It was a year which tested his resiliency, determination and drive to get back on the court.

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• Saskatoon Mamba to play in Yukon’s first-ever pro basketball game on July 3
• Hidden talents of the Saskatchewan Roughriders revealed
• Second half comeback leads to first victory of season for rebranded Saskatoon Mamba

“Oh man, that was a journey,” Chaplin said.

Chaplin is back for his second season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League after breaking out for 17.8 points per game last season in 10 games, starting for the former Saskatchewan Rattlers.

But all that changed in late June, following an 88-86 loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers, when he began to experience severe pain in his left leg.

Saskatoon Mamba guard Jamir Chaplin (left) and teammate Markus Harding (right) battling against Winnipeg Sea Bears centre Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. (centre) on May 16, 2026. (Winnipeg Sea Bears/CEBL)

At the hospital, Chaplin was diagnosed with a case of compartment syndrome, and he was rushed into the operating room.

According to Chaplin, he was mere hours away from having his life completely altered if his leg issue went unchecked.

“My left thigh swelled up pretty bad,” Chaplin said. “I had to do emergency surgery. A doctor told me if I came a day later, they would have had to amputate my leg. It was very, very shocking.”

Two additional surgeries on Chaplin’s leg soon followed, as he was left wondering what his day-to-day life would look like, let alone whether he’d be able to continue his professional basketball career.

“I was kind of scared of how I was going to walk, how I was going to run and if I was ever going to play basketball again,” Chaplin said.

The 25 year old spent the rest of 2025 slowly recovering from the trio of surgeries which forced an early end to his CEBL season in Saskatchewan.

He said a turning point in his recovery came in the off-season, while he was coaching in Florida, as he began to incorporate the fundamentals of basketball which he spent decades developing in his game.

“Maybe about six months in, I was walking fine,” Chaplin said.

“When I was coaching in Miami, I was working out, playing, working with the kids, jumping, dunking. Once I got the flow there, I was just like, ‘You know what, I think I’m good.’”

Mamba head coach Isaiah Fox said Chaplin has been a true professional, and his story is inspiring others in the Saskatoon locker room.

“Not only is it encouraging, but it’s motivating,” Fox said.

“I’m in his corner. The story is fantastic, and to see his hard work, as I’ve watched him, as he’s been here, and knowing the hard work he had to get through to get back to playing, I’m just rooting for the guy. I think he’s a guy everyone can cheer for.”

During his time away from the game, Chaplin said he’s grown a new appreciation for the sport and he’s hungry to take that into his second season in the CEBL this summer.

“Seeing stuff though coaches’ eyes, that put a whole different type of view and love towards the game,” Chaplin said. “When I stepped back on, it was just a boost to what I’m used to.”

A second chance at continuing his basketball career also feels like a fresh start, according to the Mamba’s two-way threat, especially considering the unknowns which swirled in his head while recovering in a hospital bed just under a year ago.

“It kind of feels like my rookie year again,” Chaplin said.

“I only played 10 games last year. I’m praying to God for a full, healthy recovery.”

Just like the team has been elevated in its two most recent wins against Winnipeg and Scarborough, Chaplin has come alive as well, with an 18-point showing on May 29 against the Sea Bears before following that up with 14 points against the Shooting Stars.

Fox has taken notice, adding that the Norcross, Georgia guard has performed at his best with more minutes allocated his way.

“He’s been playing that way,” Fox said. “Whether the ball has been falling for him, whether he’s been getting the calls, when he attacks the paint he’s been playing with a lot of force.”

Despite just 10 games of experience playing in Saskatoon last year, the community made a big impact on Chaplin. He said he’s embracing the chance to extend that connection with fans, while enjoying a new lease on basketball and life at the same time.

“It feels good to just get back on the court and do what I love,” Chaplin said. “Saskatoon has loved me very much. It feels great to come back. The community still knows who I am and still cheers me on.”

Coming off back-to-back wins last weekend, the Mamba (2-4) will look to extend its win streak to three straight games on Saturday with a 7 p.m. road game against the Vancouver Bandits. ]]> https://www.ckom.com/2026/06/05/saskatoon-mamba-guard-jamir-chaplin-thankful-for-cebl-return-after-leg-amputation-scare/feed/ 0 https://www.ckom.com/2026/06/05/man-arrested-on-u-of-s-campus-after-allegedly-taking-inappropriate-pictures-of-women/ https://www.ckom.com/2026/06/05/man-arrested-on-u-of-s-campus-after-allegedly-taking-inappropriate-pictures-of-women/#respond Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:27:34 +0000 CKOM News 2026-06-05T13:30:49+00:00 https://d561.cms.socastsrm.com/?p=1059184 According to the Saskatoon Police Service, officers were called to a building on the U of S campus on Thursday after multiple people made reports about the man. (650 CKOM file photo) A 45-year-old man was arrested on the University of Saskatchewan’s campus on Thursday after allegedly snapping “inappropriate photographs of women without their consent.”

According to the Saskatoon Police Service, officers were called to a university building at around noon by campus security, after multiple people made reports about the man.

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• Novice driver allegedly caught going 204 km/h near Saskatoon, fined $1,515

“Upon police arrival, U of S Protective Services had a man matching the suspect’s description detained,” the police force said in a statement.

“Following further investigation, the man was transferred into the custody of the Saskatoon Police Service and arrested.”

Police said the man is now facing a charge of voyeurism, and the alleged incident remains under investigation by the police force’s vice unit.

Here are the jobless rates last month by city (numbers from the previous month in brackets):

_ St. John's, N.L. 7.0 per cent (6.7)

_ Halifax 5.7 per cent (6.0)

_ Moncton, N.B. 8.0 per cent (7.4)

_ Saint John, N.B. 5.4 per cent (5.4)

_ Fredericton 5.4 per cent (5.7)

_ Saguenay, Que. 3.3 per cent (3.3)

_ Quebec City 3.8 per cent (3.3)

_ Sherbrooke, Que. 4.7 per cent (4.4)

_ Trois-Rivières, Que. 5.8 per cent (4.8)

_ Drummondville, Que. 7.0 per cent (7.3)

_ Montreal 6.9 per cent (7.1)

_ Gatineau, Que. 6.6 per cent (6.5)

_ Ottawa 6.1 per cent (6.2)

_ Kingston, Ont. 6.2 per cent (6.0)

_ Belleville-Quinte West, Ont. 7.5 per cent (6.6)

_ Peterborough, Ont. 5.7 per cent (5.7)

_ Oshawa, Ont. 8.5 per cent (8.5)

_ Toronto 7.6 per cent (8.2)

_ Hamilton, Ont. 7.0 per cent (6.7)

_ St. Catharines-Niagara, Ont. 6.6 per cent (6.0)

_ Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ont. 8.7 per cent (9.0)

_ Brantford, Ont. 5.9 per cent (5.7)

_ Guelph, Ont. 7.2 per cent (6.8)

_ London, Ont. 8.7 per cent (9.2)

_ Windsor, Ont. 8.2 per cent (8.1)

_ Barrie, Ont. 8.7 per cent (9.2)

_ Greater Sudbury, Ont. 6.4 per cent (6.0)

_ Thunder Bay, Ont. 5.2 per cent (5.5)

_ Winnipeg 5.9 per cent (5.9)

_ Regina 5.8 per cent (5.8)

_ Saskatoon 6.1 per cent (5.6)

_ Lethbridge, Alta. 5.2 per cent (5.7)

_ Calgary 7.0 per cent (6.7)

_ Red Deer, Alta. 6.6 per cent (6.2)

_ Edmonton 7.1 per cent (7.1)

_ Kelowna, B.C. 9.0 per cent (8.0)

_ Kamloops, B.C. 5.9 per cent (4.9)

_ Chilliwack, B.C. 7.7 per cent (7.2)

_ Abbotsford-Mission, B.C. 7.8 per cent (6.5)

_ Vancouver 6.7 per cent (6.5)

_ Victoria 4.1 per cent (4.3)

_ Nanaimo, B.C. 8.5 per cent (8.7)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

The Canadian Press

_ Newfoundland and Labrador 9.6 per cent (10.0)

_ Prince Edward Island 6.7 per cent (8.0)

_ Nova Scotia 7.1 per cent (6.3)

_ New Brunswick 7.2 per cent (7.2)

_ Quebec 5.6 per cent (6.2)

_ Ontario 7.0 per cent (7.5)

_ Manitoba 5.5 per cent (5.0)

_ Saskatchewan 6.2 per cent (5.6)

_ Alberta 6.6 per cent (7.0)

_ British Columbia 6.8 per cent (6.8)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

The Canadian Press

Unemployment rate: 6.6 per cent (6.9)

Employment rate: 60.7 per cent (60.5)

Participation rate: 65.0 per cent (65.0)

Number unemployed: 1,482,400 (1,566,400)

Number working: 21,121,500 (21,033,700)

Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate: 13.4 per cent (14.3)

Men (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.6 per cent (5.8)

Women (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.3 per cent (5.7)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

The Canadian Press

Shortly after 5 p.m. emergency officials were called to assess the crane at 3644 Dutch Village Road in the Fairview neighbourhood.

Surrounding streets were closed and about 100 people were evacuated from the area.

Police say 18 people from 10 homes registered with the Canadian Red Cross and spent the night at a local community centre.

By 7:30 p.m. officials said the scene was secured and considered safe, with a repair plan underway.

Streets in the area were reopened around 5 a.m. with the repair complete.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

Devin Stevens, The Canadian Press

The agency says the unemployment rate fell to 6.6 per cent, down from 6.9 per cent in April.

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StatCan says employment gains were widespread across industries and concentrated in full-time work.

Construction led the way with a gain of 27,000 jobs last month, while the wholesale and retail trade sector lost 35,000 positions.

Economists had expected a gain of 10,000 jobs heading into the May report.

StatCan also says young workers aged 15 to 24 saw a big lift in full-time jobs in May as youth see a better start to the summer jobs season this year compared with the tough labour market of 2025.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press

The project, which would establish a permanent facility for hazardous household waste drop-offs, along with the purchase of new equipment and “roll-off bins,” comes with a price tag of $4,925,508.

The city said $3,611,875 of that total will be funded by the federal and provincial governments, while the remaining $1,313,633 would be funded through the city’s existing capital sources “with no new capital funding required.”

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A report on the project is set to come before the city’s standing policy committee on environment, utilities and corporate services on Tuesday. If the project is approved, the city said the new facility could be up and running next year.

“This investment makes a real difference for our community,” Mayor Cynthia Block said in a statement.

“A permanent household hazardous waste facility will help residents safely dispose of materials year‑round, while protecting workers, neighbourhoods and our environment. We’re proud to work with our federal and provincial partners to deliver infrastructure that supports a healthier, more sustainable Saskatoon.”

The city said participation in its seasonal drop-off program for hazardous household waste has seen a steady increase in participation, with 2,257 depot visits in 2024 and 2,715 in 2025. The facility collected 60.33 tonnes of material in 2024 and 69.88 tonnes last year, the city said.

The city said the expansion would allow for hazardous household waste to be collected year-round, improve operations at the site and enhance safety by reducing the risk of fires, dangerous chemical reactions and worker exposure to hazardous materials.

“The Government of Saskatchewan strongly believes in the importance of infrastructure to help grow and build a stronger province,” Eric Schmalz, Saskatchewan’s minister of government relations, said in a statement shared by the city.

“The funding for this project is an important next step for the city, with our government looking forward to its completion and providing a permanent option for residents to dispose of household waste.”

Buckley Belanger, Canada’s secretary of state for rural development, said the federal funding for the project is coming through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, which supports the development of infrastructure in order to allow more homes to be constructed.

“Investments like these support our government’s goal of addressing the housing crisis head-on by helping cities like Saskatoon grow the way they need to,” Belanger said, quoted in the city’s statement.

Saskatchewan’s provincial parks are offering free admission on Saturday to mark National Trails Day, giving everyone a chance to enjoy some of the most scenic walking and hiking routes in the province.

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Alana Ross, Saskatchewan’s minister of parks, culture and sport, said the province is home to many beautiful and diverse provincial parks, emphasizing the importance of getting outside.

“With a wide range of trails, and programs taking place across the province, we invite everyone to explore the natural beauty Saskatchewan has to offer,” Ross said in a statement.

“Spending time in nature and being active is something important we can do for ourselves and our overall health and well-being.”

A number of special events have been planned in Saskatchewan parks to mark National Trails Day, and a full list of the guided hikes and other special programming can be found on the provincial parks website.

There’s a version of football players most people never really get to see.

It’s the one after the game ends. When the pads come off and the stadium quiets down. When the players stop being a number on the depth chart and go back to being… just people.

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When you ask the Saskatchewan Roughriders what they’re good at – besides football, of course – you don’t always get the answers you might expect.

Stick around Mosaic Stadium long enough, and you start realizing football is far from the only talent these guys have.

It’s just the only one anyone ever asks them about.

The art of slowing down

On the field, wide receiver Daniel Wiebe is trying to separate from defensive backs at full speed.

In his downtime, he’s collecting hobbies at almost the same pace.

“I do enjoy the arts,” he said with a smile, almost as a disclaimer.

Then it unravels: music, sketching, painting, crocheting, wire art, collage. ukulele, guitar, piano. At a certain point, it starts sounding like he should have a storage unit just for supplies.

“I like to do a little bit of everything, basically,” he said.

Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrating Daniel Wiebe’s game-winning touchdown in a 31-27 pre-season victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on May 23, 2026 (Saskatchewan Roughriders / Electric Umbrella)

He started getting into most of those activities about a year ago, and what he found was something completely removed from football’s pace.

“It feels very meditative, feels very slow,” Wiebe reflected. “And I like going slow everywhere else, just not on the field.”

Listen to the story on Behind the Headlines:

While most guys are scrolling on their phones between meetings or waiting for practice to start, Wiebe usually has a pencil in hand instead.

“I like to take a little sketchbook wherever I’m going,” he said.

And somehow, he said, his hobbies all seem to feed back into football.

“Getting the hand dexterity, it’s helped a lot,” he said, explaining how the art of crochet has helped him up his game.

Daniel Wiebe explained that activities like crocheting and playing instruments have improved his hand dexterity and, in turn, his performance on the field. (Daniel Wiebe/Submitted)

“Just slowing down… calm the nervous system and just kind of be in the moment, forget about ball for a little bit.”

Somehow, the guy who plays at full speed for a living has figured out how to spend his downtime doing the exact opposite.

Off the field, on the piano

Defensive back Nelson Lokombo did not sound like a guy excited to answer the question: What are you good at besides football?

“I was trying to keep it secret,” he said. “I knew you were gonna come here and ask people for their hidden talents, so I said, ‘OK, I’m gonna play dumb and pretend like I don’t have anything.’”

That’s a pretty suspicious answer for someone claiming not to have an off-field talent.

Just a few seconds later, Lokombo revealed that he is a self-taught pianist.

While most 12-year-olds were busy mastering video games, Nelson Lokombo was teaching himself to play the piano by ear. No lessons, no sheet music, just a keyboard and a knack for figuring things out. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

“I just listened to the music, and I had a keyboard, and I just learned,” he said.

No lessons. No big setup. Just a 12-year-old boy figuring it out one note at a time.

“I just practiced over and over again,” he said.

Lokombo said he learned and played classical pieces like Für Elise and Rondo Alla Turca entirely by ear.

“I’m pretty good with hearing the notes and matching it to the keys,” he said.

And even then, he still tries to downplay it.

“I’m a little rusty right now.”

Not bad for a guy pretending he didn’t have a hidden talent.

Baking under pressure

Offensive lineman Daniel Johnson spent his offseason getting into baking. Not casually, either.

“That put me out of the bakery in the grocery stores,” he said proudly. “I bake all my own stuff.”

Daniel Johnson’s résumé is unusual: offensive lineman, protector of quarterbacks, enthusiast of loaf cakes. One minute he’s handling a pass rush, the next he’s wondering whether the banana bread needs a few more minutes in the oven. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

And apparently, his focus has narrowed almost entirely to loaf cakes.

“I’ve been trying loaf cakes this whole offseason,” Johnson noted.

“I’ve been trying different types of loaf cakes. I’ve been trying like chocolate chips, chocolate swirls, cinnamon loaf cake, I tried a lemon loaf cake, blueberry lemon loaf cake.”

The way Johnson talks about baking sounds almost identical to the way coaches talk about football. It involves discipline, precision and absolutely no room for error.

“With baking, it’s more perfection,” he explained. “You have one thing wrong and the whole thing goes wrong. That’s why I like it, because you really got to lock in when you bake.”

The man talks about loaf cakes like there’s a full game tape review involved.

Whether he’s moving defenders or mixing batter, Daniel Johnson is a firm believer that the best results come from repetition. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

More than football

Outside the helmets and the highlight reels, there’s a version of these players that doesn’t fit neatly into positions or stats.

A receiver with a sketchbook, a defensive back at a keyboard, a lineman perfecting loaf cakes.

When it comes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, football will always be the headline.

But if you take the time to ask, you’ll quickly realize it’s far from the whole story.

The Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” has nothing on Daniel Wiebe. The Roughriders’ receiver spends his off-field hours playing music, drawing, painting and crocheting. It’s a collection of talents that makes him one of the most fascinating personalities in the locker room. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)