Vanessa Big Eagle, a band councilor overseeing the housing of the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation, faced damage to her own residence due to severe weather conditions. The community, located 160 kilometers southeast of Regina, experienced substantial damage to 23 out of 54 homes during the intense winds in May. Big Eagle’s own house suffered the most significant damage, with a substantial portion of the roof being blown off. Insurance claims have been filed for the affected homes managed by the First Nation, with many still in a damaged state, necessitating one family to seek temporary accommodation in a hotel.
Recent data indicates a surge in insured losses in Saskatchewan due to severe weather events, potentially leading to increased insurance premiums. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. reported that Saskatchewan recorded the highest dollar amount of insured losses from large weather events in 2025, totaling $450 million, the highest since data collection began in 2008. Extreme winds in June resulted in the most significant insured loss in the province at $240 million, followed by northern wildfires last summer.
Laura Twidle, the president and CEO of Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc., highlighted the exceptional nature of the past two years in terms of insured losses. She emphasized the need for a proactive approach to managing climate risks to minimize the financial impact on insurers and homeowners.
Experts like Jason Thistlethwaite from the University of Waterloo emphasized the potential ripple effects of increased insured losses on insurance premiums and coverage. Thistlethwaite stressed the importance of shifting towards preventive measures to mitigate property damage and reduce the financial burden on insurers.
In Saskatchewan, repair companies are witnessing a surge in demand for services due to weather-related property damage. Businesses like Leeway Mechanical Inc. in Oxbow are experiencing an increased workload, addressing issues such as basement flooding and roof repairs caused by extreme weather conditions. Similarly, restoration company Fire & Flood noted a rise in calls for assistance, particularly in dealing with basement flooding incidents, attributing the uptick to the severe weather patterns in recent years.
The escalating demand for repair services underscores the impact of severe weather events on communities and businesses, prompting a reassessment of disaster response strategies and the need for proactive risk management measures.