Top 10 provincial stories of 2024

Strong is a member of the Black Lake Denesuline First Nation and hails from a family of musicians.

“I’m just so proud of myself, of how much I’ve worked for this. I’ve sung in my room for hours, countless nights and I’ve done it,” Strong said in an interview with paNOW after the big moment.

Her plan forward is to continue making music and potentially securing record label contracts.

Host Lindsay Ell congratulates Rebecca Strong on the finale of Canada’s Got Talent. (Canada’s Got Talent/YouTube)

A year of labour unrest

Over these past 12 months, if there was a labour conflict, it was bound to be made known. In 2024, Saskatchewan saw conflict from various sectors — teachers, grain workers, postal workers, and library staff. And if there wasn’t striking, there was rallying, as the provincial nurses did at the Legislature.

Most notably, pressure of Saskatchewan teachers’ contract built over time and hit its breaking point when teachers took to the picket line in February. Tensions between the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation and the provincial government continued throughout the year, with several attempts at negotiation. The two committees eventually agreed on bringing in a third party to arbitrate an agreement between the two. Those meetings were held earlier this month, and a panel will make a ruling at an undetermined date.

Samantha Becotte, president of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, joins teachers for a demonstration in front of the Legislative Building in Regina during a single-day teacher strike on Jan. 16, 2024. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

Internal report on James Smith Cree Nation

In the aftermath of a mass murder at the James Smith Cree Nation, the RCMP conducted an internal investigation to analyze its police response. Thirty-six recommendations were issued on what processes were effective and other areas where there were police came up short.

Citing the remoteness of the area, police identified a lack of radio reception hampered their efforts to manage multiple crime scenes, an unclear command structure, and challenges in dealing with the magnitude of evidence.

Assistant Commissioner and Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP Rhonda Blackmore spoke to paNOW about the internal report and the need for RCMP transparency.

It’s “the luxury of time and hindsight,” she said. “You look back and think ‘yes that’s right; it could have been done better.’”

Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore. (THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE/Michael Bell)

Conflict of Interest allegations for MLA’s

Two Sask. Party MLA’s were found to have breached conflict of interest legislation this year. In October, the provincial commissioner determined now-former MLA Gary Grewal violated the legislation when his two hotels entered into contracts with the province’s social services ministry.

Earlier this month, the commissioner released a second report finding Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill in conflict of interest regarding his employment with his father-in-law’s business. The North Battleford company also received government contracts. Cockrill initially faced two investigations. He was cleared of the second allegation that he used cabinet knowledge to invest in two helium companies.

MLA Jeremy Cockrill. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff)

New faces in the legislature, at city councils

Voters hit the polls twice this year; first for the provincial election, and municipal voting took place mere weeks later.

The reigning Saskatchewan Party won its fifth consecutive election, forming another majority government. In analyzing its results, pundits noted the strengthening of the ‘urban-rural divide’. The 2024 provincial election further cemented the Sask. Party in rural areas, but the party lost all but one seat in the cities to the NDP.

Voters made some changes at their local level by voting in new faces at the council table the following month. In Saskatchewan’s north, two notable changes was a new mayor for Prince Albert, and the first female mayor in North Battleford.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has seen his approval rebound after his election win in October, according to the latest polling from the Angus Reid Institute. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

Herman Trial

Bernie Herman was convicted of manslaughter in the slaying of his lover, Braden Herman. The case drew attention given Bernie’s role as an RCMP officer in the community. He was in uniform and used his government-issued pistol to kill Braden in a wooded area outside of town.

During his trial, Bernie claimed the shooting was out of self-defence, a claim rebuked by the Crown.

“Bernie Herman shot and killed a man that he was involved in an intimate sexual relationship with. It is the ultimate act of domestic abuse,” Crown prosecutor Jennifer Schmidt said. “We know that intimate partner violence is a huge problem in our province.”

Ultimately, Bernie was handed an 11-year prison sentence.

Bernie Herman exiting the courthouse. (Canadian Press)

Scurvy’s return

La Ronge made national headlines this year after local doctors diagnosed 27 patients with scurvy. In an exclusive story on larongeNOW, doctors shared the complexities of obtaining blood tests, and how the cost of living has led to food insecurity in the area.

The Saskatchewan NDP called a press conference to address the cases and called for an investigation into food prices. Members of Parliament also brought the story forward in the House of Commons, blaming the country’s economy for the return of a Victorian-era disease.

The La Ronge health centre. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Paying tribute to the Broncos

Members of the Humboldt Broncos Memorials Committee and families of the deceased from the fatal bus crash in 2018 broke ground on a permanent memorial site to honour the team.

The crash site is a common stop for travelling teams to pay their respects to the 16 Broncos and staff who lost their lives. Plans for the memorial took time as the committee navigated government delays. Multiple donation offers have come in to help with the memorial’s construction.

The new memorial will include a proper parking lot to get vehicles off the road for people to stop and pay tribute, a small pond with 29 feet of track around it in honour of the 29 people on the bus that day, and a proper monument memorial structure.

Members of the Humboldt Broncos Tribute Campaign Committee (left to right, wearing hardhats) Laurie Warford, Kurt Leicht, Larry Jorgenson, Carol Brons, and Rob Meunch break ground on the memorial site while surrounded by family members of the deceased members of the Humboldt Broncos. (Nick Nielsen/paNOW Staff)

Saskatchewan athletes compete on the world’s stage

There were 38 athletes, coaches, and staff from Saskatchewan who went on to compete at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Carissa Norsten and Rylan Wiens brought home a silver and a bronze, respectively from the Olympic Games. Paralympians Julie Kozun, Shelby Newkirk and Keely Shaw each earned a bronze medal.

The Olympic group included three mission and support staff, six coaches and 15 athletes from Saskatchewan.

The Paralympic contingent included 10 athletes, who competed in seven sports and four coaches.

There were 38 athletes, coaches, and staff from Saskatchewan who went on to compete at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games. (submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

Contraband at the Sask Pen

Guards at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary made significant contraband seizures over the year. In 2024 the total institution value of illegal contraband seized was between eight and ten million dollars.

Drones are increasingly being used to smuggle contraband into prisons, including ceramic knives that can bypass metal detectors and screwdrivers that could help inmates access secure areas.

An investigation into the seizures continues.

Saskatchewan Penitentiary. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

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glynn.brothen@pattisonmedia.com

by Glynn Brothen

Top 10 provincial stories of 2024

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