MooseJaw

As seasonal temperatures rise, the risk of grassfires increases in Moose Jaw and the surrounding area. 

Deputy Fire Chief Mike Russell told Discover Moose Jaw that fire doesn’t pick a time or place, but residents still need to remain hyper-vigilant — especially now, as the fire department is seeing an uptick in grass and culvert fires. In 2022, the fire department responded to 16 grassfires. 

A new survey is now available as the City of Moose Jaw seeks residents’ input on a new playground at Knights of Columbus Park, located on the 1100 block of Clifton Avenue. 

A replacement for the current play structure was approved in the city’s 2025 budget. The existing structure was built in 1994 and has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. 

Moose Jaw’s real estate market had another strong showing in April, maintaining a 22-month streak of above-average sales. While slightly lower year-over-year when compared to April 2024—one of the strongest on record—sales continue to perform 14 per cent above the 10-year average. 

“Inventory is tight in Moose Jaw, but not as tight as it’s been in prior months,” explained Cole Zawislak, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at SaskREALTORS. 

UPDATE: Lumsden RCMP say the Highway 20 has now reopened

**Original article**

Highway 20 west of Craven is closed following a train derailment.

The Saskatchewan Highway Hotline says there is debris on road and that police are on site.

Residents are asked to avoid the area.

At this time it’s unclear when the highway will reopen, what caused the derailment or what the train was carrying.

Due to current conditions, high fire activity and the extreme fire risk in the province, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has issued a provincial fire ban effective at 5 p.m. on May 8, 2025. The ban encompasses the area north of the provincial forest boundary, up to the Churchill River. 

The Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative Lab reports this year’s first avian influenza case in a wild bird was found in the Saskatoon region.

Wildlife biologist Erin Moffatt says most of the dead wild birds sent for testing have come from southern areas of the province.

Most of the dead birds being found now are Canada geese or snow geese. There were nine positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds located in Saskatchewan last year.

Moffatt says there are a few stages in the testing process.

Members of Conexus, Cornerstone, and Synergy Credit Unions will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed merger of the three financial institutions beginning early next month. The voting process will open on June 3, following a special members meeting, and will close at noon on June 13. 

Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan (SASS) and the Government of Saskatchewan have recognized the month of May as Sexual Violence Prevention Month (SVPM), expanding the initiative from a single week to a month-long focus. 

Raven Daer, Communications Specialist with Envision Counselling and Support Centre, explains SVPM is part of a broader effort to end sexual violence. 

“Sexual violence prevention is essentially just getting out the education surrounding this important topic and finding ways to work together to end sexual violence across the province.” 

The federal government expects to spend about $7 million this fiscal year to store and maintain four custom-made, portable hospitals that cost taxpayers more than $200 million to buy — facilities meant to bolster overwhelmed hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic that were barely used.

Early on in the pandemic, as the federal government moved at breakneck speed to respond to a global health crisis, it issued rush orders for these Mobile Health Units.

Dr. Pamela Arnold of Regina has been elected president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA), becoming the organization’s 59th president.

Arnold was chosen by physician delegates during the SMA’s 2025 Spring Representative Assembly, held Friday at Saskatoon’s Sheraton Cavalier. She succeeds Dr. Andre Grobler of Prince Albert and will serve a one-year term.