Dutch Elm Disease found in trees at Regina’s Wascana Centre

WATCH: Dutch Elm Disease is spreading in Regina, with city officials confirming 18 new cases in the past two weeks. Wayne Mantyka reports.

The province says two trees in Wascana Centre have been removed after testing positive for Dutch Elm Disease.

According to the province, the trees were removed July 14 near Goose Hill and the Saskatchewan Science Centre.

Since 2015, there have been five confirmed cases of Dutch Elm Disease in Wascana Centre, the province said.

One case in 2014, one in 2019, one in 2024 and two in 2025.

The Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) is responsible for the maintenance and future of the urban forest in the Wascana Centre as well as around Government House.

“Elm trees are an important part of Regina’s tree canopy cover,” PCC executive director Jenna Schroeder said in a news release. ”Wascana Centre is proud to be a place where friends and families can gather and enjoy the outdoors at one of our many picnic spots.”

“To ensure the continued health of our trees, we remind visitors that it is illegal to transport, store or buy elm firewood,” she added.

Wascana Centre also released its master plan for growth moving forward earlier this month.

The City of Regina said on July 3 that it was seeing a Dutch Elm Disease outbreak, with 16 trees testing positive for the disease so far.

Ray Morgan, the acting director of parks and open space services at the City of Regina, said the numbers so far are concerning.

“If it’s this early in the season, our projection is it’s going to be a long season for Dutch Elm Disease,” he said on July 3. “We are about two weeks earlier than normal.”