Theo Fleury will not be speaking in Prince Albert after the Catholic Family Services said they would no longer host the former NHL player following messages Fleury has posted on social media.

“It is with deep regret that our Board of Directors has been forced to make the difficult decision to cancel this event,” said the organization on its Facebook page on Sept. 9. “This has come about as we became aware of disturbing messages that Theo Fleury has been posting on social media. These messages do not align with the beliefs and values of Catholic Family Services.”

Many of Fleury’s posts on Twitter are regarding conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was set to speak at the Rawlinson Centre for the Arts on October 15 regarding the importance of mental health and dealing with challenges.

Along with years as part of the Calgary Flames, Fleury has become well-known for speaking about his experience being sexually abused by former coach Graham James while playing both minor and junior hockey.

“Catholic Family Services appreciates Theo Fleury’s advocacy for mental health and professional counselling for those who have experienced sexual abuse, trauma and addictions in their lives,” reads the post. “However, we cannot in good conscience move forward with this event.”

Patrons that have purchased tickets for the event will be contacted by the E.A. Rawlinson to be reimbursed. 

Catholic Family Services Board members will be contacting their sponsors and partners on how they will proceed.

Almost 40 people are now in hospital with COVID-19 in the North Central zone as five more people were admitted.

Of the 38 people in the hospital, six are in the ICU with the remainder receiving inpatient care.

The zone now has 579 active cases with 46 added in the last 24 hours, part of an increase of 286 cases in the province.

Elsewhere in the north, the North East saw seven new cases and the North West had 19 new cases in the same time frame.

Other new cases are seven in the Far North West, four in Far North Central, 25 in the Far North East, Saskatoon had 65 cases, Central West had five, Central East also had five, Regina saw 12 new cases, 11 were in the South West, six in the South Central and 25 in the South East zone and 49 new cases have pending residence information

-Eleven cases with pending location were assigned to the North West (from Sept 7 (1)), North Central (from Sept 3 (1), Sept 7 (5)), Saskatoon (from Sept 7 (2)), Central East (from Sept 5 (1)), and Regina (from Sept 6 (1)) zones

-Eight cases were deemed an out-of-province residents and removed from Far North West (from Sept 7 (1)), and pending locations (from August 18 (1), August 19 (1), August 20 (1), August 21 (3) and August 24 (1))

-57,521 cases are confirmed

-13,888 cases are from the Saskatoon area

            -13,305 cases are from the North area (5,562 North West, 5,710 North Central, 2,033 North East)

            -12,622 cases are from the Regina area

            -7,103 cases are from the Far North area (3,373 Far North West, 506 Far North Central, 3,224 Far North East)

            -6,564 cases are from the South area (1,335 South West, 2,091 South Central, 3,138 South East)

            -3,695 cases are from the Central area (1008 Central West, 2,687 Central East)

            -344 cases have pending residence information

Of all the cases so far, 3,416 cases are considered active and 53,489 cases are considered recovered.

Over one-third (35.0 per cent) of new cases are in the 20 to 39 year age category and over one in eight (9.4 per cent) new cases was fully vaccinated

As of September 9, a total of 184 individuals are hospitalized, including 152 inpatient hospitalizations and 32 ICU hospitalizations. Of the 184 patients, 141 (76.5 per cent) were not fully vaccinated.

One new death was reported on Sept. 9 and so far 616 Saskatchewan residents with COVID-19 have died, with a case fatality rate of 1.1 per cent.

To date, 1,052,108 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of September 7, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers are available from PHAC, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 886,050 tests performed per million. The national rate was 1,082,775 tests performed per million.

The 7-day average of new COVID-19 case numbers was 364 (30.2 new cases per 100,000).

Police are looking for the rightful owners of jewelry recently recovered at a home in the community. 

A safe containing jewelry and a number of other valuable items were taken from a residence.

Officers found over $18,600 in stolen property after searching a home on the 100 Block of 6 Avenue West on Sept. 7. 

Most of the found items have been returned to the two victims they were taken from in a day time break and enter on August 26 on 10 Avenue West. 

However, some of the items found in the 6 Avenue house were connected to other break and enter incidents earlier in the summer. 

Police are asking that anyone who reported stolen jewelry contact the detachment at 306-862-6270.

Currently, a male youth from Nipawin is charged with:

    -Breaking and entering with intent to a residence – Section 348(1)(a) of the Criminal Code

   -Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 – Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code

Brian Kayfish, age 61 and of Nipawin is charged with:

   -Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 – Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code

   -Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5000 – Section 355.2 of the Criminal Code

 Kayfish is scheduled to appear in Nipawin Provincial Court on October 20th, 2021.

A man reported missing this morning was found in the Smeaton area, police say.

Saskatoon Police started looking for Dean Moisan earlier this morning, believing him to possibly be in a vulnerable state.

He was located near Smeaton and is safe, police said just after 4:00 pm.

A 30-year-old man from the Moosomin First Nation is dead following an altercation at a residence in the community on Sunday, Sept. 5. 

North Battleford RCMP said they were notified just after 4:00 am that morning of an injured male and responded along with EMS.

Catlin Frenchman was pronounced dead at the scene and his family has been notified. His death has been determined a homicide. 

RCMP Major Crime Unit North investigates along with North Battleford detachment, Saskatchewan RCMP General Investigation Section, the RCMP Forensic Identification Services and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service. 

If you have information about this incident, please call North Battleford RCMP at 306-446-1720, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or 911 in an emergency.

One man is in hospital and another is facing criminal charges following an incident on the Big River First Nation on Sept. 5. 

RCMP were called at 9:50 pm to vicinity of Miami Beach with a reported gunshot and found that a vehicle was parked at the beach when an altercation happened between a number of people inside and outside of the vehicle. 

A male occupant of the vehicle was struck and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

As a result, Tristan Whitefish, age 21, of Big River First Nation has been charged with:

– 1 count, discharge firearm with intent, Section 244, Criminal Code

– 1 count, aggravated assault, Section 268, Criminal Code

– 1 count, use a firearm while committing the indictable offence of uttering threats against a person, Section 85, Criminal Code

– 1 count, point a firearm, Section 87, Criminal Code

– 1 count, utter threats, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code

– 1 count, unlicensed possession of a firearm, Section 92(1), Criminal Code

– 1 count, unauthorized possession of a loaded prohibited firearm, Section 95, Criminal Code

– 2 counts, possess firearm/ammunition while prohibited, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code

– 1 count, carry concealed weapon, Section 90(2), Criminal Code

A warrant has been issued for Whitefish’s arrest. Whitefish is described as 5’6” and 140 lbs. He has black hair and brown eyes. A photo of Whitefish is not available at this time.

Big River RCMP continue to actively search for him. We are now seeking information from the public to assist with this ongoing investigation. 

If you see Whitefish, do not approach him. Call your local RCMP detachment at 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

Almost 40 people are now in hospital with COVID-19 in the North Central zone as five more people were admitted.

Of the 38 people in the hospital, six are in the ICU with the remainder receiving inpatient care.

The zone now has 579 active cases with 46 added in the last 24 hours, part of an increase of 286 cases in the province.

Elsewhere in the north, the North East saw seven new cases and the North West had 19 new cases in the same time frame.

Other new cases are seven in the Far North West, four in Far North Central, 25 in the Far North East, Saskatoon had 65 cases, Central West had five, Central East also had five, Regina saw 12 new cases, 11 were in the South West, six in the South Central and 25 in the South East zone and 49 new cases have pending residence information

-Eleven cases with pending location were assigned to the North West (from Sept 7 (1)), North Central (from Sept 3 (1), Sept 7 (5)), Saskatoon (from Sept 7 (2)), Central East (from Sept 5 (1)), and Regina (from Sept 6 (1)) zones

-Eight cases were deemed an out-of-province residents and removed from Far North West (from Sept 7 (1)), and pending locations (from August 18 (1), August 19 (1), August 20 (1), August 21 (3) and August 24 (1))

-57,521 cases are confirmed

-13,888 cases are from the Saskatoon area

            -13,305 cases are from the North area (5,562 North West, 5,710 North Central, 2,033 North East)

            -12,622 cases are from the Regina area

            -7,103 cases are from the Far North area (3,373 Far North West, 506 Far North Central, 3,224 Far North East)

            -6,564 cases are from the South area (1,335 South West, 2,091 South Central, 3,138 South East)

            -3,695 cases are from the Central area (1008 Central West, 2,687 Central East)

            -344 cases have pending residence information

Of all the cases so far, 3,416 cases are considered active and 53,489 cases are considered recovered.

Over one-third (35.0 per cent) of new cases are in the 20 to 39 year age category and over one in eight (9.4 per cent) new cases was fully vaccinated

As of September 9, a total of 184 individuals are hospitalized, including 152 inpatient hospitalizations and 32 ICU hospitalizations. Of the 184 patients, 141 (76.5 per cent) were not fully vaccinated.

One new death was reported on Sept. 9 and so far 616 Saskatchewan residents with COVID-19 have died, with a case fatality rate of 1.1 per cent.

To date, 1,052,108 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province. As of September 7, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers are available from PHAC, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 886,050 tests performed per million. The national rate was 1,082,775 tests performed per million.

The 7-day average of new COVID-19 case numbers was 364 (30.2 new cases per 100,000).

A new oriented strand board mill has been proposed for Prince Albert with a capacity of 600 million square feet (3/8 – inch basis) annually.

The province announced on Sept. 8 that One Sky, the company formed to operate the mill, had secured a timber allocation from the province.

“We are extremely pleased with today’s announcement from the Government of Saskatchewan awarding One Sky Forest Products and our partners the fibre tenures necessary to move our project forward,” One Sky founder and Chair of the Board Brian Fehr said in a news release.

The mill will require about 845,000 m3 of timber annually, with a large portion of that coming from provincial forests, but they will also source supply through commercial agreements with other mills, Indigenous timber allocation holders and private landowners

“We have been working with our Saskatchewan investors and First Nations partners for over a year to get to this point and are eager to move to the next phase of project development.  We thank the Government of Saskatchewan and look forward to developing this important project for Prince Albert, our First Nations partners and the people of Saskatchewan,” said Fehr.

The mill is projected to create 700 new jobs in the area and help double the forestry sector growth.

It is the second piece of good news for the forestry sector recently as Paper Excellence announce in May 2021 that they would open the Prince Albert pulp mill (closed since 2006) in two years.

The North American residential construction industry is forecasting a decade of growth, a projection that has made wood production more attractive as a business opportunity.

“Forestry is northern Saskatchewan’s largest sector and supports nearly 8,000 jobs and hundreds of businesses,” Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said. “The One Sky project will help achieve the ambitious goal in our Growth Plan to double the province’s forestry sector by 2030 and further strengthen Saskatchewan’s economy.”

The One Sky’s mill will manufacture performance-rated OSB sheathing, a preferred wall, roof and sub-floor sheathing material. 

The timber allocation will also support the growth of other, value-added manufacturing in the forestry sector in the province.

“Saskatchewan’s growing forestry sector is supported by abundant ecosystems that cover more than half of our province,” Environment Minister Warren Kaeding said.  “We welcome sustainable developments and will work with industry partners to ensure that our forests continue to be well managed, healthy and sustained over the long term.”

One Sky Forest Products Ltd. is a privately held Saskatchewan corporation formed to construct and operate the One Sky Oriented Strand Board plant in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, in partnership with Peak Renewables Ltd. and local investors, Montreal Lake Business Ventures, Meadow Lake Tribal Council together with Big River First Nation, and Wahpeton Dakota Development Corporation, are contributing equity and fibre to the project. 

The company is also sourcing fibre from additional First Nations communities located near Prince Albert.

In 2020, more than $1.1 billion worth of Saskatchewan forest products were sold, an almost 30 per cent increase over the previous year.

Prince Albert Police are asking for the public’s help in locating missing youth Julius Morin.

Julius is 12 years old and is described as being 5’3” tall and 118 pounds.

Julius MORIN may be in either the Prince Albert or Saskatoon area.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Julius is asked to contact police at 306-953-4222.