Curtis Wiebe among three appointed to Saskatchewan Provincial Court

A familiar face in southwest Saskatchewan’s legal community is heading to the bench.

The Government of Saskatchewan announced Feb. 17 the appointment of three new judges to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, including Curtis Wiebe, who will serve in Prince Albert.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod, K.C., said the province’s judiciary will benefit from the experience each appointee brings.

“I am proud to announce the appointment of these three new judges to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan,” McLeod said in a news release. “I am confident they will seamlessly transition to their new roles and serve their communities with the utmost professionalism. Saskatchewan boasts a talented, knowledgeable and experienced judiciary, and I know these new appointees will make excellent additions to the Provincial Court for years to come.”

Wiebe, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2002, has built a career that spans private practice and public prosecution. He articled in North Battleford and was called to the Bar in 2004.

He began his career with Saskatchewan Legal Aid before joining Kanuka Thuringer LLP in Regina in 2006, where he practised civil litigation, family law and criminal law. During his six years with the firm, he became a partner and was active with the Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers’ Association.

In 2012, Wiebe joined Public Prosecutions with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice and Attorney General as a Crown prosecutor. Most recently, he served as Regional Crown Prosecutor in Swift Current, a role that made him widely recognized across southwest Saskatchewan’s legal and broader community circles.

Over the course of his career, Wiebe has appeared in Provincial Court, Court of King’s Bench and the Court of Appeal. His experience handling a broad range of matters — from criminal prosecutions to complex litigation — has positioned him as a seasoned and steady presence in Saskatchewan courtrooms.

Beyond his professional work, Wiebe has been deeply involved in community life in Swift Current and the surrounding area. He has coached school basketball and minor league football, provided court tours for school groups across southwest Saskatchewan and remained active in his local church. He is also known, somewhat uniquely, as an amateur sheep herder.

Also appointed to the Provincial Court are Sara Knowles in Saskatoon and Matthew Schmeling in Regina.

Knowles graduated with great distinction from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2004 and began her career as a law clerk with the British Columbia Court of Appeal. After articling and practising with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, she moved to Saskatoon and later joined Robertson Stromberg LLP. Since 2018, she has served as Legal Counsel – Health Services with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, with a practice background that includes commercial litigation, family law and health law. She has also coached youth soccer and basketball and previously competed with the U of S Huskies women’s basketball team and the Saskatchewan provincial women’s basketball team.

Schmeling, who grew up on a grain farm south of Regina, graduated from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2014. After articling with McDougall Gauley LLP, he built his practice in civil litigation, criminal law, professional discipline and regulatory defence, becoming a partner in 2022. He has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and has been active with the Canadian Bar Association. He also serves on the board of the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan and volunteers with the Regina Public Library assisting newcomers with English and mathematics.

Wiebe’s appointment marks a significant transition for the southwest region’s legal community, where he has long been a prominent figure in both the courtroom and the community. He will now serve on the bench in Prince Albert as part of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Court.