The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) says it is working to ensure women in the province have access to breast cancer screening and biopsies in as timely a manner as possible, but some patients say the system isn't working fast enough.

Local families, children, and fans of Disney's Frozen enjoyed a travelling show that stopped in Swift Current this past weekend to present Frozen In Time. 

The interactive show ran twice at the Lyric Theatre on Sunday and featured singing, dancing, laughing, and more with a few favourite characters from the movie.

Maria Doyle, front-of-house manager at the Lyric Theatre, noted that children who attended came dressed up as their favourite characters including Elsa, Ona, and a few Spidermen. 

"It was a retelling of the movie and they had the characters on stage," she explained. "The kids got to sing along with all the songs, they brought up some of the dads and got them to do a little singalong, and even had snow machines."

The first 65-minute-long showing of Frozen In Time began at 11:00 a.m. while the second started at 2:00 p.m.

"It was really fun to see everybody come out and I'm pretty sure if not all, then most of the tickets were used," shared Doyle. "It was a really cold day so people weathered the weather and it was nice to see the theatre full and the kids having a great time."

For more information about the Lyric Theatre and its upcoming events, visit lyrictheatre.ca.

One of the two people charged in a massive fentanyl seizure near Swift Current will be out on bail.

28-year-old Kunwardeep Singh was granted bail in Swift Current provincial court yesterday on a $25,000 bond.

Singh also had an immediate family member put them name forward as a surety for him.

He will be under a curfew and won't be allowed to leave the boundaries of Calgary without permission.

Any details of the case against Singh are currently under a publication ban.

26-year-old Swati Narula had her bail hearing delayed by a week. 

She remains in custody.

Saskatchewan RCMP's Roving Traffic Unit and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol were collaborating in proactive patrols of the Swift Current area on January 28 when they performed a traffic stop on a vehicle with two adult occupants. 

Police say they found 17.5 pounds of fentanyl hidden under the spare tire.

Singh and Narula each face one count of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The Trans-Canada Highway west of Swift Current is one of three highways locally that's being advised against travel.

Saskatchewan's Highway Hotline issued a travel not recommended alert at 7 p.m. Wednesday for the Trans-Canada Highway from Carmichael east to Swift Current, Highway 363 from Neidpath east to the Highway 4 junction, and Highway 379 from McMahon east to Wymark.

A note on the Highway Hotline for motorists on the Trans-Canada Highway near Webb to be aware of "snow drifts on the highway. Use caution when travelling in the area."

Sentilla Bubb is teaching her students about history and culture she feels is often ignored. The Afro-Indigenous teacher said the work is even more important during Black History Month and Indigenous Storytelling Month.

The RCMP announced Wednesday afternoon two suspects have been arrested in connection with the four homicides on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation on February 4th. 

The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit arrested 18-year-old Darrius Racette in Yorkton on February 18th. He has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in relation to the deaths of Tracey Hotomani, Sheldon Quewezance, Shauna Fay, and Terry Jack. 

A youth was also arrested, and is expected to face the same charges. The youth cannot be identified as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act. 

“We thank the public for their cooperation and patience as these investigations were conducted. Officers rely on witnesses and members of the community to come forward with information to further investigations,” said Inspector Ashley St. Germaine, Senior Investigative Officer with the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Major Crimes Branch.

"I’m incredibly proud of the work that was done by our officers and by the partner agencies we worked with," said Assistant Commission, and Commanding Officer of teh Saskatchewan RCMP Rhonda Blackmore. "I understand from the outside, it might seem like this wasn’t a quick resolution, but I think it’s important the public realize investigations like this are incredibly complex. They take time and diligence on the part of police. Our investigators have to be incredibly thorough – not only to be able to enact an arrest, but to ensure the work supports a prosecution of the accused."

On February 4th, the File Hills First Nations Police Service received a report of sudden deaths at a residence on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, which is north of Montmartre. The officers responded immediately, and found four people deceased in the home. 

The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit took over theinvestigation, and the incident was treated as a homicide, with the initial investigation suggesting the victims may have been targetted. 

St. Germaine also clarified there was no connection between the homicides, and a separate firearms-related incident on Zagime Anishinabek.

"The two incidents occurred on the same day within close time and proximity to each other," St. Germaine told media Wednesday afternoon. "The RCMP communicated the two incidents together as we wanted the people living in those areas to be aware of any potential threats and to remain vigilant while the investigations unfolded. We did not publicly identify a suspect in relation to the homicides on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation."

Racette is scheduled to appear in Yorkton Provincial Court on Thursday. No court dates for the youth have been announced at this time. 

RCMP have made two arrests in connection with the shooting deaths of four people, whose bodies were found at a home on the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation on February 4.

During the investigation, Mounties determined the home was targeted.

The deceased are:  34-year-old Tracey Hotomani of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, 51-year-old Terry Jack of Carry the Kettle, 44-year-old Sheldon Quewezance of Zagime Anihinabek First Nation, 47-year-old Shauna Fay of Indian Head.

On Tuesday, Mounties arrested 18-year-old Darrius Racette in Yorkton, while a youth was taken into custody on the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation.

Racette has been charged with four counts of First Degree Murder, and he will appear in Yorkton Provincial Court on Thursday.

At this time, charges are pending against the youth, who cannot be named, under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

It will be one of the rare times in the province's recent history — the other being 2021 due to the COVID pandemic — that the government will not face two weeks of questions before presenting a budget.

Regina police have laid a first-degree murder charge in connection with a homicide in the city’s downtown.

Officers responded to the 1500 block of 12th Avenue around 8 p.m. on Tuesday and found a 46-year-old man dead. 

The Regina Police Service Major Crimes Unit, forensic investigators, and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service took over the case. After further investigation, police arrested and charged 39-year-old Dennis Hotomanie. 

He is set to appear in Regina Provincial Court Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The investigation is ongoing.

Saskatchewan RCMP say they will provide an update Wednesday afternoon on the quadruple homicide on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation earlier this month.

Regina police's major crimes unit is investigating a death close to the downtown core.

Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench has ruled in favour of an R.M. of Rocanville councillor who had been forced from office.

Timothy Wushke, a councillor with the R.M. between 2013 and 2024, had been disqualified from council over an alleged conflict of interest. 

But in the written decision from Judge S.M. Sinclair dated Feb. 4, it was ruled there was a breach of procedural fairness in the manner of Wushke’s removal from council.

At issue were two resolutions passed at an R.M. council meeting on July 11, 2024 regarding Wushke. According to the facts outlined in the court decision, it was indicated by the reeve, Melissa Ruhland that there was a problem regarding an unauthorized payment that was not on the agenda. 

Ruhland indicated that at the Council meeting on June 13 an invoice for the removal of a beaver dam in the amount of $677.25 was improperly presented to Council and was approved for payment along with 10 other expenses that were also approved. 

The expense was for the benefit of Wushke’s mother. Wushke’s response was to advise council that the contractor, Edge Excavating, had issued the invoice to the R.M. by mistake. Wushke added that he missed that the expense was among those being approved at the meeting, and also mistakenly did not recuse himself.

Council then met for 12 minutes without Wushke. When he rejoined the meeting, he was told council had passed a resolution to disqualify him as council.  

A resolution was then moved to also declare Wushke’s seat on council vacant. According to the facts outlined in the court decision, Wushke spent approximately 32 minutes defending himself and asking council to reconsider, to no avail. 

Wushke was also asked to resign from council, which he refused. 

The vacancy resolution was passed, and Wushke filed an application soon after to seek to quash the resolutions. He was also prevented from running in the municipal election on Nov. 13 as a result of the council resolutions to remove him. 

There were also further allegations in what the Court described as written reasons provided on Aug. 8 to Wushke by the RM outlining his removal from office, including an allegation that in 2021 Wushke had authorized hauling of dirt for a road repair project without  approval, with an added expense of $12,760 to the RM. There were also several instances alleged between 2014 and 2020 that Wushke did not declare a conflict of interest when Council discussed hiring his son as a contractor. 

In his ruling Judge Sinclair decided the RM “acted in a procedurally unfair manner,” He noted there had been a breach of procedural fairness. It was noted that Mr. Wushke was not advised in advance of the meeting that his conduct was at issue and that disqualification was a potential outcome, and his conduct had not on the agenda for the July 11 meeting. It was also noted Mr. Wushke did not have the opportunity to meaningfully prepare to speak to any allegations against him.

The resolutions were declared void, and Wushke was ruled entitled to costs. As for the other issues in the case, Sinclair ruled it was for a future court to interpret those sections of the Municipalities Act. 

Blowing snow in southwestern Saskatchewan on Wednesday is hampering travel conditions for motorists.

According to the Highway Hotline, every highway in the region is listed as partly covered or bare, however, the bulk of them have reduced visibility. 

The Trans-Canada Highway from Rush Lake west to the Albert border, Highway 4 from Val Marie to Cadillac and then again from Blumenhof to Elrose, Highway 37 from Cabri south to Climax, Highway 32 from Cabri southeast to Swift Current, Highway 363 from Neidpath west to Highway 4 junction, and Highway 21 from Liebenthal to Cypress Hills are all listed as experiencing reduced visibility. 

REGINA – The opposition New Democrats were still fuming on Wednesday on word that the spring sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislature won’t start until March 19.

Opposition Leader Carla Beck and House Leader Nicole Sarauer roasted the government at a media availability Wednesday at the Legislature building. They pointed to continued concerns about tariffs from US President Donald Trump as reason enough for the Legislature to resume.

“It seems that the Sask Party, despite all of this, can’t even be bothered to show up to the office to come in and punch the clock,” Beck said. 

Trump had already announced steel and aluminum tariffs and could reimpose 25 per cent tariffs at the end of a 30-day pause period on March 4. Beck pointed to the tariff threats again as reiterated her party’s call for an early emergency sitting to deal with the issue.

“Now for weeks we’ve been calling on these guys to reopen the Legislature and get back to work. But unfortunately, late yesterday, they announced that they’re going to be kicking that can down the road and they’re going to be doing the bare minimum… Meanwhile, we’re on track to see not one, but two rounds of job-killing tariffs before then. That means that by the time that this legislature sits again, Saskatchewan steel could be facing 50 per cent export tariffs.”

The return date of March 19 is roughly two and a half weeks later than when the spring sitting usually starts in Saskatchewan, which is normally the first week of March. The NDP also noted the sitting will be as short as possible within the rules, with the final day being May 15 — around the usual time when the Legislature normally breaks for the summer. The previous fall sitting after the provincial election was also abbreviated, lasting only ten days.

The spring sitting will begin with the tabling of the provincial budget by Finance Minister Jim Reiter. When asked, House Leader Sarauer couldn’t recall the last time a spring sitting had opened with a budget address.

“What we see here, instead of a sense of urgency, the Sask Party is offering a late start and two and a half weeks short compared to what we’ve seen in recent years,” Beck said. 

“These guys again are doing as little as possible at a time when Saskatchewan people rightly expect that we’re all working around the clock to protect our future.” 

As for what the NDP wanted to see done in the Legislature, Beck wanted an an opportunity for the government to be accountable on updating the latest with tariffs and what counter plans might be. She also pointed to the anxiety being felt across the province on the issue, and the need for a Team Saskatchewan approach.

“We could be passing unanimous motions. We could be inviting the voices of producers, industry groups, those on the front lines to the legislature to ensure that when we’re in discussion with the federal government about a response, that their voices are on the table. Basic accountability around financial issues, I mean, the list goes on and on. Again, not only are we not seeing an emergency session, we are seeing two and a half weeks less accountability at a time when I think we need more.”

Sarauer echoed Beck’s thoughts and pointed out there are “a lot of options available when the legislature’s in session. When we’re not, we’re not able to do any of those quick responses. We’ll have to wait until the 19th. So we think that that is not helpful to Saskatchewan people. 

“I know people want to see us at work in the legislature debating these things and being ready to be able to act quickly to respond to whatever’s coming next … Again, what we’ve been hearing from a number of stakeholders, from industry, from producers, from those on the front line, has been the lack of accountability, the lack of details. People, rightfully, are alarmed.”

As for the session itself, Sarauer acknowledged there wasn’t a substantive amount of legislation coming before the Assembly from the government.

“I can say that their legislative agenda currently before the House is rather short,” said Sarauer. That was not to say, she added, that “there isn’t a ton of work that needs to happen” in the legislature.

“There is two bills that we passed in the fall sitting by consent, and I think there’s about 10 or so that are left to be passed… It’s typically light after an election. That’s not surprising. But there is a lot of work that happens in the Legislature, as you well know, aside from simply debating bills that have been introduced in the fall. The fall almost seems like a lifetime ago compared to what we’ve gone through over the last few months. We weren’t talking about tariffs during the last session. A lot has happened since then, so there’s a lot to be talked about in this session.”

Last week, Premier Scott Moe was part of the Council of the Federation delegation that held meetings with officials in Washington D.C. on the tariff issue. Moe is now back in the province and it is expected he will provide remarks about that trip later today.

The Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada said in 2023 that $1 trillion of wealth was expected to move between Canadian baby boomers and their millennial and Generation X children from 2023 to 2026.

The snowpack in Southwest Saskatchewan is above normal levels heading towards the spring.

Water Security Agency Spokesperson Patrick Boyle noted despite a dry start to the winter, they're in good shape now.

"We've seen improvement in many areas across Saskatchewan here," Boyle said. "Went in fairly dry into freeze up in most areas, but certainly many portions of the south and southwest of Saskatchewan have seen significant snow events. That's certainly changed the picture in a few of those areas and increased the runoff forecast."

Reservoirs and lakes look to be within their normal operation range.

"That southwest area every reservoir is expected to fill," Boyle said. "There's a pocket there that's above normal kind of Swift Current going down through the Cypress Hills Eastend area. There's some near normal portions and a couple below normal categories in that Maple Creek, Val Marie, Assiniboia region, but we do expect every reservoir to fill in the southwest."

He added Lake Diefenbaker went into winter freeze up three meters higher than it was last year due to some adjustments from the Water Security Agency.

Boyle said it's too early to tell what level of risk there could be for flooding especially as there is still potentially significant precipitation to come.

They will be doing some snow surveys to get a sense for what things may look like in a melt.

Southwest residents and Broncos fans were able to help the Swift Current Kinettes raise over $3,700 to go towards Telemiracle at last weekend's Bronco game.

The total of $3,752 raised from Pass the Bucket will be added to the other donations raised by the Kinettes and presented at the 49th annual Telemiracle telethon coming up next weekend.

Tracey Prang, president of the Swift Current Kinettes Club and gameday operations manager for the Swift Current Broncos, noted that this is only the second time that the Kinettes have done Pass the Bucket.

"It was phenomenal, we're extemely grateful for the generous donations by everbody who attended the game the other night," shared Prang. "We're also thankful to the Broncos for allowing us to come in and continue to raise awareness for Telemiracle and the amazing things we can do because of the generosity of everyone in Saskatchewan."

For more information visit the Swift Current Kinettes on Facebook or head to telemiracle.com.

An arrest has been made in relation to the recent string of thefts and break-and-enters.

On Tuesday, Swift Current City RCMP conducted search warrants at three residences within the city. Upon inspection, they discovered multiple stolen and suspected stolen items from recently reported thefts and break-and-enters.

Blaine Charles Peters was arrested and was hit with four charges. The 25-year-old Swift Current resident faces the following.

• break-and-enter
• possession of property obtained by crime less than $5,000
• theft, possession, or use of a stolen credit card
• fail to comply with probation order

Peters's first court appearance in Swift Current Provincial Court was on February 19, 2025.

RCMP have been receiving reports of similar thefts and break-ins since January 29, 2025. They are continuing to investigate these incidents, and ask anyone with information to contact the local detachment at 306-778-4870.

MOOSE JAW — The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is continuing to investigate reports of cockroaches popping up throughout the province, based on a letter it sent recently to school divisions.

The SHA sent the memorandum to students, families and staff in mid-January, saying it was following up on a letter from March 14, 2024, since it was aware of the continued presence of German cockroaches in communities.

This cockroach is 1.3 centimetres to 1.6 centimetres long, is tan to light brown, has two parallel black streaks along its back and has wings but cannot fly, the letter said. Furthermore, the SHA has identified these bugs in schools, businesses, institutions and homes.

“Early detection and proper notification is key. SHA public health encourages all persons to take appropriate action once cockroaches have been identified,” the document continued.

When people identify these bugs, they should take steps to eliminate and control their spread, including:

• Limiting items that children bring to school
• Thoroughly inspecting children’s belongings before leaving or returning to school
• Keeping all areas clean and sanitary
• Contracting a certified pest control operator to handle the bugs

The letter also provided three online resources with information:

• General cockroach facts, concerns, tips and removal actions
• Allergy concerns and controlling cockroaches
• An in-depth guide for controlling the bugs in homes and apartment buildings in a non-toxic way

Moose Jaw-area residents who need further assistance can phone the public health office at 306-691-2300.

“The German cockroach is one of the most common household cockroaches in the world. They are particularly fond of living in restaurants, food processing facilities, hotel rooms, and nursing homes,” the Health Canada website says.

“Although not very tolerant of the cold, this cockroach has been found in buildings as far north as Nunavut.”

Cockroaches rarely cause structural damage, although they contaminate food and spread disease by walking over and excreting on food or food preparation areas after having travelled through garbage and/or sewers, the website said. People with asthma may have a negative reaction to their feces and body parts.

Cockroaches live where food, water, and shelter are available, the agency continued. They are attracted to buildings because of the warm, damp conditions offered by kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and plumbing areas, although their presence does not necessarily mean unclean conditions exist.

“Roaches and their egg cases can hitch a ride into your home on various objects — including used furniture, food items, empty beer and soft drink bottles, and shipping cartons. Once inside a building, they travel quite easily,” Health Canada said.

“Because cockroaches are most active at night, they may go unnoticed for some time,” the agency added. “Cockroaches are attracted to food sources that contain starches, sugars, and protein, but will eat almost anything when hungry.”

To eliminate cockroach antigens, the SHA recommends vacuuming and using household cleaners to clean every nook and corner. To kill the bugs, baits, disposable sticky traps or spraying pesticides can work.

However, the SHA says people with breathing problems should avoid using pesticides and should use baits or traps instead. If spraying is required, people should limit the spraying to the infested area and avoid using it in food preparation or storage areas.

Health Canada also says people can freeze infested items for at least 24 hours — but preferably up to a week — at -8°C (17.6°F).

Prairie South School Division and Holy Trinity Catholic School Division sent this letter to their families in late January, while the letter was presented during the latter’s February board meeting.

The City of Moose Jaw has also been working to eliminate cockroaches at the Kinsmen Sportsplex pool and concession.

Meanwhile, the former Riverside Mission dealt regularly with cockroaches, and residents in High Park Tower have faced related bug infestations.

A man was taken to hospital after an incident at a metal recycling facility in Regina.

Evraz North America says an employee suffered severe injuries Tuesday at Wheat City Metals Recycling.

The company says the man is in critical but stable condition.

Evraz says operations at the facility have been put on hold.

A Saskatchewan man was recently sentenced after facing a litany of charges stemming from a hefty weapons bust a few months ago that saw 31 firearms seized.

Jason Palmier from Lafleche pleaded guilty to three of eleven criminal charges on February 11 at Moose Jaw Provincial Court.

The 46-year-old entered guilty pleas on one count of unlawful storage of firearms in a careless manner, one count of possession of a prohibited device, and one count of possession of firearms without proper licenses. 

The additional eight charges were stayed and Palmier was sentenced with a 20-day jail sentence with 90 days credited for time served, a 12 month probation period, and a 10-year firearm prohibition as of February 11. 

He was ordered to pay a $600 fine by June 30 and is also prohibited from contacting or being within 50 metres of co-offender, Amanda Johnson, and three other women.

The Lafleche resident was also ordered to report to a probation officer, complete addiction assessments and programming, as well as participate in personal counselling.

Palmier appeared for his sentencing while in custody, appearing by video and was represented in court by defence council Estes Fonkalsrud with Judge David Chow presiding.

On November 8, a search warrant was executed at a rural residence near Lafleche by officers from the Swift Current Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team, Police Dog Services, the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team, Gravelbourg RCMP, and the Regina Police Service Crime Reducation Team. 

The offender was arrested at the scene along with 38-year-old Amanda Johnson and another adult male, who was later released without charges. 

During the search in November, RCMP recovered 31 firearms, five prohibited devices, ammunition, brass knuckles, a stolen vehicle, and a small amount of psilocybin. 

Staff sergeant Danny Donison, south region manager for the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams, was quoted noting, "our strong partnerships and valued relationships with other agencies continue to have significatn impact on the communities we serve".

Saskatchewan is experiencing an exceptionally chilly Februaru with multiple areas setting new record-low temperatures on Tuesday.

The coldest spot was Last Mountain Lake, where temperatures dropped to -45.1°C, breaking the previous record of -38.5°C from 1986. Other areas, including Moose Jaw, Estevan, and Saskatoon, also set new records, with temperatures plunging below -40°C.

Indian Head saw a new low of -41.4°C, breaking its 1903 record of -37.8°C, while Broadview hit -41.2°C, surpassing its 1966 record of -40.0°C. Meadow Lake tied its 1986 record at -42.7°C. The extreme cold has disrupted travel and forced residents to take extra precautions. Officials are reminding people to dress warmly and check on vulnerable individuals.

While these record temperatures are still preliminary, they emphasize the severity of this cold snap. Environment Canada warns that frigid conditions may persist, and residents should stay informed about weather updates. More details will be provided as final temperature reports are confirmed.

The Aquatic Centre in Swift Current is closed with an unknown timeline for re-opening.

Wednesday morning the City posted on its social media accounts, that the facility is closed due to mechanical issues.

Work to repair the issues is underway but the City is unsure when the Aquatic Centre will be operational again.

Regina Police are looking into the discovery of a dead man Tuesday night.

Police were called to the 1500 block of 12th Avenue last night just after 8:00 PM. At that time, police located a deceased man. 

Police are not releasing any additional information, including the victim’s name or whether they believe this death is suspicious, at this time. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact RPS or Crime Stoppers.

John Arcand is known as the master of the Métis fiddle. The Saskatoon artist has been crafting fiddles for almost 50 years, and he wanted to make his 100th unique.

Today is your final chance to hit your mark with the Sweet Heart of a Deal Auction on Swift Current Online. 

It's the last chance to bid on hot tubs, barbecues, hotel packages, contractors and much, much, much more. 

Simply click the link, open the auction page, and place your bids in order to secure your desired items. 

This is the perfect opportunity to make good in case you missed out on Valentine's Day plans last week. If your Friday dinner reservation was cancelled, or if the gift you meant to have delivered ended up elsewhere, this is the moment to get your special someone a make-good gift, perhaps helping to rekindle any cold shoulders they may be expressing. 

Whether it's a large ticket item like a firetable or gazebo, or maybe even a Slough Sharks jersey. Perhaps one of the more reasonable gift cards for Canadian Tire, Prairie Flint, or the Pro Shop at Sask Landing Golf Resort. 

Plan an intimate dinner with a gift card for Casey's Dining Room, a night watching the big game at Boston Pizza, or even an evening with friends at Original Joe's.

There's plenty to choose from, including discounts on doors, windows, and contracting work for those spring renovations you might have been thinking over. These deals can help ensure you save on the budget, opening up new possibilities. 

Don't miss out, get in on the Sweet Heart of a Deal Auction before it closes at 4:19 p.m. today. 

Dylan Breeland, the national servicing representative for the workers' union, says bargaining has been ongoing since early 2024, but the employer's offer has not addressed the "extreme turnover" seen in the city.

A Saskatchewan high school that produced some NHL greats is getting ready to move its junior hockey team to Warman.

Residents from the Town of Leader are being notified of a town-wide boil water advisory beginning today.

Maintenance will be performed on the Town of Leader Water Treatment Plant from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today and tomorrow. 

During that time, community members will experience periods without water.

After the work has been completed, notices will be sent out to residents when the town's water status has been moved to a precautionary boil water advisory. 

Anyone looking for more information can visit www.leader.ca.

The City of Swift Current unveiled the new incoming Chief Administrative Officer. 

As of May 14, 2025, David Gillan will be taking over the position from Jim Jones, the outgoing CAO. This announcement was made at the Tuesday evening city council meeting in Swift Current. 

Gillan has a history of both administrative and elected work with municipalities, having just recently served as Mayor for the City of North Battleford. He chose to not run in the latest election, just now taking on a new role with Swift Current. 

"I was interested in this opportunity and looking for opportunities," said Gillan. "I'm very pleased and very happy that the City of Swift Current selected me."

In the introduction presented to city council by Mayor Al Bridal, it was noted that Gillan has 16 years of experience in senior executive positions with multinational companies based in Asia-Pacific (the region of the world comprising adjacent regions in the western Pacific Ocean, such as Russia, China, Japan and Australia). He also spent a decade in leadership roles in municipal government. Prior to serving as the mayor, Gillan was the finance director for the City of North Battleford, and the Town of Battleford. 

Gillan believes his background in finance will provide him an edge, especially when balancing budgetary constraints against the demands of the City as an organization. 

"I do have a finance background and these things are very important to me," said Gillan. "I like to have a strong balance sheet. Before we can commit to a (new aquatic centre), we need to have a stronger balance sheet."

Gillan revealed he was already somewhat familiar with the situation surrounding the aging aquatic centre in Swift Current, and the need to replace it. He is hopeful that he can utilize his previous experiences to help facilitate the pursuit of funding from the municipal level, the grant level, and the fundraising level. 

"When it comes to large-scale projects, debt is important," noted Gillan. "Because if it's managed right, it is very effective. Whether you're investing in land development or you're investing in a new aquatic centre, that can be very effective. It's there now, and we have to manage that debt."

Swift Current Mayor Al Bridal was confident that Gillan will be a good fit, and will be an effective replacement for the retiring Jones. 

"We wanted somebody that's been involved in the municipal politics and we really wanted somebody that was involved in free enterprise also, which David has a fair bit of experience in," said Bridal. "I'm really sorry to see Jim go because I really enjoyed working with him, but I think over the next three to four years I'm going to enjoy working with Mr. Gillan also."

Gillan will spend three days a week to start, learning the ropes from Jones to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities and practices.