Safeguarding our Legacy
For thousands of years, our community was a meeting place along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. European settlement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries established Saskatoon as a center for trade, education and many other services for the prairie region.
In addition to the buildings and other structures, Saskatoon also has preserved areas of natural habitat, such as our riverbank. It is this special blend of old and new, development and conservation that gives our city its true character and appeal.
Saskatoon's Civic Heritage Policy is our commitment to work with the community to conserve and interpret our diverse heritage - and to do so in a planned, selective and cost feasible manner.
As such the City of Saskatoon has developed an incentive program called the Heritage Conservation Program to encourage our residents to preserve our heritage.
For information and tips on how to renovate a character home download
Renovating a Character Home Brochure.
Prior to applying to any civic heritage program, please read through the Evaluation Process Brochure Heritage Evaluation Guide or contact the Heritage Section for an initial evaluation of your property’s heritage merits. Upon completion of the evaluation you may be eligible to apply for one of these programs:
Saskatoon Heritage Inventory is organized according to specific criteria. Click on the Built Heritage Database link for more information.
The Facade Rehabilitation and Renovation Grant Program is available to assist commercial property owners with the rejuvenation of their building facade. It functions to conserve the built heritage and to enhance the city's public profile and urban design.
For the property owner, investing in historic preservation and facade improvements can provide real and significant economic benefits including: enhanced economic value of the property, increased marketing potential, positive public recognition and pride of ownership. Furthermore, these improvements can contribute to neighbourhood development and identity, and local tourism opportunities.