Moose Jaw Wakamow

Moose Jaw Wakamow covers the southern portion of Moose Jaw along the Wakamow Valley, a scenic river valley that runs through the heart of the city. Saskatchewan Party MLA Greg Lawrence had held the seat since 2011, winning a second term in 2016 in one of the more competitive ridings in the province outside the major urban centres. Born in Bienfait and raised in the Estevan area, Lawrence had worked in the oil industry and with SaskPower before moving to Moose Jaw in 2003, where he worked as a customer service technician with SaskTel. The 2020 contest was expected to be closely fought once again.

Candidates

Greg Lawrence (Saskatchewan Party) — Lawrence moved to Moose Jaw in 2003 and became active in the community, fostering children while raising three teenage boys. This involvement in fostering inspired him to enter politics. First elected in 2011, he was seeking a third consecutive term. He was acclaimed as the Saskatchewan Party candidate for the 2020 election.

Melissa Patterson (NDP) — Patterson was a long-time Moose Jaw resident who worked as a table games dealer, supervisor, and facilitator at Casino Moose Jaw. She was active in the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, serving as chief shop steward and treasurer for Local 455, as well as an alternate on the provincial executive for the Saskatchewan Joint Board of RWDSU. She entered politics in 2019 and won the NDP nomination with strong support.

Darcy Jensen (Progressive Conservative) — Jensen was a former NDP supporter who had turned away from the party over what he described as internal infighting and dishonest policies. Living in Regina at the time, he maintained ties to Moose Jaw through family and ran on a platform of prioritizing spending on areas like seniors' care.

Abby Firlotte (Green Party) — Firlotte was a local healthcare aide who ran as the Green Party candidate, focusing on climate change and community support programs.

Local Issues

Moose Jaw Wakamow shared many of the same concerns as its neighbouring Moose Jaw North riding, with healthcare at the forefront. While the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital had been a source of civic pride since its 2015 opening, residents increasingly worried about whether the facility was being adequately staffed and supported. The hospital's hyperbaric chamber, once touted as a provincial asset, had faced operational challenges, and the NDP used healthcare service disruptions as a key campaign issue across both Moose Jaw ridings. NDP leader Ryan Meili chose Moose Jaw to kick off his provincial campaign, signalling the party's view that the city's two ridings were winnable.

The casino industry was a notable local employer, and Patterson's campaign highlighted the concerns of working-class residents in the hospitality and gaming sectors, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic created economic uncertainty for industries dependent on public gathering. Job growth and support for small businesses were debated at a local chamber of commerce forum during the campaign. The riding's competitive history made Moose Jaw Wakamow one of the races to watch on election night.