DISCLAIMER: The following article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and does not reflect the opinions or views of the Richmond Sentinel. Last edition we ventured up north to explore the interesting laws and bylaws found in the Yukon and Northwest Territories in our 13-part series. In this edition, we will continue to examine some peculiar laws and bylaws ever enforced in the Province of Saskatchewan. Some peculiar bylaws and laws include the mandatory indoor confinement of dogs, holding onto moving vehicles, and the prohibition walking with your shoelaces untied. 

1. Dogs are regarded by many as man’s best friend and the responsibility dog owners have when it comes to cleaning up after their pets. Tisdale, Saskatchewan takes these responsibilities to another level, according to Bylaw 5/05 A Bylaw of the Town of Tisdale to regulate and control the ownership and possession of dogs within the town, “Any person owning or occupying property in the Town of Tisdale shall remove any and all dog defecation from the said property on a daily basis and shall dispose of the defecation in a sanitary manner”. This bylaw was introduced in order to maintain cleanliness and public health standards within the community; any dog owners who refuse to adhere to this bylaw is subject to a fine. (Tisdale Bylaw 5/05) 

2. All pet owners can tell you how much of a nuisance it is to see your pet dealing in heat. Staying in the Town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, according to Bylaw 5/05 “Every owner of a female dog in heat shall keep the dog housed at all times during the whole period that the dog shall be in heat. Failure to do so shall be a breach of this bylaw”. The main reason behind this is because the town wants to prevent any unwanted breeding and to reduce any disturbances that may be caused by male dogs attracted to female dogs in heat. To this day, the bylaw is still enforced. (Tisdale Bylaw 5/05) 

3. In Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, according to bylaw no.4423 the damaging of trees is prohibited, as it states that “no person shall unlawfully cut, break, or mark, root up or otherwise destroy or damage the whole or any part of any tree, sapling, or shrub growing in any public place within the city”. This bylaws was effectively passed on Oct. 27, 1986 in the city’s efforts to protect and maintain public greenery within the city. (Moose Jaw Bylaw No. 4423) 

4. There have been many viral videos of poeple water skiing on the roads with a skateboard or skiing on roads after a night of snowfall but in Saskatchewan that is prohibited. According to the Traffic Safety Act, Section 240 (1) states that “No person on a highway shall directly or by any attachment hold onto a moving vehicle other than the one in which the person is riding.” Although it appears this bylaw is specific to the highway, that is not the case, as the term highway is defined broadly to encompass all public roads and streets. Looks like road surfing and skiing will have to take place in another province. (Traffic Safety Act Section 240 (1)) 

5. City council meetings are often open to the public as they want to hear from the residents ways that they can improve the city. Most people who attend obviously care about the place they call home and want to provide input to further advance the city but some people take it too far. In a response to escalating concerns over the safety and well-being of council members and staff, in June 2021, the City of Rosthern enacted a bylaw that regulated any type of conduct towards city council and staff. This regulation included actions that may cause individuals to fear for their safety, stalking, and surveilling homes or workplaces. To this day, the bylaw is still enforced. 

6. Different people have different ways of coping with their stress, some go on a shopping spree, others drown themselves in alcohol, and some smoke. In the early 90s, smoking was a common part of society up until the early 2000s where smoking in public spaces began facing more restrictions. In 2002, the Saskatchewan government recognized a need to protect therpeople from the health risks associated with tobacco exposure. A law was implemented under the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act that prohibited tobacco use on school property and school grounds at all times. It makes you wonder, how many students were exposed to secondhand smoke prior to this policy. (Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act) 

7. In Fort Qu’Appelle, a municipality near Regina, it is illegal to walk down the main street with untied shoes. The terms of this bylaw are up for interpretation as there are some people who like to wear their shoes untied as they don’t like the feeling of strangling their feet. But what if someone were in a rush and their shoelace was untied, or if someone purposely untied the shoelace of another in front of an officer would that subject them to fines? This bylaw was most likely implemented in order to prevent potential accidents caused by tripping in hopes of enhancing pedestrian safety. According to the former mayor Ron Osika who answered a question about the bylaw in 2020, there was a brief investigation done by his staff regarding the this bylaw and whether it is still enforced but there was not enough time to verify the status. (Blue Matter, 2020) 

If you think we missed any peculiar laws in this region, feel free to email us at newsroom@richmondsentinel.ca or comment under the post on one of our social media accounts. In the next edition, we venture further east into The Keystone Province, or Manitoba, to see what laws and bylaws were or still are enforced.