Here are the top 10 stories of 2025, according to CTV News Regina

Here are the top 10 stories of 2025, according to CTV News Regina.

Tariffs, wildfires and shakeups at city hall, 2025 was an eventful year full of news. As you look back in reflection on the year of 2025, here are the top 10 stories that made headlines in Saskatchewan.

Tariffs and trade

Donald Trump’s re-election to a second term in the White House had vast consequences not only in the United States, but across the world, as the administration wasted no time in establishing tariffs against many of its trading partners, Canada among them.

While Saskatchewan was spared from the worst effects of Trump’s initial tariff regime, the province did not fare so well in other areas, mainly with China.

In August, China introduced a duty rate of 75.8 per cent against Canadian canola imports. The move followed the Chinese imposing a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and canola meal, which in itself, was in response to Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.

The trade restrictions have had serious consequences for Saskatchewan producers and even led Premier Scott Moe to travel to China in support of federal trade delegates.

• Saskatchewan Premier Moe hopeful for progress after canola meeting in China
• Sask. canola producers react to Moe’s visit to China, discussions on tariffs

In December, the tariff hammer struck down yet again, with Trump announcing his intention of levying tariffs against foreign potash. The threat was one directed straight at Saskatchewan, as the province is responsible for the vast majority of Canada’s potash production.

• Saskatchewan agriculture experts say Trump’s potential tariffs on potash will be mutually harmful

Wildfires and drought

A devastating wildfire season impacted several communities in northern Saskatchewan, including Denare Beach.

The provincial government’s wildfire response was heavily criticized by the NDP opposition, residents of the community, and volunteer firefighters, who called it a failure.

• ‘Confusion, chaos, incompetence’: Denare Beach firefighter calls for public inquiry

In October, the NDP as well as some Denare Beach residents, called for a public inquiry of the government’s wildfire response, with the province opting instead for a private consulting firm to conduct a review.

The year of 2025 also saw some communities declare a state of emergency due to extreme drought conditions, including the rural municipality of Big Stick.

• Sask. RM of Big Stick declares state of emergency due to extreme drought

The area had faced drought-like conditions for nine years, and 2025 was no exception.

Big Stick’s Reeve Quinton Jacksteit had said the RM hopes to be heard by the provincial and federal government on strategies to help keep their farms operating through 2025 year and into the future, as the current insurance programs were no longer meeting the needs of producers.

Riders claim Grey Cup victory

For only the fifth time in franchise history, the Saskatchewan Roughriders claimed the 112th Grey Cup victory on Nov. 16 by defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25-17.

The victory followed a 12-year drought for the Riders, who had not appeared at a championship game since winning it at home in Regina in 2013.

• ‘It was our time’: Saskatchewan Roughriders defeat Alouettes to claim 112th Grey Cup

Wide receiver Samuel Emilus earned Most Valuable Canadian honours at the Grey Cup, where he caught all 10 of his targets for 108 yards — the highest single-game receiving totals by a Roughrider in Grey Cup history.

For his efforts in leading the Riders’ offense, quarterback Trevor Harris was named the Most Valuable Player. He was also presented with an oil painting of his Grey Cup winning moment, by Regina artist Belinda Kriek.

• Riders QB Harris honoured with Grey Cup victory painting

Fans and players alike celebrated the Grey Cup win by parading down Albert Street to the legislative building, soaking up the historic moment in a true display of camaraderie.

Federal election 2025, Moe and Carney

As 2024 was the year of local and provincial mandates in Saskatchewan, voters were once again called to the polls in 2025, this time to select their federal representation.

The Liberals, under newly elected leader Mark Carney, managed to secure a minority government of 169 seats, signifying a complete reversal from months prior when Justin Trudeau was at the helm – as many predictions laid out a decisive loss for the Grits.

In Saskatchewan, Conservative domination of the province came to an end on election night, as the newly redrawn Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River went to Buckley Belanger and the Liberals. Belanger had served as both a Liberal and a New Democratic MLA from the mid 1990’s to 2021.

• CTV News declares Liberal minority, here are the results from across Saskatchewan

The day following the election saw Premier Scott Moe drastically change his tone in regards to the federal government. After years of icy relations between Moe and Trudeau, the premier extended an olive branch, leading to the first ministers meeting being hosted in Saskatoon several months later.

• ‘Hit the reset button’: Moe invites PM Carney to Sask., hopes to work with re-elected Liberal government

Since then, Carney’s nation building projects program has received measured but positive feedback from Moe’s government.

The murder trial of Misha Pavelick

Nearly two decades after the death of 19-year-old Misha Pavelick, the man accused of killing him had his day in court and was found guilty of second-degree murder.

Pavelick’s murder at a graduation party at a campground near Regina Beach cast a long shadow over the city since that fateful night in May of 2006.

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The accused, who was tried as a youth and therefore cannot be identified, was found guilty after two days of deliberations. The court heard from more than 30 witnesses, who described a night that began as a celebration but soon devolved into animosity and physical violence after an uninvited group arrived.

While none of those who took the stand testified that they saw the accused stab Pavelick, several testified to witnessing erratic behaviour from the accused, including him bragging about stabbing someone that night.

• Man accused of killing Misha Pavelick in 2006 found guilty of second-degree murder

Following the verdict, members of Pavelick’s family said they were thankful to finally have some closure.

“… Nothing will bring Misha back, but it’s nice to be able to put this behind us a little bit and move on,” Pavelick’s stepmother Karen Mondor told CTV News.

‘Queen of Canada’ arrested

Two years after taking up residence in the former school in the community of Richmound, Sask., the self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Canada’ and several of her Kingdom of Canada followers were arrested.

Romana Didulo and her followers of the fringe conspiracy group were accused of dumping raw sewage onto open ground outside the group’s compound and were also accused of harassing and intimidating town staff.

Following a report in August that someone at the group’s site had a firearm, Saskatchewan RCMP executed a search warrant at the compound on Sept. 3.

• Self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Canada’ facing charges following investigation in Sask.

Sixteen people, including Didulo and property owner Ricky Manz were arrested. Four replica handguns were found and seized during the initial search, with 13 more imitation handguns found and seized later.

Didulo was granted bail and ordered to stay in Regina but was barred from contacting several members of the Kingdom of Canada group and the community of Richmound.

Firing of city officials

The City of Regina and the Regina Police Service (RPS) both saw their fair share of shakeups in 2025, with two people terminated from their positions.

Niki Anderson was fired from her role as city manager in July, after a report put forward by Mayor Chad Bachynski. According to the report, Anderson’s firing was without cause.

• ‘Best interest of the city’: Regina Mayor Bachynski speaks following termination of city manager Niki Anderson

Anderson had been on leave since late April. Since her absence, few details were provided by city administration – only sharing that she had been dealing with a personal matter.

Farooq Sheikh, the former chief of the RPS, was placed on leave in April amid allegations of misconduct and inappropriate communications with a former member of the City’s board of police commissioners.

• Regina police chief Farooq Sheikh terminated with cause following investigation

Following an investigation, Sheikh was fired with cause in October. Lorilee Davies, who had been serving as acting police chief since April, was named the new permanent chief of police in December, making her the province’s first female police chief.

Carry the Kettle quadruple homicide

On Feb. 4, four bodies were discovered at a home on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, after File Hills Police Service officers were called to investigate “sudden deaths” in the community.

In the days following, RCMP officers determined that the deaths were targeted and were not a random act.

• Saskatchewan RCMP charge suspect in quadruple homicide on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation

Three people, including 18-year-old Darrius Racette, and two youths who cannot be named due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were charged with four counts of murder for the deaths of Tracey Hotomani, Sheldon Quewezance, Shauna Fay, and Terry Jack.

Hudson’s Bay and Peavey Mart closures

The year of 2025 also marked the end of some familiar businesses for Canadians, with one being even older than the dominion itself.

Hudson’s Bay, the oldest corporation in North America that traced its heritage back to the fur trade, officially closed its doors in 2025 after 355 years of operation.

A foundational part of Canada’s formation, the brand later became synonymous with its chain of department stores across the nation.

• Nine months to liquidation: Hudson’s Bay’s rapid demise

The company announced extensive closures in 2024, which were set to take place in 2025. Among those closures were Regina’s location in the Cornwall Centre. However, by the time the new year arrived, the company’s financial struggles worsened, and liquidation of the whole chain began in March.

• Hudson’s Bay in Regina to close in 2025

Peavey Mart would also fall victim to the throws of economic uncertainty. The farm and ranch supply chain announced in late January that it would be closing 90 of its stores in Canada, in addition to its six MainStreet Hardware locations.

However, the chain recently announced that it is returning to Saskatchewan in 2026, with Assiniboia and Yorkton being the first communities to receive the revamped stores.

• Peavey Mart returning to Saskatchewan in 2026

Pronoun policy legal battle

The legal battle surrounding Saskatchewan’s controversial Parents’ Bill of Rights continued in 2025. The legislation requires students under the age of 16 to have parental permission before they can change their pronouns or names in school.

The province first introduced a pronoun policy in August of 2023, which was challenged in court by UR Pride.

A court injunction halted use of the policy. However, the province recalled the legislature and evoked the notwithstanding clause to enshrine the policy into law.

In August of 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that the notwithstanding clause cannot stop a court from ruling whether a law violates the Charter. The ruling allowed UR Pride to pursue whether the amendments to the province’s education act violate certain sections of the Charter.

• Sask. court rules that legal challenge of province’s pronoun policy can move forward

Later in November, the Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to hear appeals on the matter of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, although no date was set.

• Supreme Court to weigh in on Saskatchewan’s school pronoun case

The bill is set to be heard alongside Quebec’s secularism law.

-With files from Donovan Maess, Mick Favel, Sierra D’Souza Butts, Rory Maclean and Cole Davenport