News Releases

It's almost here! Don't miss out on the chance to take part in the 2023 Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation on the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, Saturday, Sept. 30. Everyone is welcome; it's a family-friendly, no cost event. Wear an orange shirt or “rock your roots” by wearing traditional clothing representing your cultural heritage.

Along the walk route, participants will see cultural performances by: Ashong Family Drummers, Confucius Institute, Magic City Chorus, and Martial Arts Academy. In Victoria Park (where the walk ends), there will be traditional Indigenous dancers and drummers and the Northern Prairie Dancers doing Métis jigging. 

Event Details:
Saturday, Sept 30, 2023
10 to 11:30 a.m.

• Walk begins at CUMFI (315 Ave M S)
• Walk ends at Reconciliation Circle in Victoria Park, near the "Where Our Paths Cross" art installation (across the road from 422 Spadina Cres W)
• Following the walk, there will be short program followed by games in the park

Organizers suggest people plan to arrive early as the event site is expected to be busy. There is an optional pre-walk pancake breakfast outside CUMFI beginning at 8 a.m.

Rock Your Roots is put on by City co-chaired Reconciliation Saskatoon. The intent of this event is to answer the TRC Calls to Action by demonstrating a commitment to Reconciliation, honouring Residential School Survivors, and continuing work towards an inclusive community. The walk has been an annual one in Saskatoon since 2016.
 

Cynthia Block, Ward 6 Councillor says: “The chapter we’re writing now will be our legacy. I feel like we’re at the precipice of change in our community—I hope so. Rock Your Roots is about healing, building trust, and recommitting to reconciliation.”

Carrie Catherine, Coordinator of Reconciliation Saskatoon says: “The walk is an opportunity to honour Survivors and experience a future where Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples hold a shared understanding of our history, celebrate vibrant cultures and worldviews, have equitable systems that benefit us all, and build authentic relationships. We must listen to the truth of the past to build a better way forward.”

Melissa Cote, City of Saskatoon Director of Indigenous Initiatives says: “It’s not about surviving anymore, it’s about thriving—for our remaining Survivors and everyone affected by the residential school system. On September 30, we’ll walk together to honour all Survivors.”

Shirley Isbister, CUMFI President says: “There’s nothing better than seeing the orange shirts: it shows we’re taking a stand to make sure a new generation has a different life. We must continue to teach young people about our history, so it doesn’t repeat itself.”

Kathie Pruden Nansel, Regional Director, MN-S Western Region 2A says: “I honour all the Survivors and the way they’ve shared their truths. We need to make a commitment to them that we’ll continue making things better for all the future generations.”

Between October 1 and October 31, the City of Saskatoon is pleased to offer its residents the opportunity to dispose of elm wood at the Landfill at no cost. This initiative aims to encourage the prompt removal and proper disposal of elm wood, reducing the risk of disease transmission to healthy elm trees.

“Elm trees hold a special place in our urban landscape, providing shade, enhancing aesthetics, and supporting local biodiversity. However, they face a serious threat from diseases like Dutch Elm Disease. To help manage this issue effectively and limit the spread, it is crucial to ensure proper disposal of all elm wood,” says Konrad Andre, Parks Operations Manager.

This one-month pilot project means that residents may dispose of Elm wood, including branches, logs and other elm debris, at the Landfill during regular operating hours through October at no cost. The Saskatoon Regional Waste Management Centre (Landfill) is located along Valley Road, south of 11^th Street.

“By taking advantage of this free elm wood disposal pilot program, residents and businesses can play an active role in protecting our urban canopy and preserving the natural beauty of our community,” says Andre. “Timely disposal of elm wood can significantly reduce the risk of Dutch elm disease and support the health of our elm tree population.”

What is DED?

DED is a serious fungal disease that impacts an elm tree’s water and nutrient conducting system, which eventually causes the tree to die. In Saskatoon, elms make up 25% of the public urban forest.

How is DED spread?

In Saskatchewan, the disease is spread by several species of elm bark beetles. These beetles can fly farther than two kilometres in search of elm trees and are attracted to the scent of pruned or damaged trees and firewood. The DED fungus has tiny spores that stick to the bodies of bark beetles and they can carry these spores and infect other elm trees. The fungus can also be spread by infected pruning tools.

You can help prevent DED by:

• Never storing elm wood or branches. Don’t buy or take elm wood from anyone and don’t burn it.  Elm firewood is the best habitat for bark beetles.
• Disposing of elm wood at the Saskatoon Regional Waste Management Centre (Landfill). Do not take elm to the compost depot or put it in your green bin. Dispose of it immediately, even if it is during the provincial ban.
• Reporting dead or dying elm trees or branches to the city or to a professional arborist.   

How to identify and report unhealthy elm trees and firewood

American elm trees with DED may start showing symptoms as early as June. Typically, the leaves will start to wilt and turn yellow, then curl and turn brown. If you suspect an unhealthy elm tree or are unsure of what type of firewood you have, take a photo and complete the online form at saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease or call Urban Forestry at 306-975-2890.

For more information on DED, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease.

Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) is pleased to celebrate the grand opening of the new Fire Station No. 5 at 1075 Preston Avenue North. The new station will replace the 56-year-old Fire Station No. 5 at 421 Central Avenue in Sutherland.

The relocation comes as a result of a review of SFD’s operations in 2014 that led to the development of a new service model to improve the fire service’s response times across the city. The model aims to ensure SFD’s delivery of services is done in the most effective and efficient way possible as the City looks to the future and how to provide emergency response service to a city of 500,000 residents.

The new fire station features 10,000 square feet on two storeys and is equipped with two bays that will house one frontline engine and reserve apparatus. The station will be staffed with four firefighter-paramedics and one officer, 24 hours per day. Fire Inspectors will also use the new station’s office space during daytime hours.

A highlight of the building is the dedicated cultural space. The room’s design intentionally includes a central tiled circle and is equipped with ventilation to accommodate smudging ceremonies. The perimeter of the room will highlight artwork created by students from Oskāyak High School, which will be regularly updated throughout the year. The shared space is intended for use by SFD and the University of Saskatchewan. When available, the room will be open for public bookings by residents and community groups.

“This new fire station serves as a demonstration of collaboration for the betterment of the community. The partnership we've experienced with the University of Saskatchewan has been instrumental in the endeavor of relocating Station No. 5,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. "The station offers a newer facility design for our crews that is centered around our commitment to truth and reconciliation, while at the same time delivering improved response coverage to the north-east part of the city. The relocation of Station No. 5 is a welcomed addition to our network of infrastructure and will support the community for generations to come.”

“The new Fire Hall No. 5, built in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, is a great collaboration that will re-organize the fire service to provide better response times to neighbourhoods as the City grows. It is important that all of our neighbourhoods, both existing and new, have access to immediate fire and safety services when they need them. It will also save millions of dollars a year by reducing the need for another station in the area. I want to thank all partners who have worked together to help improve the services in our city,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

“The establishment of the new fire station is the latest development in our long-standing relationship with the City of Saskatoon,” said University of Saskatchewan (USask) President Peter Stoicheff. “We are proud to play a role in supporting this vital project and furthering our commitment to the vibrant community that we all serve. We are also pleased to see the inclusion of a shared cultural space on this site spotlighting the work of Oskāyak High School

students, as we recognize that this new fire station is located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.” says University of Saskatchewan President Peter Stoicheff.

To commemorate the completion of construction, a ceremonial grand opening event took place at the new station on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Station No. 5 is scheduled to be fully operational in mid-September once all Life Safety tests are complete. The former Station No. 5 on Central Avenue will be decommissioned and options will be explored to determine the future of the building.

For additional information, visit saskatoon.ca/FireStation5.

Road construction in Saskatoon is moving along on schedule and on budget this summer. The City of Saskatoon earmarked $67.17 million for 2023 road and bridge maintenance and construction. 

• Construction on the westbound side of the Circle Drive North bridge wrapped up in July and crews continue to work on the eastbound side. The bridge rehabilitation began in February and is expected to fully reopen in October. Work on the 40-year-old bridge includes new asphalt and barriers, improvements to drainage and concrete, and repairs to the piers and abutments.
• Several road resurfacing projects on some of the city’s busiest roads are complete, including Circle Drive North (westbound lanes) between Alberta Avenue and Millar Avenue. Sections of Preston Avenue between 8^th Street and Preston Crossing and Wanuskewin Road from 71^st Street to Penner Road have also been resurfaced.
• Water main replacement projects continue throughout various parts of the city, including Downtown and in sections of River Heights, 33^rd Street West, and Varsity View. Road and sidewalk upgrades in the Saskatoon Transit Downtown Terminal are complete.

“The weather this summer has been good for construction and over the past several years, we’ve improved and coordinated road and sidewalk work to happen at the same time as water main replacements,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “All of this results in efficiency and cost savings while reducing prolonged impacts to residents.”

The City has been busy with electrical infrastructure upgrades as well. Saskatoon Light and Power has finished improvements to the underground electrical vault Downtown on 2^nd Avenue between 21^st Street and 22^nd Street. Over the next few months, electricians will work on recommissioning the vault, but no additional road or sidewalk disruptions are expected.

More information about major construction projects can be found at saskatoon.ca/construction. The page includes links to the Road Restrictions and Construction Projects Map as well as how to sign up to receive the Daily Road Report.

We thank residents for their pave-tience during construction. We know it can be a real ‘pain in the asphalt.’

City Council’s Governance & Priorities Committee (GPC) at its September 13 meeting, referred the remaining budget reports and options to the budget deliberations in November for consideration. After a summer of extensive budget meetings and discussions, the Special Budget Meetings previously set for September 20 and October 18 will no longer be required.

Property tax-supported options as well as various business line, spending and staffing reports will be considered at the final budget deliberations in November as Administration and City Council work diligently to continue to lower the City’s 2024/2025 projected funding gap.

Via Council’s prior Special Budget Meetings held June through August, there remains a total of 58 property tax-funded budget options that were not recommended by Administration and these are yet to be considered by GPC. In addition, there are 10 Utility-supported budget options that remain to be considered.

“City Council will continue to investigate the remaining 68 budget line options at budget deliberations on Nov 28 - 30. In addition to considering the Administrative options, City Council will have the opportunity to bring forward any additional options through the notice of motion process at the September 27 Council meeting or October 11 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting,” says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer. “We look forward to continuing to work to find the right balance between the services our residents and businesses expect along with a reasonable property tax.”

During GPC’s previous Special Budget Meetings June 14, July 25, August 15  and August 31, meaningful progress was made to shave the City’s projected funding gap by about $35 million, reduced now to $21.9 million in 2024, and $18.8 million in 2025. It is important to note the funding gap is not a deficit - it represents the projected costs required for the City to deliver civic services in 2024 and 2025 at today’s service levels.

“The 2024/2025 Multi-Year Business Plan & Budget document Council will review in November will have incorporated all budget options tentatively approved up to August 31,” adds Hack. “The starting 2024/2025 property tax rates to be considered by City Council in November are projected to be 7.47% and 5.93% respectively. However, it is important to note there will be several options still available to further reduce the property tax rates over the next two years.”  

Council awaits draft budget submissions earlier requested from the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners and the Saskatoon Library Board. These will be incorporated into this fall’s budget discussions.

For more information on the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Budget & Business Plan, including answers to frequently asked questions and factual reference charts and graphs, check the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Budget Information Guide or visit Saskatoon.ca/budget.

The City and Lac La Ronge Indian Band have cleared a path to designate the First Nation’s land at 211 Wheeler Street, the site of Canada North Environmental Services (CanNorth), as an urban reserve. 

CanNorth is a private environmental consulting company that is 100% owned by Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership, the business arm of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. Since 1997, CanNorth has provided high quality environmental and heritage services to a diversity of clients for a wide range of project types.

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark and Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, along with the Council of Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners Chair, Jyotsna (Jo) Custead, today signed urban reserve agreements during a special signing ceremony.

“It is an exciting progression in the longstanding relationship between Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the City of Saskatoon to have their CanNorth property transition to an urban reserve. I’m pleased that Lac La Ronge Indian Band has chosen to continue investing in Saskatoon. We have seen urban reserve agreements provide great value to both the First Nation and the City of Saskatoon – offering employment opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and fulfilling Treaty Land Entitlements. These investments in our city help create prosperity for everyone and are a model of good partnership and cooperation” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

At its regularly scheduled meeting on August 30, 2023, City Council approved the Municipal Services and Compatibility Agreement negotiated with Lac La Ronge Indian Band. The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners also approved the Police Services Agreement at their regularly scheduled meeting on August 24, 2023. These agreements fulfill the municipal requirements for urban reserve designation.

The agreements address:

• municipal and police services the City will provide;
• service fees Lac La Ronge Indian Band will pay the City in lieu of property taxes; and
• compatible land-use and development standards. 

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band is in the process of creating six new urban reserves including one in Saskatoon.  “The goal is to have these urban reserves provide our community the opportunity for economic development including commercial, residential and industrial activities. The intention is to establish the urban reserve in Saskatoon to ensure the Lac La Ronge Indian Band members who are studying science, technology, engineering and math at the post-secondary level have a landing place upon completion of their degree,” says Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.  

Decisions on reserve designation are made by the federal government. Once the property is designated as a reserve, it will become the tenth urban reserve in Saskatoon. When a property transfers to reserve status, it is no longer under City jurisdiction.

For more information on urban reserves, please visit saskatoon.ca/urbanreserves.

About Lac La Ronge Indian Band

Lac La Ronge Indian Band is a member of the Prince Albert Grand Council, whose home reserves are located near the Churchill River and around Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan, approximately 240 km north of Prince Albert. A signatory of an adhesion to Treaty No. 6, approximately 7,300 members reside on home reserves, and approximately 4,650 members live in other communities off reserve, throughout the province, including approximately 500 members living in Saskatoon.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band has taken control of its approximately 44,000 hectares of its reserve lands and resources pursuant to the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management and has enacted Lac La Ronge Indian Band Land Code which came into force and effect on November 15, 2019.
 

As part of planning for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District, the City engaged KPMG LLP (KPMG) to conduct an in-depth report on potential non-property tax revenue instruments that could be implemented to help pay for the project. This analysis will be presented as an information report at the September 13, 2023, meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee.

“This report helps us understand the various options out there that will assist us in creating a financial plan with minimal impact on taxpayers,” says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer. “It provides us with the data and information necessary to refine our projections and bring forth a draft funding plan.” 

Hack stresses any use of these instruments has not been approved by Council. The purpose of the report is to quantify any potential revenues for each instrument and to update Council and the public on the status of the work so far.

“There is much more to do, including extensive engagement with the province and industry groups, before any formal approvals are requested or received to implement any of these financial instruments,” Hack says.

Out of five non-property tax revenue instruments analyzed by KPMG, Administration has identified four options that warrant additional analysis:

• Accommodations Tax: A charge applied to short-term hotel, motel, hostel and online platform stays, as already exists in many Canadian municipalities.
• Facility Fee: A charge applied to event tickets, as is already in practice at SaskTel Centre and TCU Place.
• Tax-Increment Financing (TIF): A property tax revenue with a defined geographic boundary (i.e., the District), generally only used in areas of redevelopment.
• Parking Revenue from New Parking Structure: Net funding from the City-owned parking structure.

“These types of funding tools have been used successfully by many other municipalities, in Canada and other countries,” he says. “This is not re-inventing anything, rather it is looking at best-practices and what has worked elsewhere to create a made-in-Saskatchewan solution.”

The full scope and financial plan for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District has not been finalized and this KPMG analysis provides valuable information as a starting point to continue establishing full project cost estimates and funding requirements.

The full report, including the complete analysis by KPMG, can be found on the meeting agenda.

In addition to the City’s Major Preservation Program for sidewalks, City crews undertake minor repairs to numerous sidewalks to improve safety and mobility for pedestrians.   

The Sidewalk Safety Repair Program has undergone major enhancements over the last three years. This has led to the completion of nearly 18 km of sidewalk safety repairs in 2021 and 2022, representing a substantial increase to an average of 2.6 km typically completed in the years leading up to 2021. The program remains on track for continued progress in 2023, with 2.8 km of sidewalk repairs already completed this season. 

“The City of Saskatoon remains committed to keeping sidewalks well-maintained, accessible and safe for all pedestrians,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support.  

Recognizing the importance of well-maintained sidewalks, the City's new process for inspecting, prioritizing, and then repairing damaged sidewalk panels that create safety concerns has yielded substantial increase in accomplishments. More than 1,600 sidewalk concerns were resolved in 2021 and 2022. 

The advancements in the program included several process and resource improvements: 

• Criteria such as safety and pedestrian use has been adopted to more effectively prioritize sidewalk repair work.  

• Improved tool and method for capturing relevant inspection information enables better decision making.  

• A new work planning system empowers crews to prioritize and execute work orders more efficiently.  

• A new process for tracking and reporting Key Performance Indicators has improved transparency, accountability, and program management. 

• The creation of a central information database enables prompt and comprehensive responses to residents' inquiries. 

• Improved cross-departmental collaboration has resulted in better coordination of repair work with other programs such as sidewalk replacement program. 

• Improved resourcing has resulted in timelier and better-quality inspections, including improved capacity to deliver more work.     

“The success of the Sidewalk Repair Program exemplifies City’s dedication to continuous improvement and serves as a testament to the positive impact of collaboration, innovation and effort,” says Saric.  

Saskatoon boasts a network of 2,386 km of sidewalks, spanning a distance of about half the width of the United States. This essential infrastructure is crucial to the mobility and safety of residents across the city. 

To report a sidewalk safety concern, please call our Customer Care Center, available 24/7 at 306-975-2476. 

More information on sidewalk repairs is available at saskatoon.ca/sidewalks.

Devastating floods are less of a concern for dozens of property owners in the Adelaide/Churchill Park neighbourhood, thanks to a new project in the north end of Churchill Park. A dry storm pond, which serves as park and recreational space when dry, officially opened today.

The new dry storm pond is the second of nine flood mitigation projects to be completed under the Flood Control Strategy (FCS) by 2027. The FCS was approved by Saskatoon City Council in 2018. The first project, also a dry storm pond, opened in W.W. Ashley District Park in 2022 and construction is now underway on a dry storm pond in Weaver Park. The Government of Canada has contributed $21.6 million towards Saskatoon’s FCS through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

“Due to climate change, extreme weather events are occurring more frequently all over the world,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “This is why we are proud to celebrate the opening of the Churchill Dry Storm Pond in Saskatoon. This important infrastructure will protect neighbourhoods and businesses from future flooding events. We will continue investing in projects that enable communities to withstand natural disasters and thrive for generations to come.”

“Dry storm ponds provide tremendous value in preventing flooding in neighbourhoods that historically have been prone to floods,” said Saskatoon Mayor, Charlie Clark. “These ponds help to mitigate the damage from weather events and can provide peace of mind to residents. The Churchill Dry Storm Pond will provide this same reassurance to residents in the surrounding area. Thanks to continued funding partnerships, we’re able to build infrastructure that protects against more frequent extreme weather events.”

“We have a plan in place to ensure all of our flood mitigation projects are built and functioning before the end of 2027,” said Mitch McMann, Storm Water Utility Manager. “With more severe and less predictable rain events, these projects are important to our residents. During a heavy rain event on June 3 of this year, storm water that would have previously flooded nearby intersections and properties, drained into this dry storm pond instead. The new project functioned very well and as it was intended to.”

Dry storm ponds hold water that would otherwise cause nearby flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows into storm drains, then through underground pipes into the dry storm pond, where it then flows toward and empties into the South Saskatchewan River.

The Churchill Park dry storm pond will help prevent flooding at more than 50 properties around Ruth Street and Cairns Avenue, Bute Street and Munroe Avenue, Ruth Street and York Avenue, and Bute Street and Albert Avenue. The project also included the establishment of new trees, a new pathway, multi-purpose sports fields, and spectator seating built into the slopes.

Once all FCS projects are completed, the City anticipates seeing a substantial decrease in the amount of neighbourhood flooding in the top 10 highest risk areas of Saskatoon.

For more information about the FCS, visit saskatoon.ca/floodplan.

A pair of civic surveys conducted for the City of Saskatoon earlier this year show most residents remain satisfied with life in their community and the municipal services they receive. The surveys also reveal trends in where respondents would like to see the City focus future efforts.

The 2023 Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey and Civic Services Survey on Performance, Priorities and Preferences were conducted by Forum Research Inc. through their online panel in May and June 2023, respectively. Due to the random sampling for these online surveys, the sample is reflective of Saskatoon’s population and therefore the data is reliable and representative of the community.

“These two surveys are a very important measure of how residents feel about their city and the services their municipal government provides,” says Celene Anger, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer. “Results of both surveys will be used to inform decisions related to strategic priorities, budgeting and service delivery, as well as to highlight opportunities for continues improvement.”

Survey Highlights

When asked as part of the Civic Satisfaction and Performance Survey, a large majority of respondents (86%) say they are satisfied with living in Saskatoon – this is consistent with the 2021 survey results. When asked about quality of services provided by the City, eight in ten people (81%) indicate satisfaction; and the large majority of respondents (83%) rate the value of services they receive from the City as very good or good value.  This is also consistent with 2021 survey results.

When asked what the single most important issue is facing the City, nearly one in five (19%) of respondents say it is homelessness, followed by crime/public safety/policing (15%) and roads and sidewalk maintenance (8%).

Similar issues are highlighted in responses to the Performance, Priorities and Preferences Survey as the top three service areas where they would like to see the City provide more service: affordable housing (60%), road maintenance (58%) and snow & ice management (55%).

To a much smaller degree, the top three areas where respondents indicate they would like to see the City provide less service were community grants (19%), planning and growth (17%) and recreation and culture programs (16%).

Meanwhile, overall satisfaction remains the same or higher for many of the 29 civic services asked about in the Performance, Priorities and Preferences Survey.

Ranking with the highest satisfaction among the services that survey respondents were asked about:

• Reliability of electrical services (8.7 out of 10)
• Quality of drinking water (8.3 out of 10)
• Fire protection (8.1 out of 10)
• Garbage collection (8.0 out of 10)
• Recycling collection (8.0 out of 10)
• Indoor leisure centres (7.9 out of 10)
• Outdoor sports fields (7.9 out of 10)
• Indoor ice rinks (7.9 out of 10)
• Recreation programs and services (7.9 out of 10)
• Maintenance of city parks (7.7 out of 10)
• Speed of water main break repairs (7.6 out of 10)
• Police services (7.6 out of 10)
• Landfill services (7.6 out of 10)

Both surveys and their respective results will be part of an information report at City Council’s Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 13.

Full summaries and the detailed results of both surveys are also available on the City website by visiting saskatoon.ca/civic-services-surveys.