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Saskatchewan RCMP Respond to Persistently High Rates of Family and Intimate Partner Violence in 2025
In 2025, Saskatchewan RCMP responded to more than 9,800 victims of family and intimate partner violence, continuing a trend of persistently high levels of both types of interpersonal violence.
Family violence refers to any violence committed by spouses, ex-spouses, parents, children, siblings or other family members. Intimate partner violence refers to violence committed by current or former spouses or romantic partners. In 2025, officers responded to 5,191 family violence victims, which accounted for 30% of all violent crime victims, and 4,708 intimate partner violence victims, which made up 27%. Spouses and ex-spouses are included in both categories.
Both intimate partner and family violence saw decreases from 2024, when Saskatchewan RCMP responded to 5,269 reports involving family violence victims and 4,808 reports involving intimate partner violence victims. These numbers contribute to Saskatchewan’s high rates of interpersonal violence. In Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction, family violence
occurred at a rate of 925 victims per 100,000 population and intimate partner violence at a rate of 839 victims per 100,000 population in 2025. Rates for both categories of violence have remained high in recent years, with the fiveyear rates being:
Family violence
2021: 854 victims per 100,000 population
2022: 882
2023: 910
2024: 939
2025: 925
Intimate partner violence
2021: 846 victims per 100,000 population
2022: 844
2023: 820
2024: 857
2025: 839
Distribution across RCMP districts
Saskatchewan RCMP’s North District accounted for over 50% of family and intimate partner violence victims. The 2025 breakdowns are as follows:
Family Violence:
North District: 2,698 (52%)
Central District: 1,456 (28%)
South District: 1,037 (20%)
Intimate partner violence followed a similar pattern:
North District: 2,385 (51%)
Central District: 1,414 (30%)
South District: 909 (19%)
“These numbers show that both family and intimate partner violence continue to have a significant impact in our communities,” says Cpl. Rob King, Saskatchewan RCMP interpersonal violence co-ordinator. “Even with a slight decline, the levels remain high, and we remain committed to working with community agencies to ensure people affected by these types of violence stay safe and connected to the support they need.”
RCMP Family Violence Initiative Fund
The RCMP Family Violence Initiative Fund is an annual program that supports community partners working to prevent and respond to family violence. Eligible applicants, including non-profit organizations and government agencies, can apply for up to $25,000 in project-based funding. Projects must focus on awareness and education, prevention initiatives, or supports for victims of intimate partner or family violence, while strengthening relationships with local RCMP.
The fund is available to applicants across Canada. Applications for the 2026 – 2027 funding cycle are open until March 27, 2026. More information is available on program website.
Down the Road
Tby Brian Brannagan
Chase and Amera and The West Coast Trail
he West Coast Trail is a famous multi-day backpacking trail on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Even experienced hikers find the trail challenging: it requires trekking more than 75 kilometres while carrying a heavy pack, climbing up and down more than 100 ladder systems, slogging through mud and across rocks and sand, negotiating gorges and rivers and facing possible harsh weather conditions, heavy rain and strong winds.
Chase and Amera hiked the West Cost Trail last July. This is their story.
The sounds of nature are not always those of the lilting melodies of songbirds. That's what we discovered on our first morning of waking up on Vancouver Island's West Coast Trail. What roused us was the barking of the crew of sea lions on the beach not far from our campsite.
Our second discovery of that morning was that the smells of nature are not always those of the gentle fragrances of wildflowers. The not un-noticeable aroma that was drifting to us on the early morning sea breeze was that of a sea lion poo-nami. Not that we had smelled sea lion poo before but we figured it was a pretty good guess - it was definitely not roses.
We had arrived at the trail head the previous day after a 7-hour long bus ride from Victoria to the north end of the West Coast Trail. The bus ride had started at 6:00 in the morning and got us to the trail head in the early afternoon. There we went through the mandatory orientation and a final weighing of packs, all designed to give us a conscious realization of the journey we were about to embark on - and a last chance to back out.
But we had been planning this trip for some time and we were not to be deterred. Besides, we had lots of company - all the 20 or so other hikers who had been on the bus with us. And we were all highly charged with anticipation, there was a general gung-ho atmosphere which carried us all along.
At the start we were part of a large group. Within the first couple of hours, though, travelling at different speeds, our starting number had broken into smaller groups of mostly couples, but also some single hikers and even, surprisingly, some familiesMom and Dad with a couple of kids in tow. There was even a family with a special needs boy and the father shouldering what looked like an 80- or 90-pound pack. Watching him sure put a damper on any grumbling we might have been considering about the weight of our own packs.
Waking up that first morning on the trail, our initial discoveries aside, we were keen and excited to continue our trek. It was early July, the days were long, the weather was warm and we were enjoying the glow - the glow of realizing the dream that had been several years in the making.
That glow gave a little flicker just after we started the day's journey when Chase made another discovery - wet rocks are slippery rocks. Chase was still enjoying his morning coffee when he slipped and hit the ground hard enough to set off the automatic alarm on his watch. But in a testament to his commitment and prioritization of needs, not a drop of coffee was spilled.
The third day of our hike was going to be our longest - 19 km - but our real goal that day was to get to the Crab Shack - a restaurant where we could get hot food and cold beer, a welcome change from our de-hydrated rations and filtered creek water. And maybe we could snag a fork to replace the one Amera had somehow misplacedotherwise Chase would have to be eating with his fingers.
The Crab Shack is on the side of a small river draining Nitinaht Lake into the Pacific Ocean. The supply chain to the Crab Shack is a long one, with more than a few fragile links. The supplies for the restaurant come by boat from Nitinaht Village about 20 kms up the river and at the head of Nitinaht Lake. And getting to Nitinaht Village by land is no piece of cake - the trip there requires enduring a 3 hour drive over the rough and winding logging road coming out of Port Renfrew at the south end of the trail (and Port Renfrew is itself a 2 hour drive from Victoria).
We dallied perhaps overly-long at the Crab Shack - hot food and cold beer have that effect - and had to hustle to make our planned camp stop. The next day was going to be another long one - we had 14 km to cover and it involved crossing the Logan Creek suspension bridge.
The Logan Creek suspension bridge crosses the gorge created by the creek. It is an engineering and logistical marvel - 113 metres long and 40 metres above the bottom of the gorge. It is built out of a whole lot of galvanized steel and a whole lot of concretethe concrete alone weighing 250,000 pounds. The steel, the concrete, all the other material, equipment and workers - everything had to be flown in by helicopter. Not a simple endeavour nor an easy one and for sure not an inexpensive one.
Chase knew that the bridge replaced some very long up and down ladders that had previously been required to cross the creek valley - he knew it was saving some time and a lot of effort but he still took a deep breath before taking his first step onto the bridge. It was not that Chase was afraid of heights, it was just that being a very sensible young man he preferred to be looking up at heights rather than down from them. Who can argue that?
The sixth day of our hike affirmed a truth that wise men and sages throughout history have all agreed - that, in the course of any human endeavour, sh*t happens. And it happened in spades to the young man who tried to jump the 5 feet across a 15-footdeep gorge. His foot slipped on take-off and he fell into the creek below, smashing his face against the rocks. Other hikers were there and were quick to help, dropping ropes to pull him out. He was sufficiently injured (face on rock - gotta hurt) that a 911 call was made to air lift him off the trail to a hospital.
Of course, it is to be noted, and not unsympathetically, that sh*t happens a fair bit less often when you don't try to jump - jump anything, anything at all - with a 50-pound pack on your back.
We wisely decided to take the longer and safer detour along the beach and around the gorge. This involved scrambling up and down and around a number of house-size boulders, however, which wouldn't have been too, too bad except for, according to Amera's count, the 4-too-many snake sightings.
The next and last day of the hike, the seventh, we had only 6 kms to travel but it included a straight uphill grind getting to the highest point of the trail. Fortunately, it included many vantage points to stop and, ahem, admire the view (while we caught our breath, too, of course). After that it was an easy downward walk to the narrow inlet where we caught the end-of-trail ferry across to the other side and the finish line.
We'd made it and we were both elated and disappointed - elated and jubilant that we had actually completed the trail, kicked over one of the buckets on our list, and yet disappointed and even sad to realize that our adventure, so long in the coming, was now so quickly over.
We returned to Victoria on the same bus that we started out on, though it was a much shorter ride this time, only 2 hours. That night was spent in a hotel close to the bus terminal where we luxuriated in long, hot showers and a warm, comfortable bed. We made the final discovery of our trip when we woke up in the morning, not to the sounds and smells of nature as when we started out, but to the feeling of relief that we didn't have to take down the room or pack up our beds.
Author's Note: Chase and Amera will, undoubtedly, continue on to further adventuresthey will encounter more slippery rocks and lose more forks; there will be more high bridges to cross and more snake-sightings to wish to not see.
Most hopefully, though, they will have many more "best-moment" experiences - sitting together on the beach, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip and hand in hand, ocean waves rolling in and surf pounding, raptly watching an orange-red sun slip slowly, magically, beyond the horizon.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Looking Ahead on Our Energy Future
Over the past several months the RM Review has kindly continued to publish our exchange of letters about coal, renewable energy and Saskatchewan’s power system. For readers who have not followed every installment, the core disagreement is straightforward: whether our future reliability depends on continuing to rely primarily on coal and natural gas, or on building a more diversified system that includes increasing amounts of renewable energy.
Fraser's most recent letter has leaned heavily on statistics and short snapshots of SaskPower data to argue that wind and solar are ineffective. Those numbers are real—but they are being misused. Looking at a single week, or pointing out that wind and solar do not produce power every hour of the day, does not demonstrate failure. It simply reflects how those technologies operate within a larger system. At the risk of repeating myself, no energy source runs at full output all the time, and no modern grid depends on a single source to meet its customers' demand.
What matters is how those sources work together over time. Every unit of electricity generated by wind or solar is a unit that does not need to come from fossil fuels. Over time, that lowers emissions, reduces costs, and improves our overall electrical system’s efficiency. That is why utilities around the world, including SaskPower, continue to invest in these resources.
Mr. Downie has also repeated the claim that renewable energy is a “scam,” tied to the fact that much of the world’s solar and wind equipment is manufactured in China. This misunderstands how global markets function. China produces a large share of many goods because it is a manufacturing hub. The location of production does not determine whether a technology is effective. What matters is whether it works, whether it is improving, and whether it is
being adopted at scale. On all of those measures, renewable energy is advancing rapidly—not because of ideology, but because of economics and innovation.
We could keep going back and forth with statistics, whether it’s about how renewable energy is continually advancing worldwide or about how the world is consistently moving away from fossil fuels. But that kind of exchange quickly becomes a contest of competing data points rather than a genuine effort to inform. When that happens, the discussion stops moving forward and simply begins to repeat itself. For my part, I am content to step away from that cycle and return to the larger question: where should Saskatchewan’s energy future go from here?
What most people in Saskatchewan want is not complicated. We want electricity that is reliable, affordable, and available when we need it. We want clean air and strong communities. These goals are not in conflict—but achieving them does require us to be clear-eyed about how energy systems are actually evolving.
Saskatchewan has always been a province of builders and problem-solvers. We have never succeeded by assuming the world stands still. We succeed by adapting to change and making practical decisions that position us for what comes next.
We all remember the smoky days of recent summers when the sun turned orange and outdoor activities were cancelled. Moments like that remind us that public policy always leaves a legacy.
The smoke that fills our skies does not judge our intentions — it only reflects our choices.
Ryan Merkosky Delisle, SK
Panel Announces Public Meeting On Saskpower Rate Application
The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel is hosting an in-person/virtual public meeting in Saskatoon as part of its review of the SaskPower 2026-27 Rate Application. This meeting will provide an opportunity for SaskPower, its stakeholders and the public to make presentations and provide additional feedback on the application.
The meeting will be held on:
Thursday, April 9, 4 p.m., Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel, Starlight Room 612 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon
The meeting will be livestreamed on the Panel’s Facebook site. The Panel encourages participation in all of its reviews and urges the public to participate in the review.
“It is important that people have access to the information, ask questions and can express their opinions regarding the Rate Application from SaskPower,” said Panel Chair Al Johnston. “It is important that the Panel hears this input as we consider the application and make our recommendations to the Minister of the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan.”
The rate application and other supporting documents are posted on the Panel’s website, www.saskratereview.ca, as they become available.
The panel also welcomes comments and questions from the public through the following platforms:
• Online at www.saskratereview.ca under the “Contact” section
• Facebook at www.facebook.com/saskratereview
• Mail: 400-2400 College Ave, Regina, SK S4P 1C8
• Email: feedback@saskratereview.ca
• Telephone Voice Message: 1-877-368-7075 (tollfree) or 1-306-934-1948
As part of the review, the Panel provides the Minister with an opinion regarding the fairness and reasonableness of the proposed rate request, while balancing the interest of the customer, the Crown corporation, and the public. The provincial Cabinet makes the final decision on the rate request. When the review process is completed, the Panel’s report will be available at www.saskratereview.ca.
We’re back..... in your mailbox that is !
After many months of Canada Post not being able to guarantee pick-up and/or delivery of our newspaper, lest it get caught in the system, we are rolling the dice and sending it to your mailboxes again, and as always, for FREE !! Hopefully you were able to find a copy at the 78 local pick-up locations we had during that time.
Canada Post and the union are expected to finally sign off on the tentative agreement they have been running on for the past few months. This should be completed in May, unless the deal falls apart. I guess we will find out soon.
So thank you to our readers for your patience, our contributors for their articles and of course all of our advertisers, who make this all FREE for you ! I know you all support them every chance you get.
If you have any questions regarding this or anything, contact me at mail@rmreview.net
Enjoy the beautiful spring weather !
Ken Sowter Editor
Phone: 306-668-1312
mail@rmreview.net
www.rmreview.net
Box 333, Vanscoy, SK S0L 3J0
ON-LINE VERSION
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DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS
8,200 copies of the RM Review newspaper are published monthly and direct mailed for free to all homes in the communities shown on the distribution map to the right. Out of area direct mailed subscriptions are available for $39 + GST per year.
We reserve the right to edit copy for libel or other legal, spelling or grammatical errors. We accept no liability for any such errors.
Rosetown - Delisle Constituency
COUNCIL REPORTS
RM OF GREAT BEND
As of Monday, March 30th, spring road bans are in effect in the RM of Great Bend No. 405. Detailed information can be found on the Government of Saskatchewan website under Seasonal Trucking Rates.
VILLAGE OF BRODERICK
We are currently experiencing spring runoff conditions. During this time, water quality can change, and turbidity (cloudiness levels may fluctuate. These changes are affected by freeze-thaw cycles and any additional moisture received. Runoff can last from a few days to several weeks and varies from year to year.
Testing has confirmed the presence of manganese in the water during runoff. Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil and water and is commonly detected only during runoff events. WA does not currently have a regulated standard for manganese; however, current levels are below Health Canada's maximum acceptable concentration..
Although the levels are not high, as a precaution, residents may choose to use an alternate water source for drinking, especially for newborns, young children, and the elderly. Boiling water does not remove manganese.
At this time, the duration of these conditions cannot be predicted. Updates will continue to be provided as more information becomes available.
TOWN OF DELISLE
Council held a regular meeting on March 12th at 7pm during which the following items were addressed:
Council received a delegation from Dean Esau and Shaun Unger regarding a proposal for a condominium development on a portion of Block G, Plan 101953357
Council approved the proposed condominium development on a portion of Block G, Plan 101953357 in principle, and agreed that the Town will bring water and sewer utility services to the property line and will grant a property tax holiday of one year from the date of transfer of title for the land from the Town to the developer and that this approval is subject to the following conditions:
- That the parcel of land, consisting of approximately 350 feet in width by 150 feet in depth, be sold to the developer for the purpose of condominium construction at a purchase price of $320,000, plus applicable GST.
- That Council provide support for the detailed site plan and building plans associated with the proposed development.
- That the proposed development successfully obtain rezoning approval and subsequent approval of the subdivision application by Community Planning.
- That a Development Services Agreement be executed, commissioned by the Town, with all associated costs borne by the developer, including the completion of an engineering analysis to evaluate existing supporting infrastructure and confirm that all costs related to any required off-site improvements shall be the responsibility of the developer Council agreed to refund Troy and Christine Bakke’s lot deposit on Lot 6, Block 38, Plan 101953357 in the amount of $27,000.00
Council supported Option A of the proposed new subdivision concept for Phase 1 of the East Subdivision, as designed by AECOM
Council supported a proposed condominium development on Parcel D Plan 78S23179 and the presented site plan and building plans in principle, subject to the following conditions:
- That the proposed development successfully obtain rezoning approval and subsequent approval of the subdivision application by Community Planning.
- That a Development Services Agreement be executed, commissioned by the Town, with all associated costs borne by the developer, including the completion of an engineering analysis to evaluate existing supporting infrastructure and confirm that all costs related to any required off-site improvements shall be the responsibility of the developer
A discretionary use application was approved allowing the Town to establish a temporary billboard zone along the highway commercial properties located at:
- Lot 6 Block 36 Plan 102397068
- Lots 1-8 Block 42 Plan 102397068
- Lots 1-4 Block 43 Plan 102397068
The Sign and Billboards Policy was accepted and implemented immediately.
Bylaw 2-2026, being a bylaw to amend Bylaw 32013 known as the Zoning Bylaw, was given a second and third reading and adopted.
Bylaw 4-2026, being a bylaw to establish fees and charges for municipal goods, services, and activities was given 3 readings and adopted
Bylaw 5-2026, being a bylaw to establish financial reserve funds and a municipal reserve account for the Town of Delisle was given 3 readings and adopted.
TOWN OF ASQUITH
The Town of Asquith held its regular council meeting on March 11th, 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for April 8th, 2026. Updated General Penalty and Nuisance Abatement Bylaws, as well as a Reimbursement Policy were passed as part of the ongoing review.
The Asquith landfill will be open for branches, leaves, untreated wood and other clean yard waste every second Saturday from 9a.m. to 3p.m. beginning May 2nd.
Spring Clean-Up Days are scheduled for May 23rd and 24th. Large bins for waste and metal will be located at the Sportsgrounds Parking Lot. This service is available to residents of the Town of Asquith only.
2026 Pet and Business Licences are overdue. Fines may be issued to those remaining unpaid as of April 30th, 2026.
Visit our website for updates, minutes, events and more: www.townofasquith.com
RM OF VANSCOY
In accordance with Bylaw 17-2025 (Traffic Bylaw) of the Rural Municipality o f Vanscoy No. 345 and the Government o f Saskatchewan: Notice i s hereby given that effective 12:01 am April 1 , 2026 and until further notice spring road restrictions will be in effect for the entire Rural Municipality of Vanscoy No. 345.
REGULAR LOCAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
RM OF CORMAN PARK - April 28, 8:15am
RM OF DUNDURN - April 14, 8:00am
RM OF EAGLE CREEK - April 14, 9:00am
RM OF GREAT BEND - April 8, 9:00am
RM OF HARRIS - April 9, 8:00am
RM OF MCCRANEY - April 16, 8:00am
RM OF MILDEN - April 8, 9:00am
RM OF MONTROSE - April 9, 9:00am
RM OF PERDUE - April 14, 9:00am
RM OF ROSEDALE - April 14, 8:00am
RM OF RUDY - April 8, 6:00pm
RM OF VANSCOY - April 9, 9:00am
TOWN OF ASQUITH - April 8, 5:15pm
TOWN OF BIGGAR - April 7, 7:15pm
TOWN OF DELISLE - April 9, 7:00pm
TOWN OF DUNDURN - April 14, 5:30pm
TOWN OF HANLEY - April 16, 7:00pm
TOWN OF LANGHAM - April 13 & 27, 6:30pm
TOWN OF OUTLOOK - April 13 & 27, 7:00pm
TOWN OF RADISSON - April 13 & 27, 7:00pm
TOWN OF ZEALANDIA - April 15, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF BORDEN - April 7 & 28, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF BRODERICK - April 8, 7:00
VILLAGE OF CONQUEST - April 14, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF GLENSIDE - April 8, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF HARRIS - April 8, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF HAWARDEN - April 1, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF KENASTON - April 14, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF KINLEY - April 8, 6:00pm
VILLAGE OF LOREBURN - April 8, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF MILDEN - April 15, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF PERDUE - April 14, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF STRONGFIELD - April 14, 7:30
VILLAGE OF TESSIER - April 13, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF VANSCOY - April 8, 7:00pm
Regular Council meetings are always open to any and all members of the public. Some restrictions may apply. Dates may change. Check with local Councils.
ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION VILLAGE OF HARRIS
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the VILLAGE OF HARRIS for the year 2026 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from Tuesday through Friday, April 14 to May 15, 2026 8:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
A bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act, has been passed and the Assessment Notices have been sent as required. Any person who wishes to discuss the Notice may do so at the office of the assessor at 210 Main Street, Harris, SK.
A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $50.00 appeal fee per parcel must be filed with: Secretary, Western Municipal Consulting Box 149, Meota, Saskatchewan S0M 1X0 by May 15, 2026 at 4:00 pm sharp.
Rhonda Leonard Assessor
Dated this 26th day of March, 2026
MP Report
OKelly Block MP
March 13, 2026
ver the past seventeen years that I have served as a Member of Parliament, there have been many issues that have caused deep concerns for the people living in my riding. Whether I agree with the opinions expressed in their emails or not, I recognize that these constituents have demonstrated that they are passionate about an issue enough to go the extra mile to communicate their opinion to their Member of Parliament.
With that context, I want to put on the record that the Bloc amendment to Bill C-9 is a genuinely huge issue. My inbox has been flooded with emails, the likes of which is equal only to the amount I received when the Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act in February of 2022.
Key among their concerns is that with the new definition of hate in Bill C-9, and the removal of the religious defense, it will make it easier for people to be prosecuted over religious expression. Bill C-9 is ambiguous. When discussing contentious issues, where will the line be drawn on what constitutes hate speech?
Thankfully, the Justice Committee did pass a Conservative amendment to replace the Liberals' watered-down definition of 'hate' with the stronger wording established by the Supreme Court of Canada.
While this one amendment does makes Bill C-9 “slightly less bad”, it does not eliminate the overall and very serious concerns with the legislation.
All Conservative amendments to protect religious freedom and free expression were rejected.
By removing the religious defense as well as eliminating the requirement for attorney general consent to lay a hate speech charge, the Liberals are sending a signal to the courts, law enforcement and activist groups that religious teaching is fair game for criminal prosecution.
To be clear, the issue is not whether faith leaders should be free to spread hate, but rather how hate is defined, and how the new law will be applied. Calls to incite hatred or violence, whether cloaked in religion or not, are already illegal and not subject to the religious defense Bill C-9 proposes to remove.
TOWN OF ASQUITH
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Town of Asquith for the year 2026 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. on the following days: Monday - Friday March 20th – April 20th, 2026.
A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. All fees must be submitted to the local assessor at the Town of Asquith. All appeals must be filed with the Secretary of the Board of Revision, Nicolle Hoskins, which can be sent electronically to: secretary@westernmunicipal.ca, or via post/mail to Secretary of the Board of Revision, Nicolle Hoskins, Western Municipal Consulting Ltd., Box 149, Meota, SK S0M 1X0, by the 20th day of April, 2026.
Any person wishing to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal may contact the assessor at the Town of Asquith, Box 160, Asquith, SK S0K0J0.
A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $200.00 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by the 20th day of April 2026.
Dated this 20th day of March 2026.
Kaila Montgomerie, Assessor
VILLAGE OF VANSCOY
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL 2026
Notice is hereby given that the Assessment Roll for the Village of Vanscoy for the year 2026 has been prepared and is open for Inspection in the office of the Assessor from 9am to noon and from 1pm to 4pm on the following days:
Monday to Thursday March 25 to April 27
A Bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the Assessment Notices have been sent as required.
Any person wishing to discuss the notice of Assessment or appeal, may contact the Assessor of the Village of Vanscoy.
A notice of appeal, accompanied by the $100 appeal fee; which will be returned if the appeal is successful must be filed with the
Secretary of the Board of Revision, Mike Litgermoet PO Box 459, Aberdeen, SK S0K 0A0
No later than April 27, 2026.
The removal of the religious defense clause represents a serious shift in the relationship between the state and freedom of religion in Canada.
There are serious risks in removing this clause, including:
- Chilling legitimate religious expression,
- Creating legal uncertainty for faith communities,
- Empowering subjective or inconsistent enforcement, and
- Undermining confidence in Canada’s commitment to pluralism and freedom.
Make no mistake, the removal of the religious defense clause in Bill C-9 completely undermines the Charter.
And now, as of Tuesday March 10th, the Liberals have successfully censored debate on their censorship bill. A motion to force all C-9 amendments to a vote in Justice Committee, with no further discussion was passed.
Even though Conservatives offered to split Bill C-9 into two parts to swiftly pass uncontentious sections of the legislation the Liberals and Bloc rammed the Bill through Committee and on March 11th it was been referred back to the House.
Tens of thousands of people have made their voices heard and it is clear. Canadians do not want Bill C-9 passed. Countless petitions calling for C-9 to be withdrawn have been presented in the House. Yet the Liberals have chosen to ignore these voices, and instead continue to promote censorship and division through this harmful legislation.
Conservatives, myself included, will continue to stand up of for freedom of religion and freedom of expression in Canada, and will continue to oppose Bill C-9.
Road Weight Restrictions now in place for Spring
Annual weight restrictions have been placed on most rural roads to protect them from damage during the spring thaw. Detailed information can be found on the Government of Saskatchewan website under Seasonal Trucking Rates.
Contact you local RM Office for information on restrictions and which roads are available for hauling heavy loads.
ASSESSMENT NOTICE FOR THE RM of MONTROSE NO. 315
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll of the RM of Montrose No. 315 for 2026 has been prepared and is open to inspection at the office of the Administrator of the Municipality until the time for lodging appeals has expired, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the following days:
April 6th, 2026 to May 7, 2026
A bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.
Appeal documentation is to be sent to: Nor-Sask Board Services c/o Mike Ligtermoet PO Box 459, Aberdeen, SK S0K 0A0 or Email: norsaskboardservices@sasktel.net and
The $250 Appeal Fee is to be paid to: RM of Montrose No. 315, Box 129, Delisle, SK S0L 0P0
Both by May 7th, 2026
Dated at Donavon, Saskatchewan Thursday, April 2nd, 2026 Michele Cruise-Pratchler, Assessor
Kelly Block Member of Parliament Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Vanscoy and District Agricultural Society Report
8 2026 with 12 teams entered. It was a great time, amazing curling and fun was had by all. Thank you to all our sponsors ! Your generosity ensured that no one left without.
Alison Nelson
Asquith Co-op
Asquith Hotel & Bar
Beyond Beauty by Jaclyn
Biggar & District Insurance Services
Capelli Salon Studio
Crystal’s Salon
Darla Christopher
Dee Anna’s Boutique
Delisle Co-op
Delisle Small Town Strong Fitness Centre
Delisle Valleyview Golf Course
DT Nails & Lashes
Folk’s Curling Corner
Hub International Delisle
Janice Cassidy
Kielo Massage Therapy
Mel Rose & Co. Creations
Nutrien Vanscoy
Park Town Hotel
Prairie Centre Credit Union Delisle
Primp Lash Lounge Richardson Pioneer Delisle
Riman Korean Beauty - Robyn Carles-Larson
Salon 360 - Jennifer Laing
Skipping Stone Massage Therapy - Amy Vandenameele
So So Beverage Co.
Steph Pister Art
Studio on 1st
Sun River Honey
Sunday Threads – Myrna Petit
The Garage on 14 (restaurant)
The Rack / UYMI
Vanscoy Hotel - Betty Free
Vista Eyecare
Wagner’s Curling Shop
Thank you to the Monday Night Ladies League for searching out sponsors, donating raffle items, purchasing prizes, organizing the draw, banquet and entertainment…. all your work to make this event happen!
Vanscoy District Agricultural Society will once again be offering a graduating grade 12 student, in our District (Vanscoy, Delisle, Asquith, Pike Lake, Grandora), a bursary for post secondary school. Please ask your high school for a copy or visit www.vanscoyag.com to get your application! When applying, please be sure to have all documents included and have a friend, parent, or grandparent proofread your application. Our deadline is May 1st, 2026. Please email your application to vanscoyag@gmail.com
Save the date, our annual Perennial Exchange is on Thursday, May 14th at 7pm. Our guest speaker is Kristen from Shifting Roots who will be speaking on “Building a Perennial Garden that Always has Something in Bloom.” Please bring your labelled perennials to share. If you are new to gardening or just starting a perennial garden, come join us too, we have lots to share with you! There will be a silent auction and raffle as well. See you soon.
Anita Roston, President Vanscoy & District Agricultural Society
Vanscoy Senior Citizen Club Report
Annual General Meeting Thursday, April 16th
It is that time of year again when our annual membership fee is due and we elect our executive. This year we have two positions to fill, President and Treasurer.
The evening will begin at 5:30 pm with hot meal provided by the executive. Members are free. Non-members $10.00. Meeting to follow at 6:30 pm. The membership fee is $10.00 (half going to Sask Seniors Assoc. Inc). Please pay directly to Raelene Boyle, Vice President. Please consider joining us.
Any inquiries can be directed to Raelene Boyle 306 230 5042
Senior Centre Events
Bake Sale Saturday, April 18th 10am - 3pm
The Delisle-Vanscoy United Church Fabric Sale is being held at the Vanscoy Senior Center from 10 am to 3 pm.
PROSPERITY CREDIT UNION in partnership with the DELISLE SENIOR CITIZEN’S CLUB is hosting a presentation on FRAUD and SCAMS followed by a Q and A Wednesday, April 29, 2026 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Delisle Community Centre 309 – 1st Street West EVERYONE WELCOME
During this time the Vanscoy Seniors will be having a bake sale as well as selling refreshments such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks. Please come out to support this fundraiser. Mondays
Floor Shuffle at 1:00
Monday to Friday Mens coffee from 9:00 to 10:30 Mondays and Wednesdays Yoga at 7:00
Mondays and Thursdays Get
Program from 9:30 to 10:30
and
Ladies coffee from 10:00 to 12:00 Thursdays Cards from 1:00 to 3:00 Thursday Nights
Billiards at 7:00 (adults only)
$2.00 fee for each activity, excluding Yoga. Anyone interested in participating in Yoga must contact Amanda Radford at
to receive waivers and payment information.
Helen Marjorie Rorke (nee McPherson), age 82, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her family and all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Helen was born July 15, 1943, in Carnduff, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Gainsborough. She was predeceased by her husband William (Bill), son James, father James, mother Doris (nee Real), sister Joan (Mervin) Hintz, brothers Grant (Gardelene) and Cal (Lillian). She is survived by her sons Grant (Bonnie) and Robert, sisters Jan (George) Spark and Leeann (Ernie) Vindevoghel. Grandchildren Carrie-Lyn (Cory), Toni (Nate), Nathan, Alex (Angela) and Samantha. The great-grandchildren Josh, Brian, Alice and Eloise as well as many nieces and nephews.
Helen and family lived on an acreage close to Vanscoy and she started working at the Cory Potash Corp in 1979. She took great pride in her work at the Potash Mine and loved working as a Shipping Coordinator where she retired in 2008. She often spoke about how much she loved her job and what a great place it was to work. She also valued the friendships she built with her coworkers over the years. Shortly after the passing of her husband Bill, she moved to the Village of Vanscoy where she lived out the rest of her life.
Helen will be remembered for her deep devotion to her sons. She enjoyed watching them play ball and hockey. Her happiest moments were spent cheering them on and practicing ball in the backyard with them. She cherished the time with her grandchildren, whether it was celebrating birthdays, holidays or hanging out at the lake. She enjoyed going to their dance lessons, football, volleyball and basketball games. She truly took pride in the life she built and the people she loved.
Helen loved to curl, she often talked about going to the rink and how much fun she had as well as the wonderful friendships she had made. She also loved to dance. Bill and Helen would go dancing every Saturday. They also loved to go to the Jamboree in Craven in their younger years.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the caring staff at St. Paul’s Hospital for their compassion and support.
A Celebration of Life was held to celebrate Helen’s life on Friday, March 27th at 2:00 p.m. at the Vanscoy Circle Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages everyone to spend time with those they love, those moments become the memories that matter most.
Arrangements entrusted to Park Funeral Home, 311 Third Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK.
BBQ Rentals
Hosting a Large Event this Summer ? Rent Locally and
Wednesdays 2pm - 4pm Cookies and Coffee Fridays 2pm - 4pm
Over-thinking by Tardij
1. When you say forward or backwards your lips move in that direction
2. You phone alarm is just the opening theme song to your day
3. If you are scared of smoking week because you think it will make you paranoid, are you not getting the side effect with out actually smoking weed.
4. When Snoop Dog turns 60 he will actually be 420 in dog years
5. The deadliest clown in history is actually Ronald McDonald
6. When we are young we sneak out of the house to go to parties, but when we are old we sneak out of parties to go back home
7. Bananas are no longer the food that most closely resembles the telephone. It’s now the pop tart
8. If a morgue worker dies they still have to go back to work one more time
9. Nothing is ever on fire, fire is on things
10. If cats had wings they would still probably still lay there Sonningdale Seniors Lounge Pie and Coffee
Donations of your “junk” (no furniture) to the Delisle-Vanscoy United Church garage sale can be made at the Circle Hall on... Friday April 17th 5pm - 8pm
Marjorie Rorke
Delisle Bruins Win the City Championships
Delisle U13C won against Martensville with a shut out of 6-0 after a double header series. They won all their league games and lost only one playoff game. It is the second year for Coach Damon bringing a team to city championship.
U13C team
2
6 Carter Lingnau 4 Cooper Skelton
5 Corbin Tweedie 14 Easton Fischer 19 Harmon Frey
The U15C Team won against Saskatoon Flyers
U15C Team
Wickenhauser
Billett
Assistant Chad Starling
Assistant Brett LaRoche
Assistant Jeff Kielo
Manager Tara Bowes
Grayson Knapik
Coach Damon Werrell
Assistant Coaches
Jakob Werrell
Jordan Howe Scott Epp
IIn other Delisle Hockey U15B won Provincials and the U13 Female team took home the Provincial Championship and won the Saskatoon Female Hockey League (SFHL) playoff series.
Asquith BLRA Friday Bingos
U13C Team
Bruins U15C Team
Asquith Better Life Recreation Association (BLRA)
n March we hosted a pulled pork fundraiser. The community came through again, we seem to ask a lot from our community and they never disappoint. What a great community we live in. Thank you so much!
Weather wise in March, it came in like a lamb and is going out like a lion. Works pretty much every time. Not sure if it is just an old wives’ tale but my mother and grandmother swore by it, I swear by it too. Keep walking like a penguin when you need to, one day the ice is gone and the next day not so much. Hopefully winter will leave us soon so we can start thinking about flowers and gardens.
Our March bingo was fantastic; we welcomed more new faces. It was wonderful to see everyone. We had a lovely door prize of amazing Easter treats made by none other than Genevieve Innes. Our next bingo is Friday April 24th at 7:00pm. We will be running the same promotion, if a regular customer brings a new person, they will receive a free 3-up. So, bring your friends and come have some fun. Anyone can sponsor our community bingo, a family, an individual, or a business. If you do not want your name advertised you can sponsor us anonymously. The sponsorship means that the winners receive a larger payout. Our progressive jackpot will be $160.00 in 60 numbers, come and try your luck. All proceeds from the baking is generously donated to the BLRA. Thanks Genevieve!
We have April, May and June left for our exercise classes. Don’t be shy, come try it out. It is fun and the people are fantastic. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am-11:00am. Any type of movement is good for you. If you are a solitary person, get out and walk If you are just starting walk a block and increase it daily until you are walking between 8000-10,000 steps a day. You can do it!
Spring is coming it is time to pull out those peddle bikes get your tires pumped and, jump on and go for it.
Do you have an event you would like to put on, do you require a rental of our hall for a meeting, an art/painting class, a dance class, is there an instructor out there that teaches line dancing, a book club, wedding shower, baby shower, funeral, memorial service, shuffle board, Karaoke night, we have a ping pong table that can be used, think outside the box and reach out to our President Genevieve Innes, VP Carrie Latta, Secretary Karen Duguid or myself Sue Sawicki Treasurer. If there is something I haven’t mentioned and you need a hall just get in touch and we will see what we can do.
A reminder billiards are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1:00pm. Ping Pong can also be played on Wednesdays at 1:00pm, if you have a hankering to play Ping Pong come on down. Canasta (Hand & Foot) is every Monday and Friday at 1:00pm. All activities take place at the Asquith Seniors Centre. (Better Life Recreation Centre). Please come and check us out.
Our next senior meeting is on Monday April 13th at 3:00pm at the centre, come check it and us out. We appreciate and value any new and exciting ideas. Put your thinking caps on and come and join us.
2026 Memberships are now due. $25.00 per year per person (cheap like Borscht as they say). With this membership you join a community of people who have like minded interests, and remember we can always use new ideas and energy for our club.
Thank you from Asquith Better Life Recreation Centre board and members.
Delisle Bruins
Delisle
People Need to Calm Down Over AI ’s Disruptions
CEOs have a fiduciary responsibility to use AI.
If that sentence makes your blood boil, that's a positive sign. It shows you're finally paying attention. However, before you grab your pitchfork and head to Silicon Valley, look at the device in your hand. You’re holding the very weapon that’s in the process of dismantling the middle-class workforce, which you're likely using to order a latte, text banter with [whomever] or scroll through feeds curated by the same algorithms you claim to despise.
We’ve entered an era where human labour is no longer the cornerstone of enterprise; it's a legacy cost, a line item to be aggressively optimized or erased entirely. CEOs aren't villains in a sci-fi thriller; they're the mechanics of an evolutionary engine that we—the consumers—have been fueling with every click, every "smart" shortcut, and every demand for instant gratification. The disruption isn't coming; it's here, it's logical, and frankly, it's exactly what we asked for.
For decades, companies relied on a thick, expensive layer of white-collar workers to act as human glue. These were the employees who coordinated information, tracked progress, and assembled reports. They were the logistical choreography of the office. Then came outsourcing—call centres moved, factories relocated, and admin tasks went wherever they could be done for the lowest price. Today, the "lowest price" isn't a worker in a different time zone; it's a line of code that doesn't sleep, doesn't ask for a raise, doesn't require a benefits package, coffee in the lunchroom and doesn't keep demanding more.
In the eyes of C-suite executives, AI isn't a "tech experiment"; it's a surgical tool for efficiency. When three marketers, working with generative tools, can now accomplish the work that previously required ten, or one analyst can outpace five using automated data extraction, a CEO would be bordering on professional negligence not to cut the surplus.
Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, once said, "AI is first going to replace the back-office functions," and later added that for certain roles, "there is no doubt that the total number of people will be less."
Fewer tasks = fewer employees needed.
“Fewer employees.” Enter Jack Dorsey, Block’s CEO, the man currently occupying the bullseye of virtue-signalling public outrage. When Dorsey announced on February 28th that he was cutting 4,000 jobs at Block, the armchair critics went into a frenzy. In a letter he posted on X, Dorsey (@jack) wrote: “We're already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company.”
Dorsey didn't do something sinister; he did something remarkably honest by publicly acknowledging that AI’s compounding efficiency simply rendered those workers a legacy cost. Dorsey said out loud what every CEO in every boardroom is calculating: the ROI of a human versus the 24/7/365 productivity of a machine. This isn't a "trend"; it's a structural reset.
Intuit: Now is focusing on AI-driven roles and has recently eliminated 1,800 underperforming functions.
Morgan Stanley: Cut 2,500 jobs earlier this year, a move analyst directly linked to the integration of automated wealth management tools.
Google: Multiple rounds of layoffs have been carried out, affecting thousands of employees as it realigns its focus toward AI development.
IBM: CEO Arvind Krishna has indicated a hiring pause for roles that could be replaced by AI in the coming years, potentially affecting nearly 8,000 positions.
Microsoft: Continued its workforce reductions into 2024 and 2025, particularly within its gaming and cloud divisions, as it prioritizes its multi-billion-dollar AI investments.
These companies aren't "failing." They're evolving. As Sam Altman of OpenAI plainly stated, "AI will almost certainly mean that some jobs will go away, period."
A CEO's fiduciary duty is to ensure the company's survival and profitability. If the math shows that a bank can replace its 20 financial managers with 5 working alongside AI to deliver the same results, then 15 must go. Keeping them would be to subsidize inefficiency at the expense of the shareholders, which you may very well be one of.
Predictable, procedural tasks are what machines excel at. If your workday consists of following structured directions, you aren't in a career; you're in a queue for automation. The hysterical narrative that this is a plot to destroy the middle class needs to stop. History is a graveyard of dead trades: the printing press replaced the scribe, and the loom ended handweaving. With every industrial advancement, there have been alarmists shouting about the end of work, and every time, they were wrong. Employment continued; it just looked different because employees, those who adapted rather than futilely resisted, took a step or two, or three, out of the "task lane" and into the "thinking lane."
However, there's a massive failure occurring, and it isn't in the C-suites. The real villains are our governments and educational institutions. They're still offering mid-90s curricula designed for "predictable careers" while the ground beneath them has turned to quicksand. Governments and schools are our proxies, which we’re allowing to ignore the workplace disruptions taking place. By electing leaders who refuse to modernize, we’re the ones failing to prepare the next generation for a world where 'job security' is an oxymoron. Instead of "heads in the sand" discussions, we need a radical shift in how we value human insight over machine output.
Jack Dorsey chose to act now and rip the Band-Aid off. He gave 4,000 people the hard truth rather than letting Block’s morale slowly erode. To his credit, Dorsey’s offer of 20 weeks’ salary is a rare, humanized buffer against a cold economic reality: when the math of an employee’s ROI fails to move the needle, the hard decision to cut isn't just business, it’s a fiduciary requirement.
AI isn't some invading force; it’s a wildfire we’re feeding with our own hands. Every time you use AI to generate an instant summary, conduct a lightning-fast search, engage with a frictionless chatbot, or create AI slop or even high-signal content, you’re voting for the obsolescence of someone’s job, much like when you use self-checkout which eliminates the need for cashiers. We’ve become junkies for 'convenience,' mainlining efficiency while pretending to be shocked when the human on the other end of the line finally stops breathing. You can’t demand the 'instant' and then mourn the 'person.'
AI is the new liquid candy. A 12-pack of soda is just a harmless collection of cans filled with chemicals in carbonated water until you choose to crack one open. We’ve jumped on the AI bandwagon not because it’s progress, but because we’re lazy and it’s convenient. We are mainlining this technological syrup, outsourcing the very thinking that makes us the apex predators of this planet, and then shriek with surprise when the C-suite stops paying for our 'sugar-high' efforts. We aren't victims of the disruption; we’re the ones paying for the privilege of being replaced.
You can’t live on a diet of automated shortcuts and expect to remain a high-performance human.
Every time you finish your 'AI-enhanced' workday, you weren’t just being productive; you were training your replacement, feeding the machine the very data points it needs to render you obsolete. We’ve started trading the soul of human grit and creativity for the sedation of the algorithm, and now that the bills are arriving in the form of pink slips, we have the nerve to point fingers at CEOs for fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities.
Again, look at what’s in your hands; you, along with everyone else tethered to the smart device, are building the gallows.
The AI disruption hasn't even hit its stride; it’s merely warming up on the data you fed it yesterday. Every time you engage, the machine maps your intellect, learning to mimic your headspace. The CEOs, who are easy targets to vilify, are simply business surgeons, cutting out inefficient labour to ensure their company’s continued existence. CEOs are doing their jobs while we’re failing ours. 'The system'—that unholy trinity of profit-hungry corporations, which our consumerism creates and supports, stagnant governments, which we voted in and our addiction to shortcuts—isn’t broken; it’s functioning exactly as we designed it. Go ahead, keep chugging the 'AI soda' from the straw the machine has handed you, while screaming about the aftertaste.
Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan
AGRICULTURE REPORTS
Federal
Strychnine for Gopher Control in Alberta and Saskatchewan
Pat “Duke” Bueckert
306-291-9675
Alvin Busby
306-227-0575
Alan Jackson
306-961-5682
Aiden Zwack
306-961-5198
Health Canada released the following statement on March 30, 2026.
Canadian farmers are facing ongoing challenges amidst market uncertainty, trade barriers, and an evolving environmental landscape. Innovative and collaborative efforts by all levels of government are needed to support the domestic agriculture industry especially during this period of uncertainty.
Our governments' shared commitment of supporting Canadian farmers, our economy, and food security led us to work together to address a compounding threat.
BUYING ALL CLASSES OF FEEDER & CULL CATTLE
Spencer Fox 306-361-9701
Zach Huber 306-715-4311
Lyal Fox (cull cows & bulls) 780-808-9731
To address multi-million dollars worth of damage from the recent Richardson Ground Squirrel (RGS) infestation, the Government of Canada is authorizing a time-limited and controlled emergency registration of Strychnine.
Last week, Alberta and Saskatchewan submitted a revised, joint emergency-use request to Health Canada. Our governments worked closely leading up to this submission which contains additional restrictions and mitigation measures to lower the environmental risk to an acceptable level.
These measures, amongst others, include a reduced geographical scope and revised product stewardship program. The additional risk mitigation measures are significant and are expected to reduce environmental risks and support prairie farmers for the upcoming growing season.
Under the Pest Control Products Act, the Government of Canada is authorizing an Emergency Registration to Alberta and Saskatchewan to register strychnine until November 2027.
The temporary use of strychnine will help Alberta and Saskatchewan address multi-million dollars worth of damage from the recent spike in RGS population, which have become a serious pest threatening a variety of crops. The prairies have been experiencing abnormally dry conditions, which affects the sustainability and quality of farmlands and allowed the population of these gophers to increase significantly.
To support the Canadian economy and agricultural sector, we need a Team Canada effort as we steer the country toward a better path forward.
"Saskatchewan producers have been clear about the challenges they face in managing gophers with the limited tools currently available. We're pleased to see the emergency use request granted as a practical opportunity for producers to demonstrate how strychnine can help protect their crops and pastures from continued damage." says David Marit, Saskatchewan's Minister of Agriculture.
"This decision means that many prairie farmers will have another tool back in their toolbox for gopher control. Alberta's producers have faced significant challenges managing Richardson's Ground Squirrels, and the loss of this control method was difficult and costly for many in the ag sector. I'm confident that, with this effective tool back in the hands of our producers, they will be able to better manage their operations and reduce excessive crop and grassland losses due to the overpopulation of RGS throughout the Prairies." says RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
Co-op Home & Agro Centres Pay $12 for any old Batteries
Co-op accepts any automotive battery returns for recycling year-round. Not only will you be helping the environment and contributing to the responsible use of resources, but recycling can also put a little money back in your pocket.
Twice a year, in April and October, the Battery Bucks Program rewards customers with a $12 CO-OP® Gift Card for any automotive battery returned to a Co-op Home and Agro Centre, encouraging you to go through your shop or yard to dig out those used batteries for recycling.
Your local Co-op is pleased to offer your community access to a responsible recycling program for spent automotive batteries.
Be sure to stop by to learn more about our battery products and the Battery Bucks Program in April.
Key Considerations for Dugout Construction
By Jason Falk, AAG Agriculture Program Specialist, Swift Current
The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program, funded at a rate of 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, has supported Saskatchewan producers for many years and funded the construction and expansion of thousands of dugouts across the province. The program offers 50 per cent rebate up to a maximum of $75,000, to eligible producers and for eligible projects.
Before beginning construction, an important first step is to have your project screened by an agriculture programs specialist in the Ministry of Agriculture. Our specialists will review your project’s eligibility under the program and help identify any required permits or approvals prior to construction. Specialists screen for permits such as an Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit, which is required if construction occurs within the bed, bank or boundary of a watercourse. Most dugouts are under 1.3 million U.S. gallons in size; however, projects exceeding this volume require a Water Rights Licence. If a project is located on environmentally sensitive land, permits from the Ministry of Environment will also
Cbe required. In addition, if the dugout is to be constructed on land you do not own, written permission from the landowner must be obtained. If the dugout is on Crown land, approval is required from a Ministry of Agriculture land management specialist.
One of the most common questions producers ask is where and how to build a dugout that will provide a reliable long-term water supply. According to Duncan Spenst, Supervisor of Extension Services with the Water Security Agency, good dugout development starts with careful planning.
“Producers should size their dugout based on the amount of water required on an annual basis while also accounting for losses due to evaporation and ice formation,” Spenst explained. “Constructing enough capacity to provide two years of water supply is recommended to allow for carryover during years with poor runoff.”
Selecting an appropriate site can be challenging, but gathering more information early helps reduce risk. One effective way to assess potential sites is to dig test holes. Spenst recommends digging five to six test holes spaced
at least 100 feet apart and digging at least four feet deeper than the proposed dugout depth.
“Test holes help identify sand seams, water tables or soil conditions that could affect water storage capacity or water quality,” he said.
Once a suitable site has been selected and construction begins, good construction can improve dugout performance and longevity. Levelling spoil piles and using rock riprap where necessary can help stabilize banks and reduce erosion. Establishing a grass buffer of at least 30 metres around the perimeter of the dugout is also recommended, as vegetation helps filter sediment and nutrients during runoff events and contributes to improved long-term water quality.
For more technical information related to dugout design and construction, producers are encouraged to contact the Water Security Agency at 1-866-7275420. For questions related to funding, program eligibility or to have a project screened, producers can contact their regional agriculture programs specialist or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
Cleanfarms Grain Bag Collection Sites
leanfarms operates collection programs to help farmers dispose of agricultural waste materials. Grain Bags can be recycled locally across Saskatchewan, including locations listed here. Contact the local RM office for more details on the location.
RM of Biggar
RM of Biggar Main Shop
705 4th Ave. E
Biggar, Saskatchewan
April 13, 2026 9:00am to 1:00pm
Phone: 306-948-2422
RM of Perdue
Perdue Landfill
NW 27-35-11 W3
Perdue, Saskatchewan
Tues & Sat 1:00pm to 5:00pm Thurs 4:00pm to 8:00pm
GB Roller is available
Phone: 306-237-4202
RM of Milden
Milden Transfer Station
Service Road - Village of Milden
NE 17-29-11 W3
Milden, Saskatchewan
Last Friday of every month from 8:00am to 4:00pm
GB Roller is available Phone: 306-935-2181
RM of Rosedale
RM of Shop Yardsite
NW 36-30-04 W3
Hanley, Saskatchewan
Contact office for collect day Phone: 306-544-2202
Provincial Campground Reservations Begin April 13th
Reservations for the 2026 camping season at Saskatchewan Provincial Parks will begin on April 13 for seasonal campsites and April 14 to 17 for nightly, Camp-Easy yurts, and group campsites.
Reservations launch at 7 a.m. CST each day. Set your alarms, charge your devices, and get ready to book your favourite campsite!
SK RCMP Traffic Services: 33 People Lost Their Lives In Drug Or Alcohol-Related Collisions In 2025 RCMP
In 2025, 33 people lost their lives in drug or alcohol-related collisions in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.
This National Impaired Driving Prevention Week, Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services is sharing 2025 statistics to remind people of the dangers of diving while impaired.
From January to December 2025, Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) stopped and removed 1,932 drivers who had consumed alcohol and/or drugs before driving from Saskatchewan roads.
In 2025, Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services responded to 31 fatal motor-vehicle collisions in which drugs or alcohol were a contributing factor. During these collisions, 33 people lost their lives.
Alcohol and drugs were a contributing factor in 33% of all fatal collisions responded to by Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services in 2025.
“Believe us when we say consuming drugs or alcohol before driving has the very real potential of killing people. We saw it 33 times last year,” says Inspector Lee Knelsen, Operations Officer with Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services.” Driving sober is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself, and those you love, safe on the road.”
Police officers with Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services and CTSS units will continue to organize check stops and to patrol roads and highways to remove impaired drivers from Saskatchewan roads.
Call 911 to report impaired drivers.
Saskatchewan RCMP: Wanted Persons
The following individuals are wanted by the Saskatchewan RCMP. They are people with active warrants who were last known to be living in Saskatchewan. They have been selected to appear on this list based on a review of their current criminal charges and the potential harm they present to communities in Saskatchewan.
This is not a complete list of all individuals wanted by the Saskatchewan RCMP. Those appearing on this list are determined by a data-driven scoring system using the Crime Severity Index, a Statistics Canada measurement that looks at both the number and the relative severity of crimes. Factors such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic
status, religion, sexuality or disability of an offender are not considered in the scoring process.
The intent of releasing this list is to encourage tips and information from the public to support Saskatchewan RCMP investigations and to lead to the arrest of these individuals.
This list is updated and distributed monthly.
Do not attempt to contact, approach or apprehend any wanted persons on your own. If you recognize any of these individuals and have information regarding their whereabouts, activities or associations, call 310-RCMP (310-7257) or 911 in an
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Automotive
Jerry's J&L Frame and Alignment
The Shop for a Second Opinion! SGI certified, we offer wheel alignments, frame straightening, and more! 626 Weldon Avenue Saskatoon 306-934-3634 www.jandlframe.com
Prairie Sun Bookkeeping Vanscoy 306-230-1522 prairiesunorchard@sasktel.net
Precise Accounting and Consulting Grandora/Pense 306-731-1957 Info@paac.ca
Asquith 306-229-3813
! “Healthy Eatable Honey Comb Treat” Wildflower/Dandelion & Canola 2023 Food Safe Certification Pike Lake 306-220-0389 mikesbees@sasktel.net
Arborscapes Tree & Landscape Services Ltd.
Tree Pruning, Tree Removal Saskatoon 306-222-6494 www.arborscapesltd.com
Acreages Call or Text 306-281-4111
306-329-6338 Dwein Trask Realty Inc. Dwein Trask 306-221-1035 Office 306-653-4100
to Post Home Inspectors Seasonal & Temporary worker housing and home inspections. Saskatoon, Rosetown, Outlook, Humboldt,
Water / Septic
Burwell Trenching & Electrical Asquith 306-220-4377 bte20@outlook.com
Econo Septic & Sewer Services Pump septic tanks, mud sumps, car wash, commercial/industrial tanks. Unplug sewer lines, replace and repair pumps, switches, alarms. 24-hour emergency service Saskatoon 306-384-6662 Econoseptic.ca
Links Water & Septic Services Certified septic design/consulting. Acreage water/septic install and repair, water testing/treatment and septic system maintenance. Vanscoy 306-493-2410 24Hrs Linksbackhoe.com
Graham Contracting Asquith 306-230-4653
Klassen Trenching Delisle 306-493-7579
Starlings Septic Services Delisle 306-493-2241 darrelpenny@sasktel.net
Sew Kleen Hydro-vacing & Septic Asquith 306-283-4406
LOCAL BUSINESSES
