Weyburn

The Government of Saskatchewan has launched the Low Productivity and Reactivation Oil Well Program (LPRP), a four-year incentive designed to encourage companies to bring dormant oil wells back into production. The program will apply province-wide, but early indicators suggest the southeast could be a key focus. Saturn Oil and Gas, the first company to participate in the program, has already been looking at reactivating wells in the region. 

With camping season underway in Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Environment is reminding residents and visitors to "Be Bear Aware," especially as black bears begin to move across large areas of the province. 

“We have bears through much of the province, into the parkland and even touching up against the grassland sometimes,” said Matthew Tokaruk, the ministry’s black bear biologist. “As we did see a bear in Regina, of course, here recently.” 

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture President Keith Currie says Canadian agriculture is at a critical juncture, with the recent dramatic rise of trade uncertainty, high costs, and more frequent extreme weather events.

He notes during the recent election, the CFA made the priorities of Canadian farmers very clear: farmers need to see a focus on competitiveness, resiliency, and maintaining rule-based trade.

Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, was welcomed by King Charles III for a private audience at Buckingham Palace Wednesday, a meeting that also served to showcase gifts from across the province, including the southeast. 

Saskatchewan's legislature has passed a bill that opens the door for local governments to order firefighters to burn down derelict buildings, a move firefighters say they oppose. 

Bill 21, the Construction Codes (Derelict Buildings) Amendment Act, received royal assent Tuesday. The legislation lays out the framework for a pilot project where volunteer firefighters conduct burns on municipal-owned buildings as part of training exercises.

The Weyburn Fire Department recognized the service and dedication of its members last week at its annual Years of Service Awards. 

According to a release sent by the City of Weyburn, the Weyburn City Council was in attendance, including Mayor Jeff Richards. He is quoted as expressing gratitude to the members honoured and the department as a whole. 

"Whether it’s five years or thirty, your commitment to protecting this community speaks volumes, and it’s something we deeply respect and are proud to honour.”

The Weyburn Police Service opened an investigation into fraud over $5000, reported by a woman who was scammed out of a significant amount of money in an online scam. 

Deputy Police Chief with the WPS Shane St. John explains it was an example of a “love scam”. 

“It was quite a bit of money. That one is a love scam, a relationship scam they're called, which are very notable. They're very, very good at pulling people in and having them believe that they're in a real relationship with them.” 

Flora and fauna in the southeast are coming back to life as the spring season continues, including ladybugs as they can be found in abundance this time of year. 

Provincial Insect and Vertebrate Pest Management Specialist, Dr. James Tansey explains these beetles, part of the Coccinellidae family, overwinter in large groups in sheltered areas like leaf litter and hollow logs. 

A global study from UNICEF suggests many Canadian kids are unhappy, with social struggles such as bullying and difficulty making friends among the sources of their anguish. 

UNICEF’s 19th Report Card suggests one in five youth in Canada face frequent bullying, one in five are lonely and one in four struggle to make friends.

It blames bullying in particular for a drop in life satisfaction reported by 15-year-olds, down three percentage points to 76 per cent since 2018.

Prime Minister Mark Carney shook up his cabinet Tuesday by moving some key players involved in Canada-U.S. relations into new positions and promoting 24 new faces in a move meant to signal change at the top.

While some were prominent figures in former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government — including Dominic LeBlanc, Mélanie Joly, Chrystia Freeland and François-Philippe Champagne — Carney froze out other prominent members of his predecessor's team.

Carney named 28 full ministers to his cabinet, which will meet for the first time on Wednesday.