Vanessa Big Eagle, a band councilor overseeing housing for the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation, faced significant damage to her own home due to severe weather. She described the May winds as unprecedented and damaging, affecting 23 out of 54 homes in her community, with her own house suffering the most damage as the roof was partially blown off. Insurance claims have been filed for the damaged homes managed by the First Nation, with many still awaiting repair, forcing one family to seek temporary accommodation in a hotel.
Recent data reveals a surge in insured losses in Saskatchewan due to severe weather events, potentially leading to increased insurance rates. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. reported that Saskatchewan experienced its highest dollar amount of insured losses from major weather events in 2025, reaching $450 million, the highest since data collection began in 2008. The extreme winds in June caused the most significant insured loss of $240 million, followed by last year’s northern wildfires.
Laura Twidle, president of Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc., highlighted the severity of the past two years in terms of insured losses, particularly from wildfires. Jason Thistlethwaite, a professor at the University of Waterloo, warned that even unaffected property owners could face higher premiums and limited coverage as insurers seek to offset losses. Thistlethwaite emphasized the importance of shifting focus towards preventing property damage rather than solely relying on post-disaster recovery efforts.
Repair companies in Saskatchewan, like Leeway Mechanical Inc., have witnessed a surge in demand to fix homes damaged by extreme weather conditions. Duane Lee and Allison Thompson, owners of the plumbing company, noted a notable increase in calls for services, including water removal from basements and roof repairs. Similarly, restoration company Fire & Flood reported an uptick in calls, particularly for basement flooding incidents, attributing the rise in demand to severe weather patterns.