Saskatoon bear spray attacks
Bear spray attacks are an ongoing concern in which a large wave of bear spray attacks have taken place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the early and mid 2020s. These are considered criminal offences, as they fall under laws for assault. In 2025, the Saskatoon City Council introduced new municipal bylaws to help combat the prevalence of these attacks.[1] These attacks have been a subject of public interest and concern since 2020, where a Saskatoon Police Service superintendent suggested that the sale of bear spray should be banned in Saskatoon, citing weekly police responses to bear spray attacks.[2] Bear spray attacks are prominent in other cities and municipalities in Saskatchewan; from 2020 to 2024, police responded to over 3,000 incidents.[3] A growing amount of bear spray attacks from 2022 to 2025 have been perpetrated by young adults.[4]
Frequency
Of 3,000 reported bear spray attacks in Saskatchewan from 2021 to 2025, 1099 occurred in Saskatoon.
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (as of July) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Reported Incidents | 185[5] | 180[6] | 364[7] | 367[7] | 258[8] | |
| Change From Previous Year (%) | N/A |  2.7% |
 102.22% |
0.82% |
29.7% |
|
| Number of Incidents Involving Youth Perpetrators | 12[5] | N/A | N/A | 74[5] | N/A | Although data has not been compiled regarding the number of bear spray attacks perpetrated by youth in 2022, 2023, or 2025, the number of incidents had increased by 500% from 2021 to 2024.[4] |
Notable Incidents
2020
- On 4 May 2020, a fifteen-year-old boy attacked a thirteen-year-old boy with bear spray in a park behind wâhkôhtowin School in Confederation Park. Police charged him with assault with a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon and wearing a disguise with intent, while a second suspect was released without charges.[9]
- On 28 May 2020, a woman committed two separate bear spray attacks, with three victims. The first attack was on a 13-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy in Confederation Park. The second attack was against a man in a parking lot in Mount Royal.[10]
- On 7 June 2020, three people were victimised in a bear spray attack in Fairhaven.[11]
- On 19 June 2020, a 21-year-old man attacked two other men with bear spray in the Nutana neighbourhood. The three men had allegedly gotten into a disagreement over a drug deal.[12]
- On 17 September 2020, a 53-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman were attacked with bear spray in a motel in Mayfair.[13]
2021
- On 27 October 2021, a man attacked five people, including two young children, in an apartment in Dundonald. He was charged by police the following day.[14]
- On 28 December 2021, an armed robber assaulted several people with bear spray in a residence in College Park East. One man suffered a gunshot wound.[15]
2022
- In August 2022, three separate bear spray attacks occurred across six days during Prairieland Park's "Exhibition". Multiple people, including an infant, were injured and had to be treated by paramedics.[16] Most notably, at 9:15 p.m. on the 13th of August, bear spray was deployed in the park's Grand Stand during a Trooper (band) concert. Fifty people were affected.[17] In November of that year, a 26-year-old man was charged for the attack.[18]
- In October 2022, two teenagers attacked a victim with bear spray at Mount Royal Collegiate. They had also been carrying a concealed firearm.[19]
2023
- On 3 January 2023, two victims were assaulted with knives and bear spray on a Saskatoon Transit bus. They were hospitalised after the incident.[20]
- On 17 March 2023, two teen boys were caught with bear spray and imitation firearms outside of E. D. Feehan Catholic High School.[21]
- On 26 October 2023, a woman deployed bear spray at a shopping centre in the Central Business District as an attempt to flee from a robbery.[22]
2024
- In June 2024, two teenagers were charged with assault and criminal mischief after deploying bear spray on a Saskatoon Transit bus in Fairhaven.[23]
- In October 2024, over twenty bear spray attacks were recorded.[24] Three attacks were recorded on the 3rd of October,[25] including one which caused Mount Royal Collegiate to be evacuated.[26]
- On 28 November 2024, a thirteen-year-old boy discharged bear spray in the food court of Midtown Plaza.[27]
2025
- On the weekend of 22–23 February 2025, Saskatoon Police Service received ten calls for bear spray incidents. A 16-year-old girl deployed bear spray on a Saskatoon Transit bus. A man attacked a security guard with bear spray in a stairwell at Midtown Plaza. A man was attacked at a restaurant on Saskatoon's 8th Street.[28]
- On 7 April 2025, a 13-year-old boy assaulted another youth with bear spray in the food court of The Centre. The mall had to close for the day following the incident.[29]
- On 10 April 2025, bear spray was deployed at a bus stop next to Walter Murray Collegiate, in which two students had to receive medical treatment.[30]
- In May 2025, a man was charged with assault with a weapon after he deployed bear spray against another man during an altercation outside of a Saskatoon nightclub.[31]
- On 26 July 2025, a man committed two acts of assault with bear spray. He assaulted and robbed a woman in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, and, later that day, assaulted a man one block away.[32]
Legislative Action
Both the provincial and municipal governments have introduced legislation to help curb the number bear spray attacks in Saskatoon and in Saskatchewan. On 1 August 2025, the provincial government enacted the Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act, which applies to Saskatchewan municipalities and First Nations on an opt-in basis.[33] The Act prohibits persons from possessing bear spray or other items deemed as "street weapons" in public places, as well as in private businesses without consent of the owner.[33] Those who violate the Act can be charged with a provincial offence and can be subject to fines and imprisonment. Additionally, Saskatoon City Council amended its Business License Bylaw on 30 July 2025 to restrict unauthorised sales of bear spray. Under the new bylaw, businesses must keep a registry of persons who have purchased bear spray, bear spray must be sold out of public view, businesses must ask for two pieces of identification, and businesses are not permitted to sell bear spray to minors under eighteen years of age.[34] The changes were well received by community members.[35]
References
- ↑ "Council changes Business Licence Bylaw regarding bear spray sales". Saskatoon.ca. 30 July 2025. Archived from the original on 30 July 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ↑ "Saskatoon police Supt. says bear spray should be banned in the city". CBC News Saskatoon. 23 January 2020. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ↑ Clausing, Shane (4 November 2024). "Are Saskatchewan's new bear spray laws working?". Northeast Now. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- 1 2 Flatters, John (31 July 2025). "Youth bear spray incidents in Saskatoon up 500%". CTV News Saskatoon. Archived from the original on 2 August 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 Langager, Brody (23 June 2025). "Saskatoon city council to consider bear spray sales bylaw amendment". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Increasing bear-spray incidents could see possible Saskatoon bylaw in June". Prince Albert Daily Herald. 9 April 2025. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- 1 2 Perez, Jon (25 June 2025). "Saskatoon police push bylaw change to curb bear spray misuse". 620 CKRM. Archived from the original on 27 June 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Saskatoon police chief says bear spray incidents declining". 650 CKOM Saskatoon. 12 July 2025. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Police charge teen with assault after bear spray attack in park". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 5 May 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Jennings, Brad (29 May 2020). "Woman Wanted After Bear Spray Attacks". The Bull. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Saskatoon Police investigating after multiple people are attacked with bear spray in Fairhaven". 650 CKOM. 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Dove, Nathaniel (20 June 2020). "Saskatoon police arrest man after bear spray used in 'alleged drug transaction'". Global News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Police searching for suspects after bear spray incident at Mayfair area motel". 650 CKOM. 17 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Man charged with assault after bear spray deployed in home". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Home invasion results in shooting – Saskatoon". SaskToday. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Quon, Alexander (15 August 2022). "Bear spray used at least 3 times at Saskatoon Ex". CBC News. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ James, Thia (15 August 2022). "Bear spray incidents 'overshadow' six-day record attendance at Saskatoon Exhibition". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "UPDATE: Arrest / Charges - Bear Spray Investigation - Exhibition Grandstand". Saskatoon Police Service. 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Saskatoon police arrest second teen in bear spray incident". CTV News. 27 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Aggravated Assault Investigation - 1100 Block Idylwyld Drive N". Saskatoon Police Service. 4 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Teens caught with bear spray, imitation firearm outside Saskatoon school". 650 CKOM. 17 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ↑ "Arrest - Robbery - 200 Block 1st Avenue South". Saskatoon Police Service. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ O'Connor, Liam (24 June 2024). "Teens charged with using bear spray on city bus". CBC News. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Seven bear spray incidents in Saskatoon include two on city buses". 650 CKOM. 15 October 2024. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Saskatoon police responded to three bear spray incidents on Wednesday". 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Saskatoon school evacuated after bear spray attack". 650 CKOM. 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Spicy: Saskatoon police arrest bear sprayed teen in Midtown food court". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 29 November 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Police called for 10 weekend bear spray incidents in Saskatoon public spaces". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 25 February 2025. Archived from the original on 25 February 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Healey, Nicole (8 April 2025). "Bear spray incident closes down The Centre Mall in Saskatoon Monday". Global News. Archived from the original on 11 September 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Sorokan, Keenan (11 April 2025). "Saskatoon's Walter Murray Collegiate alerts parents to bear spray incident". CTV News Saskatoon. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Hein, Stacey (6 May 2025). "Sask. man charged after bear spray attack outside Saskatoon nightclub". CTV News Saskatoon. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Violent incidents in Saskatoon: police report machete, bear spray, hammer assaults". 650 CKOM. 28 July 2025. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- 1 2 "Legislation to Protect Communities From Street Weapons and Dangerous Drugs Comes Into Force". Saskatchewan.ca. 31 July 2025. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Council changes Business Licence Bylaw regarding bear spray sales". City of Saskatoon. 30 July 2025. Archived from the original on 30 July 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Fominoff, Lara (25 June 2025). "Saskatoon council approves proposed bylaw changes to the sale of bear spray". 650 CKOM. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.