WestCentral

Richmound, Saskatchewan became the epicentre of the provincial news cycle on Wednesday, as RCMP carried out numerous arrests at the site of the former Richmound School to close the chapter on a now years long struggle with Romana Didulo and her "Kingdom of Canada" followers that had been living inside the southwest community. 

Politicians and hockey stars are mourning the loss of hockey legend and former federal politician Ken Dryden, who passed away Friday at age 78 after a battle with cancer.

Dryden, 78, was a Hall of Fame goaltender who won six Stanley Cups backstopping the Montreal Canadiens as well as minding the cage during Canada's generation-defining victory at the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.

Air Canada flight attendants have massively rejected the employer's wage offer following a vote on a new contract that ended Saturday.

Flight attendants at Air Canada wrapped up voting at 3 p.m. ET  on the tentative new contract, with 99.1 per cent voting down the airline's wage offer. 

The airline says the wage portion will now be referred to mediation as previously agreed to by both sides.

Correctional staff at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary seized packages containing contraband, including methamphetamine and THC, on August 29, 2025, officials said Thursday. The items have an estimated institutional value of $56,000.

The federal multi-level security institution said police have been notified and that an internal investigation is underway.

As the summer winds down, Saskatchewan Provincial Parks are inviting visitors to enjoy quieter campsites, fall hiking and a slate of special events in early September.

From Sept. 3 to 17, parks across the province will host activities ranging from outdoor movies to themed dinners and guided hikes.

On Sept. 6, Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park will feature “Summer Cinema,” an outdoor screening of Moana 2 presented by Fresh Air Cinema. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for family-friendly activities with park interpreters.

It’s been a busy week across West Central, from trials in local courts, to late-summer sports competitions, to families preparing for back-to-school.

Check out the top five local stories from this past week below.

A new poll suggests that a significant portion of Canadian university students are hesitant to voice honest opinions in class, fearing formal repercussions such as lower grades.

The Leger survey, commissioned by the Fraser Institute and released Wednesday, found that 37 per cent of self-described right-leaning students and 30 per cent of left-leaning students worry about consequences for expressing viewpoints that diverge from the perceived “safe” stance on controversial topics.

A rescue cat in Unity is searching for her happily-ever-after after being found alone near a highway outside Scott, Sask.

Petal, a sleek black cat with a gentle personality, has been living at KC Rescue, where she quickly became the “big sister” of the kitten room. Staff say she is affectionate, playful and thrives on human closeness.

Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goaltender whose long resume in and out of hockey included six Stanley Cup victories and helping backstop Canada's generation-defining victory at the 1972 Summit Series, died Friday at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer.

A key member of the Montreal Canadiens' 1970s dynasty, Dryden's career in the spotlight was only just getting started when he retired from the game — and while at the top of his own game — in his early 30s.

The Saskatchewan Public Health Authority has declared the former Richmound School unfit for habitation due to unsanitary conditions. 

Posted at the front gate, a notice from the SPHA declared that the facilities were not connected to a lawfully operating sewage system. As such, in accordance with The Public Health Act, 1994, the building has officially been declared as unfit for habitation.