Saskatoon school evacuated after bear spray attack

A school in the Saskatoon suburb of Mount Royal was evacuated on Thursday after a fight between two 17-year-old students ended in a bear spray attack.

Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) said in a news release that officers were called to a school “in the 2200 block of Rusholme Road” around 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 3 after a report of bear spray. Mount Royal Collegiate is in that location.

SPS said the fight between the two students had turned physical before one of them produced and discharged a can of bear spray at the other.

Both students initially ran away, police said, but the victim of the bear spraying later returned. No details were given of the student’s injuries.

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Medavie Health Services West and Saskatoon Fire Department were called to the school to “help anyone experiencing the effects of bear spray”, and police said the school was later evacuated to allow for it to be ventilated.

SPS said they were still investigating, and looking for the suspect.

Bear spray incidents have been increasing, both in the city and across the province.

Saskatoon police had already dealt with three attacks the day before, and in July a seven-year-old boy was among five people who were attacked with bear spray in 24-hour period.

In March 2024, the provincial government announced new regulations aiming to reduce the number of criminal incidents involving bear spray.

The changes include regulations to restrict the possession of bear spray in public urban spaces, and a ban on altering bear spray in order to hide or disguise the product’s identity.

Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.

Bear spray is a deterrent containing capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers. The canister releases a cone-shaped cloud of spray to a distance of approximately 10 m and at a speed of over 100 km/h. Capsaicin inflames the eyes and respiratory system of both animals and humans.

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