Estevan

“Everyone I've met has been impacted by the disease of addiction in some shape or form, and as a community we need to talk about it, get honest about it, and heal.”

This is from Shelby Dunnigan, clinical supervisor at St. Joseph’s Addiction & Recovery Centre. Having grown up in the area, she herself has been impacted by addiction and mental health, and says she is grateful to have this centre in the community because it has helped many people from Estevan, the surrounding region, and across Saskatchewan.

One of the first items of last night's City Council meeting was a conversation between the City and Estevan Minor Baseball (EMB) about the current loans between them. EMB was looking for some relief, cancelling the current money owed.

In their letter to cancel, EMB asked that they would cancel the current $33,000 as they had not received financial assistance in 2025, with that money being used for projects to rehabilitate and improve some diamonds.

The government of Saskatchewan is changing its practices after the province restricted American alcohol earlier this month in a move to put pressure on the U.S. to drop tariffs.

Originally that meant that the provincial government, the sole supplier of liquor to retailers across the province, would stop selling any American alcohol to retailers. That's since been changed so that American alcohol which is made in Canada will not be targeted.

The province stated the following in a release:

The federal Liberals are pushing further ahead of the Conservatives in voter support, and almost one in two Canadians surveyed said they think the Liberals will win the election, a new poll suggests.

The survey, conducted by Leger for The Canadian Press, reports that 44 per cent of decided voters surveyed would vote Liberal in the upcoming election, ahead of the Conservatives at 38 per cent.

The poll surveyed 1,599 Canadians between March 21 and March 23, which includes the first day of the election, and the two days leading into it.

As tensions rise in ongoing trade disputes, China's latest move is adding to concerns for Canadian producers. The country recently announced a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and meal exported from Canada, compounding the uncertainty already present due to U.S. tariffs.  

Farmers caught in the middle  

The new tariff has many farmers wondering how to best proceed and that includes Curtis Sims, owner of Emeline Farms near MacGregor, Manitoba. Sims grows canola and is worried about the impact of these trade measures.  

The Saskatchewan government is walking back part of its decision to stop purchasing all American-branded alcohol products in response to U.S. tariffs.

The province says it is allowing the sale and distribution of 54 Canadian-produced U.S. brands to resume.

Some American brands like Budweiser and Coors are produced in Canada, and the Saskatchewan government says it heard concerns that its ban was too broad.

It says the province is "realigning its approach" to be consistent with other provinces by focusing on U.S.-produced alcohol.

The Estevan Skating Club held its biannual showcase over the weekend, bringing together skaters of all levels for a day of performances, fun, and celebration.

The event, which takes place every two years in its full format, featured 34 performances, as well as carnival-themed fun and games. Attendees also had the chance to take part in raffles and win prizes throughout the event.

The Estevan Police Service (EPS) dealt with numerous incidents over the past few days, including multiple arrests of a 22-year-old Estevan male.

Federal party leaders are spending their first full day on the campaign trail talking about taxes, transfers and the trades.

Poilievre talks tax cuts

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising a middle-class tax cut, following a Liberal pledge that involves a smaller reduction to the same tax rate.

It is officially spring; the province is thawing out and coming back to life once again following a lengthy and frigid winter. The change of seasons will soon be apparent all around us, especially in the countless plant and animal species that can be found in Saskatchewan. 

Those native plants, well adapted to weather roller coaster the province rides every winter, are among the first to show evidence that spring has arrived, and Beth Dolmage, a Species at Risk Botanist with the Ministry of Environment tells us which ones to be on the lookout for.