WestCentral

Three Saskatchewan Credit Unions are recommending a merger to their members.

Conexus, Cornerstone and Synergy credit unions made a joint announcement, saying their boards’ unanimously approved the recommendation to merge.

It will now be up to the members, who will likely vote in June.

If the merger proceeds, the new credit union will be the largest in Saskatchewan and one of the largest in Canada with $15 billion in assets under management.   The three credit unions say not branches will close if the merger is approved.

Dr. Wade Abbott and his research team at AAFC Lethbridge are embarking on a groundbreaking study aimed at unlocking new possibilities for the humble field pea, a crop primarily known for its use in food production.

The project will explore underutilized aspects of the legume, including its protein, starch, and fibre, with an eye on developing new food and non-food products that could benefit both the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to tighten financial transparency rules for elected officials — and is using that promise to take aim at Liberal Leader Mark Carney.

Poilievre told a press conference in Ottawa on Sunday that if his party forms government, he'll ban what he calls "shadow lobbying."

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is continuing its multi-year project tracking how wildlife responds to life in and around Regina.

Since the fall of 2021, researchers have been monitoring animal activity through the Regina Urban Wildlife Project, a collaboration with the University of Regina.

The goal is to understand how different parts of the city support wildlife, and how species adapt to urban development.

From crime headlines to community comebacks, this week’s top stories covered it all. West Central readers were drawn to news of a high-speed robbery chase, a local sentencing update, and a major change for Grade 12 students in Saskatchewan. Add in the heartwarming return of a favourite restaurant and a must-read for fishing fans, and you’ve got the most-clicked stories from April 3 to 10. Here’s your weekly top 5 from West Central Online.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to cut red tape and step up support for veterans Saturday, while Liberal Leader Mark Carney pledged to make visiting national parks and museums more affordable for Canadian families.

Poilievre unveiled his party's plan for veterans during a press conference in Nepean, the suburban Ottawa community that contains the neighbouring ridings where he and Carney are running. 

Carney did not have any public events scheduled. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's itinerary shows he will hold an evening event in Timmins, Ont.

The Saskatchewan Rush lost a rivalry game their last time out as the Calgary Roughnecks came to town and won a low scoring 10-6 decision inside SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. They will look to rebound this weekend down in Denver as they face the Colorado Mammoth in a Sunday matinee. 

The loss didn't shake up the NLL standings entering the final month of the regular season. With 11 wins the Rush are still in second place behind 12-win Buffalo, Halifax and Rochester behind them tied for third with 10 wins each, those four clubs being the only ones to clinch a playoff spot already. 

More than 1,000 municipal leaders from across Saskatchewan are gathering in Saskatoon this week for the 2025 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) Convention and Tradeshow.

Running April 13–16 at TCU Place, the annual event brings together representatives from cities, towns, villages, resort villages and northern municipalities to discuss issues facing urban centres across the province.

Another week, another top five local stories. 

A pair of food related tales join some breaking hockey news. Also, a pair of stories from Jenny Hagan as she interviewed a Biggar-area farmer/author and got a story out of a fantastic dinner theatre performance in Eatonia. 

Find the top five stories from the past week below, and more highlights from the week around West Central:

The oldest group of West Central Wheat Kings players had their awards night recently.