Passengers treated for injuries after suspect fires bear spray on Saskatoon bus: Police

The occupants of a Saskatoon Transit bus had to be treated by firefighters and paramedics after a suspect allegedly fired bear spray at two other passengers.

According to police, officers were called to the bus in the area of Diefenbaker Drive and Vanier Crescent at around 11:30 p.m. on Monday.

Read more:

• Bear spray incidents down ‘significantly’ in 2026 so far: Saskatoon police
• Victims treated for minor injuries after man allegedly bear sprays Saskatoon bus passengers
• Saskatoon police responded to bear spraying on city bus and two armed robberies Wednesday

“Officers arrived on scene and located all occupants of the bus on the sidewalk being treated by paramedics and firefighters,” the Saskatoon Police Service said in a statement.

“Officers learned a male began to get off the bus before reportedly turning around and discharging bear spray at two people. The suspect then ran north in an alley.”

Police said the suspect and the victims are believed to be known to each other.

Officers asked anyone with information that could help track down the alleged perpetrator to contact police or make a report anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Police chief says bear spray incidents on the decline in 2026

Speaking on The Evan Bray Show on Thursday, Cam McBride, Saskatoon’s police chief, said it appears that the number of bear spray incidents in the city is declining.

“Looking at the statistics in 2026, we are down significantly from 2025,” he told Bray.

According to information provided by Saskatoon the police service, between Jan. 2026 and April 2026, there were 105 bear spray incidents. During the same time period in 2025, there were 177.

From May 1-15 this year, 12 bear spray incidents were reported. For the entire month of May in 2025, there were a total of 65 recorded.

“I think that’s a real good reflection of proactive work that we’ve been doing, both utilising new legislation, and keeping track of those who are repeat offenders, and making sure we’re on top of these individuals,” he said.

What is bear spray?

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

According to bearwise.org, the spray is oil-based, so first aid for the bear spray is to wash off the residue with soap and water, don’t rub your eyes or nose, and rinse your eyes with clean water until the irritation subsides. The effects generally wear off in about 45 minutes, the bear awareness site says.

Late in 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 to hide or disguise the product’s identity. Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Lara Fominoff