Tariffs, raging wildfires, and Grey Cup win dominate Sask. news stories in 2025

From the forests where firefighters dowsed flames to celebrations in the streets after the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup, our news teams have had you covered this year.

Here are the top stories readers clicked on in 2025.

Read more:

• ‘Getting married no matter what’: Wildfire won’t cancel wedding 
• ‘Survival mode’: Denare Beach evacuee reflects on losing home days before her due date
• Prince Albert restaurant owner lends time, expertise to help feed fire evacuees

Tariff troubles persist throughout the year

The United States, China, and India – three of Saskatchewan’s biggest export economies – imposed tariffs on Canada this year.

The tariff turmoil began in January, when U.S. President Donald Trump began threatening Canada with the levies.

U.S. tariffs currently affect Canada’s steel, lumber, and forestry industry.

The provincial government chose to remove American brands of alcohol from liquor store shelves to retaliate against the United States, but quickly reversed that decision.

The list included popular brands like Twisted Tea and White Claw. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

Some Saskatchewan residents refused to travel or work south while Trump continued to make comments of Canada becoming the “51st state” and threaten tariffs.

Chinese canola tariffs have caused headaches for Saskatchewan farmers, as well as putting the levies on peas, pork, and seafood.

Canola is one of Saskatchewan’s top exports to Mexico. Agriculture Minister David Marit is leading a trade delegation to Mexico, which is the province’s fourth-largest trading partner. (980 CJME file photo)

Premier Scott Moe went on a trade mission to China with a delegation from the provincial and federal government to help resolve these concerns in Sept.

In November, India placed a 30 per cent tariff on yellow pea imports.

RCMP investigate a quadruple murder on Carry the Kettle First Nation

In February, RCMP said it was launching a murder investigation into the deaths of two men and two women from Carry the Kettle First Nation.

The four individuals were later identified as 34-year-old Tracey Hotomani of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, 44-year-old Sheldon Quewezance of Zagime Anishinabek, 47-year-old Shauna Fay of Indian Head and 51-year-old Terry Jack of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation.

Funerals for Tracey Hotomani and Shauna Fay — who were both mothers — were held this past weekend.
Fathers Terry Jack and Sheldon Quewezance were laid to rest earlier this month. (The Saskatchewan RCMP)

Scott Eashappie, Chief of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, said, the community was in disbelief.

“Each day our nation is trying to hold itself together and I’m very grateful for that,” he said.

“Our community members are trying to comfort each other.”

RCMP arrested Darrius Racette, 18, in Yorkton and a 15-year-old boy on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation a few weeks after the alleged murder.

In December, a 17-year-old was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Two workers hurt after explosion at Regina’s Co-op Refinery Complex

People in the Queen City awoke with a start in late March.

“I actually thought the house was falling down,” said Bev Ollinger, who bolted up in bed to the thunderous blast. “That’s how loud it was.”

According to a statement from Federated Co-operatives Limited, two workers at Regina’s Co-op Refinery Complex were assessed for minor injuries after a fire broke out.

“The incident has been contained and the impacted area has been stabilized,” Federated Co-operatives Limited said in a statement. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

After investigating the fire and explosion, the company said a power failure resulted in a leak at the refinery.

Sask. votes overwhelmingly Conservative in federal election

A liberal minority government was elected, but 13 of 14 seats in Saskatchewan were captured by the Conservatives in April.

Buckley Belanger, a former NDP MLA, won a seat for the Liberals in the newly drawn boundaries for the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River riding.

Sask. declares a state of emergency due to wildfires

Thousands of people were forced to flee their communities as flames grew closer during the wildfire season.

In late May, the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency declared a state of emergency.

Firefighters dampen down hotspots in La Ronge. (La Ronge Regional Fire Department/Facebook)

“People are losing their homes, and have already lost their homes,” said Premier Scott Moe in June. “Those are some of the most difficult conversations to have.

“This fire is unbelievable in how unforgiving it is when it rolls in through a community.”

The fires destroyed a large portion of East Trout Lake and Denare Beach as well as hundreds of other homes and structures.

An aerial view of the wildfire damage at Denare Beach. (Linda Lowe/Facebook)

Crews worked tirelessly to wrangle flames for months during the summer, eventually calling in military support help mop-up fires.

Leadership shake-ups and firings rock Sask. police forces

Rhonda Blackmore was removed from her position as the commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP following anonymous complaints in June.

The decision made by RCMP’s National Headquarters resulted in confusion and backlash from the public and community leaders.

Rhonda Blackmore speaks with media after the James Smith Cree Nation victim inquest in 2024. (Lisa Schick/ 980 CJME)

Blackmore was eventually re-hired as assistant commissioner of Indigenous and support services.

Lorilee Davies was hired as Regina’s new police chief after Farooq Sheikh was fired with cause from the position following an investigation.

Saskatoon Police Service fired three of its officers in September after it called them “unsuitable for police service.”

The three officers were among five suspended following an off duty gathering in September 2024.

Swift Current man critically injured after rattlesnake bite while golfing

With no medical insurance, the family of a man from Swift Current who bitten by a rattlesnake in Texas desperately tried to bring their loved back to Canada.

Daniel Fehr lays unconscious in a hospital bed in Odessa, Texas, while his daughter sits next to him. (Kristie Klimm/ Submitted)

At the end of July, Daniel Fehr was out for a round of golf in Odessa, Texas, when when he was bitten by a rattlesnake on the green. He was in the United States for work at the time.

“The doctor said it’s a day-to-day thing now, so I don’t know if we’re gonna get him back or not,” said Stephanie Fehr, Daniel’s wife.

With the generosity of the Odessa, TX, ICU staff footing the remainder of the Daniel’s flight bill, he was flown back to Canada in late August.

Weyburn rattled by highway shooting that killed Tanya Myers

More questions than answers were left with residents in Weyburn after RCMP launched an investigation into a shooting that left Tanya Myers dead.

Tanya Myers was named as the victim in the highway shooting near Highway 39 on Sept. 12. (RCMP/Submitted)

Myers was travelling as a passenger in an SUV on Highway 39 northwest of Weyburn when she was shot and killed.

Andrea Morrice was driving at the time the bullet hit the vehicle.

“It feels like I’ve been shot,” Morrice recalled Myers saying.

Chris Fahlman was arrested and charged weeks later in connection to Myers death.

There were no police vehicles near the scene on Highway 39, where RCMP say the shooting took place, on Monday. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

He was denied bail in November.

Final of nine people charged in Megan Gallagher’s death convicted

A Saskatoon jury found Rodrick Sutherland was guilty of manslaughter in Megan Gallagher’s death in October.

Sutherland was the final of nine people to face trial in Gallagher’s murder.

Gallagher was killed in September of 2020 by a group of people affiliated with the Terror Squad gang in the garage of Sutherland’s home on Weldon Avenue in Saskatoon.

Megan Michelle Gallagher was last seen leaving a friend’s house in Saskatoon on Sept. 19, 2020.
(Facebook)

Her body was then put in the back of a truck and thrown off the St. Louis Bridge into the South Saskatchewan River. Her remains were discovered during a police search two years later.

In January, the judge-alone first-degree murder trial for 31-year-old Cheyann Crystal Peeteetuce and 26-year-old Summer-Sky Henry was set for 39 days but was cut short when they pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter .

Man convicted of second-degree murder in death of Misha Pavelick

Over 19 years after Misha Pavelick was killed, a man was convicted in connection to his death in November.

The man was 17 at the time of the killing, and cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The accused was charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Misha Pavelick at a graduation party at Kinookimaw Campground on the May long weekend in 2006.

Misha Pavelick’s father, Lorne Pavelick, says the loss of his son left a hole that will never fill. He spoke after the verdict came down in his son’s killing. Nov. 14, 2025. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

The jury convicted the man after a month long trial with dozens of witnesses who testified.

Outside of the courthouse, Karen Mondor, Misha’s stepmother, said the conviction was the best possible outcome.

“It’s been 19 years we’ve been waiting,” she said. “Nothing will ever bring Misha back, but it’s nice to be able to put this behind us a little bit and move on.”

Green and white fans partied across the prairies when the Riders won the Grey Cup

The Saskatchewan Roughriders hoisted the Grey Cup after defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25-17, in November.

Fans packed the streets in downtown Regina, celebrating on the “Green Mile” after the Riders won the 112th Grey Cup. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

It was the team’s fifth championship win in history.

“I hope we made you proud,” head coach Corey Mace said after the game. “We wanted to put together a team that looks like you, represents you and I hope you’re celebrating like us.”

Green and white fans partied outside of Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg and across the prairies.

Riders quarterback Trevor Harris. (Thomas Skrlj/CFL)

Fans rejoiced when quarterback Trevor Harris signed a one-year extension with the Riders.