Union says drug overdoses a daily occurrence on Saskatoon city buses

Public intoxication, bear-spraying incidents and other forms of violence have become an everyday issue for Saskatoon transit drivers and riders.

Now, drug overdoses — sometimes several a day — are also occurring.

“It’s happening in the bus terminals, it’s happening at the bus stops. We’re seeing it on the buses, outside of the buses. It’s definitely an issue for sure,” said Darcy Pederson, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 president.

And it’s adding further stress to an already volatile job.

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“Our members are feeling overwhelmed, they’re not feeling safe at work, they’re stressed out. They come to work wondering if this is the day that they’re going to have to deal with a bear spray or an assault on the buses.”

“It’s amplifying a problem that’s only getting worse,” he said.

While the drug overdoses happen on a variety of routes, the “hotspots,” Pederson said, are in the downtown and along routes that run on 20th Street West, 22nd Street West, and near Confederation Mall.

Drivers don’t carry Narcan.

“We’ve suggested to put Narcan on the buses. That request was denied by management. This request came I would say, early last year. The answer was, ‘No, we’re not going to be putting Narcan on the buses,'” he said.

According to statistics provided by the City of Saskatoon, so far in 2025 Transit workers have made 10 calls about suspected overdoses, seven of which occurred at the downtown terminal and one on a bus. Of those, three were confirmed as overdoses.

Pederson is continuing his call for security to enforce rules and to create a safer environment for riders and drivers because while there are more community support officers (CSOs) and commissionaires riding different routes, he believes the situation is not getting better.

“That’s not the answer. The answer for the immediate problems is we need some type of security, transit police, or peace officer. We somebody to keep order on the buses, enforce the rules, and create a safe working environment for our members and a safe riding environment for our passengers,” he said.

Mike Moellenbeck, director of Saskatoon Transit, has said the safety of staff and passengers is a top priority, and the city has been working on several solutions to ensure that, including unveiling a front-line employee safety campaign in June 2024.

But Pederson said it’s not enough.

“They hear me, but they haven’t acted on it.”

As far as Pederson is aware, there have not been any overdose deaths on a city bus to this point because ambulance, fire, or police have been able to get to the bus in time.

What can I do if I see an overdose?

People can call 911 if they are alone, and having a naloxone kit can also help.

Naloxone is used to treat overdoses for drugs like heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone and hydrocodone, but Praire Harm Reduction has said it has not been effective in all cases in the latest Saskatoon overdose spike because benzos are involved.

The Saskatchewan government provides free Naloxone kits and training on how to administer it to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as to anyone who might witness an overdose. The training also covers overdose prevention, recognition and response.

A list of places where the free kits are available can be found here. Emergency departments across the province also carry the kits, and they can be purchased at some pharmacies as well.”

Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act offers some legal protection and applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including any person experiencing an overdose.

The Act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The Act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.

Symptoms of an overdose may include but are not limited to:

• slow or no breathing
• gurgling
• gasping or snoring
• clammy and cool skin
• blue lips or nails
• difficulty waking up or staying awake