Saskatchewan reverend describes couple killed by bear in north as faithful and kind

Saskatchewan says investigators are looking into the death of two people in the province's north who are suspected of being killed by wildlife. Saskatchewan's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MCTAVISH LAKE — A reverend says a husband and wife recently killed by a bear in Saskatchewan’s north were faithful and kind people who were taking care of their son with Down syndrome

Louis Kim Nguyen with Christ The King Parish in Regina says Jay and Deb MacDonald were visiting a cottage Wednesday when they were attacked.

“Both of them will be remembered for their kindness, generosity, deep faith, love for their family, and their commitment to serve our church community,” Nguyen said in a Sunday phone interview. “We are shocked but God has a plan.”

He said both were retired, attended church on weekends and were active volunteers.

Jay and Deb were at church days before the attack, Nguyen added, and the couple told him about their upcoming trip to the cottage in the McTavish Lake area, north of La Ronge.

He said Jay’s body was found on the day of the attack, and that Deb was found dead a day after in the woods.

The couple is from Regina. The reverend said they have a daughter, a son and two grandchildren.

The church is planning to commemorate their lives.

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Community Safety has said conservation officers have since found and euthanized the suspected bear and a necropsy is to be conducted.

This the second bear attack in Saskatchewan’s north in the last few months.

In May, a contractor at a uranium exploration camp in northern Saskatchewan was killed by a black bear.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2026.

The Canadian Press