Traffic turbulence to noisy neighbours: WPS recap

The Weyburn Police Service responded to 103 calls for service from August 31st to September 7th, including 11 calls related to mental health and wellbeing. Most were resolved without further police involvement; however, three people were taken to the hospital for further care. 

A strong start to the week saw a new, experienced member sworn in to their ranks. Constable Landon Seiferling is joining the WPS after a year on the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol. Deputy Chief Shane St. John says they look forward to his first shift this upcoming Wednesday.

Internal government documents reveal grim housing climate in Canada

As Ottawa gears up to launch a new agency to build homes faster, internal government documents describe how dire the housing situation has become in Canada.

Briefing materials prepared for incoming Housing Minister Gregor Robertson this past May and released this week acknowledge that costly housing is hurting the economy and making it difficult for people to find places to live.

"Vulnerable populations and lower-income households are struggling to have their basic housing needs met due to a lack of suitable affordable housing," the documents say.

Some public service jobs will be cut as Ottawa adopts AI: chief data officer

Ottawa's chief data officer says he thinks the introduction of artificial intelligence to federal government operations will lead to "some" job cuts in the public service.

In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, Stephen Burt said he thinks the impacts are going to vary widely and will be job-specific, with different outcomes in different areas.

While he wouldn't identify the risk of job losses in specific areas of government, Burt said the goal will be to ensure employees receive opportunities to retrain and change jobs.

Avian Influenza starting to show up in the Prairies

Avian Influenza has been detected in three commercial poultry operations in Alberta. 

Earlier this week, the CFIA identifying one infected premise in Strathcona County and one in Beaver Country - both areas are located near Edmonton.
which is located near Edmonton. Another infected premise was confirmed on Wednesday in Minburn County.

Avian influenza - H5N1 - can affect wild bird and domestic bird populations. 

CCA honours New Brunswick couple with The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA)

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) presented The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2025 to Don and Geraldine Bettle of Passekeag Holdings Inc

The couple run a 70 head Angus-based cow herd on a land base next to the Kennebecasis River and show incredible respect for the land and the environment protecting the water, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat.

Claude, Raymond Joseph

Raymond Joseph Claude, late of Calgary, AB, formerly of Weyburn, SK, passed away on August 31, 2025 at the age of 67 years.

He was predeceased by his father, Andre Claude; sisters, Dianne McCallum, Colette Daer; nieces, Corry Clauson, Andrea Daer and Jodi Kobialka.

Rented farmland jumps 3.4 million acres in Saskatchewan and Alberta

About 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category from 2011 to 2021

The amount of rented farmland in Saskatchewan and Alberta shot upward in the 2010s.

Farmland rented or leased in the two provinces went from 25.7 million acres in 2011 to 29.1 million in 2021, says Census of Agriculture data.

So, in a decade, about 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category. The 3.4 million acres includes cropland and ranchland.

Prairie Agriculture Ministers pleased with FPT discussion

As farmers work on the harvest, agriculture ministers from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg this week for the annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) meeting. The annual event hosted by Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn and Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald provided a key platform to discuss shared challenges, policy priorities, and the future of Canadian agriculture.