Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.
The Timberland Bowbenders will welcome 800 archers to the city this weekend for the Sask. Archery Association’s Provincial Championships and Junior Olympic Program provincial championships. (Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)
Archery

SAA, JOP provincials mark fifth straight year in Prince Albert

Apr 11, 2026 | 6:06 PM

The Timberland Bowbenders are no strangers when it comes to hosting Canada’s largest annual archery shoot. 

The Prince Albert-based archery club was once again the hosts of the Sask. Archery Association’s (SAA) Provincial Championships and Junior Olympic Program (JOP) provincial championships, marking the fifth straight year that the city has hosted. 

Stacey Moran, Target and Field Director for the Bowbenders, said that roughly 800 archers will compete this weekend at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse, adding that the event wouldn’t be possible without the facility. 

“It’s great to host it here, there’s lots of space for everyone. The city’s been very accommodating and helpful.” 

A judge observes the competitors as they tally their scores.
A judge observes the competitors as they tally their scores. (Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

The JOP ran their provincials on Saturday, while the SAA has their provincial championships on Sunday. Although separate events on paper, the two are almost the same when it comes to competition.  

The main difference is that the JOP is a structured, badge-based coaching program for young archers (ages 6–20) focusing on skill development, safety, and personal improvement. Meanwhile, provincial archery is not badge-based, and competitors are seeded based on gender, age, and the equipment they use like their bows and arrows. 

Moran explained that the Bowbenders got to host the combined provincial championships after having their five-year bid approved in 2021. With this year being the last of the current plan, he said that the club with submit another five-year bid to hopefully keep hosting the event through 2031. 

“We have to have our bids in by the fall. So we’ll talk about it, [but] more than likely, we’ll apply to host it again.” 

Saskatchewan is an unassuming hub for archery as competitors came from nearly 20 different communities around the province to shoot this weekend. 

An archer with the Battle River Archers lines up his shot.
An archer with the Battle River Archers lines up his shot. (Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

(Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

 — 

loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com