Acknowledgement is great, but the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls isn’t going to go away without change.
That was the message from local elder Liz Settee as groups across Prince Albert prepare for Red Dress Day on May 5. The annual event was first held in 2010 in memory of Indigenous women and girls across Canada who have gone missing or been murdered.
Settee said it’s good to see the issue acknowledged in public, but the change needed to reduce the number of missing and murdered has been slow.
“It’s sadness,” Settee said during an interview. “We have so many missing and murdered. We still have missing women. We’re still finding women in landfills. That just really tears at my heart.”
Searching landfills has been a point of contention this past year. In March, police in Winnipeg identified a second set of remains found in a local landfill. The remains belonged to Marcedes Myran, one of four Indigenous women murdered by serial killer Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. Myran’s remains were the second set found in the landfill.
The landfill search is expected to continue throughout the rest of the year, the CBC reported.
“We’ve lost humanity and to treat another person like that just really saddens my heart,” Settee said. “In Indigenous culture, women were held in high regard because we’re the givers of life and we were respected and honoured.”
Settee said the current situation is infuriating. There is hope, she said, but reducing the number of missing and murdered women will require changes to the justice system.
In particular, Settee said she wants to see stiffer penalties for domestic abusers. She said the justice system takes too long to work through cases. The endless delays and adjournments, she said, are traumatizing victims and making it harder to come forward.
Ideally, she’d like to see provincial and federal justice ministers sit down with Indigenous elders to discuss the problem.
“Something is backwards in the justice system,” she said. “Bring in a different perspective. Obviously the one that they’re using is not working.
“Our system is not working,” she added. “We see that day after day after day, and I think looking at things from a different lens might help.”
Despite the frustrations, Settee said there have been improvements. Twenty years ago, few people were talking about missing and murdered Indigenous women, she said. Now, it’s a national issue.
However, Settee said that’s not enough.
“I think things are being acknowledged, but I don’t really think that much has changed,” she said. “We didn’t hear about missing and murdered Indigenous women 20 years ago, but I think the perception out there sees us one way, and that’s that stereotype.”
For Penny Constant, May 5 is about creating change.
Constant is the associate director of health and socials for the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC). She’s also responsible for organizing the PAGC’s Red Dress Day event on May 5. The events are held across Canada every year to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people, and to advocate on behalf of the victims and their families.
“It’s up to us to continue, as an organization, bringing education and awareness so that we can hopefully … get this into the communities and continue to create awareness as our population grows with our younger people,” Constant said during an interview on Friday.
“We want to create the awareness within the community of Prince Albert and branch out further. This continues to be a national crisis.”
The PAGC has set aside an entire day of speakers, presentations, and activities on May 5. The event begins at 10 a.m. at the PAGC Cultural Centre on Ninth Avenue West and continues until 4 p.m.
Constant said the list of speakers includes Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Rhonda Blackmore. The event is open to everyone.
“This issue doesn’t just impact (the PAGC), so it’s not targeted to just PAGC communities,” she explained. “It’s open to everyone, so we want to create wide areas of awareness…. We want to help the families and the communities who have been impacted by this crisis.”
The issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women is personal for Constant. Roughly 15 years ago, her niece was murdered in Edmonton. The case has not yet been solved.
Ideally, Constant would like to see more help offered to family and friends of women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing. She said the PAGC hosts a weekly support group for families through the grief, but more help would be welcome.
Constant said the PAGC is an important voice, and many families rely on the organization to create awareness about their missing or murdered loved ones.
She also said the PAGC tries to provide more education and information to young woman who might be targeted. Constant said that can be challenging since the organization doesn’t want woman to be afraid or ashamed of who they are. The goal, she said, is to be proactive.
“We’re not looking for pity. We’re not looking for sympathy, because our resiliency has brought us this far. We’re resilient, and we want to change the history of Indigenous women and two-spirited people,” she explained.
Constant said PAGC leaders often discuss different ways they can bring positive change. That’s what inspired them to hold this year’s Red Dress Day event.
Ideally, she’d like residents to receive more information about the process of reporting a missing person. She said there are too many people who mistakenly believe you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing.
“A lot of times people are in panic mode and they don’t know how to reach out,” she said.
Moving forward, Constant said she’d like to see more people made aware of the Calls to Action so residents can start working together to address the issue.
“We talk about reconciliation and how do we move forward together in a way that is healthy for everybody, because you know what? Nobody is going away. We’re all going to be here.”
The federal government released the 2023-24 Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited and Gender Diverse People in June 2024. The report showed those groups were 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered compared to non-Indigenous women.
The report showed federal funding was supporting 47 emergency shelters and 380 housing units in Indigenous communities. The report also showed the government had helped complete 52 projects to improve community safety and well-being like the Red Eagle Lodge in Saskatoon.
In Saskatchewan, the provincial government has provided $800,000 in grant funding through the MMIWG+ Community Response Fund. Applications are currently being accepted. The form can be found at Saskatchewan.ca.
“On Red Dress Day, we stand alongside the families and communities impacted by interpersonal violence against Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ people,” Minister Responsible for First Nations Métis and Northern Affairs Eric Schmalz said in a press release. “Our government is working toward a safer future for all by providing funding opportunities to organizations and grassroots initiatives that empower awareness and safety in Indigenous communities.”
The province also plans to invest $31.7 million into interpersonal violence programs and services through the Ministry of Justice, as well as $3.8 million over the next two years to enhance interpersonal violence programming and support.
There are no safe bets in life, but I thought predicting a strong NDP showing in Saskatchewan would have been one of them.
Outside of a few outliers like Regina’s Ralph Goodale and Prince Albert’s Gord Kirkby, Saskatchewan Liberals have struggled to get elected in my lifetime, so heading into Monday night’s election I thought the NDP and Conservatives would be contesting 12 of the province’s 13 constituencies, with the Liberals only competitive in the north. I guess it’s a good thing I don’t gamble.
It’s strange to think that Saskatchewan was once such an impenetrable Liberal fortress that the federal party would parachute candidates into the province when they couldn’t win in Ontario.
In the first federal election I covered, NDP candidates brought forward numerous policy proposals, while Liberal candidates told voters those were nice policies, but the NDP would never form government. Their best bet, the candidates told voters, was with the Liberals.
The voters weren’t convinced that first election, but they were last night, or so it seems. In an evening full of surprises, the biggest was watching NDP candidates getting relegated to third place across the province.
In Prince Albert, NDP candidate Virginia Kutzan came a distant third with just 9.3 per cent of the vote. That’s a far cry from the 15.1 per cent Ken MacDougall received in 2021, the 17.4 per cent Harmony Johnson-Harder received in 2019, or the 28.46 per cent Lon Borgerson received in 2015. However, Kutzan’s total was actually one of the best NDP showings in Saskatchewan.
In Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River, a riding that was a hotly-contested three-way race in 2021, the NDP’s Doug Racine received only 9.4 per cent of the vote. In Yorkton-Melville, Michaela Krakowetz finished a distant third with 5.5 per cent. On the other side of the province, William Petryk in Battlefords-Lloydminster managed only 4.8 per cent.
But what about the cities? Well, Rachel Loewen Walker had the best showing out of any Saskatchewan federal NDP candidate, receiving 19.1 per cent of the vote, but it was bleak for NDP voters the rest of the way. The NDP cleaned up in Saskatoon and Regina during the provincial election, but on Monday none of their candidates finished higher than third place.
This wasn’t a Saskatchewan phenomenon either. In Northern Manitoba, the NDP’s Niki Ashton had won five straight elections, but went down in defeat to the Liberal’s Rebecca Chartrand. In Hamilton Centre, the NDP’s Matthew Green won elections in 2019 and 2021, receiving 46.16 per cent of the vote and 48.7 per cent respectively. On Monday, he dropped all the way to third behind Liberal Aslam Rana and Conservative Hayden Lawrence.
In total, the NDP finished the night with just seven seats. Not even leader Jagmeet Singh was spared. Like most NDP candidates, he came a distant third in his own riding, with just 18.2 per cent of the vote.
Heavy defeats like this don’t happen if your local candidates are the problem. It speaks to the party’s goals and direction. The truth is, the NDP could have resurrected Tommy Douglas himself to run in each of Canada’s 343 constituencies and they still would have been wiped out on Election Day.
The NDP has some hard questions to ask themselves, and the first one should be ‘why do we exist?’ Political junkies like myself were under the impression the NDP thought there were certain voters the Conservatives and Liberals were ignoring. I was also under the impression the NDP thought Canada’s two largest parties were doing a poor job of addressing certain issues and challenges. After Monday’s election, it’s not apparent that that is the case.
Watching Jagmeet’s Singh’s performance during the federal leaders debate, you would assume the NDP’s sole reason for existing was to sandbag the Conservatives. That probably sits well with Liberals, who benefitted tremendously from the NDP’s collapse. It also probably sits well with voters whose sole identity revolves around dunking on Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives. It’s not readily apparent how Canada’s third party self-immolating is great for the country.
Do you like U.S. style elections, where voters have two choices—and only two choices—on the ballot? I don’t. I think it’s healthier to have more than two competitive parties. It keeps the big boys honest, while giving voters more options. But, as journalist Chantal Hebert noted during Monday’s election coverage, that’s where Canada is headed after this election: a two party system.
Canada needs a strong third party that isn’t a separatist party. Ideally, it would have a fourth competitive party too, although Max Bernier’s PPC seems destined for the graveyard of Canadian politics after another poor showing, and the Green Party seems content to spin their tires.
I think Canada would benefit from having two competitive left wing parties and two right wing ones. Previously, one of those left wing parties was the NDP. It’s not anymore, and depending on how the next four years ago, may not be again. Whether you are sad or happy about Monday’s election results, the collapse of everyone but the Liberals and Conservatives should be concerning.
Jason Kerr is the editor of the Prince Albert Daily Herald
Those were the words from newly re-elected Conservative MP Randy Hoback as the results rolled in from Canada’s 45th federal election Monday evening.
In the constituency of Prince Albert, Hoback cruised to re-election with 71.6 per cent of the vote, nearly 20,000 votes more than second place finisher Christopher Hadubiak of the Liberals.
Nationwide, however, there was disappointment for Conservatives, as Canadians re-elected another Liberal minority government with 96 per cent of polls reporting.
“We were 25 points ahead going into two months ago, so this is a tough pill to swallow,” Hoback said in an interview from his campaign headquarters in Prince Albert. “People wanted a majority Conservative government, especially in the riding of Prince Albert, especially in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and I think they wanted it across Canada, but a combination of a new leader and Trump interfering in the election all played a role in creating doubt and uncertainty in the voters’ mind.”
There was still plenty of uncertainty as midnight approached on Monday, but the Liberals under Prime Minster Mark Carney appeared to be in the driver’s seat. Election Canada results showed the Liberals elected in leading in 166 ridings, compared to 146 for the Conservatives, 23 for the Bloc Quebecois, seven for the NDP, and one for the Green Party. The Liberals needed 172 seats for a majority.
As of press time, the Liberals led the popular vote with 43.2 per cent, compared to 41.7 per cent for the Conservatives.
Although there will likely be a few recounts in the days ahead, Hoback said the Conservative Party has to go back and analyse their performance over the last few months to “start listening again to Canadians and what they want to see for priorities as we move forward.”
When asked if comments from United States President Donald Trump had an impact on the election, Hoback said it was hard to know.
“It comes back to your demographics. If you’re an older senior who’s living on pensions, stocks and bonds and the markets, yeah, as we’ve seen the markets move back and forth, it definitely created a lot of anxiety with the retirees for sure, and that definitely had a position in how they voted this time. If you’re a younger Canadian and you’re struggling to pay the bills and you want to start a family and buy a house, well those are a different set of issues in regards to affordability.”
Hoback said crime and affordability were the two biggest issues he heard about as he knocked on doors during the campaign. In Prince Albert, homelessness was the biggest issue, he said, along with addictions and mental health, while crime was more of a concern for rural voters. Affordability, he said, was an issue that crossed the rural/urban divide.
Now that he’s heading back to Ottawa, Hoback said crime and U.S. tariffs will be priorities when Parliament returns. He’d like to see changes to legislation that puts criminals behind bars for longer periods. On the tariff front, he wants more done to alleviate the hit farmers took when China placed tariffs on canola products, and action from Prime Minister Mark Carney to defend the country from U.S. trade policy.
Hoback was one of many Saskatchewan Conservative incumbents who improved on their popular vote share from 2021, but the party failed to win all 13 of the province’s seats.
Former NDP MLA Buckley Belanger ran for the Liberals in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River and was elected with 65.2 per cent of the vote. Former Saskatchewan Party MLA Jim Lemaigre, now running for the Conservatives, finished in second with 25.6 per cent of the vote, while the NDP’s Doug Racine finished third with 9.2 per cent.
Hoback gave a short speech to friends, family, and campaign volunteers during an election watch party Monday night. During the speech, Hoback said the Conservative Party would stay positive and move forward.
Prince Albert results from Elections Canada as of 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 28:
1. Randy Hoback (Conservative) – 26,454 (71.8 per cent)
2. Christopher Hadubiak (Liberal) – 6,979 (18.9 per cent)
3. Virginia Kutzan (NDP) – 3,400 (9.2 per cent)
174 of 176 polls reporting
Voter turnout: 36,833 of 62,438 registered electors (58.99 per cent)
National results from Elections Canada as of 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 28:
1. Liberals – 167 electoral districts leading or elected, 43. 1 per cent of popular vote
2. Conservatives – 145 electoral districts leading or elected, 41.7 per cent of popular vote
3. Bloc Quebecois – 23 electoral districts leading or elected, 6.7 per cent of popular vote
4. NDP – seven electoral districts leading or elected, 6.1 per cent of the popular vote
5. Green Party – one electoral district leading or elected, 1.2 per cent of the popular vote.
Buckland Fire and Rescue has responded to an active fire on Sturgeon Lake First Nation, but says the fire will not spread to the RM of Buckland.
The emergency service posted an update to their Facebook page at 2:30 p.m. on Monday saying that although smoke was visible from the RM, there was no threat at this time.
Buckland firefighters have responded to 18 emergency calls in the last 27 days. For the majority of these calls, crews have spent between six to 12 hours at incidents.
Death, taxes, and the Melfort Mustangs becoming kings of the SJHL castle.
The first two are guaranteed in this life, and while the third isn’t, you’d certainly be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
Buoyed by 1,935 raucous patrons at the Northern Lights Palace, the Mustangs clinched their second straight Saskatchewan Junior A title on Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Weyburn Red Wings. The victory marked the first time an SJHL team has earned back-to-back championships in a decade. The last team to do it? The Melfort Mustangs in 2015 and 2016.
“To be able to go back to back is the happiest I’ve ever been,” said team captain and playoff MVP Ty Thornton. “Not many people can say they made it to the finals in their junior careers so to be able to be here a second time is an unbelievable feeling.”
It’s hard to improve on a championship season, but the Mustangs managed to do it. In last year’s finals they were underdogs taking on a first place Flin Flon Bombers squad that ran away with the SJHL’s regular season crown. This year, the Mustangs were the favourites, finishing first in the league, and facing a Weyburn Red Wings team that ended the regular season 22 points behind them.
The Mustangs lost only 10 games all regular season, and cruised into the finals with a 4-1 series win over the Kindersley Klippers, and a 4-0 sweep of the Yorkton Terriers.
“Right from the start of the year we had an absolutely amazing run,” said forward Danton Cox, a former Prince Albert Minto and one of 13 players on the Mustangs roster who suited up for both SJHL championships. “I can’t remember how many games in a row we won, but it was absolutely phenomenal. These guys have just continued to get better and better. We’ve grown all throughout the year, and we’ve been fantastic.”
The Mustangs were on a roll heading into the finals, but the Red Wings didn’t make it easy. The Viterra Division champions handed the Mustangs their second loss of the playoffs with 2-1 victory in Game 1, and played them tough in a 3-0 loss in Game 2 and a 1-0 loss in Game 3.
The Mustangs dominated play with a 5-1 win in Game 4, but Game 5 was a tough, grinding affair as both teams sought to wear each other down. In the end, it was the Red Wings who gave way.
Melfort outshot the visitors 16-3 in the opening period, struck once on the powerplay in the second, and added two insurance markers in the third.
“We just thought we had to put emotions away,” said defenceman Zach Turner, whose second period goal proved to be the game winner. “We needed to work hard and stick to our game plan and it worked out for us.”
“I think we were able to stick to our identity and play Mustang hockey,” Thornton added. “We played hard. We played physical. They’re a super-skilled team up front and I think we did very well shutting them down.”
Goaltending was the key on Sunday. Red Wings netminder Angelo Zol faced a barrage of shots, but managed keep the hometown crowd quiet until Turner’s goal.
The Melfort Mustangs mob goaltender Kristian Coombs following their 3-0 win over the Weyburn Red Wings in Game 5 of the Canterra Seeds Cup. — Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
The turning point came at 6:31 of the second when Weyburn’s Jerome Maharaj received a double-minor for spearing. The Mustangs then caught a break when an Ashton Paul’s slap shot from the point struck a Weyburn defender in the chest. With the defender down on the ice, Paul grabbed the puck and fed a cross-ice pass to Turner for the game’s first goal.
“I remember it just sitting there,” Turner said afterwards. “Paulie threw the puck over to me. I just saw an open net and I decided to hammer it in.”
It was a rewarding goal for the Mustangs, who were frustrated by Zol’s goaltending throughout the first period. At the other end of the ice, Melfort goalie Kristian Coombs faced few shots, but came up big when needed.
The Mustangs netminder finished the playoffs with a .942 save percentage, a 1.33 GAA, and four shutouts, three of which game in the SJHL finals. It was a MVP performance, even though he didn’t have the award to show for it.
In fact, the actual playoff MVP was shocked he didn’t win.
“Honestly, I was expecting our goalie, Coombs, to get it,” Thornton said when asked about his playoff MVP award. “He had an unbelievable playoff series.”
After the game, Mustangs head coach Trevor Blevins credited his squad for staying focused and “dialed in” even though they were stymied the first 20 minutes.
“The biggest part was not getting frustrated,” Blevins said. “You throw up 16 shots on net and you don’t get rewarded—on some pretty quality scoring chances too. (The) guys did a great job (being) mentally tough all the way through the game. They didn’t get frustrated, played the right way, and never veered off the game plan so that’s a testament to them. They got it done.”
Weyburn outshot Melfort 6-5 in the third period, but struggled to generate offence. A late powerplay opportunity did little to swing the momentum in their favour, as the Mustang penalty kill quickly shut down every foray the visitors made.
At the other end, Reilley Kotai made the most of the few chances left, firing a wrist shot top corner over Zol’s blocker following a Weyburn turnover.
Then, with less than a minute to play, Logan Belton iced the victory with an empty net goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy. When the buzzer sounded, 14 players stormed off the Melfort bench to join five more on the ice in mobbing Coombs in the Mustangs’ goal.
“It’s awesome,” Turner said. “This is an unbelievable feeling. To go from day one with these guys all the way right to the end, it’s been unbelievable. Everyone’s been great and everyone’s put in the effort to deserve this moment right now.”
“No one picked us to win, I’ll tell you that,” Blevins said. “It was (apparent) pretty early that we had something special here. You’ve got a target on your back from day one, being a defending champion. The guys took it on themselves and really, from the leadership group all the way through, just did a great job.”
“(It’s) nothing but excitement,” said Cox. “These guys have battled so hard for us through and through all regular season (and) all playoffs long. I love each and every one of these guys. They’re absolutely amazing. I owe it all to them. You’re the best.”
The provincial government confirmed plans to double the Community Rink Affordability Grant Program from $2,500 to $5,000 per indoor ice surface during an announcement in Prince Albert on Thursday.
Parks, Culture, and Sport Minister Alana Ross said the $3.2 million funding increase was approved in the recent provincial budget. She said indoor skating and curling rinks are “go-to places” in their community, and the province wanted to provide more support.
“These facilities allow people to stay active year-round and contribute to our quality of life,” Ross said during the announcement. “When those cold winters keep us indoors, rinks encourage us to venture out of our houses and into a space where we can socialize, enjoy physical activity, or catch the excitement of a hockey game, ringette tournament, or curling match.”
Preliminary figures show 577 indoor ice services received provincial funding in 2024-25, including nine in Prince Albert. The City received $22,500 for those ice surfaces last year. The funds were used to help offset operation, maintenance, and upgrade costs.
“The doubling of it is welcomed and something that we’ve been advocating for through our efforts with SPRA (Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association),” Boulet said. “It’s nice to see that (increase), first off, announced in the election campaign, but then brought to fruition so quickly.”
Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky was also on hand for Thursday’s announcement in the Art Hauser Centre lobby. He said the City was happy to see any increase in funding, and hoped it would set a precedent for other grants.
“Every bit of support we get from the provincial government is critical,” he said.
SPRA President Darcy McLeod was also in Prince Albert for the announcement. He said facilities like skating and curling rinks make communities more attractive places to live and work in, and help with tourism. However, he said many communities need some help to keep them going.
“It’s promising to see an ongoing and increased investment in recreation infrastructure through programs like the Community Rink Affordability Grant,” McLeod told those in attendance. “This funding is a welcome contribution as communities continue to grapple with the escalating operation and maintenance costs of aging parks and recreation infrastructure.”
Local communities like Carrot River are among those who say they will benefit from the increase. In a press release, Town of Carrot River Community Development Manager Miranda Blaber said the funding would allow them to “offset expenses where we need it most.”
“This helps keep the skating rink operational and ensures we can maintain free access to programs for families within our community,” Blaber said in the press release.
The SPRA will begin accepting grant applications for the 2025-26 season in January 2026. Communities, First Nations, schools, and non-profits are eligible for an annual grant per indoor ice surface.
On Thursday, Peterson and nine other individuals who comprise the first Saskatchewan Marshals Service graduating class in the province’s history, swore oaths of service in front of family, friends, and dignitaries at the Ches Leach Lounge in Prince Albert.
“I’m just excited to get out there and let the people know the Marshals are in the community,” Peterson told the media following Thursday’s ceremony.
“It’ll just be good to get out on the street and sort things out.”
Peterson may be new to the marshals, but he’s not new to policing. He’s a former 18-year member of the Prince Albert Police Service who wanted to join a police unit where jurisdictional boundaries weren’t affecting their investigations.
“Rather than waiting for something terrible to happen within the city limits of Prince Albert, now I can respond anywhere in the province that needs our help,” Peterson said. “I just really look forward to that.”
Peterson said the Marshals Service will begin by supporting “any police service that needs us” but will eventually begin conducting their own investigations. The goal is to focus on prolific offenders, or people with warrants.
“(We’re) trying to catch the people falling through the cracks,” he said.
Peterson and James Repesse were the co-valedictorians of a class that was sworn in by Judge Bob Lane. Like Peterson, Repesse is a longtime police veteran. He served 24 years with the Saskatoon Police Service before joining the marshals.
Repesse said the seven-week training course was “a big ask” for the first group of candidates, with some wondering if they would still be able to do it. Now that they’ve passed and graduated, Repesse said they’re eager to get to work.
“One of the things that I think we all have in common is that need to continue on with public service and to continue on with doing the job we love and have loved,” he said during his speech.
Officers like Peterson and Repesse say the first class of marshals is unique because it can “set the tone.”
“We can set the expectations for what we want the organization to be,” Peterson said during his speech. “As frontline members, we will exhibit that example every day, and as we hire on more people, they will be held to those standards.”
For guests and dignitaries in attendance, more police resources can’t come soon enough. Prince Albert Grand Council lead security advisor David Sanderson was among several Indigenous leaders and representatives who spoke. He said recent surveys show 60 per cent residents in PAGC First Nations don’t feel safe.
Sanderson spent 32 years with the RCMP before retiring, and said many detachments are badly under-resourced, and that makes it difficult for officers to respond to calls in a timely manner.
“They don’t have enough bodies to police the communities properly … so we’ve got to make some changes,” he said. “We’ve got to look at where we can make the partnerships better.”
Sanderson was happy to see the first class of marshals graduate, but said it’s only the start of what needs to be done. Ideally, he’d like to see more provincial support for self-administered Indigenous policing, which could partner with groups like the Marshals Service to combat drugs and gangs.
“I’m happy to see this graduation today,” Sanderson said. “It’s a start, but it’s a relationship we have to build on.”
Indigenous leaders weren’t the only ones raising concerns about understaffing in rural and remote communities. Judge Bob Lane was on hand to swear-in the first Marshals Service graduating class. Lane is retired from being a full-time judge, but still fills in other judges are on vacation or otherwise unavailable. On Thursday, Lane said there were some detachments in the north were one or two officers were covering an area meant for four or five.
“I really is a wonderful initiative that our government and Minister Tim Mcleod has taken to create this service,” Lane said during his remarks. “It’s going to pay off dividends in a very, very big way. As mentioned, the RCMP are terribly short staffed. They’re trying, but they’re terribly short-staffed.”
Recent graduates like Peterson said they’ve heard those concerns about understaffing, and are ready to help.
“We’re really excited to get boots on the streets and start making an impact in the community,” he said. “It was great to hear from the speakers earlier who talked about the need for that. We recognize it.
“Crime can be out of control sometimes,” he added. “We don’t have any control over that, but we do have control over how well we can respond to it and try and try to combat that. I just want to say ‘have faith in this group.’ This is a good group.”
The provincial government confirmed plans to double the Community Rink Affordability Grant Program from $2,500 to $5,000 per indoor ice surface during an announcement in Prince Albert on Thursday.
Parks, Culture, and Sport Minister Alana Ross said the $3.2 million funding increase was approved in the recent provincial budget. She said indoor skating and curling rinks are “go-to places” in their community, and the province wanted to provide more support.
“These facilities allow people to stay active year-round and contribute to our quality of life,” Ross said during the announcement. “When those cold winters keep us indoors, rinks encourage us to venture out of our houses and into a space where we can socialize, enjoy physical activity, or catch the excitement of a hockey game, ringette tournament, or curling match.”
Preliminary figures show 577 indoor ice services received provincial funding in 2024-25, including nine in Prince Albert. The City received $22,500 for those ice surfaces last year. The funds were used to help offset operation, maintenance, and upgrade costs.
“The doubling of it is welcomed and something that we’ve been advocating for through our efforts with SPRA (Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association),” Boulet said. “It’s nice to see that (increase), first off, announced in the election campaign, but then brought to fruition so quickly.”
Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky was also on hand for Thursday’s announcement in the Art Hauser Centre lobby. He said the City was happy to see any increase in funding, and hoped it would set a precedent for other grants.
“Every bit of support we get from the provincial government is critical,” he said.
SPRA President Darcy McLeod was also in Prince Albert for the announcement. He said facilities like skating and curling rinks make communities more attractive places to live and work in, and help with tourism. However, he said many communities need some help to keep them going.
“It’s promising to see an ongoing and increased investment in recreation infrastructure through programs like the Community Rink Affordability Grant,” McLeod told those in attendance. “This funding is a welcome contribution as communities continue to grapple with the escalating operation and maintenance costs of aging parks and recreation infrastructure.”
Local communities like Carrot River are among those who say they will benefit from the increase. In a press release, Town of Carrot River Community Development Manager Miranda Blaber said the funding would allow them to “offset expenses where we need it most.”
“This helps keep the skating rink operational and ensures we can maintain free access to programs for families within our community,” Blaber said in the press release.
The SPRA will begin accepting grant applications for the 2025-26 season in January 2026. Communities, First Nations, schools, and non-profits are eligible for an annual grant per indoor ice surface.
Prince Albert police have arrested a 17-year-old male accused of threatening multiple people with a weapon on April 17.
Officers were called to the 400 block of 20th Street East at around 8:50 p.m. following calls about a male with a baseball bat. They arrived to find a suspect matching the description given by callers.
Police say the suspect fled on foot and entered a residence before he was arrested without further incident. The suspect is alleged to have threatened multiple people before fleeing. No physical injuries were reported.
The 17-year-old has been charged with assault with a weapon.
