SASKATOON — RCMP say a terrorism peace bond has been ordered on a Saskatoon teen who was charged with uttering threats earlier this year.

Mounties say the bond was issued this week in Saskatoon court.

The peace bond imposes restrictions on the youth, requiring good behaviour for a period of not more than 12 months.

In February, Mounties laid the charge against the teen after investigating a report of an online account posting content about violent extremism.

Police also charged another 14-year-old with uttering threats and they are to make a court appearance on June 24.

The teens cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2026.

The world’s largest mining company is flagging cost overruns at its Saskatchewan potash mine development.

BHP warned in an update Thursday morning that its Jansen project, located around 155 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, is facing cost overruns of over $2 billion, with total investment in Stage 2 of the greenfield mine development rising to $6.9 billion.

But according to economist Erin Weir, those rising costs won’t affect the mining giant’s bottom line, since the Government of Saskatchewan is allowing the company to write off 120 per cent of its capital construction costs against the taxes it will owe on future profits.

“Since the Government of Saskatchewan allows BHP to write off 120 per cent of the amounts invested, Jansen will not pay potash production tax for many years,” said Weir, a former Member of Parliament for Regina-Lewvan.

Weir says he supports the idea of allowing the company to write off the cost of building, but not at a rate higher than 100 per cent.

The first phase of the Jansen project, Stage 1, is expected to start production by mid-2027. BHP estimates it will produce roughly 4.2 million tonnes of potash per year. Stage 2, which was delayed last year from a 2029 to 2031 opening date, is expected to increase production at the mine to about 8.5 million tonnes annually.

Since announcing the delay, BHP conducted an extensive review of the Stage 2 project. It says the majority of the cost increase stems from additional construction hours and the quantities of materials needed to complete it.

“During the review, key underground construction activities and engineering continued to progress,” BHP said in its update.

“At the end of May 2026, Jansen Stage 2 is 16 per cent complete with engineering at 83 per cent complete, de-risking the estimate for remaining work.”

The mining giant says once complete, the two phases of the mine will deliver about 10 per cent of the world’s potash production. Based on its price estimates and expected output, BHP believes Jansen Stage 2 will have a rate of return of around 11 per cent, and a payback period of eight years.

“Once Jansen Stage 2 ramps up, we continue to expect that the combined Jansen mine will be the lowest unit cost Canadian potash mine at US$114-130/t3 in line with unit cost estimates at sanction, reinforcing Jansen’s durable competitive advantage in the potash market and further supporting BHP’s long-term growth strategy in future facing commodities.”

Weir, who published a report last month advocating for reforms to the province’s royalty and tax structure for the potash industry, argues the government is failing to recognize the strength of its bargaining power and it could easily be generating billions more in tax and royalty revenues.

“The provincial government’s sweeping royalty and tax concessions mean that BHP will contribute very little. To the extent that Jansen undercuts potash prices for existing mines, it could lower provincial revenues,” he said.

Between 2000 and 2025, the value of potash sales in Saskatchewan quintupled, predominantly because the price of the mineral tripled. Accounting for the Consumer Price Index, potash prices surpassed inflation by 131 per cent, according to Weir.

He says the high prices motivated higher output. Tonnage increased by 76 per cent since 2000, and the higher price made existing production more profitable – with the most notable windfalls during price spikes in 2008 and 2022.

“The province’s royalties, production tax and resource surcharge together typically collect no more than 15 per cent of the value of potash sales, or under $1 billion in all but a few years,” Weir wrote.

“The prospect of significantly expanded potash production reducing provincial revenues should motivate a long overdue review of Saskatchewan’s royalties and taxes, which the following analysis suggests have forgone nearly $12 billion of potash revenue over the past decade.”

Saskatchewan is also one of the only major potash-producing regions open to investment from western firms. The producers, including Russia, China and Belarus, are dominated by state-owned monopolies.

“Unfortunately, the province has not used its strong bargaining position to negotiate the best possible return,” said Weir.

BHP says Stage 1 of the Jansen mine is on track and will likely be ready for production in mid 2027.

In preparation, BHP struck an agreement with both major railways earlier this month to get its potash to terminals for export, with connecting lines running to both rail networks.

Seeding across Saskatchewan is nearly finished for the 2026 season, reaching 97 per cent completion as of June 15, according to the latest provincial crop report.

That marks an increase from 93 per cent the previous week but remains slightly below the five-and-10-year average of 99 per cent. Progress was slowed in many areas by rainfall and excess moisture, although most regions are now close to wrapping up seeding operations.

The west-central and southwest regions lead the province at 99 per cent complete. The southeast and northern regions follow at 98 per cent, while the east-central region lags behind at 90 per cent.

Despite delays, seeding is largely finished for key crops.

Among cereal crops, seeding is nearly complete for spring wheat at 99 per cent and durum at 98 per cent. Barley sits at 96 per cent and oats at 93 per cent. Further behind, canary seed and triticale are at 82 per cent and 79 per cent.

Pulse crops are also nearing completion, with field peas at 99 per cent and lentils at 97 per cent. Chickpeas are slightly behind at 89 per cent.

Oilseed crop progress varies, with canola at 97 per cent and flax at 93 per cent. Mustard trails at 90 per cent. Seeding of perennial forages is reported at 76 per cent complete.

Rainfall over the past week varied widely across the province. Some areas received little to no precipitation, while others saw significant amounts. The Rural Municipality of Lipton recorded the highest rainfall at 90 mm, followed by Langenburg at 78 mm and Elfros at 74 mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions have remained relatively stable overall, with some improvement following recent rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 15 per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short and one per cent very short.

Hayland moisture is 11 per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 13 per cent short and two per cent very short. Pasture conditions are reported at eight per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short, and two per cent very short.

Crop development varies across the province due to fluctuating weather conditions. While most crops are developing at a normal pace, a notable portion is behind expected stages.

Overall, crop conditions are rated mostly fair to good, with some crops reported in excellent condition. However, variability remains across regions and crop types due to uneven growing conditions.

Damage this week was attributed to flooding, wind and gophers, with minor insect damage also reported due to flea beetles.

With seeding nearly complete, producers are turning their attention to herbicide applications and monitoring fields for insects and disease.

A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with a sexual assault aboard a Winnipeg Transit bus over the weekend.

The incident began around 11 p.m. on Sunday night when police said a man and a woman started talking to each other on Portage Avenue. According to the Winnipeg Police Service, the man then started to hug and kiss the woman, who managed to break free and get onto a parked Winnipeg Transit bus.

Officers allege the man followed and sat next to the victim before starting to sexually assault her. Passengers then intervened and stopped the attack.

Officers, who were in the area on an unrelated matter, found and arrested the suspect.

A 23-year-old man is facing a charge of sexual assault. The charge has not been proven in court.

A superyacht reportedly owned by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg was spotted off the coast of British Columbia on Thursday, just days after the Facebook founder and Meta CEO attended U.S. President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebration at the White House.

Launchpad, the 119-metre vessel built in 2024 at a reported cost of US$300 million, was anchored near South Pender Island on Thursday after spending several days in Seattle, according to ship-tracking websites.

The Marshall Islands-flagged megayacht is typically accompanied by a support vessel named Wingman.

Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.com indicates the 80-metre support ship remained behind in Seattle before departing the city in the direction of the mothership on Thursday afternoon.

Online brokerage YachtWorld described Launchpad in 2024 as one of the most expensive private vessels in the world.

The yacht was built by Dutch luxury shipbuilder Feadship, with exterior design by De Voogt Naval Architects and Espen Øino International.

Feadship describes the vessel as a “classically balanced yet edgy and innovative yacht,” featuring two helipads, a “spacious beach club,” a jacuzzi and a swimming pool with a moveable floor.

The vessel was “by far the largest yacht Feadship had ever built,” the company said on its completion.

According to the builder, the vessel features a steel hull, an aluminum superstructure and interiors by Zuretti Interior Design.

Netherlands-based marine publication SuperYacht Times reports that Launchpad is powered by four heavy-duty engines and can reach a top speed of 24 knots.

The support ship functions as a floating toybox for the larger vessel, reportedly carrying its own helicopter, a fleet of watercraft and a scuba-diving support centre equipped with a decompression chamber, according to SuperYacht Times.

Launchpad was anchored near Bedwell Harbour, B.C., roughly 50 kilometres from Vancouver, where scores of celebrities, business leaders, and politicians were expected to attend Thursday’s World Cup match between Canada and Qatar.

Canada earned its first-ever victory at the men’s World Cup with a 6-0 win over Qatar Thursday.

Thousands of fans inside Vancouver’s BC Place became a sea of red, cheering on the home team as forward Jonathan David recorded a hat trick, the first recorded by a CONCACAF player at the World Cup in nearly 100 years.

Midfielder Ismael Kone suffered a lower-body injury early in the second half that required him to be carted off the field and be sent to hospital.

Canada will face Switzerland in Vancouver next Wednesday in their third and final game of the group stage.

Here’s everything that happened on Thursday:

6:15 p.m. PT: Canada’s greatest soccer moments

After seven games without a victory, the Canadian men’s soccer team has finally won a match at the World Cup.

The victory, which all but secured Canada a trip to the knockout stage, immediately earned a place among the national team’s greatest moments, though celebrations were tempered by a serious injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné.

From qualifying on a cold day in Newfoundland in 1985 to the women’s team claiming gold in the Tokyo Olympics, here’s a look at some of the other standout moments:

5:53 p.m. PT: Carney addresses team in locker room

Prime Minister Mark Carney greeted the team in the locker room after the historic win, praising players both for their performance and their sportsmanship—particularly after Ismaël Koné’s injury.

“You showed a level of character some people never achieve in their life, and you showed it when the entire country—and a good part of the world—was watching,” Carney said.

He also praised Koné’s conduct as he was taken away on a stretcher.

“He applauds the fans coming off, he shakes the hands of the Qataris coming off,” Carney said. “I couldn’t be prouder as a Canadian. On behalf of all Canadians, I want to thank you.”

5:07 p.m. PT: ‘Switzerland, we’re coming for you’

The crowd at Toronto’s Fan Festival are ecstatic after Canada’s men’s team scored their first-ever World Cup win, dominating Qatar 6-0.

“I love Canada. This means so much to me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I can’t believe it,” one fan tells CP24’s Sijia Liu.

Another fan says, “It’s the best day in Canadian soccer history.”

Many fans are now looking ahead to Canada’s match against Switzerland next week in Vancouver.

“Switzerland, we’re coming for you,” one fan says.

5:01 p.m. PT: Canada wins

A roar went up from the B.C. Place crowd as the final whistle blew on a historic afternoon for Canada.

A first World Cup win would have been historic on its own, but Canada did it in style, pummelling Qatar 6-0 behind a hat trick from Jonathan David and goals from Cyle Larin, Nathan Saliba and an own goal created by Jacob Shaffelburg.

David is the first player from a host nation to score a hat trick in a World Cup since Geoff Hurst did so for England in the final match of the 1966 tournament, according to the TSN broadcast.

The only blemish for Canada was the serious injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné in the second half. Koné was stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital.

A man and woman are facing charges following a break and enter at a home in the 1200 block of Cameron Street.

According to a Regina Police Service news release, officers were called at 11:40 p.m. on June 9 for a reported break and enter in progress.

Upon arriving on scene, police located the suspects inside the home and both were taken into custody without incident, according to the release.

Following the arrest, the release said officers found a pair of brass knuckles and a quantity of drugs on the suspects.

Police say the man arrested was found to have been in breach of a conditional release, prompting a warrant of apprehension to be issued as a result.

Both are charged with breaking and entering with intent while the man was additionally charged with failing to comply with condition of an undertaking.

Both made their first appearance in Regina Provincial Court on June 10.

A Saskatoon podcast host has ended her collaboration with Mark Drapak after he was recently charged with voyeurism.

Drapak, 45, co-hosted the Legacy of Abuse Podcast with Caitlin Erickson, which detailed their experiences as students at Saskatoon’s private Legacy Christian Academy, now called Valour Academy.

The school and its affiliate church (Mile Two Church) were at the centre of a $25 million class-action lawsuit that alleged years of abuse — in which Erickson and Drapak were among the plaintiffs.

Drapak is accused of taking inappropriate photos of women without their consent during a University of Saskatchewan (U of S) convocation ceremony on June 4.

In a statement, Erickson said she cut collaboration with Drapak immediately.

“Frankly, I am still processing the information and am stunned,” Erickson said.

“Anyone who knows me knows I am a strong advocate for justice and absolutely decry any of the alleged behaviour.”

The U of S confirmed Drapak is an employee and has been suspended.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Drapak has worked as an IT specialist at the university since 2008.

The Legacy of Abuse Podcast featured conversations with former students and discussions about the lawsuit.

In June 2025, the lawsuit was stayed after a judge ruled the plaintiffs failed to immediately disclose settlement agreements with three defendants.

The plaintiffs appealed the decision to Saskatchewan’s highest court.

In an affidavit filed as part of the lawsuit, Drapak alleges he was subjected to corporal punishment, psychological control and humiliation while attending Christian Centre Academy (the school’s name at the time) and Mile Two Church.

Those allegations have not been proven in court.

Drapak is scheduled to appear at Saskatoon Provincial Court on July 6.

EVO Radio Network – Scheduled Maintenance Notice

EVO Radio will be conducting a network-wide server migration and infrastructure update beginning Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 3:00 AM, with work expected to be completed by Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM.

During this maintenance window, the following services may be temporarily offline or intermittently inaccessible at various points:

Websites

• https://z1035.evoradio.ca/

• https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/

• https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/

• https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/

• https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/

• https://vipclub.evoradio.ca/

• https://evomcorp.com/

• https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/

Live Broadcasting

• Z103.5

• 979 The Cowboy

• 101 The Rockhound

• Classic 88.7 The Goat

Stream Relay Network

• All Stream Relay services will be unavailable during the migration.

Because this update involves server transfers, database installations, and name server changes, exact downtime periods cannot be guaranteed. Individual service interruptions may vary, with some components taking up to several hours to complete.

Our support and technical teams will work to keep all stations and websites online for as long as possible and will restore services immediately as each system becomes available. Broadcast services and station websites will be prioritized, followed by additional network services.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete these upgrades, which are designed to improve performance, reliability, and long-term stability across the EVO Radio Network.

Thank you for your continued support,
EVO Radio Network

🎉 Update Completed Successfully! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that our scheduled network update has been completed without any issues! 🚀 All our broadcast stations, streams, and websites are now fully operational and running better than ever.

What’s New?

Here’s what you can expect from this update:
✅ Improved Audio Player – No more interruptions or cutting off! Enjoy seamless streaming on our websites.
✅ Enhanced Stream Stability – Our radio streams are now more reliable than ever.
✅ Upgraded Security & Quality – Improved protection and enhanced broadcast quality for an unmatched listening experience.

Fully Operational Services:

🎵 Stations:

• Z103.5 – https://z1035.evoradio.ca/
• 979 The Cowboy – https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/
• 101 The Rockhound – https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/
• Classic 88.7 The Goat – https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/

🌐 Websites:

• EVO Radio Advertiser Access – https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/
• EVO Media Corporation – https://evomcorp.com/
• DJ Spinderella – https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/

Experiencing Issues?

While everything is running smoothly on our end, we’re here to help if you encounter any issues. If you’re having trouble with our broadcasts or websites, please report the issue to us immediately so we can address it.

📧 Contact Us:

If you have having any issues please reach out to us on our websites!

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this process. We’re committed to providing you with the best listening experience possible and appreciate your support!

🎧 Happy Listening!
The EVO Radio & EVO Media Corporation Team