Case competition winning team standing with the judges (From left to right: Style Dayne Stenberg, Mike Jordan, Robin Miller, Todd Godfrey, Pranav Kemala, Satgur Singh, Alexandra Achuonye, Houlin He)
Winning team with the judges (From left to right: Style Dayne Stenberg, Mike Jordan, Robin Miller, Todd Godfrey, Pranav Kemala, Satgur Singh, Alexandra Achuonye, Houlin He)

JSGS students address Saskatchewan's homelessness crisis in annual case competition

The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) hosted its annual Internal Case Competition on October 23, challenging students to develop policy solutions to address rising homelessness and encampments in Saskatchewan.

By Benjamin Freitag

The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) annual Internal Case Competition brought students together to tackle one of Saskatchewan's most pressing public policy challenges: responding to rising homelessness and encampments as winter approaches. Drawing on a realistic scenario set in Regina, participants were tasked with developing both immediate and long-term solutions to support vulnerable residents while balancing fiscal, operational, and political realities.

Working under tight timelines, competitors analyzed the case, assessed policy options, and developed practical recommendations focused on both an operational response for the coming winter and a structural strategy to prevent a similar situation from emerging in 2027. Each team presented its findings and defended its recommendations before a panel of judges. Thank you to our judges in this competition for volunteering their time:

  • Mike Jordan – Chief Public Policy and Government Relations Officer, City of Saskatoon
  • Robin Miller – Former Director of Health, Mental Health & Addiction, Métis Nation Saskatchewan
  • Todd Godfrey - Director, Capital Planning, SaskBuilds and Procurement
Participants of the JSGS Internal Case Competition 2026

The competition reflects the type of complex challenges public servants face every day, requiring students to balance competing interests while developing evidence-based and actionable policy solutions. Through collaboration, critical thinking, and effective communication, participants demonstrated the skills needed to address difficult public policy issues in Saskatchewan and beyond.

Congratulations to the winning team:

Team Three

  • Alexandra Achuonye – MPA - USask
  • Pranav Kemala – MPA - URegina
  • Style Dayne Stenberg – MPA - URegina
  • Houlin He – MPA - USask
  • Satgur Singh – MPA - USask

The annual JSGS case competition continues to provide students with a valuable opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world policy challenges, preparing the next generation of public sector leaders through hands-on problem solving and collaborative decision-making.