Greenwich, Conn. based Atlas Holdings has announced it will acquire all of EVRAZ’s North American operations, which includes the steel plant in Regina.

In a news release on Friday, the company says it anticipates the deal to close in the second half of 2025.

In August 2022, Evraz North America was put up for sale following a period of uncertainty over sanctions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier that year.

Along with Regina, EVRAZ has North American facilities in Colorado, Oregon, and Alberta.

Across North America, EVRAZ employs 3,400 people, according to Atlas Holdings.

In the release, Atlas partner Sam Astor said the company’s goal is to invest in industrial businesses for the long term and provide capital and leadership expertise to grow companies and ensure success.

“Despite the global dynamics of the steel market and unique challenges facing the business, the EVRAZ team has continued to drive the business forward and we want to thank them for their hard work and dedication. This a major investment in creating a more vibrant domestic steel production industry right here in the United States and Canada,” Astor said in the release.

Atlas Holdings was founded in 2002 and along with its affiliates, owns and operates 27 companies that employ more than 57,000 people across 350 facilities worldwide, the release said.

James “Skip” Herald, president and CEO of EVRAZ North America said the acquisition will be an exciting new chapter for EVRAZ North America, adding it brings long-term opportunity for employees, customers and the communities facilities operate in.

“Atlas shares our belief that a strong future starts with investing in the people who make it happen. Their strategic approach and track record of operational investment make them the right partner for our next chapter. With their support, we will be able to accelerate innovation, strengthen our operations, and continue delivering the high-quality steel our customers have relied on since 1881,” Herald said in the release.

In May 2022, about three months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, EVRAZ plc, the ultimate parent of EVRAZ North America, was sanctioned by the United Kingdom. The sanctions barred United Kingdom citizens and businesses from doing business with the Russian owned steel manufacturer. Shortly after, Atlas says the UK HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a general licence that allowed EVRAZ North America to continue business operations fully.

The Russian steelmaker completed its acquisition of IPSCO Inc.’s plate and pipe business in Canada in June 2008 for approximately USD$2.9 billion, that included the steel plant in Regina.

On Friday, United Steelworkers Regina (USW 5890) shared a letter that Herald sent to EVRAZ North America employees. In the letter Herald expressed his confidence of Atlas, adding that employees would be hearing from them “very soon.”

The letter also indicated that Atlas representatives would begin visiting North American sites over the next few weeks.

“As we move through the transition, your well-being, success and continued development remain our highest priorities. Together, we’ll continue to build a culture rooted in safety, collaboration, and respect, driving progress for EVRAZ North America and the North American Steel industry as a whole,” the letter reads.

The Western Hockey League produced 33 picks in this year’s NHL Entry Draft including a handful with connections to Saskatchewan.

The first player off the board from Saskatchewan was Roger McQueen, who hails from Saskatoon and plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings, selected 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks. The six foot five, 198 pound centre heard his name called by actor Joshua Jackson, who portrayed Charlie Conway in the iconic Mighty Ducks movie franchise. McQueen won gold with Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Hockey Championship.

The Calgary Flames were the next to select a Saskatchewan-born skater at number 18. Cole Reschny (5′11, 180lbs) had 26 goals and 66 assists for the Victoria Royals this season. He’s touted as a player with a high hockey IQ and good instincts. The Macklin, Sask. native will play at the University of North Dakota next season.

Moose Jaw Warriors star Lynden Lakovic was taken off the board by the Washington Capitals, 27th overall, on Friday night. The product of West Kelowna, B.C. led the Warriors in points with 58 in 47 games this season and was the team leader on and off the ice.

Swift Current Broncos defenceman Peyton Kettels has a new home with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being selected 39th overall on Saturday. Kettles saw his stock rise down the stretch of the WHL season. Originally, the Winnipeg-born skater was projected to be a 3rd to 4th round pick. Kettles had five goals and 14 points for the Broncos while playing a rough and tumble brand of defence.

Dusseldorf, Germany import and Saskatoon Blades forward David Lewandowski was the final player with a Saskatchewan connection to be taken this weekend. The Stanley Cup runner-up Edmonton Oilers chose him at 117th overall. Lewandowski had 15 goals and 48 points for the Blades this season and suited up for his native Germany in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and World Junior Hockey Championships.

NHL teams will now begin the process of signing or inviting any undrafted players that they had their eyes on.

Canada’s first liquefied natural gas cargoes will soon arrive on Asian shores, a milestone touted — and doubted — as a boon for global emissions-cutting efforts.

“Cleaner energy around the world is what I think about when I think about LNG,” Shell Canada country chair Stastia West said in an onstage interview at the Global Energy Show in Calgary earlier this month.

Shell and four Asian companies are partners in LNG Canada in Kitimat, B.C., the first facility to export Canadian gas across the Pacific in an ultra-chilled liquid state using specialized tankers. A handful of other projects are either under construction or in development on the B.C. coast.

‘Lower global emissions’: Smith

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told the energy show that Canadian oil and gas exports can be an “antidote” to the current geopolitical chaos.

“And it comes with an added benefit: lower global emissions. By moving more natural gas, we can also help countries transition away from higher emitting fuels, such as coal.”

Smith cited a recent Fraser Institute study that suggested if Canada were to double its natural gas production, export the additional supply to Asia and displace coal there, it would lead to an annual emissions cut of up to 630 million tonnes annually.

“That’s almost 90 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions each year,” Smith said.

The authors of the Fraser Institute study, released in May, argued that Canada’s ability to reduce emissions elsewhere should be factored into its climate policy.

“It is important to recognize that GHG emissions are global and are not confined by borders,” wrote Elmira Aliakbari and Julio Mejía.

“Instead of focusing on reducing domestic GHG emissions in Canada by implementing various policies that hinder economic growth, governments must shift their focus toward global GHG reductions and help the country cut emissions worldwide by expanding its LNG exports.”

Some experts see a murkier picture.

Most credible estimates suggest that if liquefied natural gas were to indeed displace coal abroad, there would be some emissions reductions, said Kent Fellows, assistant professor of economics with the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.

But the magnitude is debatable.

“Will all of our natural gas exports be displacing coal? Absolutely not. Will a portion of them be displacing coal? Probably, and it’s really hard to know exactly what that number is,” he said.

Fellows said there’s a good chance Canadian supplies would supplant other sources of gas from Russia, Eurasia and the Middle East, perhaps making it a wash emissions-wise. He said the Canadian gas could actually be worse from an emissions standpoint, depending on how the competing supply moves. LNG is more energy intensive than pipeline shipment because the gas needs to be liquefied and moved on a ship.

China

In China, every type of energy is in demand. So instead of displacing coal, LNG would likely just be added to the mix, Fellows added.

“Anyone who’s thinking about this as one or the other is thinking about it wrong,” Fellows said.

A senior analyst with Investors for Paris Compliance, which aims to hold Canadian publicly traded companies to their net-zero promises, said he doubts a country like India would see the economic case for replacing domestically produced coal with imported Canadian gas.

“Even at the lowest price of gas, it’s still multiple times the price,” said Michael Sambasivam. “You’d need some massive system to provide subsidies to developing countries to be replacing their coal with a fuel that isn’t even really proven to be much greener.”

And even in that case, “it’s not as if they can just flip a switch and take it in,” he added.

“There’s a lot of infrastructure that needs to be built to take in LNG as well as to use it. You have to build import terminals. You have to refit your power terminals.”

Renewable energy

What LNG would be competing head-to-head with, Sambasivam said, is renewable energy.

If there were any emissions reductions abroad as a result of the coal-to-gas switch, Sambasivam said he doesn’t see why a Canadian company should get the credit.

“Both parties are going to want to claim the emissions savings and you can’t claim those double savings,” he said.

There’s also a “jarring” double-standard at play, he said, as industry players have long railed against environmental reviews that factor in emissions from the production and combustion of the oil and gas a pipeline carries, saying only the negligible emissions from running the infrastructure itself should be considered.

Devyani Singh, an investigative researcher at Stand.earth who ran for the Greens in last year’s B.C. election, said arguments that LNG is a green fuel are undermined by the climate impacts of producing, liquefying and shipping it.

A major component of natural gas is methane, a greenhouse gas about 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Methane that leaks from tanks, pipelines and wells has been a major issue that industry, government and environmental groups have been working to tackle.

“Have we actually accounted for all the leakage along the whole pipeline? Have we accounted for the actual under-reporting of methane emissions happening in B.C. and Canada?” asked Singh.

Even if LNG does have an edge over coal, thinking about it as a “transition” or “bridge” fuel at this juncture is a problem, she said.

“The time for transition fuels is over,” she said. “Let’s just be honest — we are in a climate crisis where the time for transition fuels was over a decade ago.”

It was wheels up Sunday morning for WestJet’s inaugural flight from Regina to Halifax.

WestJet flight 642 non-stop to Halifax from Regina International Airport took off at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday. The Regina Airport Authority says the new flight is part of its ongoing commitment to expanding air travel options for southern Saskatchewan.

According to the authority, customers have been asking for more direct flights within Canada. Now there will be an option for them to fly to the Maritimes every Sunday for the duration of the summer.

“This is exciting because it’s the first connection from Regina to Atlantic Canada,” explained Kyla Antonini, the Regina Airport Authority’s manager of customer experience and marketing.

“Our community has been asking for domestic connections across Canada and WestJet answered.”

Representatives from WestJet and Regina Airport Authority said in a statement that the Regina to Halifax flight is about getting people where they want to go, whether it’s reuniting with loved ones in the prairies, exploring new sights in the Maritimes or seamlessly connecting to Europe.

“Halifax is actually a growing hub for European connections for WestJet. So, they’re adding more and more European destinations non-stop from there. So, it’s great for us to have another connection,” Antonini added.

The new route is expected to positively impact local connectivity, support economic development, and provide travellers with greater access to destinations across Canada.

After speaking with CTV News, Antonini hopped onto the inaugural flight, and said she was excited to be one of the passengers to experience it for the first time.

“I love Halifax, so I’m excited to go and bring my family. It’s just a great place and I’m also excited for Halifax to come here to Regina.

The Regina to Halifax flight is scheduled for every Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Flight time is just over four hours in length.

The Halifax to Regina flight departs the YHZ airport every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. and is just under five hours in length.

The direct connections will run until early September.

Two firefighters were killed Sunday when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community, as crews endured a barrage of gunfire over several hours that the governor called a “heinous” assault. No arrests were announced.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d’Alene around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later.

Sheriff Bob Norris said officials didn’t know if anyone else was shot.

“We don’t know how many suspects are up there, and we don’t know how many casualties there are,” Norris told reporters at a 4:30 p.m. news conference. “We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.”

People are still coming off the mountain, the sheriff said, so it “would be safe to assume” that others were still up there.

Gov. Brad Little said “multiple” firefighters were attacked.

“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said on the social platform X. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”

Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.

“I’m hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize, because they’re not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender,” the sheriff said.

An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.

The fire was still active, Norris said.

“It’s going to keep burning,” he said. “Can’t put any resources on it right now.”

The FBI has responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, Deputy Director Dan Bongino said.

Lululemon Athletica Canada Inc. is accusing Costco Wholesale Corp. of infringing on its intellectual property by selling knockoffs of some of its most popular products.

A lawsuit filed in a California court recently alleges Costco sells dupes of Lululemon’s Scuba hoodies and sweatshirts, Define jackets and ABC pants.

Some of the alleged fakes Vancouver-based Lululemon identified are sold under Costco’s private label Kirkland, but others are made by manufacturers Danskin, Jockey and Spyder.

“Some customers incorrectly believe these infringing products are authentic Lululemon apparel while still other customers specifically purchase the infringing products because they are difficult to distinguish from authentic Lululemon products, particularly for downstream purchasers or observers,” the lawsuit says.

Lululemon alleges these scenarios take advantage of patents it holds, as well as the reputation and goodwill it has built with customers.

In its 49-page court filing, Lululemon says it tried to address the dupes by sending Costco cease and desist letters but is now asking a court to step in.

Lululemon has requested the matter be heard by a jury trial, which it wants to order Costco to cease manufacturing, importing, marketing and selling the alleged dupes.

It also wants the Washington-based retailer to remove any instances where it was advertising alleged dupes online or in print and is asking the court to require Costco to cover any lost profits Lululemon incurred from the products.

Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has yet to file a response to Lululemon’s lawsuit.

Dupes have become incredibly popular in recent years as shoppers looked to cope with inflation and a global trade war by seeking products mimicking the originals made by name brands.

The phenomenon has gained traction online in particular, with social media accounts sharing the best dupes they’ve found.

While knock-off cosmetics are especially popular, Lululemon has also become a target because it sells its athletic wear at higher prices, which some customers find unattainable.

The lawsuit comes weeks after Lululemon said it would try to weather new and possibly incoming tariffs with price increases that will be “modest in nature” and applied only to a “small” portion of its products.

The brand has been working to bounce back from a lack of newness that disappointed consumers last year and earlier this year.

Newness — how fresh a brand’s products and styles appear to consumers — is one of the key ways retailers draw in customers.

A province-wide wildfire state of emergency in Saskatchewan has ended.

The order was issued by Premier Scott Moe on May 27 when several out-of-control wildfires threatened numerous communities, which led to around 15,000 people being forced to evacuate at its peak.

As of Friday, evacuations had ended for all but two communities.

Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to more aggressively attack fires and reduce threats to the majority of communities close to wildfires in recent weeks.

According to the Saskatchewan Public safety Agency (SPSA), daily wildfire updates will also end. Updates will be provided when necessary, moving forward.

Officials say people can stay up to date by using the SPSA’s online dashboards.

On Friday afternoon, the SPSA’s website said there are 26 active wildfires across the province with 10 that are not contained.

To date, there have been 274 wildfires in Saskatchewan, well above the five year average of 171.

As of last Friday (June 20) the province had confirmed that 1,931 values had been lost to the fires, including 299 houses and 60 cabins. The SPSA’s last wildfire update came on June 23, when officials indicated loss totals had not risen since June 20.

🎉 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

We’re committed to providing our audience with a listening experience like no other! To maintain this standard, we’re excited to announce a major update to our Broadcast Network.

What’s New?

This update will bring:

• A Better Audio Player: Improved performance on our websites to resolve issues with streams cutting off.
• Enhanced Session Operations: Ensuring error-free radio streams.
• Upgraded Security & Quality: Improved protection and overall broadcast quality.

Downtime Details:

• Expected Downtime: 1 hour (we’ve allocated up to 4 hours for any unforeseen circumstances).
• Impacted Services:
  • Live Broadcasts & Website Access for these 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/
  • Third-Party Apps: Any apps relying on our live broadcasts will also be affected.

Commitment to Excellence:
During the downtime, our team will work diligently to complete the update and monitor the network to ensure peak performance. We’re committed to enhancing your listening experience to the highest standards.

Stay Updated:
Follow us on Facebook or check our websites for real-time updates:

• EVO Media Corporation: https://www.facebook.com/EVOMediaCorporation/
• Z103.5: https://www.facebook.com/YourPartyStationZ103.5
• 979 The Cowboy: https://www.facebook.com/979thecowboy/
• 101 The Rockhound: https://www.facebook.com/101TheRockhound/
• Classic 88.7 The Goat: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093402861183

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work to improve our services.

Thank you for your continued support,

The EVO Radio & EVO Media Corporation Team