Estevan

A Southeast Saskatchewan research project is drawing international attention and helping position the region as a hub for innovation and emerging technologies.

The Petroleum Technology Research Centre’s (PTRC) Aquistore project, based near Estevan’s Boundary Dam, has earned the Suzanne West Environmental Excellence Award. The honour was presented at the Global Energy Show in Calgary.

Gord More, executive director of the Southeast Techhub (SETH), said the award reinforces the region’s leadership in applied research and large-scale infrastructure.

The first Taste of Summer charity BBQ of the season fired up today at CARSTAR Hail-Otto, drawing a steady crowd and raising $715 in support of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.

“It was fantastic,” said Lori Gervais, executive director of the foundation. “It’s always great to have community support and see people come out and come for some great BBQ, but also to support the MRI.”

In addition to the BBQ, the foundation also held its annual e-bike raffle draw at the event.

The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) held its graduation ceremony over the weekend, celebrating the accomplishments of the Grade 12 students who are moving on to the next stage of their lives. That included a cap-and-gown ceremony at Affinity Place, along with a community parade.

James Jones, the principal of the ECS, says the event went well with a bit of extra help included.

A system filled with thunderstorms is bearing down on the southeast, as some intense showers are likely to hit a few areas. The system is expected to begin this afternoon, with thunderstorms persisting into Thursday.

Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Crawford Luke gives a look at what Environment Canada is predicting from this.

The Government of Saskatchewan will be changing back to previous procurement rules from those that were focused on countering US tariffs and their effects on the province.

Back in March, Saskatchewan put forward the changes, which saw them direct that all goods and services procured by the Government of Saskatchewan prioritize Canadian suppliers, with the eventual goal of reducing or eliminating US procurement.

The provincial government announced its newest round of funding for short-line railroads, which serve a number of rural communities across Saskatchewan. In Estevan, the closest one is Long Creek Railroad, which operates west of the city towards Tribune.

Adriaan Lievaart, the board chairman for the railroad, says they've had a slower year so far.

"This year has been a little quieter than normal, mainly due to the drought that we had last year, and a lot of the grain is a little lightweight to go to the millers, and most of our grains go to mills south of us here."

Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison today announced $3.4 million over four years to support the development of two new facilities at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) which includes the Omics Resource Centre at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Beef Reprotech facilities at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).

A Statistics Canada reports says Canadians are spending less time with friends than ever, with the decline sharpest among the working-age demographic.

The data released Tuesday show that in 2022, only 19.3 per cent of Canadians saw friends on an average day, down from 47.9 per cent in 1986.

The questions to those in the survey asks if they were with a friend or family member in person, separate from communicating using technology such as phone, email, or social media.

Prime Minister Mark Carney pulled off a successful performance hosting the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., say some world leaders and foreign policy experts commenting on his perceived pragmatism and savviness.

Fen Osler Hampson, international affairs professor at Carleton University, said Carney guided the G7 "through the diplomatic Rockies," navigating "shifting weather" on the global front and avoiding "avalanches and treacherous cliffs."

A groundbreaking Saskatchewan-based carbon storage initiative has earned international recognition. The Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) has been awarded the Suzanne West Environmental Excellence Award for its Aquistore project, located near Estevan’s Boundary Dam, at the Global Energy Show in Calgary.