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The Swift Current Aquatic Centre is briefly closed this morning.

The City of Swift Current is working on repairs to previous mechanic issues.

It was closed for a period from Wednesday to Friday last week. 

The pool will reopen at 12:00 PM today. 

WEYBURN – The community of Weyburn is mourning the loss of veteran journalist Greg Nikkel, who passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 21.

Nikkel was a pillar of the local news industry, dedicating nearly three decades to the Weyburn Review and SaskToday.ca. He was a significant voice in the community through his articles covering every aspect of life in the Weyburn area, as well as through his editorials and Nikkel’s Worth columns. His writing often reflected on local events, community initiatives and broader societal issues.

“Greg Nikkel was a respected and steadfast journalist of the kind all new journalists should strive to become, and he will be greatly missed by our news organization,” said Jayne Foster, SaskToday content manager. “Solid reporting and editorial writing along with quiet respectability and genuine concern for his community made him a man much admired in Weyburn and area. He will be missed by his co-workers in Weyburn and his readers alike.”

“He has been the voice of this community, through his stories and pictures, for four decades. He will be deeply missed,” Andrea Corrigan, publisher with The Weyburn Review/Weyburn This Week said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and all those his stories touched over the years.”

“I am saddened to hear about the death of Greg Nikkel, someone with whom I worked at the Weyburn Review for nearly two years,” said Jason Antonio, MooseJawToday and SaskToday content creator. “I was a young journalist in my early 20s in the late 2000s when I joined the newspaper and worked closely with Greg. I appreciated all the wisdom and advice he gave me and his patience in answering my questions, while I also appreciated his help with using DSLR cameras, which I had not used that often. My heart goes out to his family at this time.”

A journalist since 1988, Nikkel began his career in Alberta before moving to Weyburn in 1995, where he took over as news editor of the Weyburn Review. Over the years, he has won multiple awards for his contributions to journalism, including recognition for news and feature writing, editorial excellence, and photography. He was also recognized for his outstanding coverage of education, health care, sports, arts and culture, tourism and other topics that mattered to the community of Weyburn and beyond. He was named Photographer of the Year by the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association in 2019 and was recognized in other categories for his impressive photographs many times throughout his career. 

His dedication to the industry and the community was recognized in 2023 when he received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his contributions to communications.

Beyond his professional achievements, Nikkel was deeply committed to his community. His volunteer efforts extended to the Rotary Club of Weyburn and his church.

Nikkel was known for his compassionate storytelling, highlighting both triumphs and challenges within the community. His coverage ranged from local issues to profiles of inspiring individuals. He had a special talent for recognizing and celebrating the extraordinary people of Weyburn, a sentiment he often expressed in his writing.

Family was central to Nikkel’s life. He was married to Tracy, with whom he celebrated 35 years of marriage in 2023. Together, they raised four children. In his columns, he reflected on fatherhood and the joys of family life, writing in 1995, “When I come through the door at the end of the day, it’s worth all the heartache and frustration and tiredness to hear running feet and the cries of, ‘Daddy! Daddy’s here!’, followed by their small upturned faces and arms reaching up for a hug or to be picked up.”

His impact on journalism and the community was profound. Readers trusted his integrity and thoughtful reporting, and colleagues respected his dedication and talent. In a column he wrote after receiving the Queen Jubilee award, Nikkel expressed his gratitude for being part of the Weyburn community: “This tells me what I’ve always known—that Weyburn and area is home to many, many amazing, talented, and incredible people.”

Nikkel was a journalist who cared deeply about his community. His work combined thoughtful commentary with a strong sense of local advocacy and was valued by many readers over the decades.

“There have been many times when I have given my congratulations to Greg (Nikkel), because he writes such a good column. I usually agree with him… not always … but I just like to read his columns,” said Margaret Lukey, a second-generation subscriber of the Weyburn Review in an interview done during the 2020 Newspaper Week. “His editorials are always covering something local, which is prudent. It really applies to current events that happened in the last week. He is quite a remarkable writer.”

Nikkel’s legacy will live on through the stories he told and the people he inspired. He will be deeply missed by his family, colleagues and the community he so faithfully served.

REGINA – Those involved in Saskatchewan’s tourism industry are feeling good about the prospects for more growth in 2025.

That is in spite of some of the uncertainty being seen with President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. But the industry has seen even darker times before due to the COVID-19. These days, the local sector has been seeing an upswing, driven in large part by event attraction.

Recent years have seen Regina in particular host some big events including the Grey Cup and the Montana’s Brier, and more events are on the way in 2025. Mayor Chad Bachynski listed them off at the recent State of the City address:

“We will continue to work closely with our tourism stakeholders and Economic Development Regina to elevate Regina’s profile. To really put us on the map for renowned attractions and events.

“The Regina Hotel Association, in collaboration with tourism, partners and venues, continues to play a crucial role in driving tourism and economic activity in our city. In 2025, Regina will host over 70 events, generating over 70,000 hotel room nights. This includes everything from multiple hockey and ringette tournaments, to dancing gymnastics competitions, to the canoe – kayak championships, to the five-pin national bowling championships, not to mention Skills Canada National Competition, the Futsal open championships, Baseball Canada’s Men’s Senior National Championships, Lacrosse Provincials, the Sask Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival, and the Vanier Cup.

“These events, along with long-standing traditions like the Saskatchewan Roughriders season, Canada’s Farm Show, First Nations University Annual Spring Powwow, the Queen City Marathon, and Canadian Western Agribition showcase our city’s ability to support and attract major gatherings. Additionally, with 10 new bids to host future exciting events submitted in January alone, the momentum for events choosing Regina remains strong. The next several years presents an incredible opportunity for Regina.”

Jennifer Johnson is Regina’s Deputy City Manager of Communications, Service Regina, and Tourism. She points to growth in visitor spending in 2024 with a 24 per cent increase from January to October compared to the previous year, and she points to visitor spending forecast to surpass $625 million, marking the first time Regina’s visitor spending has surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Johnson believes that the multitude of events being held in the Queen City this year will keep the tourism momentum going.

“Yeah, we focus a lot of our time and energy on attracting those events, I would say both big and medium sized events,” Johnson said.

“We have really good facilities in Regina to host things like minor sporting events, volleyball tournaments. The REAL District has, you know, really unique properties all interconnected like that. So we’re known for those facilities.”

There are three particular markets Regina focuses on to attract tourists, according to Johnson. One is friends and family — those Saskatchewan expats who are returning home to visit. A second market is the area within about a 200 km radius of people from rural areas who might spend one to three days in the city. 

The third is the group that comes to Regina for those big events and conventions. For those, Tourism Regina partners with the Regina Hotels Association in making bids. 

Johnson said events are “a big deal for Regina. And we are known as very good event hosts here.”

She acknowledges one of the main challenges in attracting tourists is “actually just competition for people’s time and energy and money.

”People have so many options now that it’s tough to compete sometimes in that landscape. But we’re doing everything we can to position Regina as highly competitive. So even things like working with the airport to secure new and more daily flights to and from Regina really helps the tourism industry here. As we just talked about, working to attract events here, that really helps the tourism industry. Because if you bring in, you know, hundreds of people for a volleyball tournament, they’re also staying at hotels, eating at restaurants. And if we do our jobs right, they’ll be visiting local attractions.”

She points to some of the efforts they do to include all of the major properties in the city in a master calendar, so that visitors can easily access information not only about attractions but also what might be playing at Casino Regina, Conexus Arts Centre or Globe Theatre. They also send out an e-newsletter out to subscribers, and discount codes are provided as well. 

“We try to tell everyone when they come to the city what else there is to do and explore and experience. And the better job we do of that, we’re hoping they spend an extra few hours, an extra day or two, and they just take in more and more of the tourism industry here.”

Other parts of the province also are hoping to boost their tourism numbers, and are getting some funding help in that effort. Last week the government of Canada came through with over $2 million in funding for tourism offerings and infrastructure in the province.

That funding is being spread out among nine Saskatchewan tourism operators and organizations across the province. Some of those receiving funding include The Ridge on Amisk Resort Inc. at Denare Beach, Cypress Hills Eco-Adventures Ltd. out of Maple Creek, the Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon, Waterhen Eco Lodge Ltd. at Waterhen Lake, the Mounted Police Heritage Centre in Regina, and Whitecap Dakota First Nation which is establishing a cutting-edge Geodesic Dome Planetarium at Dakota Dunes Resort.

Other areas of Saskatchewan are also doing their part to attract major events this year, with Moose Jaw due to host a big one soon with the World Men’s Curling Championship running from March 29 to April 6. 

The province is pointing to tourism numbers being on the upswing in recent years. According to numbers provided by the province from Statistics Canada, in May of 2024 there was a rise in visitor spending in Saskatchewan from $2.4 billion in 2022 to $2.87 billion in 2023. 

Domestic travel spending in 2023 hit $2.69 billion, while overseas spending reached $153 million.  Total visits in Saskatchewan in 2023 also rose by 15 per cent, reaching 11.3 million for an increase of 1.5 million visits over 2022.

Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Alana Ross acknowledged the importance of hosting events when asked about it last week at Royal Saskatchewan Museum — itself a popular Regina attraction thanks to Scotty, the largest known T-Rex fossil in the world.

“All of the events that we host attract people to come from all across our country and sometimes they’re international events,” Ross said. 

“And it really is, it’s an opportunity for people to come and see what we have in the winter, what we have in the summer. So we’re looking forward to all of the events that we’re having.”

But there are some headwinds, in particular with the threat of Trump tariffs from the United States. Minister Ross acknowledged the uncertainty when she was asked if this might impact visitor numbers from the USA.

“I can’t predict what’s going to happen in the future. Talks are still ongoing. So we don’t, I don’t know what the outcome is going to be. But as Premier Moe said, tariffs hurt everyone. So we will continue to take that stand and we will continue to work with our counterparts.”

On the flip side, there is also the possibility Saskatchewan could take advantage of the “buy Canadian” reaction of tourists in this country to the Trump tariffs, with those tourists potentially opting to see Saskatchewan.

“Yeah, it’s a great opportunity and we really want to be able to share everything we have in our province with everyone from across the country. Like you drive through and you see the, on number one highway, you see the prairies, you go north, you get into the forest, the lakes,” Ross said.

“I’m up on Lake Country right on the edge of the boreal forest. It’s beautiful up there too. And then these wonderful opportunities like the museum that we have for people to come and see. They’re wonderful tourist opportunities.”

Johnson also acknowledged the uncertainty with the tariff situation.

“We’re watching it closely, of course, and we’ll be monitoring closely,” Johnson said, “We’re hopeful that it doesn’t impact us here too negatively. And in fact, that it might be an opportunity because there might be more Canadians looking for staycations and we might be able to offer them a location that they haven’t been to previously, or they’d been to a long time ago and are interested in coming back. But I think it’s early days and I just, I’m not sure, you know, we’re really not sure what type of impact it will have.”

FOAM LAKE — Wadena RCMP is asking the public’s assistance in locating 83-year-old Jimmie Moore of Foam Lake. He was last seen at a residence in the community at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, and has since been reported missing.

Police continue their efforts to locate Moore to confirm his well-being and are now asking the public to report information regarding his whereabouts.

Jimmie is described as:

• Height: 5’10”
• Weight: Unknown; slim build
• Eye colour: Blue
• Hair colour and style: Short grey/white hair; no facial hair.

At the time he was last seen, he was reportedly wearing a blue winter jacket, blue jeans and a blue call cap.

It’s believed that Moore may be travelling to Ontario, but this cannot be confirmed. He drives a red 2020 Hyundai Tucson (SUV), Saskatchewan license plate 226 NKY.

If you have information related to this missing person advisory please call 310-RCMP. 

Anonymous information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

#CrimeCopsCourt_SKTODAY

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada were in Ukraine’s capital Monday to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. The visitors, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were set to attend anniversary events and discuss supporting Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The anniversary was being marked as U.S. policies on Russia and Ukraine shift under President Donald Trump.

Here’s the latest:

Turkey offers to mediate in talks to end the war

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday voiced support for U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine and renewed a long-standing Turkish offer to mediate in negotiations.

“This situation aligns with the policy we have been following since the beginning of the war,” Fidan said at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. “We attach great importance to the new initiative of the United States, as a result-oriented approach.”

Fidan said: “We are ready to provide all kinds of support for the establishment of peace through negotiations. As before, we are also ready to host the talks”

Lavrov, who met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh last week, said Russian and U.S. officials would soon hold comprehensive consultations toward the “normalization of embassy operations” in Moscow and Washington.

Turkey has balanced its close ties to both Ukraine and Russia throughout the conflict, positioning itself as one of the few countries that can hold talks with both sides. It hosted peace talks in 2022, although no agreement was reached.

No lasting peace without Ukraine at the table, Trudeau says

KYIV — Trudeau framed the war in Ukraine and its potential resolution in terms of the post-World War II security order, rather than returning “to an era where might makes right.”

“We must do everything in our power to enable Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, a peace that cannot be achieved without Ukrainians at the table,” he said.

Trudeau said Canada would provide Ukraine with additional armored vehicles that Ukrainian soldiers would soon be trained on in Germany. He added that landing systems for F-16 fighter jets had already been delivered while flight simulators would be delivered in the coming months.

“Ukrainians will triumph because Ukrainians are fighting for what is right. But they cannot and should not do it alone,” Trudeau said, as he called for Kyiv’s allies to defend democracy and “stand for our shared values.”

Russia is willing to negotiate with Ukraine and Europe, Lavrov says

ANKARA, Turkey — Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that Russia is “ready to negotiate with both Ukraine and Europe” but will “stop military hostilities” only when the negotiations yield a “firm, sustainable result” which suits Russia.

Lavrov suggested the position of both Ukraine and European countries is changing frequently and that “against this background, the position of the United States stands out.”

Canadian and Dutch leaders pledge support for Ukraine

KYIV — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed President Zelenskyy, praising his “remarkable personal bravery, resilience and resolve.”

“You continue to inspire me and tens of millions of my fellow citizens back home in Canada,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau pushed back on the Kremlin’s narrative, echoed in recent days by U.S. President Donald Trump and some members of his administration, that Ukraine bore responsibility for igniting the conflict.

“This is not a conflict Ukraine wanted, provoked or asked for in any way,” he said. “This is a war started for one reason and one reason only: Russia’s desire to erase Ukrainian history and expand their empire.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that the last few “turbulent weeks” surrounding the push to bring an end to the war had brought European nations “face to face with history.”

“Today marks the start of the fourth year of the terrible war. Let us hope that it also marks the beginning of the end,” he said.

‘We will see a European Ukraine,’ Finnish president pledges

KYIV — Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Europe needs “to make clear to the Russians and everyone else that there are a few things that are completely off the table in these negotiations” to end the war in Ukraine.

“One is EU membership. It is not Russia who decides on EU membership, it is the European Union who does that. Two is NATO. It is not Russia that decides on NATO membership. It is the alliance itself,” he declared.

Russia could not be allowed to make demands on how Ukraine defends itself and where its borders lie, Stubb said, and the “European security order” already in place should remain steadfast despite Russian desires for change.

Stubb added that the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion should be an occasion to “honor the fallen Ukrainian heroes,” and “face the fact that Putin has lost this war.”

“We will see a European Ukraine. We will see eventually Ukraine in NATO, we’ve seen a unified European Union and hopefully a stronger trans-Atlantic alliance in the long run. And on a day like this, I think it’s time to pave the way for a plan for Ukrainian victory,” Stubb said.

Putin and Xi speak, underscoring close Russia-China ties

BEIJING — China’s President Xi Jinping had a call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin Monday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The announcement did not mention the details of the call. The two are known to have a close relationship, which is also reflected in bilateral ties.

China has become a major customer for Russian oil and gas and a source of key technologies amid sweeping Western sanctions on Moscow.

Russia decries new EU sanctions and praises US approach

MOSCOW — President Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia does not see any way to resume “dialogue with Europe” after the EU adopted its 16th round of sanctions against Russia on the third anniversary of the invasion. By adding to sanctions, European nations appear to be convinced that the war should continue, Peskov said.

This stands in contrast with searching for ways to resolve “the conflict around Ukraine which is what we are currently doing with the Americans,” Peskov said.

Speaking about Russia’s changing relationship with the U.S., Peskov welcomed “attempts by Washington to really understand what was the root cause of this conflict.”

Czech leader warns against ‘peace at any cost’

KYIV — Czech President Petr Pavel said via remote link that he has “no doubt that the ultimate goal of this aggression has always been to wipe Ukraine as we know it off the map.”

“Yet the resilience of the Ukrainian people has proven to be unbreakable,” Pavel told the gathering of European leaders in Kyiv. “It deserves not only our admiration, but also our full respect. We all sincerely want peace in Ukraine and for its people, but not a peace at any cost.”

Incendiary device targets Russian Consulate in France

French authorities say an incendiary device has exploded outside the Russian Consulate in the southern port city of Marseille on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. No injuries were reported.

A second device, which was also thrown against the consulate’s outer wall, did not explode and fell to the sidewalk. A bomb disposal expert was called to the scene.

The suspect fled and an investigation has been launched, an official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named by national police policy. Authorities did not provide details on the suspect or a motive.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the incident has “all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.”

EU brings new sanctions against Russia

European Union foreign ministers have given the greenlight to new sanctions against Russia which are entering force on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Among the latest sanctions endorsed Monday are measures targeting Russia’s so-called “ shadow fleet ” of ships that it exploits to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The EU said 74 vessels were added to its list.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the new measures also target “those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, videogame controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and propaganda outlets used to spout lies.”

Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 83 officials and entities. More than 2,300 officials and entities have been hit since the invasion began, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

German president says Europe’s peace requires support for Ukraine

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier says “peace and freedom in Europe demand of us that we support Ukraine resolutely.”

“Germany stands firmly beside Ukraine, with humanitarian aid, with protection for refugees, with military support,” Steinmeier said in the video message, parts of which were aired on Ukrainian television. “And we will not ease up as long as this illegal war lasts.”

Steinmeier planned to join a video summit Zelenskyy was holding Monday with leaders of supportive nations.

Steinmeier is a largely ceremonial head of state, but the winner of Germany’s election Sunday – conservative leader Friedrich Merz – also has been a staunch backer of Ukraine.

“More than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength,” Merz posted on X Monday. “For a fair peace, the country that is under attack must be part of peace negotiations.”

EU diplomat insists U.S. cannot seal peace deal excluding Ukraine and Europe

The European Union’s top diplomat insists that the U.S. cannot seal any peace deal to end the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin without Ukraine or Europe being involved.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday also highlighted what she claimed was pro-Russian positions being taken up by the Trump administration.

“You can discuss whatever you want with Putin. But if it comes to Europe or Ukraine then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, where she is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Kallas travels to Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

She said in terms of U.S. message, it was “clear that the Russian narrative is there very strongly represented.”

U.N. expected to vote on dueling Russia-Ukraine resolutions

The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote Monday on dueling resolutions — Ukraine’s European-backed proposal demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from the country and a U.S. call for a swift end to the war that never mentions Moscow’s aggression.

The United States pressured the Ukrainians to withdraw their nonbinding resolution in favor of its proposal, a U.S. official and a European diplomat said Sunday. But Ukraine refused, and it will be put to a vote in the 193-nation assembly, two European diplomats said. All spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

It’s a reflection of the tensions that have emerged between the U.S. and Ukraine after President Donald Trump suddenly opened negotiations with Russia in a bid to quickly resolve the conflict. It also underscores the strain in the transatlantic alliance with Europe over the Trump administration’s extraordinary turnaround on engagement with Moscow. European leaders were dismayed that they and Ukraine were left out of preliminary talks last week.

— Associated Press journalist Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

Zelenskyy indicates more equitable mineral deal is in works

A contentious Trump administration proposal to give the U.S. $500 billion worth of profits from Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as compensation for its wartime assistance to Kyiv has been taken off the table, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday, indicating a more equitable deal is in the works.

Zelenskyy had earlier declined a U.S. draft agreement on exploitation of his country’s valuable minerals such as lithium used in the aerospace, defense and nuclear industries because it did not contain security guarantees and came with the $500 billion price tag.

“The question of $500 billion is no longer there,” Zelenskyy told a news conference at a forum of government officials in Kyiv marking the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

No details on the status of the negotiations were given. Ukraine has insisted on security guarantees that it needs to deter any potential Russian aggression in the future.

Indigenous leadership in Saskatchewan say the U.S. President's threats to annex Canada are uninformed about Indigenous Peoples's sovereignty.

Saskatchewan says it is "disappointed" with a decision by Ottawa to slash the available spots for all provincial immigrant nominee programs by 50 per cent. In 2025, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program's allocation was cut to 3,625, the lowest since 2009.

Swift Current and southwestern Saskatchewan joined forces Saturday night to raise vital funds for a local non-profit.

The Center's Coldest Night of the Year was greeted with spectacular weather, in its fifth year and set a new fundraising record with over $78,000 donated. Swift Current was the top fundraising location in Saskatchewan ranking 62nd out of the 207 centres participating in the nationwide walk.

Nathan Wiebe, the executive director of the Center, said the event allowed him and his staff to thank the 126 walkers and 19 volunteers who came together to make the event prosperous.

"The numbers are a real testament to the community," he said. "I said this the entire event, it really shows the support for the Center and the belief the community has in our organization."

Funds raised during the organization's biggest annual fundraiser will be used on their mental health and support services, which expanded in late 2023. Wiebe said they see a massive need for free counselling within the Swift Current area and this funding can continue to aid those services.

"There's a lot of folks that seem to fall through the cracks, are struggling to seek out help, to find a place they feel comfortable with," he said. "We have amazing health mental workers in our community, don't get me wrong. We're able to work alongside a lot of those people daily... We're here to compliment those people, we're here to work alongside those people, and we're here to offer that service."

Wiebe was very appreciative of the work of his staff ahead of the big event and during it, saying he was really "grateful for them and to be able to walk alongside and to celebrate with them as well."

Amy Caldwell was the top local fundraiser with nearly $8,400 raised ranking her 39th out of the almost 39,000 participants across Canada.

A local country songwriter and musician took time away from preparing for Telemiracle 49 to take centre stage in Swift Current over the weekend.

Evan Baxter, who initially made headlines with his song The Show, hosted Open Mic Night at Lucky Charlie's Pool & Pub on Saturday night.

The Demaine-raised musician noted that he featured a brand new song on Saturday evening that he hasn't yet recorded in addition to popular covers, a few original hits, and his latest EP, My Waste of Time. 

"I'm here representing the Prairie Country Music Association and we're just putting on a little Open Mic to get some more local people out," he shared. "Everyone's tired of driving to these bigger centres to hear music so it's time to get it going in these smaller towns."

There was a $5 cover fee for Open Mic Night and the live music began shortly after 9:30 p.m.

Baxter highlighted that he'll be performing his song Two Trips at Telemiracle this year and that a portion of the profits from the song will be donated to Telemiracle each year.

"We did a Telemiracle fundraiser when I was 14 in Demaine, it was actually my first ever performance, and that's kind of where we got started," explained the teenage artist.

Folks can tune in to hear Baxter and other local talent during the 49th annual Telemiracle telethon coming up this weekend.

Anyone interested in checking out Baxter's music can visit evanbaxtermusic.com, listen to his songs on Apple Music, Spotify, and DistroKid, or visit him on social media.

Candidates vying to be the next leader of the federal Liberals and Canada’s prime minister will square off in a French-language debate in Montreal tonight.

A long cold snap made for a very frigid February.

"We're finally getting away from that cold snap that covered most of the prairies and a good part of Eastern Canada too," said Meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada Andy Yun. "We just started calculating some of the statistics for February and it looks like it might be the second coldest February in the Swift Current area recorded. That's with data that goes back 140 years."

The temperatures started to rise late last week and should stick around.

"That cold snap is finally over," Yun said. "It looks like that warm pattern will continue through to the end of February."

A big shift in the temperature does sometimes lead to some instability. 

"Sometimes with this warmer air coming through we do open up to some more unstable conditions sometimes and some scattered showers," Yun said. "We do have those in the forecast for the Swift Current area for Monday."

Don't count on this being the end of cold weather as of yet.

"It's only towards the end of February now," Yun said. "It's too early to say winter is over. Usually, this period from late winter to early spring you can have some mild patches and certainly some cold snaps or two. I don't see potential to get into the kind of cold air we had earlier this month."

Yun added the ground is still cold so with warmer weather and melting snow we should be careful when dealing with likely icy conditions throughout the area. 

Steel tariffs will have a widespread effect on prices, but it's still unknown if they will actually happen or if it's just posturing, says Golden West Radio business commentator Paul Martin. 

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose steel tariffs on Canadian steel starting March 12. 

This would impact companies like Evraz, as well as the pipe mill next door, Martin said. He added it would drive up the price of steel worldwide, and he has no doubt there will be retaliatory tariffs to increase the price of American steel coming to Canada. 

Martin explained that the reason for the retaliatory tariffs is that if the U.S. market can no longer be entered, the world will start looking at different markets to unload excess production. 

He said this leads to “dumping,” or selling the product abroad for less than it would be sold at home, and the world will be moving to protect themselves from “dumping.” 

If the tariffs do go ahead, Martin believes we will see a tit-for-tat escalation around the world that will increase inflation, and Saskatchewan will not be immune. 

Martin felt the impact of steel tariffs could be widespread, and the example he gave was farm machinery. Manufacturers import steel for some of their products, and when prices go up, this leaves less money in the pockets of farmers worldwide to buy Saskatchewan and Canadian-made farm machinery. 

"You see how these things start to spiral and stack up one on top of the other. So, it's not a happy experience. Will it bring the economy down? No. But we will feel some pain from it, no question,” Martin commented. 

When it comes to the manufacturing side, Martin said you would be hard-pressed to find anything that doesn’t use steel in some way, and it’s difficult to identify the source of origin of steel. 

In particular, he’s interested in seeing what happens in the automotive sector, as steel parts move back and forth across the border. 

"The automotive industry is really interesting because they are so integrated. Parts will be assembled in Detroit, shipped across to Windsor, and back to Detroit,” Martin said. 

“If it goes back two or three times, I haven't really figured this out, but are they going to be subject to 25, 25, 25, 25 per cent? Is it going to double the price of the components going into a car? If it does, that’s certainly going to affect anybody who retails them, anybody who repairs them, and anybody who drives one. That's really going to be a widespread impact." 

On the service side, Martin pointed to school buses, which are part of the automotive industry. If schools are renewing buses that go up by 25, 50 or 75 per cent, the cost could be passed down to the taxpayer. 

But will these steel tariffs actually go ahead? Martin pointed to the recent widespread tariff threats in which the president got concessions from Canada and Mexico without a penny of tariffs. 

“Maybe this is just posturing too, who knows? Will these things actually go into effect? It’s certainly empowered himself to do that,” said Martin. 

“He's signed all the executive orders required, but we’ve had countries responding to the threat of tariffs, and they haven’t actually been imposed yet." 

Martin further pointed to evidence within the stock markets, as the markets haven’t moved much, waiting to see what happens. 

Right now, Martin said, we should be getting prepared. As a consumer, it means firing up nationalism and buying Canadian. Meanwhile, the message he’s delivering to businesses is to start looking at other markets. 

"It's easy to sell in the U.S. because culturally we are the same, there are a lot of the same business practices, and the product lines have a lot of commonalities. If you start going around the world, you get into different customs and practices. You have to learn a little bit about that,” said Martin. 

He recommended that businesses consider trade missions, pointing out that Saskatchewan is well set up with trade offices around the world, which businesses may want to tap into. 

As for breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, Martin feels it is just “lip service,” and it isn’t a serious conversation. He said the biggest interprovincial trade barrier is supply management, and politicians are talking about protecting it and not dismantling it. 

SASKATCHEWAN – A Saskatchewan couple is aiming to transform any space into an entertainment/service hub with their product, the Nomad Pad.

The Nomad Pad functions like a portable TV, with the additional capabilities of processing payments, showcasing products and more.

Bailey Kimery, founder of the Nomad Pad, and Constantin Katsiris, the brand ambassador, discussed how the product idea first came to be.

“[We were] chatting about different opportunities and stuff like that and how it would be cool to travel the world. I guess like [what] we’re starting to do now and sell a product online. We were looking at digital products and physical products,” said Katsiris.

He came across this product, which was a smart screen on a stick with a battery as a base and thought it was interesting.

After doing more research into it, Katsiris believed they could develop a better product than the original one they saw and market it across Canada.

Kimery mentioned the two “saw so many gaps in not only the local community but in Canadian businesses as well. [So], it was really kind of bringing into fruition and connecting the dots for people in the sense of like how can you incorporate this [and] how can this enhance your life on an individual level, on a business level [and] on an entrepreneur level.”

So, the two contacted a manufacturer overseas and gave them the design of the product they wanted to make with unique features that would appeal to different kinds of consumers. From there, the couple came up with the name Nomad Pad, and the manufacturer branded it on their devices.

Katsiris said they spent $35,000 CAD on the first order of units. When asked if they felt it was risky to invest so much money at once, Katsiris mentioned through the e-commerce course they took. They were set up with a mentorship program, which allowed them to test out the need for the product before they ordered any supplies.

So, the two created a website for it, and marketed the product on a small budget and sold around nine orders in the first 10 days. The Nomad Pad has been sold to various types of places, including a hair salon and to a therapist.

What makes the product so versatile, said Kimery, is “[the] screen moves like horizontally and vertically, you can just swap it like this, and it automatically changes, so if you want to, you can mirror off of your phone or use [Apple] AirPlay if you want to [for gaming or watching movies/videos]. If you just have the screen and you want to show somebody something, it’d be great for trade shows for like any business, whether it’s to showcase your website or showcase your products.”

Referencing the therapist they sold a Nomad Pad to, Katsiris mentioned, “[they are] going to use it for teachable lessons that are kind of interactive for like counselling and for different kind[s] of trade shows where they’re like teaching lessons on different kind[s] of disorders and coping mechanisms and stuff like that.”

There are also other features like processing payments, downloading different apps, and having wheels at the bottom of the base to move the Nomad Pad around.

With all these features, Katsiris said, “I don’t think there’s a business out there that couldn’t utilize it.”

Even though only nine units have currently been sold, Kimery said they’re encouraged by the feedback they have received so far.

Katsiris even said other businesses, like Houston Pizza, have expressed their interest in having a Nomad Pad in each of their locations down the line.

As more consumers see the product, Katsiris believes it will have a snowball effect.

In terms of their hopes with the Nomad Pad, Katsiris said it’s all about being able to sell a product that helps people out. 

While anyone would hope to become a millionaire from selling their product, Katsiris is content with eventually selling around 50 Nomad Pads per month as they continue to grow their branding.

REGINA – The Dream Community Foundation (DCF) has partnered with the Regina Food Bank to support their School Food Program.

DCF is a charity that was first founded in 2022 that aims to fund three of its pillars: eat together, play together and grow together, said Runa Whitaker, executive director of DCF.

The charity first collaborated with the Regina Food Bank after the DCF Sask. marketing manager approached Sinéad Moran, community ambassador at DCF, about doing the winter wonderland event alongside the food bank.

Moran explained they thought it wasn’t the right fit for the DCF, whose purpose is more to serve the broader community.

Moran later met with Evelyn Cerda, vice-president of impact & partnerships with the food bank, to discuss what other programs the non-profit group offers the community.

After Cerda sent a proposal about the work they’re doing with the School Food Program, DCF felt it would be “a really good fit with our own pillars.”

So, DCF is currently contributing a portion of the $25 million they are receiving from the Cooper family over the next few years towards the School Food Program.

Children in Need

According to the Regina Food Bank, one in five children across Sask. are affected by food insecurity. This number has gone up over the past few years. Additionally, 39 per cent of the food bank’s approximate 20,000 clients are children. This continues to raise the need for a Food School Program.

Cerda mentioned it currently serves 2,000 students every week across eight different schools and two community school programs.

Included in the initiative is a lunch program, where the food bank will prepare meals for partnered schools three times a week. These food items include fruit, granola bars and sandwiches.

Members of the DCF recently had a chance to participate in the program by helping prepare meals. Moran mentioned “around 700 sandwiches were made by quite a small team that was really dedicated to the cause.”

The food bank also prepares a snack box for kids so they can eat food during the evenings or weekends, too, said Cerda.

During the summertime, the food bank offers “a summer program which gives them food hampers, said Cerda. She added, “[just] because they’re in school, the food insecurity challenge doesn’t go away.”

By giving children a proper meal, it helps support their cognitive function, which leads to improved memory, problem-solving, attention and more.

Cerda mentioned schools have told the food bank that they’ve seen children’s learning ability improve after they joined the program.

Additionally, students’ attendance has improved on the days they’re handed food, “which shows they’re not at home or getting in trouble,” said Cerda. Students’ are also showing more excitement from being at school based on what teachers have seen.

On the financial side, with the money received from DCF, Cerda noted, “[this] helps us cover for some of those expenses [with the program]. And so we can reallocate some of those dollars to provide more food to new clients.”

Speaking of money, the food bank had been waiting on mail-in donations from the Canada Post strike, which Cerda said affected their target numbers for Dec., which is one of the bigger months for them.

While the food bank did get some mail-in donations in Jan., Cerda said it’s accurate to say the food bank will likely not receive a lot of the donations. Because of this, the food bank lost nearly $200,000, and they aren’t sure about how long it will take to make up that financial loss.

Even with those challenges, the food bank is aiming to eventually expand its food school program.

Cerda wouldn’t say which schools they would partner with next, but she did note “food insecurity affects everyone. And it doesn’t matter which end of the city you live in or which area you might be facing food insecurity. And so for us, it’s important to work with the schools so they can identify if they have that need. And then we can provide them with food.”

Two people are facing charges after a stolen vehicle incident in Lloydminster led to a police confrontation and gunfire.

Lloydminster RCMP said officers located a stolen vehicle around 1 p.m. on Feb. 20. During their interaction with the occupants, a confrontation occurred, prompting an officer to discharge their firearm. The vehicle fled the scene before crashing into a residence a short time later.

Two individuals were arrested, and no injuries were reported.

Jeffrey Gervais, 31, of Lloydminster, is facing multiple charges, including:

• Assaulting a police officer with a weapon

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

• Theft of a motor vehicle

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

• Flight from a peace officer

• Resisting a peace officer

• Failing to comply with release order conditions (two counts)

• Operation while prohibited

Gervais was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 25 at the Lloydminster Court of Justice.

Treston Cataract, 28, of Lloydminster, is charged with:

• Theft of a motor vehicle

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

• Resisting a peace officer

Cataract was released on a release order and is set to appear in court on March 11.

Because an officer discharged their firearm, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was consulted. ASIRT determined the incident fell within their scope but directed the RCMP to investigate.

The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) arrested and charged a 25-year-old male following a break-and-enter at a business on the 200 block of 1st Avenue Northwest, following a public report that a near-naked man was running down the street.

At approximately 2:30 am on February 19, 2025, the MJPS received a report of a male running southbound on 1st Avenue Northwest wearing very little clothing — Shortly after that report, the MJPS received a call from a business reporting a break-and-enter, also on the 200 block of 1st Avenue Northwest.

Police arrived at the business and confirmed that a break-and-enter had occurred, after which members of the Community Policing Division proceeded to enter the building and then located and arrested the 25-year-old male without incident.

The individual had broken multiple windows and caused approximately $5,000 worth of damage to the property. He was taken to hospital and treated for several cuts and scrapes.

The 25-year-old has been charged with one count of Break-and-Enter and will make his first appearance in Moose Jaw Provincial Court at a date to be announced.

With the use of artificial intelligence on the rise, people working with the technology say how people are benefiting from it in Saskatchewan, but also why people should be wary of it.

Jeremiah Manitopyes, also known as Drezus, said it is important to share stories as Indigenous people, because storytelling has always been an important part of the culture and traditions.

The RCMP is inviting kids across Canada to take part in its annual "Name the Puppy" contest, a unique opportunity to help name the next generation of police service dogs. Hosted by the Police Dog Service Training Centre (PDSTC) in Innisfail, Alberta, the contest encourages children aged 4 to 14 to submit name ideas for the newest litter of German Shepherd puppies.

For 2025, all submitted names must begin with the letter "A." The contest is open from February 19 to March 19, 2025, and provides a fun way for young Canadians to connect with the RCMP while learning about the important role of police dogs.

How to Enter

• Contest period: February 19 – March 19, 2025

• Rules:

  • Entries must be submitted through the online form.

  • Each participant can submit one name (one entry per person).

  • The name must start with the letter "A."

  • Names should be one or two syllables and no more than nine letters.

  • All entries must be received by March 19, 2025.

Who Can Participate?

• Open to Canadian children aged 4 to 14.

• Participants must have parental or guardian permission before submitting personal details.

Prizes and Winner Announcement

The 13 winning names will be revealed on April 17, 2025, via the RCMP website and social media channels. One winner from each province and territory will receive:

• A laminated 8×10-inch photo of the puppy they named.

• A plush dog named Justice.

• An RCMP water bottle.

“This contest is always a highlight for us. We love seeing the creativity of kids across Canada, and we look forward to receiving this year’s ‘A’ names,” said Inspector Shawn Boutin, Program Manager at PDSTC.

About the RCMP’s Police Dog Training Program

The PDSTC is Canada’s national police dog training facility, known for breeding and training top-quality German Shepherds with advanced tracking and searching skills. Each year, a new litter of puppies is born at the centre, and young Canadians play an important role in helping name them.

Names will be selected by PDSTC staff. If multiple entries suggest the same winning name, a random draw will determine the winner. Names not selected for the contest may still be used for other puppies born throughout the year.

For full contest details and to submit a name, visit the RCMP Name the Puppy Contest online.

The government of Saskatchewan is reverting some energy efficiency guidelines for home building in what it calls a move for affordability.

The recent announcement by the province is putting all construction into tier 1 of the national building codes, including the National Building Code of Canada (NBC), National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB), and the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC).

Construction Association of Saskatchewan Treasurer Dan Yungwirth supported the change in the release.

“Let’s be clear—our industry will continue to build safe, durable, and energy-efficient structures because we take pride in our work and the communities we serve. This change allows us to prioritize affordability while still achieving exceptional outcomes.”

The different tiers were put in place in 2023, and what they represent is an increase in energy efficiency compared to the guidelines announced in 2020 for the building codes.

For example, tier 1 represents a home that is no more efficient than a baseline home with no efficiency measures. Tier 2 is a 10 per cent efficiency improvement, tier 3 is 20 per cent more efficient, tier 4 is 40 per cent more efficient, and tier 5 is 70 per cent more efficient.

The provincial government's newest changes would see housing and small buildings revert from being mandated to be tier 2 to being tier 1.

Larger buildings would remain at tier 1, similarly needing no change from the baseline building.

When the tiers were originally put into place in 2023, the province originally sought to expand those tiers further, but a delay by the Ministry of Government Relations put a pause on that increase as they compared energy efficiency parity with other provinces.

The province says that builders will still be able to pursue higher-tier energy efficiency targets as they wish, as per their building practices and customer demands.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995. The Conference was a defining moment in the feminist movement, with more than 17,000 people attending from around the world. It produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global framework for securing gender equality.

At the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025, civil society organizations, activists, and member states will gather to assess the progress made since the 1995 Conference. Held annually at United Nations headquarters in New York, CSW is the main intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls throughout the world.

Kathryn Sawatzky of Kindersley (now based in Saskatoon) will represent Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) as a part of the organization’s delegation to CSW69 from March 10 to 21. CFUW is a women’s organization with 6,700 members in 90 Clubs throughout Canada, including the Saskatoon Club. Founded in 1919, CFUW holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations, which allows it to send 20 delegates to CSW.

“The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was a breakthrough document when it was released, and continues to carry significant weight in how governments, NGOs, and civil society approach gender equality." said Sawatzky, CFUW delegate. "30 years later, it is time to take a critical assessment of the state of gender equality worldwide and determine what goals need to take precedence in the next 30 years. I’m honoured to be a part of this review and to advance CFUW’s commitment to gender equality in higher education,”

Sawatzky looks forward to sharing her experiences at the United Nations with local community leaders and members of CFUW Saskatoon.

To learn more about CFUW Saskatoon visit https://www.cfuw-saskatoon.org/

According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health's latest Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program (CRISP) report, influenza positivity tests have remained stable, but hospitalizations and ICU admissions have increased. 

The report covers the period from Jan. 26 to Feb. 8. 

During the week of Feb. 2 to 8, there were 292 positive influenza tests, yielding a 17.7 per cent positivity rate. In comparison, there were 318 positive tests the week prior, for a 17.4 per cent positivity rate. 

Nationally, the Public Health Agency of Canada reports that 24 per cent of cases tested positive for influenza during the week ending Feb. 8, an increase from 21 per cent the week before. The highest rates were reported in B.C. and Ontario. 

Since Aug. 25, 2024, Saskatchewan has had 1,589 positive influenza tests, with 1,479 testing positive for Influenza A and 110 for Influenza B. 

There were 21 respiratory virus outbreaks in high-risk settings (long-term care homes, personal care homes, and group homes), including eight due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), six due to influenza, six due to other respiratory viruses, and one COVID-19 outbreak. 

More concerning has been the severity of influenza during the reporting period. Hospitalizations increased from 51 to 93, and ICU admissions increased from three to 14. There were two flu-associated deaths during the reporting period. 

As for COVID-19, positive tests declined to 2.2 per cent for the week ending Feb. 8, compared to 2.6 per cent the previous week. This marks a steady decline from a positivity rate of 3.1 per cent from Jan. 19 to Jan. 25. 

There were 49 positive tests in the past week, compared to 59 positive tests the week prior. Most of the COVID-19 cases were among those ages 65 and older. 

Out of 10 major cities with sample data of COVID-19 activity in wastewater, nine reported low levels or no detections. North Battleford was the only city to report medium-high activity levels. 

Provincial MLA's won't be returning to the legislature for the spring sitting until budget day on March 19. The Opposition wants the assembly back now. Leader-Post columnist Murray Mandryk discusses the last time this happened, why the current government is doing it, the possible need to be back in session earlier and out-of-province private health care. This week's panel featured Mandryk and Morning Edition host Adam Hunter.

Three Black leaders explain how they've seen and faced racism, and how they're helping push through change in their communities.

The federal government is compensating more than a dozen Saskatchewan First Nations for agricultural benefits promised in treaties signed long ago, but never provided. It has also reached an agreement with Cumberland House Cree Nation on a land claim settlement.

REGINA – The opposition New Democrats have raised concerns again about a new addictions treatment facility in Lumsden.

This time, the NDP released a number of government emails which pointed to the amount of $800,000 being sent last summer to private operator EHN Canada to operate Willowview Treatment Centre. This was at a time when the facility was still closed to inpatients.

At a news conference in Lumsden, the NDP’s critic Betty Nippi-Albright pointed to the government emails, obtained through the NDP’s Freedom of Information requests, as raising concerns. 

“The government emails we’ve now obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows that the Sask Party funneled $800,000 in secret payments to the facility over the summer while the facility still wasn’t open. The government has redacted the total cost of the project. They’ve also delayed the release of three FOIs for correspondence and the total cost. The full cost of this facility remains an open question,” said Nippi-Albright. 

“I’ll tell you what’s not an open question. The Sask Party has had no problem handing this business blank checks while wait times grow and this addictions crisis gets worse and worse. Last we heard, this place isn’t fully operational. Where is this money going? This government is spending more and more and we aren’t getting or receiving the results.”

Nippi-Albright demanded the government be “straight” with Saskatchewan people.

“Disclose the cost of the Lumsden Treatment Centre. Disclose the total cost of the Lumsden Treatment Centre. Provide a detailed breakdown of where the money has gone. Tell us how many patients have been treated to date and what the heck is going on in this place. Drugs are taking the lives every single day. This government needs to get serious about this crisis.”

According to one of those emails obtained by the NDP, EHN had “received” $1,556,800 to EHN in startup funds from Saskatchewan Health Authority as of April 16. In another email from Sept. 16, there was approval to pay EHN’s $400,000 for July and for August, for a total of $800,000.

When asked for a response, the Ministry of Health provided a statement in which they indicated the startup amount of over $1.5 million was in fact not paid to EHN after all. Instead, there was an amended agreement to pay them a reduced rate of $800,000.

“While the full current contract with EHN, known as EHN Willowview, had the startup amount of approximately $1.5 million, this amount was not paid as full inpatient services were not operational. EHN was paid a reduced rate while they hired and trained staff over the summer and worked through the required building enhancements. The amended agreement for the $800K allowed this work to continue and for the start up of intensive day programming.”

The NDP has consistently hammered the government for several months over delays to opening the 60 inpatient beds at the Lumsden treatment centre, which was planned to be a 24-hour facility. The 60 bed facility was announced in January of last year. The government has attributed the delays to renovations needed to bring the facility up to code.

The province states that “building enhancements were required by the RM for fire safety. EHN and the rural municipality worked together to address building renovations to enhance the property’s fire safety to safely accommodate inpatients.”

The facility has been accepting patients since last October to what the province described as “intensive day treatment care,” with services provided on-site during the day. Those participants would be in treatment at the facility seven days a week for a period of four to eight weeks, depending on the patient, and staff would be available for on call support after hours.

Earlier this year, the province announced that intake had begun for 20 of the 60 inpatient spaces at the EHN Willowview Recovery Centre. The province has said EHN is continuing to work with the Rural Municipality of Lumsden for approvals on renovations to enhance the property’s fire safety. The province states a phased approach to adding the additional 20 to 40 inpatient spaces will start this spring as renovations are completed.

REGINA – During next week’s executive committee meeting, Regina city council will discuss the Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF).

The ETF, which is a $150 million investment over three years from the federal government announced in Oct 2024., aims to help “municipalities and Indigenous communities provide rapid responses to emergent, critical needs related to the substance use and overdose crisis,” according to the federal government’s website.

In Jan., Health Canada informed the City of Regina that they were one of 60 successful applicants for the ETR grant program.

A motion will be laid out to city council on Wednesday, which aims to seek approval to “enter into agreement with Health Canada to disperse funding through an expression of interest (grant program),” as stated in said motion.

The motion mentions non-profit organizations in Regina will be eligible to apply for funding for certain resources. These include peer outreach and training, safe supplies, and vehicles. All of these resources have been identified by local community organizations as critical needs.

The potential funding would be broken down into two years. For 2024-2025, the city would receive over $436,920. In 2025-2026, the city could then receive $230,880 for a total of $667,800.

Between those two years, the local ETF program would “address two urgent, community-identified needs to improve addiction responses in Regina: direct transportation and peer-based outreach.”

City administration stated the first phase of the program, which would provide transportation funding and safe supplies funding for different community outreach programs, would be completed by March 31, 2025.

The second phase would focus on “additional funding for safe supplies and funding for the pilot of peer outreach programming and training development for individuals who are in recovery and seeking low-barrier employment.” The second phase would be completed between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.

The nearly $700,000 would support three full-time peer worker positions and related training costs, eight new vehicles, safe supplies and the implementation of a train-the-trainer guide/program for peer outreach.

If approved at Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, the motion will be tabled for city council on March 5th for a final decision.

Last week, the Regina Police Service (RPS) reported that several people had fallen victim to a tuition scam which targeted students at the University of Regina.

Scammers posed as intermediaries, claiming they could offer reduced tuition rates if a student paid for an upfront payment.

The RPS reported that the fraud affected at least 23 victims, and the financial loss currently exceeds $125,000.

On Friday, the U of R provided an update to SaskToday regarding the scams. According to the institution, their protective services were first made aware of the scam back in Jan.

The U of R acknowledged the scam “has caused significant financial hardship to students who were victimized. These students are looking at alternate funding options. However, some have indicated they are unsure if they will be able to secure the necessary funding to continue their studies.”

As for whether the scam was targeted to select students or directed to all of them, the U of R couldn’t comment on that matter.

Since the scam started, “the University has notified students of this fraud via emails and social media and included information on how to avoid being victimized. A fraud notice has also been posted to the UR Protective Services website, which will remain on the site for the foreseeable future,” they said.

The U of R is “also considering other mechanisms for ensuring students are aware of potential risks of this and other fraudulent activity.”

This is now the second time in the past year that the institution has dealt with a fraud scam like this.

ASSINIBOIA — Did you know some members of Assiniboia Kinsmen Club were part of the inaugural meetings with Telemiracle founder, Urb Donlevy, to start what is known today as Telemiracle, now ready for its 49th year?

Telemiracle 49 will take place in Saskatoon March 1-2 at Prairieland Park. The telethon runs for 20 straight hours starting Saturday at 9 p.m. on CTV. The show features a national cast along with dozens of Saskatchewan performers, intermixed with community Kinsmen and Kinette clubs and other organizations bringing in their donations.

Katelynn Magee-Gillies, from Ogema, will be one of the Saskatchewan talent acts featured during the 20-hour telethon.

Telemiracle 48 generated just over $6 million, with all funds staying in Saskatchewan, helping Saskatchewan people. The provincial telethon broke the $8 million mark in 2022.

Funds raised from the annual 20-hour telethon can be used to purchase items for residents in need such as an outdoor lift that may cost upwards of $20,000, or a specialized power chair, which can cost close to $17,000. Funds may also be given on an emergency basis, with approval by the Kinsmen Foundation board, if a family or persons need emergency medical care away from home. You can find details and learn of Telemiracle’s history on their website.

Assiniboia Kinsmen and Kinettes have been doing their part to raise money for Saskatchewan’s charity. The Assiniboia Kinettes held a raffle at one of the Christmas craft shows and also were part of the highly successful spin-a-thon that generated over $14,000. Several club members will also attend the telethon to work as one of more than 700 volunteers who help man the event.

Assiniboia Kinsmen will once again hold their Telemiracle auction at the Limerick Hotel, as well as a steak night at 121 Steakhouse in Assiniboia.

The Town of Assiniboia organized a skate-a-thon/walk-a-thon at Southland Co-op Centre on Feb. 19 encouraging participants to get pledges for their efforts as part of a fundraising initiative for the annual telethon.

The Harkness duo was once again soliciting donations towards their always successful Fife Lake Telemiracle auction. It would be their 32nd year of this highly successful fundraiser, having generated more than $355,000 over three decades, with last year’s total earning $27,299.25.

Kin Clubs across the province remind residents it takes a village to work towards the Telemiracle success story as they count on efforts from community schools, seniors’ centres and other entities who hold various events and activities to benefit the overall total generated.

Local business owners, chamber members, and residents of Swift Current can mark their calendars for an informative conversation with local law enforcement coming up next week. 

The Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce will host the fourth session of Cops & Coffee on Thursday, February 27 at the Innovation Credit Union.

Corla Rokochy, CEO of the Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce, highlighted that no registration is required and the event is free to attend with donuts and coffee.

"It's an open discussion for the hour and I think it's going to be a great way to get questions answered," shared Rokochy. "People can just come in the entryway, up the elevator to the second floor, and someone from the chamber will direct them from there."

The hour-long meeting begins around 8:30 a.m. touching on recent shoplifting and crime statistics as well as concerns facing the business community, before opening the floor for conversations.

"You're more than welcome to send questions ahead of time," she added. "We're really hoping for an engaged audience and that everyone will be able to come out and join us."

Rokochy noted that folks signed up for the chamber's e-blast list will receive information recapping the Cops & Coffee session for those who were unable to attend.

For more information, contact the Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce at [email protected]. 

A teen accused of lighting a classmate on fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate has pleaded not guilty and chose a trial by judge alone at Court of King's Bench.