Saskatoon StarPhoenix
NOW THAT'S BRISK
With temperatures dipping well below normal, a pedestrian makes a bone-chilling walk across the Broadway Bridge. According to Environment Canada, the daily high temperatures through Saturday are expected to be around -30 C, with overnight lows...
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OFF TO THE SCOTTIES
The decade-long drought is over for Jolene Campbell. In the final game of the Saskatchewan women's curling championship earlier this month in Melville, Campbell and her Regina squad defeated Jana Tisdale and her Regina rink 4-3 to earn the provincial...
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Moe takes a trade deal victory lap
With the support of the federal government, Saskatchewan's trade relationship with China has largely been restored, said Premier Scott Moe hours after landing back in the Prairies from a federal delegation to Beijing. Moe travelled with Prime Minister...
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Ford `disappointed' in China deal
Ontario Premier Doug Ford continued this week to blast Canada's recent trade agreement with China, noting that he and Canadian automakers only learned of the deal a few hours before it was announced. “I found out about this deal, and the auto...
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Local Iranians echo voices of protesters back home
Mitra Sabetghadam knows exactly what it's like to be cut off from the outside world because of the actions of an oppressive regime. In 2019, during a crackdown on protesters by Iran's clerical government (triggered by an abrupt fuel price increase),...
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A CENTENARIAN AND THEN SOME
Edith Bernard of the Rural Municipality of Brokenshell is a living history of Saskatchewan. She's seen it all — electricity and phones coming to Prairie households, as motor vehicles replaced the horses and buggies she always preferred. Bernard...
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U.S. takeover brings mixed feelings
Seeing images of the bombed Fuerte Tiuna — a major military complex in Venezuela's capital of Caracas — after the U.S. takeover on Jan. 3 struck a personal chord with Regina's Asnoldo Prieto. Growing up, his father was in the army, and Fuerte Tiuna...
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Family wants answers after patient dies in altercation
One of the last things Trevor Dubois said to his brother Ryan was “I got this, bro.” He was expressing his optimism that he could beat brain cancer. Dubois was receiving medical care at Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital when he died last Friday...
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A CHILLING TALE
Film historian Tom Mcgill stands with a vintage projector at his home theatre in Regina. The projector is one of two he had that were used years ago in the community hall of Abbey. The other? That's now in Antarctica, where it's on display in a theatre...
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The Wizard of many instruments
It isn't just Weldon Gray who lights up when he shows off one of the many banjos he's built over the years, pointing out every detail of the instrument's construction and intricate decoration. With the flick of a switch, the banjo lights up, too. And...
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`A FAR BETTER POSITION'
With 2026 underway, Saskatoon's police chief says the Saskatoon Police Service will continue to adapt to a growing city after a year that saw mostly success amid some obstacles. “I've been telling lots of people it's 90 per cent awesome, 10 per cent...
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THE YEAR IN PICTURES
University of Saskatchewan Huskies celebrate their Canada West Women's Basketball Championship win against the UBC Thunderbirds at the PAC in Saskatoon in March. More of Michelle Berg's best pictures of 2025 are inside.
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Stoicheff reflects on decade-long tenure as U of S president
After a decade as president of the University of Saskatchewan, Peter Stoicheff is moving on. While packing up his art-lined office, he met with the Starphoenix to discuss evolution around fundraising, enrolment, diversity and his go-to spot for...
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These entrepreneurs are betting on `boring' business
After a two-month deep dive into Youtube research, Saskatoon's 28-year-old Caleb Smith decided to go all-in on starting a business in a line of work lacking a flashy reputation: household and commercial cleaning. “I wanted to start a business, but I...
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BACK TO CORE BUSINESS
The world's largest potash producer has been shedding multimillion-dollar assets and fine-tuning its focus on its core business — the fertilizer minerals that are plentiful in Saskatchewan and hot commodities around the world. Over the past year...
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Turning chaos into Christmas cards
The magic starts with a neatly folded 12-by-8-foot blanket-like backdrop featuring a festive holiday fireplace scene. As photographer Jennifer Veitch uses spring clamps to secure the cosy backdrop to a vertical stand in her small but functional...
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How Saskatoon gets in the spirit
Twinkling stars on the revamped Broadway Bridge, poinsettias along 25th Street and festive banners on 20th Street and Second Avenue downtown — some pole-mounted, others illuminating Saskatoon's dark winter skies. The city's holiday decor is the kind...
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SASKABILITIES SUCCESS
Jen Buchan has enjoyed being a regular attendee at Saskabilities' Regina day program for the past two decades and also volunteers at the Sunrise Public Library. Saskabilities is celebrating 75 years of support for people in the province with...
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GET THAT ROCK A ROLLIN'
Saskatoon's Team Kleiter teammates Matthew Hall and Trevor Johnstone sweep as Ryan Kleiter positions his broom to guide their shot during Grand Slam of Curling action against Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller. The event runs until Sunday at Merlis...
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VICTIMS REMEMBERED
Members of the public lay flowers at a memorial at Bondi Pavilion after the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia. Among the victims of the terror attack that killed at least 15 people was an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who died...
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Five new ministers join Moe's provincial team
The Saskatchewan government announced a year-end shuffle as it welcomed five newly elected MLAS into the cabinet, including a new minister responsible for public safety. In a ceremony at Government House, Premier Scott Moe greeted the five first-time...
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BHP HAS A MINE OF ITS OWN
At dawn, from a distance of a few kilometres, the mine looks like a futuristic city being assembled on a flat, barren landscape. Its aura is otherworldly. Bright lights are everywhere across the wide expanse of land. Towering construction cranes rise...
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STILL A DRIVING FORCE
Jerome Engele is the longest-serving staff member of the Saskatoon Blades. He has filled a variety of roles for the WHL team over the past five decades: head coach, assistant coach, off-ice analyst, computer programmer — and backup bus driver.
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Trump floats idea of `severe' tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump has signalled he could impose fresh tariffs on Canadian fertilizer, drawing seemingly different levels of concern and urgency from Saskatchewan's premier and Opposition leader. The president is facing mounting pressure to...
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A CLEAN SHEET
A Meewasin Valley Authority employee floods the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink at Nutrien Plaza, beside the Delta Hotels Bessborough. The popular rink is scheduled to open to the general public on Thursday.
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Sask. women speak up about violence
During a bustling last day of classes at the University of Regina, advocates paused routines to honour the 14 women targeted by a gunman at l'école Polytechnique de Montréal on Dec. 6, 1989. With her organization handing out red roses to students in a...
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FOOD COST CONCERNS
Students from multiple high schools recently collected thousands of items for the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre. The organization's executive director says an expected rise in food costs will put even more pressure on families. The latest...
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`NO ONE LISTENED'
Saskatchewan firefighter Trevor Sewap still hasn't gone out on the lake since a wildfire raged through the Denare Beach area in the summer. He can't even look at the barren islands spotting the water, where fire hopped a path toward homes and people's...
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Closure leaves patients scrambling
About 5,000 patients in Regina are now searching for a new family doctor after a clinic that received government money closed over the weekend. The Gardens Community Health Centre, which offered a range of services for families, shut its doors Sunday...
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HIV prevention guidelines updated
A coalition of doctors across Canada is releasing a new guideline for prescribing medications that can prevent HIV infection, with a strong focus on increasing the promotion and awareness of the expanding class of drugs. New data released by the...
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PEACEKEEPERS GET OK
City council has approved a pilot program offering a culturally sensitive approach to supporting the city's homeless population in downtown Saskatoon. The funding was greenlit during budget deliberations Thursday night at city hall, with...
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Step 1: Focus on Alberta prosperity
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith credited former prime minister Justin Trudeau for creating the independence movement in her province, thanks to a litany of nine “bad laws” — and his successor, Mark Carney, for taking the wind out of separatism with...
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Sask. projects $427-million deficit
After early projections narrowly placed Saskatchewan in the black for the 2025-26 budget, the province now expects to be in the red to the tune of nearly half a billion dollars. The province is now projecting a deficit of $427 million, citing expenses...
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LIGHT UP FOR A CAUSE
Light displays illuminate the BHP Enchanted Forest at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo. The displays, which draw thousands of visitors while raising money for the Zoo Foundation and Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation, run until Jan. 4.
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AN UNLUCKY SEVEN
University of Saskatchewan Huskies linger on the field after being defeated 30-16 by the Montreal Carabins in the 2025 Vanier Cup at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Huskies have lost their last seven Vanier Cup appearances.
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FESTIVAL OF TREES
Rhonda Reddekopp and her daughter, Cydney Bochek, decorate a tree at the Western Development Museum Festival of Trees, honouring Abe Reddekopp, who died in 2013. It's their 14th year contributing to the event to support Saskatoon City Hospital.
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CHAMPIONS AGAIN
Following a last-minute 21-18 victory over the Okanagan Sun, the Saskatoon Hilltops erupted in celebration on the turf at SMF Field after clinching the program's 24th Canadian Junior Football League title with their Canadian Bowl victory.
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FROM THE FRONT LINES
Canadian soldiers catch a breath in a front-line trench in February 1918 during the First World War. Many spent that time writing letters home, and we excerpt some of those Saskatchewan-bound letters while discovering the fate of each writer.
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Patient battling cancer spends six days in Royal University Hospital hallway
At 74 years old, Lloyd Coakwell is up against myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer. However, his recent six-day stay in Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital's E pod, located in a busy ER hallway, proved to be another exceptional challenge. “It broke...
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WATER MAIN REPAIR
Students at St. Philip School had an extra day this week to enjoy the autumn sunshine after city crews had to repair a water main break. The kindergarten to Grade 8 school at 1901 Haultain Ave. was shut down on Tuesday.
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BRIER ANNIVERSARY
Michael Leier, co-chair of the Brier host committee, speaks at an event announcing Saskatoon will host the 2027 Montana's Brier — the 100th edition of the Canadian men's curling championship. The 10-day event will take place at Sasktel Centre.
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WILDFIRE WRAP-UP
Saskatchewan's 2025 wildfire season was one for the history books. The province recorded one of the worst years in decades based on the amount of northern real estate that burned this summer and how many people were displaced from their...
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FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
Acknowledging “frustrations from patients and communities” over emergency room closures and wait times, the Saskatchewan Health Authority says it is updating its public notification process. The changes, which the SHA says will go into effect in early...
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TRICK-OR-TREAT TIME
Houses across the city are decorated and ready for trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Ghouls, goblins, superheroes, demon hunters and others will be out in full force on Friday night in Saskatoon and across Saskatchewan.
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REGINA POLICE CHIEF FIRED
Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh has been fired with cause, the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) announced Tuesday afternoon. In a news release issued by the city Tuesday morning, the board said the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) had...
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Ombudsman sees `alarming' trends
Saskatchewan's First Nation health ombudsman says the complaints she's received so far are reaffirming that health care is still lagging for Indigenous people in the province. A first report from appointed ombudsman Dianne Lafond was made public on...
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SASKATOON CLASSIC
Chanse Switzer of Hazenmore competes during the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada Saskatoon Classic at Sasktel Centre. The annual event drew top riders from across the country for two nights of high-intensity action over the weekend.
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THE DAY WE RAN RIOT
A switch flipped; light turned to dark; celebration to riot. It was fast and stunning and expensive. Rob van Meenen was an 18-yearold university student in 1993, the year Saskatoon rioted on Eighth Street after the Toronto Blue Jays won the World...
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HE WAS BORN READY
First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays begin the World Series on Friday at Rogers Centre against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Jays are hoping to bring the World Series trophy back to Canada for the first time since...
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New kitchen targets food insecurity in Saskatoon schools
Helping provide nutritious lunches to more than 1,000 students a day is more than a job for Candace Gabriel — it's a mission rooted in ensuring every student is nourished and ready to learn. Saskatoon Public Schools recently announced the opening of a...
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BLADES U.S.A. BOUND
Saskatoon Blades defenceman Jack Kachkowski celebrates a goal during recent Western Hockey League action against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Blades begin a lengthy road trip this week to the United States that includes six games in 10 days.
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Entrepreneur wins award for bringing AI to Africa
Olaseni Cole's experience in a rural African classroom inspired him to teach coding and artificial intelligence to young people who don't have access to technology. Cole, a 38-year-old entrepreneur from Nigeria who moved to Saskatoon in 2022, said he...
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ONE TOWN, TWO COUNTRIES
You can't tell the difference. REGINA Looking south while sitting on Township Road 10, a grid road running along the 49th Parallel dividing Canada and the United States, you can't tell the difference between the neighbouring countries. But they...
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Importance of new ride? Freedom, say residents
Some mornings, Janann Blackburn's co-ordinator at Cheshire Homes spends up to two hours on hold with Saskatoon's Access Transit to book rides for residents. Although the accessible care home is grateful for the city service, Access Transit's...
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Affordability of homes bringing people to Prairies
Moving to Regina from Toronto was worth it when Shandean Reid and her family received the keys to their dream home this summer. “We're really, really happy with it,” said Reid, who is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. “I'm just trying to convince...
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A FALL FAVOURITE
Chip and Dale Homes team leader Kurstyn Feisel guides client Addison Muzyka during the non-profit organization's visit to the Cedar Creek Gardens corn maze near Regina. The group operates family-like homes with people who have intellectual disabilities.
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A MATCH IN THE PATCH
A child searches for the perfect pumpkin at the Black Fox Farm and Distillery U-pick pumpkin patch at 245 Valley Rd. Halloween falls on a Friday this year.
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COURT HEARS OF KILLING
Roderick Sutherland arrives at Court of King's Bench in Saskatoon for his ongoing jury trial in connection with the death of Megan Michelle Gallagher. Sutherland, 47, is charged with manslaughter and offering an indignity to human remains.
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Veteran reflects on her 100 years
When 18-year-old Ruth Bond-martinson arrived in Windsor, Ont., to embark on her training after joining the navy in 1944, she walked all alone from the train station to the base. Soon, a navy officer realized someone was supposed to pick her up. “They...
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International students shying away
Elmer Vincent, who moved to Saskatoon from Kuwait in 2022 to pursue a computer science degree, is hoping his brother, currently in Grade 12, will follow in his footsteps. However, the 21-year-old, who is originally from South India, said his brother...
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Sanctum Challenge offers perspective of homeless
Hearing “Mr. Mcgettigan” from a former student is nothing new for retired teacher John Mcgettigan, but it carried a very different weight on Thursday when he heard it from one of Saskatoon's many unhoused people. “I would have taught them for four...
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College gets $5M to hire Indigenous chairperson
In the years since the idea was initially discussed in the early 2010s to create an Indigenous chair at St. Thomas More College, there has been a shift in thinking about who should fill the role. “When the terms of reference were written for the...
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`WE MUST FACE THE TRUTH'
A vice-chief with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says he “cannot, in good conscience” stand behind members of the FSIN executive who deny or deflect a forensic audit that says more than $34 million of the organization's spending between...
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Workers worry for rural delivery
The potential of rural post office closures isn't sitting right with some Saskatchewan postal workers, says the president of one of the province's unions. “We feel that Canadians that are of the rural area are just as valuable as anyone else and the...
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GETTING THE POINT
Madelyn Roesler sews beaded orange shirt pins during National Truth and Reconciliation Day activities at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. The park was one of several sites across the province that held events to recognize what was originally known as Orange...
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Strong harvest, unsettling season
Farmers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are in the middle of what appears to be a strong harvest, but they are also dealing with falling crop prices, higher costs and global trade wars, which have made the season deeply unsettling, producers say. Fresh...
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Dinosaurs invade Warman Road with the help of local graffiti artists
On a sound barrier wall that separates Warman Road from Saskatoon's North Park area, brightly coloured dinosaurs stand out against a prehistoric background. Paint can in hand, local artist Josh Jacobson adds to the new dinosaur scene on the Empress...
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Denare Beach residents healing after wildfires
Town councillor Karen Thompson says it has been an “emotional summer” for residents of Denare Beach, but the close-knit community finally feels like it's on the path to recovery. Nearly half of the northern village — located near Flin Flon at the...
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A CLEAN SWEEP
Neall Lagasse scrubs off graffiti in the alleyway between the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy and St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral on Avenue M during a shift with the Saskatoon Wellbeing Employment Enterprise Program (SWEEP).
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A GARDEN FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY
Buena Vista School teacher Maxine Panchuk, from left, along with gardeners Joan Macdougall and Amy Nixon in the community garden that has breathed life into a boulevard on Mcpherson Avenue.
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Plane upgrade ensures better care
Accustomed to punishing winter weather, pilot Brian Shaw and his team at Saskatchewan Air Ambulance (SAA) breathe a sigh of relief when they finally become airborne after retrieving a patient in critical condition from a remote location. “It's an...
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Sask. NDP want more supports to fight overdoses
An organization that helps people with addictions says it is dealing with more overdoses as drugs that don't respond to anti-overdose treatments like naloxone are becoming more common. “We can't say this isn't a crisis,” said Kayla Demong, executive...
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BAIL WITH CONDITIONS
Romana Didulo, a conspiracy theorist and self-proclaimed Queen of Canada, is taken into provincial court for a bail hearing in Swift Current. She was released but ordered not to return to Richmound, and to stay in Regina until her trial for two charges.
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HAPPY HOMECOMING
University of Saskatchewan Huskies wide receiver Daniel Wiebe takes to the air during Friday's 51-14 Homecoming win over the UBC Thunderbirds. Wiebe had nine catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. A crowd of 9,551 packed Griffiths Stadium.
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THE END OF AN ERA
Marquis Downs, once a go-to venue for horse racing in Western Canada, is set to be demolished in favour of a gravel parking lot. `Horse racing is not a financially viable business,' said Chris Hill, Prairieland Park's director of facilities management.
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