Medical Residency Expansion in Northeast Saskatchewan

CANADA, September 8 - The Government of Saskatchewan, in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine, is expanding physician training opportunities across the province. Beginning with the 2026 Canadian Residency Match System (CaRMS), the Department of Academic Family Medicine will add new family medicine core residency training seats, including one in Yorkton, with further seats to be announced in other communities.

"We are very pleased to be able to provide additional training opportunities for medical residents here in the province," Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. "This expansion will help to address health care needs in rural Saskatchewan, and we encourage new residents to consider building their practice here in the future."

This expansion builds on the success of the most recent South-East expansion which introduced residency training seats in Moosomin, Humboldt and Weyburn in 2022. 

Training opportunities in family medicine are expanding across the province, with the College of Medicine offering 68 seats in the 2026 CaRMS match - an increase of 20 seats over the past five years.

“Where learners train strongly impacts where they practice,” said Dr. Sarah Forgie (MD) Dean of the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine. “Continuing to grow training opportunities across the province is a priority for our college, and these new resident doctor positions will strengthen health care supports for people in the area.”

In the 2025 CaRMS match earlier this year, 54 of the 147 residents who matched in Saskatchewan were local graduates from the U of S College of Medicine. 

“This announcement is about building a stronger health care system for Yorkton and the region,” Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said. “We thank the provincial government for bringing this residency position to our city. This opportunity allows a medical student to complete their residency training here, while also increasing the likelihood that they will choose to establish their career in our region. It is an important investment and we look forward to seeing this program grow.”

“Yorkton is a growing regional hub, and the addition of a new residency seat here will make a real difference in supporting local health care,” Yorkton MLA David Chan said. “Training future physicians in Yorkton helps meet the needs of families in our region today, while also encouraging doctors to stay and practice in our community for years to come.”

The new residency seats are expected to launch training July 1, 2026.