WinterCityYXE: Winter Fun is Warming Up in Saskatoon!
Now that the weather is warming up, so are the winter activities and events around the city. Residents are encouraged to warm up to winter with opportunities to get outside, get together, and get involved over the next few months.
“This is a chance for residents and visitors to embrace winter, and the many opportunities we have to enjoy the season,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives. “Events like the annual Nutrien Wintershines Festival in a few weeks or the new Crokicurl game next week, are part of the wintertime fun.”
Winter community events are just the tip of the iceberg. The City and community stakeholders are working on WinterCityYXE, an intentional effort to celebrate what makes Saskatoon unique as a four-season place that is inviting, vibrant and prosperous, even in the coldest months of the year. This Winter City Strategy will guide the changes necessary to help residents, businesses and visitors embrace winter with as much enthusiasm as they have for the summer season.
As part of the Winter City Strategy to improve the quality of life in the winter season, the City has awarded funding to recipients through the WinterCity YXE Grant program. Wallace says, “Though we can’t change winter, we can provide resources to community groups to help them make winter more fun and exciting for everyone.”
2017 WinterCityYXE Grant recipients include:
January 13 - February 25, 2018
Crokicurl
Recipient: Broadway Business Improvement District
Location: Broadway Avenue & 12th Street
Combining two iconic Canadian pastimes, crokinole and curling, to become an exciting outdoor sport.
January 18 - 20, 2018
Theatre on the Trail
Recipient: Sum Theatre Company
Location: Meewasin Trail
Explore the wintertime beauty of Saskatoon’s beautiful Meewasin Trail through a live theatrical walk featuring a combination of professional artists, including Indigenous and Newcomer performers.
January 18-21, 2018
Winterruption
Recipient: Friends of the Broadway Theatre
Location: Broadway area
Encompassing 23 shows in 9 indoor venues, and also an outdoor festival featuring storytelling, free sleigh rides, face painting, free hot beverages, outdoor food and more. As part of Winterruption, a tipi will be raised in late November as central venue for free storytelling during Winterruption. It will also be used by Ecole Victoria School for much of the winter.
February 3, 2018
Wanuskewin Winter Festival
Recipient: Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Location: Wanuskewin Heritage Park
A family event with indoor and outdoor programming centred around Indigenous games, activities, and trapping skills.
January - March 2018
Ice Cycle 2.0
Recipient: Flatlanders FatTire Brigade
Location: Various locations around Saskatoon
A collection of events that will bring together local organizations, businesses, and community groups to celebrate winter cycling culture in Saskatoon.
For more information, including a full calendar of winter activities in Saskatoon, visit saskatoon.ca/wintercityyxe. To have an event or activity added to the WinterCityYXE calendar, please contact us at wintercityyxe@saskatoon.ca.