, Black, Indigenous, and working-class labourers, as well as other marginalized people.

To translate this into practice, we have done different things over the years. First, we developed practices and created spaces in our meetings to encourage discussions and decision-making that foster a community of resistance and care. In 2017, after two years of teatime discussions and home visits, seniors and youth organizers created the People’s Vision, outlining a strategy for Chinatown’s social and economic development that prioritizes marginalized voices. During the 105 Keefer Street campaign, we conducted power analyses to ensure that our vision remained comprehensive and tackled the systemic issues central to our struggle, guiding where to apply the pressure of our collective power. Second, we found that language is a central component to this process.

Language accessibility

Language accessibility was one of the biggest struggles when we engaged in city processes. For every city council hearing or development permit board meeting, we had to fight hard for the city to provide proper language access. The youth organizers would many times act as interpreters at these functions, and once we were even scolded by a development permit board member who told us we were being “rude.” Because of translation needs, our seniors also automatically had less time to speak in the hearing than other people. This lack of language access at the city level reveals the racist foundation on which Vancouver is built. As the Tyee reported after talking to Chinatown residents in 2023 when the 105 Keefer project was once again brought before the development permit board, “The lack of Chinese language support for a Chinatown project was a major barrier to understanding what was happening in their own neighbourhood.” Even with this barrier, I witnessed our seniors and youth take up every space possible to speak loudly in their own languages demanding justice from the city. At every city hearing, development permit board meeting, and demonstration, seniors would take the mic and voice their demands for accessible housing in Chinatown. 

In our own organizing space, all our gatherings were held in Cantonese and Mandarin with whisper interpretation available to people who needed translation. Once seniors were able to speak in their own languages, they became more comfortable speaking up and having meaningful dialogues. The youth organizers helped translate the land acknowledgement into Mandarin and Cantonese and began to introduce the practice of reading the land acknowledgements out loud together at the beginning of all our meetings. The meaning of the land acknowledgement becomes even more direct in Chinese, as the translation for “unceded territories” becomes as literal as “the land that has been taken without agreement.” We wanted to do this to generate discussion about Chinatown being on unceded Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh land referred to by the Squamish name Luq’Luq’i, loosely translated as “grove of beautiful maples.” 

We began this practice not only as a necessary protocol but also to anchor our meetings and collective decisions while allowing space for questions and discussions. Initially, we didn’t hear any comments from the seniors about it.

One day in 2018, during a regular biweekly meeting after we read the territorial acknowledgement, a senior raised her hand and asked, “What does it mean to say Chinatown is on land taken without consent from Indigenous people?” She further inquired, “Does this mean that Chinatown doesn’t belong to Chinese people, but rather we occupy land that was taken from others?” This prompted a conversation about the history of the land Chinatown occupies, covering its formation and including the history of Hogan’s Alley – a neighbourhood with a concentrated Black community which was razed in the name of urban renewal. The seniors mainly listened and their receptiveness, to me, spoke to the trust we had built between us. 

We then moved on to our meeting agenda, which included an item about responding to the city regarding temporary modular housing being built at the edge of Chinatown. The same senior spoke up again, “If Chinatown is on Indigenous land, shouldn’t we talk to Indigenous folks about this? Who are we to make this decision? If this project is meant to prioritize housing for Indigenous people, then we have a responsibility to support it.” 

Despite many seeing Chinese seniors as a helpless population dependent on social services or steeped in conservative mindsets and unable to change their views, these seniors are showing up as active agents of change and building their collective power and solidarity. 

Seeing a senior who has lived in and depended on the Chinatown community to open up the possibility for solidarity with and respect for Indigenous leadership was impactful. Through our conversations, we realized Chinese seniors weren’t disengaging from Indigenous or other social movements because they were apathetic but because they weren’t even being given a chance to engage. They faced language barriers, unfamiliarity with the issues, and racial trauma. Once we were able to support them through interpretation, create spaces for ongoing conversation, and empower them to find their voices, they were able to better engage in this work.

Beyond silos

We started taking the seniors to attend important Indigenous-led actions and events. One that we have consistently gone to for a few years now is the annual Women’s Memorial March held in the DTES in which Chinatown is located and brings attention to one of the central issues facing Indigenous people: missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.

Before the marches, we hold cultural safety sessions with the seniors which cover Indigenous history and struggle in parallel with Chinese immigration history and struggle. Then at the marches, through interpretation equipment, we share the community guidelines, speeches, chants, and signs, and incorporate stories and histories of different places as the marches progress through the neighbourhood. After, seniors share their reflections and have expressed their desire to learn more. One of the seniors laments, “Canada is supposed to be a safer place, but Indigenous rights are still being violated. We need to support them to change this situation together.”

From this, we began to set up workshops for elders to discuss topics such as capitalism, dehumanization, the housing crisis, harm reduction, and understanding colonialism in Canada. These types of learning opportunities have often been inaccessible to Chinese seniors. In a workshop on how capitalism functions, we gave a simple example of a salad factory owner – a few of our seniors worked in a salad factory – spending a certain amount of money on materials and another amount to pay his workers. At that moment, one senior raised her hand and remarked that if you were Chinese you would get paid less than the amount used in our example. Another senior remarked that women sometimes do work that isn’t even compensated. At that moment, I felt foolish for thinking that we need to educate our seniors in such a way. Our seniors didn’t need lectures on how capitalism works as they understand and experience capitalist and racist exploration from living it daily and have resisted in their own way. They may not always have the same political language, but this doesn’t mean they don’t or can’t engage in this type of political discussion. What they need, as we all do, is to have a place to discuss, to reflect, and to name their experiences. 

Building solidarity

I take a lot of inspiration from Chinese-American activist and philosopher Grace Lee Boggs, who often emphasizes that it is important for us not to think of marginalized communities as just an “oppressed mass” but as people who are able to reflect and take up “political and social responsibility.” Despite many seeing Chinese seniors as a helpless population dependent on social services or steeped in conservative mindsets and unable to change their views, these seniors are showing up as active agents of change and building their collective power and solidarity. 

In May 2023, six years after our victory at 105 Keefer Street, the developer, Beedie Living, won a B.C. Supreme Court decision requiring the development permit board to reconsider their application. Within three weeks, the Chinatown community, DTES residents, organizers, and allies mobilized hundreds of people. For seven days, Chinese seniors and youth went door to door, informing low-income tenants about the action. Together, we held a community council at 105 Keefer Street, where we voted against the development plan and in favor of 100 per cent social housing, demonstrating to the city that we cannot be erased. As we’ve always done in Chinatown, we continue to create safe spaces for one another.

Through this struggle, we have embraced community building and collective care while learning to deepen our relationship with Indigenous residents. Our organizers shared stories of the support they felt from residents, including a grandma who offered them fruit. It was evident that residents feel a responsibility to fight for a Chinatown as a place for working-class residents and precariously housed tenants. 

Although the developer was able to obtain the development licence this time, we don’t take it as a defeat and continue to grow our capacity for solidarity. Currently, we are building infrastructure for a language school that will prepare Chinese youth organizers for the language ability and interpretation skills that are needed to bring the communities together, and tailoring it to organizing in this particular community. Our fight continues and we will do it united and not divided. 

As one senior, Mrs. Ma, who has been involved in organizing for the past decade has maintained to myself and others many a time: in Chinatown there are many different people – Chinese immigrants, drug users, sex workers, Indigenous people – and no matter who a person is, they all deserve housing.

MOOSE JAW — City manager Maryse Carmichael says the City of Moose Jaw’s landfill replacement project will “absolutely” be moving forward this year, even though an alternative location has not yet been announced.

“As we brief (city) council and residents, we are at a critical state with the landfill (because) we are at capacity,” Carmichael said after the Feb. 24 regular council meeting concluded. “We are actually going over capacity now. So we’re planning ahead to go forward (with the initiative).

“There’s a report that will be coming to council in the next few weeks on the overall status,” she continued, “because of course, we have new members on council and we’ll brief them thoroughly on the project and then we’ll keep forward.”

Asked whether the city would buy land or start the construction project this year, Carmichael replied, “We will continue absolutely this year (with) moving forward,” and noted that construction would likely begin in 2026.

Three pieces of information about the landfill popped up during the recent council meeting, with two items in the fourth-quarter departmental reports and one item in the investment committee minutes.

In the city manager departmental update, it was noted that Carmichael had held engagement sessions with stakeholders about the proposed solid waste management venue.

In the engineering services update, that branch conducted a fall survey of the current landfill and planned to finalize an updated report during Q1 2025. The branch also finalized a comprehensive landfill assessment report during the final months of 2024.

Meanwhile, in the investment committee’s minutes, it was reported that members authorized money manager RBC Dominion Securities to transfer $13.6 million to the short-term portfolio to support the new landfill.

Asked about the stakeholder meetings, Carmichael explained she met with the four rural municipalities around the City of Moose Jaw to update them about the initiative.  

“They welcomed the opportunity to come talk to the city. That’s not something that happens very often, so they were grateful we were sharing information on the future of the landfill … ,” she said. “We wanted to tell them that information (about capacity) and (that) we will potentially have to put restrictions on the landfill in the next few years.”

The city manager pointed out that council approved changes to the landfill’s operations during the 2025 budget discussion, so administration “thought it was prudent” to inform the area RMs. With a laugh, she added that “strangely enough,” the rural municipalities did not offer the city any poor agricultural land on which to build the new venue.

Asked about the investment money, Carmichael said city hall is planning to pull out that money but had not yet finalized that action. She also indicated that money that had been set aside for the landfill replacement project and had been previously approved was still available in a carry-forward capital account.

According to the 2025 budget document, there was $5,440,000 in carry-forward money and $40,000 in committed money from last year that will be used for the project.

“The monies previously accumulated in reserves and the revenues generated from utility charges over the next five years (that will total $31,951,440 are) expected to be sufficient to fund the utility’s planned financial commitment for a new landfill,” the document said.

The 2024 budget document indicated that the estimated project cost is $26 million, which includes “retirement” of the current landfill site.

The next regular council meeting is Monday, March 10.

The fog this morning in Swift Current was so thick the street lights had trouble cutting through to the pavement. 

The heavier-than-normal fog was caused by light winds stirring up a bed of cool air, which with the ongoing snowpack melt, combined for very dense water vapour in the lowest part of the atmosphere. 

Dan Fulton, meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada revealed that much of this fog stretched all the way from Success, down through Swift Current, all the way past Moose Jaw, Regina, and Estevan. 

"It's affecting quite a bit of southern Saskatchewan," said Fulton. "The good news is that it shouldn't last too long."

The fog is paving the way for a cold front to deliver some snow to Swift Current around noon today. 

Later in the week, temperatures are slated to pick back up again, with Sunday forecasted at +11°C. Fulton cautions that that doesn't mean Winter is over yet. 

"I'm not making any promises there because it's only March," said Fulton. "Probably we'll probably go back into (the cold) again." 

When Kwaku Ayisi lost a friend who hadn't even reached 40 to breast cancer, it inspired him to look at the barriers Black women face in Saskatchewan's breast-health system.

Saskatoon city council is seeking federal funding to enforce business licensing for short-term rentals in the city, in hopes of improving the rental market for long-term stays.

A trio of popular Canadian country artists hit the road as they embark on The Great Canadian Road Trip 2.0, a music-filled and boot-stomping tour that will take them from coast to coast.

World-class singer and songwriter from British Columbia, Chad Brownlee, will be featured alongside Jason Blaine and the renowned Jason McCoy.

Brownlee highlighted that The Great Canadian Road Trip 2.0 is an incredible tour, unlike anything he's done before.

"This show is really unique, I've toured and done co-headlining tours before with artists, but we've never been on the stage together at the same time," said Brownlee. "We'll be singing each other's songs, harmonizing, playing guitar parts for each other, 

"So it's like we're one band, it's not just me and then Jason and Jason or however it goes, we're one band and it's a new look that I don't think people have seen before."

He noted that the tour kicked off on Saturday, March 1 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and finishes up in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, on March 19. While a second part of the tour is set for this fall.

The Great Canadian Road Trip 2.0 will be stopping in Swift Current on Friday, March 7 to perform at the Living Sky Casino.

"I've been excited for 2025 and I've actually got a single coming out March 3 that I'm beyond stoked for, so it's perfect timing with the tour," shared the country musician. 

Now boasting over 130 million streams globally, Brownlee initially gained traction after the release of his song, The Country Kind, and made international headlines again with his single, Forever's Gotta Start Somewhere.

"This has been in the making for over a year now, so it's pretty crazy," he added. 

For more information check out Chad Brownlee on social media, visit chadbrownlee.com, or head to The Great Canadian Road Trip's website to purchase tickets.

Southwestern Saskatchewan left its mark on TeleMiracle 49 with significant financial contributions and several performances from local talent.

The annual event, which benefits the Kinsmen Foundation, brought in its fifth highest amount ever at $5.709 million as of close on Sunday evening at Saskatoon's Prairieland Park.

The Kinette Club of Swift Current made a $10,000 donation in the noon hour on Sunday. Swift Current's Meagan Utke said the non-profit's donation encompassed proceeds from some of their raffles, selling cupcakes at Charlie Horses Birthday, Pass the Bucket at the Broncos game ($3,752), Gull Lake & District Kinette Club ($1,500), Fairview School held an ice cream float sale and duck-tape the principal and a few students to the wall ($2,323), and some personal donations.

"We're just here to raise money for our communities and we've done that with some really great fundraisers and our schools have participated," she said. 

Four more five-figure bequests were made by former southwest residents between Saturday and Sunday.

A $50,000 donation was made by Tara Body's estate on Saturday. She grew up on her family farm in Elrose and passed away in 2023.

Marilyn "Gayle" Wentland, who was born in Leader, passed away in November of 2024, left behind a $10,000 gift to TeleMiracle.

Ollie Ellingson, born in the Bracken area, passed away in 2023, donated $25,000 to the event. Ellingson lived or worked in a plethora of southwest communities, including Vidora, Consul, Ravenscrag, Gull Lake, Rush Lake, Mortlach, and Maple Creek.

Priscilla (Pat) Sharp, a past resident of Shaunavon, passed away last year. She bequeathed $10,000.

Swift Current's Faye Sheng, Swift Current's Kylie Stock, Swift Current's Jesse Genns, Demaine's Evan Baxter, and former Swift Current resident Ashley Brown were the local talent apart of the event.

A tribute to Isabella (Bella Brave) Thomson was made in the 2 p.m. hour, honouring the TeleMiracle 46 co-host and a massive role model for southwestern Saskatchewan.

There have been nearly 50 overdoses in the past week, according to an alert from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.

The story of Saskatchewan's flag is that of a working-visa teacher who fell in love with the prairie skies, grain elevators, long winding rivers, and the people who call all of it home. 

Anthony Drake came up with the flag design in 1968, when the provincial government was taking submissions. He and his wife came to Canada as teachers when during college they saw Saskatchewan was looking to hire teachers and were guaranteeing a house. They arrived in 1967 and would leave for England again in 1969. During that short window, Drake would help cement the Saskatchewan identity with the flag that he designed while teaching in Hodgeville. 

Joan Drake, Anthony's widow, still remembers how both of them submitted over a dozen designs. 

"All of Tony's really were influenced by the landscape and the surroundings, I would say," recalled Joan. "I think out of the 13 designs Anthony sent in, almost all of them referenced the prairies, the elevators, the crops, that sort of thing."

The Drake's had already returned to England when the design was officially adopted on Sept. 22, 1969. Strangely enough, he wouldn't witness the flag flying until 2016 when he was invited by then-premier Brad Wall to the legislative building in Regina. 

Joan says that experience, which they experienced again in 2019, really changed the way she views flags and the sense of identity they inspire. 

"You don't often think about where a flag comes from and what it means," said Joan. "But seeing the process and going on the flag tour in Saskatchewan in 2016 and 2019, seeing how much people revered the flag, really, it makes you more aware of flags in general. It makes you more aware of the symbolism in flags."

To this day, the Drake household has a small corner dedicated to the Saskatchewan flag. They have photos with Brad Wall, copies of the flag, paintings, more photos with the likes of the Lieutenant Governor, stamps, and a stone from Saskatchewan which is decorated with the likeness of the flag. 

"That piece was done by Diane Nybo of Hodgeville when we were there in 2016," Jane said. 

Anthony passed away in 2022 at the age of 81 on Wednesday, June 1. Even though he is no longer with Joan, he can still be seen everywhere the flag flies. 

"A lot more people are aware of the flag now, not only in Saskatchewan but also in Yorkshire, England," said Joan. "I think a lot of our friends and family really treasure the fact that Tony's memory is kept alive through the flag."

Warm weather is finally here after most of February was spent in a deep freeze. As the mercury climbs, snow can melt into streets and homes. A Regina home inspector offers up advice.

Canada’s minister of agriculture and agri-food says he won’t be seeking re-election.

Lawrence MacAulay says in a social media post he is no longer a young man, and he wants to spend more time with his family.

MacAulay has represented eastern Prince Edward Island in Ottawa for nearly 37 years.

He joins a growing list of Liberals who say they won’t seek re-election, including former labour minister Seamus O’Regan in Newfoundland, former housing minister Sean Fraser in Nova Scotia, and Justice Minister Arif Virani in Ontario. 

SASKATCHEWAN — From the beginning of his life, 10-year-old Blaze from Carlyle, has overcome many physical challenges, but he hasn’t let anything dampen his positive spirit. His “be strong, never, ever give up” attitude has helped him through eight different surgeries for bilateral club feet, strabismus, as well as a tethered spine and a life-threatening accident.

In August of 2022, Blaze was in a vehicle accident, breaking his humerus and femur. After a series of x-rays, Blaze was airlifted by plane to Saskatchewan’s Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, receiving critical care from the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Saskatchewan. It’s been a long recovery after his surgery, but his family is grateful for having JPCH in our province and for being able to stay in Saskatchewan for his treatment.

“The care we received was amazing. A children’s hospital is vital in our province. Without it, I am not sure where Blaze would have been sent. He got the specialized care he needed close to home, in a fantastic facility with a stellar team,” Blaze’s mom Carole-Lyne said.

His optimistic attitude towards the endless challenges he has faced, along with the care he has received at JPCH, drastically improved his recovery. Blaze has now become passionate about giving back and being an advocate for JPCH, raising over $75,000 through a variety of fundraisers in and around Carlyle. In recognition of his commitment, he received the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Youth Philanthropist award, nominated by Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Blaze has been chosen as the 2025 Saskatchewan ambassador, representing Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation for the Children’s Miracle Network Champions Program.

“We are excited to announce Blaze as this year’s Champion Child, representing sick and injured kids across Saskatchewan. Blaze’s compassionate spirit and resiliency are inspirational to everyone he meets and we are honoured to have him in this role,” said Jada Kook, Community Engagement Manager at JPCHF.

Through the Champion Program, Blaze and his family will get the opportunity to travel to Orlando, FL. this spring to represent Saskatchewan families at Children’s Hospitals Week and meet other child ambassadors from across North America.

Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation wants to thank Kherington who passes the role of Champion Child to Blaze. Kherington has been an outstanding ambassador for the foundation and did an incredible job sharing her medical journey across the province, the foundation states in a press release.

With the temperatures hitting the positive double digits this weekend in southwest Saskatchewan, SGI is reminding people to be careful of potential flooding risks.

"Like everybody we're really happy to see the weather is warming up in the province," said Communications Consultant for SGI Canada Jeremy Pilon. "But we want to make sure we are all able to enjoy that weather by keeping our homes dry over the spring melt."

Those troubles could start on the roof of your home or business. 

"That's when the snow starts to melt off of your roof but once it gets to your eaves where there's no longer the heat of the house coming up it tends to free back up," Pilon said. "It starts to build up what we call an ice dam that stops the water from being able to flow off your roof. If it can't flow off your roof it's going to flow off under your shingles, into your attic and into your house."

The next concern is water up against your foundation. 

"If you take the snow off your roof and pile that up next to your foundation or had a lot of snow blow up against your foundation when that snow melts the water has got to go somewhere," said Pilon. "It'll go down into your basement and into your foundation if you don't move that snow away."

Pilon suggests starting with your roof and making sure the snow is cleared from there and from next to your foundation to keep your home safe during the melt this year.

A fundraiser is being organized in support of six-year-old Callie Proteau, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in October 2024.

Callie, who was born on Sept. 1, 2018, has been described by family as a bright, fun-loving child who brings joy to every room she enters. She is also a devoted big sister to her two-year-old sibling, Parker.

Callie’s health took a sudden turn in October 2024 when she began experiencing persistent stomach pain. After multiple hospital visits and tests, she was admitted to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon, where doctors diagnosed her with ALL, the most common type of cancer in children. The disease affects B cells in the immune system, making Callie more susceptible to infections. The leukemia cells have also spread to her right kidney, liver, and spleen, causing severe swelling and pain.

To combat the disease, Callie is undergoing weekly chemotherapy, along with lumbar punctures to remove diseased bone marrow and introduce additional chemotherapy directly into her spine. While her medical team in Saskatchewan is providing extensive treatment, some children with ALL require a stem cell transplant, which is not available in the province. If Callie needs this procedure, she and her family will have to travel out of Saskatchewan, adding significant financial strain.

Amanda Keays, Callie’s aunt, has organized a benefit event titled Courage for Callie. The fundraiser, set for March 1 at the Colville Community Hall, will include a silent auction, a 50/50 draw, and a dinner.

“The support from the community has been overwhelming,” Keays said. “Callie has an army behind her—friends, family, local businesses, and her school. Everyone has come together to support her and her fight.”

Kalen Mennie, a close family friend, has also been raising awareness and funds through his work with Hoffman Elite. The company donates annually to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Mennie has been using his platform to share Callie’s story and encourage donations.

“Callie’s laughter and spirit have always been contagious,” Mennie said. “It’s hard to see such a young child face this, but the support we can provide helps make a difference.”

A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched for those unable to attend the event but who wish to contribute. As of this week, the fundraiser has already raised $2,500.

To donate or purchase tickets for the fundraiser, supporters can contact Amanda Keays at 306-430-1032 or via email at [email protected]. The GoFundMe link is also available for those wishing to make online contributions.

Callie’s family says the journey ahead will be long, but they remain hopeful and grateful for the outpouring of support from their community.

Local RCMP detachments responded to a variety of calls this past week, including investigations into theft, mischief, and harassing communications in the Rosetown and Kyle areas.

One of the more notable incidents occurred on Feb. 25, when Rosetown RCMP received a report of stolen tools from a local business. The investigation is ongoing, and police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Earlier in the week, Kyle RCMP responded to a motor vehicle collision on Highway 4 near Kyle on Feb. 23. Fortunately, there were no injuries. That same day, Rosetown RCMP were dispatched for a well-being check in town, and later in the evening, officers began an investigation into a disturbing the peace complaint.

On Feb. 24, Rosetown RCMP and the Rosetown Fire Department were called to a structure fire in town. The fire was not deemed suspicious, and no injuries were reported.

Harassing communications were also a concern, with two separate cases under investigation—one in Rosetown on Feb. 25 and another in Wiseton on Feb. 26.

Kyle RCMP responded to a sudden death on Feb. 25, when an 89-year-old Rosetown man was found deceased. The death was not considered suspicious.

Police also dealt with traffic-related issues, including an erratic driving complaint on Highway 4 and a mischief complaint in Elrose. Additionally, 37 traffic-related charges were issued throughout the week.

Rosetown and Kyle RCMP encourage anyone with information on these incidents to call 306-882-5700 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

Full report of calls below:

2025-02-21 at 1636hrs - Kyle RCMP are investigating a mischief complaint in Elrose, SK.

2025-02-22 at 1633hrs – Rosetown RCMP received a fraud complaint in Rosetown, SK. There was insufficient evidence to proceed.

2025-02-22 at 2049hrs – Rosetown RCMP received a traffic complaint on Highway 7. There was insufficient evidence to proceed.

2025-02-23 at 1345hrs - Kyle RCMP attended a motor vehicle collision on Highway 4 near Kyle, SK. There were no injuries.

2025-02-23 at 1358hrs - Rosetown RCMP attended a wellbeing request check in Rosetown, SK.

2025-02-23 at 2105hrs - Rosetown RCMP are investigating a disturbing the peace complaint in Rosetown, SK.

2025-02-24 at 0653hrs - Rosetown RCMP attended a structure fire call in Rosetown along with Rosetown Fire Department. There were no injuries and the fire was not suspicious in nature.

2025-02-25 at 1128hrs - Rosetown RCMP are investigating a harassing communications complaint in Rosetown, SK.

2025-02-25 at 1431hrs –Rosetown RCMP received a Mischief complaint in Rosetown, SK. There was insufficient evidence to proceed.

2025-02-25 at 1636hrs – Rosetown RCMP are investigating a theft of tools from a business in Rosetown, SK.

2025-02-25 at 1810hrs - Kyle RCMP received an erratic driving complaint on Highway 4. Members were unable to locate the vehicle.

2025-02-25 at 1838hrs - Kyle RCMP received a report of the sudden death of an 89-year-old male from Rosetown, SK. The death was not suspicious in nature.

2025-02-25 at 2155hrs - Rosetown RCMP received a Disturbing the peace complaint in Rosetown. Members spoke to the subject of complaint and nothing further was required

2025-02-26 at 0038hrs - Kyle RCMP received a wellbeing request check in Elrose, SK. Members spoke to the subject of complaint.

2025-02-26 at 2222hrs - Kyle RCMP are investigating a Harassing Communications complaint in Wiseton, SK. There were 37 Traffic related charges issued, 2 false alarm calls and 1 911 miss-dial call.

A home on Moose Jaw's South Hill was consumed in a blaze during the early morning hours today.

Moose Jaw Fire Department Chief, Rod Montgomery, shares some details about the incident.

"We responded to a fire at approximately 3 a.m. this morning on the 600 block of Duffield Street West for a house on fire."

"On arrival, both smoke and flames were visible, it was a single-family residential structure. When (firefighters) got there, the whole kitchen and the living room were engulfed in flames."

Moose Jaw's fire departments went into high alert, scrambling a total of nine teams from across the city to attend the scene and Montgomery said the emergency crews made short work of the fire.

"The main floor was completely involved, but they had it out rather quickly. They did a good job."

Montgomery noted that no injuries were reported, and investigators will be on site today to determine the cause of the fire.

ORIGINAL:

The Moose Jaw Fire Department (MJFD) responded to a structure fire on the south side of Moose Jaw late last night.

The blaze was described as 'heavily involved' by the time emergency crews arrived on scene. Firefighters gained entry, completed searches and reported no injuries as a result of the incident.

Investigators will be on scene today to determine a cause.

Discover Moose Jaw has reached out to the MJFD for comment and will provide more information as it becomes available.

The Town of Gull Lake is asking residents on the west side to limit toilet use for the moment.

In a social media post, the Town says they are dealing with a blocked sewer main.

They're asking west side residents to not flush their toilers more than they need to while the Town deals with the issue.

A Ukrainian in Saskatoon says she's angry and disgusted by what happened at a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday morning.

Bryce Sherring says she always imagined her father designing her engagement ring. Her fiancé Dawson Leedahl teamed up with her dad, a veteran goldsmith of 40 years who runs his jewelry business in Yorkton, Sask., to make the proposal special with a unique design.

After a combative exchange between Ukraine's president and the Trump administration, the view from Ukraine is of anger and worry — but also pride.

The political panel discusses Premier Scott Moe and his delegation making their way to Washington, D.C., this week to negotiate with U.S. leaders about the looming trade tariffs and the potential return of the Keystone XL pipeline. They also talk about Saskatchewan's new domestic policy on drug trafficking and possession. This week's panel featured Regina Leader-Post columnist Mandryk and Morning Edition host Adam Hunter.

Wednesday night, a few residents stumbled upon firefighters and firetrucks operating at the Swift Current creek in Riverside Park.

Despite the impression of an emergency, this was a normal round of winter rescue training. Both full-time and auxiliary members were being trained on how to use chainsaws safely on the ice in order to cut holes, how to install an under-ice water pump in the event they need a water supply, as well as the proper way to use an ice rescue suit.

Deputy Fire Chief for the Swift Current Fire Department, Dean Diguer, dispersed any notion that anyone was in danger during this training. 

"There was no emergency," said Diguer. "Just a regular part of our winter training."

As to why this was done so late in the evening, it was a simple matter of scheduling conflicts during the day.

"Usually during the day the crews have other duties or are doing inspections," said Diguer. "And depending on the day, if the auxiliaries are in for training, they all have regular jobs. If they're going to take part in the training, we have to do it around their work schedule."

This training is essential to ensuring the crews can respond effectively and safely to an event where someone is trapped on or under the ice. By regularly refreshing and updating, they maintain a standard of preparedness, even as the weather pushes Swift Current towards the spring. 

Diguer said that there is no plans for any other training in public spaces that he is aware of currently. He was open to the idea of publishing a notice when they are practicing out in the open, in order to prevent false assumptions on their activities. 

Political leaders across Canada are considering placing people into forced drug treatment programs. Alberta is funding the creation of two of centres for that purpose and Saskatchewan is considering following its lead.

Ryan Milne, a man accused of deliberately causing a two-vehicle collision last year, had his court case adjourned to see if his new lawyer would be prepared in time for his trial dates. 

Milne previously had April 28 to 30 scheduled for a trial. Lawyer Olamide Ben-Ajayi appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on Thursday via telephone with Milne appearing via CCTV from the Regina Correctional Facility. 

Ben-Ajayi is Milne’s fourth lawyer after Milne had fired his previous three lawyers. 

He told the courts he would be available for the April dates. Judge David Chow asked Ben-Ajayi, because he was new to the file, if the April dates would give him enough time to review the material and represent Milne at trial. 

Ben-Ajayi told the court he preferred a short adjournment to confirm if the trial dates would be proceeding. Milne’s case was adjourned to March 6. 

Milne was charged on May 30, 2024, following a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Thatcher Drive and Highway 1. Police allege the driver of a pickup truck deliberately rear-ended another truck at a high rate of speed and attempted to assault the other driver with a baseball bat.  

Milne was initially facing three counts of attempted murder. Those charges have since been dropped and he is charged with three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, four counts of assault with a weapon and one count of uttering threats. 

Southwest traders, online investors, and more are being notified of several unregistered online entities that may not be legitimate businesses. 

CGWise, BRC Union, BRC Management Services Ltd., BRC Group, claim to offer trading opportunities including stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, currency pairs, forexm ETF's, and indices. 

Dean Murrison, executive director of the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatewan's Securities Division, noted that checking the registration status of a company is a quick and easy way for investors to protet themselves. 

"Residents should check the registration status of any investment entity as the first step before considering investing," said Murrison. "We want Saskatchewan investors to know who they are investing with so they can make informed financial decisions."

Anyone who may have invested with any of the entities in question or a party acting on their behalf are advised to contact the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan's Securities Division at (306) 787 - 5936.

Those looking to invest are also encouraged to seek professional advice or a second opinion, never allow unauthorized parties to access their computers, and understand exactly what's being invested in.

To verify that an organization is registered, folks can head to the Canadaian Securities Administrators' National Registration Search at aretheyregistered.ca.

Several southwest performers will be showcased at the 49th annual Telemiracle telethon this weekend.

Demaine-raised Evan Baxter takes the stage at 12:31 p.m. on Sunday, March 2 to perform his song, Two Trips. 

Swift Current's Faye Sheng is set to play a popular jazz piano favourite, Autumn Leaves, at 7:55 a.m. 

Southwest artist, Jesse Genns, is scheduled to have nine of his songs featured between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

13-year-old Kylie Stock from Swift Current will be singing Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi at 2:55 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, to find the livestream, or send pledges, visit telemiracle.com.

Country Night saw the Swift Current Broncos take an overtime win, and one lucky country music fan won a free smoker. 

The Broncos owed their win to Luke Mistelbacher getting the overtime goal, lifting the team 3-2 over the Moose Jaw Warriors. 

However, the other big winner for the night was Francios Vandesh. Their ticket was pulled by Charlie Horse during the second intermission, following a rousing round of stomp the can. While they didn't come down to claim their prize, they will be getting a follow-up call on Monday as they left a home phone number on their ticket. 

Throughout the evening, hundreds of people entered their names into the draw. While they didn't all get to win the smoker, which was courtesy of Canadian Tire, a few did walk away with a free bucket hat during the media break merch toss. 

Also handing out hats at the doors was Original 16, which handed out free cowboy hats to the first fans to arrive for the night, helping amp up the country atmosphere with the appropriate cranial attire. 

The Swift Current Broncos, Cowtown, and Country 94.1 can count the evening as a highlight, celebrating with the Broncos on another win. 

Moe says Saskatchewan wants to avoid tariffs in either direction, but options are open if the U.S. goes ahead with a 25 per cent tariff on March 4.

One expert says that if the deal is anywhere similar to Manitoba's agreement with Ottawa, Saskatchewan could potentially lose out on $17 million over three years.

SASKATOON – Premier Scott Moe is back in Canada from another mission to Washington D.C., but whether it can be considered a success or not remains to be seen.

Moe was in D.C. Feb. 24-27 alongside a continent from Saskatchewan industry, meeting with elected officials and industry partners. Moe told a news conference in Saskatoon that he met with senators and congressmen. Those meetings including with Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, who had been pushing for a carveout to prevent potash tariffs from being imposed, as well as with Trump cabinet members Secretary Chris Wright and Secretary Doug Burgum.

It was Moe’s second mission to D.C. this month alone, following a previous trip with the Council of the Federation, and he described their contingent’s message as “well received.”

Yet those efforts haven’t yet resulted in any change of tune from President Donald Trump, who said this week he will indeed impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada on March 4. 

The indication from Premier Moe to reporters in Saskatoon is that he will keep up the province’s efforts, as he made it known no one wins in a trade war.

“When it comes to tariffs, what we are doing as a province and will continue to do for the foreseeable future is to make every effort to head off any imposition, whether it be of tariffs coming from President Trump in the United States, or whether it be even counter tariffs from Canada. Necessary, unfortunately, counter tariffs from Canada. No one wins with the imposition of tariffs.

“Certainly, if there is tariffs that are being charged on southern foreign products at the 49th parallel and on products coming to the north, no one wins in that environment. I would say in particular, no North American family wins in that environment. It makes our economy, our continental economy, much less competitive.”

Moe pointed to three key dates in particular. The first one was the broad-based March 4 tariffs. He noted that those are focused around fentanyl and the border, and he pointed to the efforts Saskatchewan has made. 

“Saskatchewan has acted very quickly with our border security plan — been acting, I would say, for a number of months and years now, with increasing the number of enforcement officers in our communities,” Moe said. “Most recently, this past fall, with the addition of 100 municipal officers, as well as 185 provincially-funded municipal officers, and 185 provincially-funded RCMP officers.”

The second date is March 12 for steel and aluminum tariffs. Moe urged the federal government “to look at all options that they might have in that space to alleviate those tariffs that are proposed to potentially come into effect on March the 12th.”

“They need to ensure that there is not foreign steel that is flowing into a USMCA trade-free area. This was some of the steps that we took five years ago when there was steel and aluminum tariffs proposed, and we need to double down our efforts on ensuring that the USMCA trade area is for Canadian, Mexico, and U.S.-built products.”

On this point, Moe said there “is an opportunity for our federal government to engage to protect the free-trading continental opportunities that we have.

The third important date would be April 2 for the threat of reciprocal tariffs, which Moe said “would be much more global in nature.”

On this point Moe urged the federal government, to go into “more of a review of USMCA at that point in time. “

“What we would urge and encourage the federal government, as we find our way towards April 2nd… we would hope that if every effort is made between now and then, that we might be able to find our way to a review of our USMCA agreement.”

Moe said Saskatchewan is going to “continue to engage and engage alongside our industry partners, and engage alongside any allies in the effort to have a tariff-free environment.” He pointed to the efforts to eradicate fentanyl from their communities and to support food and energy security.

“Our focus from Saskatchewan’s perspective is very much one of the long view. We want to find our way back to that stable trading environment, where Saskatchewan can be part of building the continental food and energy security that we know we need as North Americans, as fellow North Americans. And if we are not focused on that as someone that lives on this continent, you can trust and rest assured that others around the world may be, and they may be interested in it and not with our best interest in mind.

“So energy security, food security, manufacturing security all have to be goals not only of us in the province and the nation, but they have to be our continental goals. And over the course of the next number of months, I hope we all keep that at the forefront and keep that as the goalpost on where we want to find ourselves. And that’s the message we took to Washington, D.C. this week, and I’d say it was very well received.”