News Releases

The City of Saskatoon (City) and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have developed a Climate Commitment and Call to Action with an aim to speed up the transition to a green community.

To formalize this pledge—which progresses the goals of a first-of-its-kind 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between a Canadian university and municipality—the Climate Commitment and Call to Action has been presented to the City’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services (EUCS) on Monday morning, Aug. 9, 2021.

“There are many co-benefits that can result from this strong partnership and project collaboration. The City, USask, Saskatoon residents and students can expect to benefit from lowered emissions and pollution and environmental protection which make the world around us healthier,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “Equity and reconciliation are top priorities throughout this commitment, thus we also expect to see improvements in our relationships and quality of life.”

While both the City and USask have their own climate action plans, this additional commitment will provide common ground between the institution and municipality in order to make way for easier collaboration.

“We are excited to be taking this important step to further develop our relationship with the City on this urgent and accelerating policy challenge,” says Julian Demkiw, Senior Strategist for USask.

If approved by City Council, the first steps will involve sharing information on climate baselines and expanding student engagement. Further work will explore collaboration opportunities around equitable climate action on topics such as energy efficiency and biodiversity conservation.

Visit research.usask.ca/research-junction for more information on collaborations between the City of Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan.

In early March, the animal care staff observed Malcolm having difficulty walking and jumping. A physical exam was performed and arthritis was seen in his joints. Veterinarians had been treating his symptoms with medication to help ease the pain; however, this week his well-being declined significantly and the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize him.

Malcom, who was considered geriatric, arrived at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo in 2009 and made his permanent home at the Nutrien Ark.

“Malcolm was an amazing ambassador for his species,” said Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “In his 12 years at the Zoo, many people had the opportunity to learn more about cougars and we know everyone who had a chance to see him, cared about him as much as we did”.

Cougars have a life expectancy of 9-13 years and range from the north Yukon down to the Andes Mountains in South America. They are classified as Least Concern on the endangered species list but are considered endangered in several provinces in Canada.

The City of Saskatoon has a responsibility to provide clean drinking water to a growing population through an efficient and reliable water treatment and distribution system. Since it was established in 1906, Saskatoon’s Water Treatment Plant has been expanded to a treatment capacity of 250 million litres per day (MLD). The plant, along with reservoirs and pump stations, serve the city and several surrounding municipal and rural customers.

“We will continue to utilize and upgrade our current Water Treatment Plant and infrastructure for years to come, but we need to begin planning the development of a second plant to increase treatment capacity,” says Pamela Hamoline, Interim Director of Saskatoon Water. “A second plant would eventually bring our total treatment capacity to 450 ML per day, which is necessary for an expected population of 500,000 in the coming years.”

On Monday, the Water Treatment Long Term Capital Strategy will go before the City’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services. The report highlights the current and future steps needed to increase treatment capacity.

“Despite many successful water conservation efforts, as well as maintenance and upgrades over the years, it is unrealistic to depend on our 116-year-old Water Treatment Plant to keep up with future demand,” says Hamoline.

Hamoline says an internal Decision Quality Team is committed to ensuring the alignment of the City’s Strategic Goals in determining a treatment plant expansion strategy, including the goal of Environmental Leadership to reduce the City’s environmental footprint and promoting responsible use of resources.

“The team still has a lot of work to do and is currently exploring funding strategies so it can report the findings to City Council. That work will include looking into opportunities and partnerships with Federal and Provincial funding programs.”

The City has a draft Engagement Plan in the works as well, focusing on identifying major stakeholders and opportunities for proactive public communication.

For more information about the Water Treatment Plant, history, distribution system, and treatment process, visit saskatoon.ca/water.

With the concept and site design approved by City Council, construction is in full swing on Recovery Park. The facility, next to the landfill, will be Saskatoon’s one-stop point for easy, efficient, and cost-effective waste diversion.

“This project has been years in the making so it’s great to be at the stage where work is now happening on the site,” says Bryan Zerebeski, Senior Project Management Engineer, Technical Services. “The site has been cleaned up and cleared and soon we’ll get started on new weigh scales and new administrative and equipment storage buildings. The site will be landscaped and when Recovery Park opens in 2023, Saskatoon will experience a very easy and well-organized facility for waste and recycling.”

A new road into the Recovery Park site has already been built and will open on August 9, 2021. Visitors will still access the landfill off Valley Road but will be directed onto the new road while the existing one is decommissioned.

Recovery Park was designed to improve recycling options at the landfill and provide space to develop future diversion opportunities. The materials being considered for acceptance include:

• mixed metals
• appliances
• construction and demolition waste
• rigid plastics
• household hazardous waste
• bicycles
• used oil and antifreeze
• elm wood

Right now, the City diverts 24 per cent of its garbage from the landfill. With Recovery Park, curbside organics and the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Regulation all launching in 2023, the waste diversion rate is projected to increase to 41-54 per cent.

Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the Government of Canada will fund up to $7.8 million toward the Recovery Park project and the Government of Saskatchewan will contribute up to $6,499,350. The City of Saskatoon will fund the remainder of the $37.5 million project and any additional costs.

For more information on Recovery Park and to see the facility layout, visit saskatoon.ca/recoverypark. 

Residents of Saskatoon will soon be able to request public transit service using the Saskatoon Transit OnDemand app from designated stops to the nearest transit hub and vice-versa. The OnDemand Transit (ODT) service will connect the new neighbourhoods of Brighton/Rosewood, North Kensington and Blairmore with fixed route service, to fill service gaps in those areas.

“This is all about service,” says Tracey Davis, Interim Director, Saskatoon Transit.

“We want to provide people with as much flexibility as possible - especially in developing neighbourhoods where full public transit options don’t yet exist. Our OnDemand Transit service is just the thing to meet this challenge head on.”

The new ODT service will begin August 2 and will be fully integrated with the current fixed-route transit system. OnDemand will also be available in Transit, Saskatoon Transit’s all-in-one app to plan, track and pay for rides. Thanks to this integration, riders can, for the first-time plan trips that combine Saskatoon's OnDemand and fixed-route services. Passengers can plan a trip in Transit to their destination using a combination of OnDemand and fixed-route service, then link directly to the Saskatoon OnDemand app to request their ride. Trips can be requested in multiple ways: the Saskatoon Transit OnDemand mobile app, website, or phone (306-975-3100).

To make this all work in a coordinated effort is new AI technology paired with an app that allows trips to be booked in real time, or up to two weeks before riding. Spots can also be reserved for wheelchairs and bikes.

“The software is brilliant,” says Davis. “We’re able to connect buses directly to our customers when they need it, and to route the bus efficiently from rider pickup to drop-off.”

The new service to launch August 2, 2022, will connect Brighton/Rosewood, North Kensington and Blairmore to transit hubs Monday to Friday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SASKATOON, SK — Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for affordable housing and led to rising levels of homelessness. The Government of Canada created a national strategy to build hundreds of thousands of units and provide affordable housing to people across the country. By continuing to make investments in affordable housing, the government is building stronger communities, creating jobs, and growing our middle class, while fighting homelessness and helping vulnerable Canadians.

Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon, today announced $7.6 million to create an estimated 36 new affordable homes for individuals and families in Saskatoon through the Cities Stream under expanded Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI). These housing units will support Canadians who are in uncertain housing situations, experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or living in temporary shelters because of the pandemic.

This is in addition to the Government of Canada’s previous investment of $17 million through the first phase of the Rapid Housing Initiative under the Projects Stream to support the creation of 84 affordable homes for First Nations in Saskatchewan.

In its initial round, with funding of $1 billion announced in October 2020, the RHI exceeded its original target of 3,000 permanent affordable housing units and achieved 4,700 units nationally. Due to this success, an additional $1.5 billion for the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) was recently announced to create 4,500 new units of permanent affordable housing across the country. Thanks to this expansion, this initiative will now create over 9,200 affordable homes for the most vulnerable Canadians across the country.

This new investment will create thousands of good jobs in the housing and construction sector, grow the middle class, and build back stronger communities, while getting us closer to our goal of eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada

Quotes:

“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Today's funding through the Rapid Housing Initiative will go a long way to support those who need it most by quickly providing nearly 36 new affordable homes for vulnerable individuals and families in Saskatoon to keep them safe. This is one of the ways our National Housing Strategy continues to ensure no one is left behind.” – The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

“Everyone deserves a roof over their head and a safe place to call home. Today’s announcement of additional funding through the Rapid Housing Initiative will have a huge impact on our most vulnerable citizens. These new affordable homes will make a difference in addressing the increasing risk of homelessness. Here in Saskatoon, the City will be giving priority to Indigenous-led projects as we recognize the importance of providing housing and supports that is grounded in the culture and identity of the people needing help and healing.  I would like to thank the federal government for their ongoing commitment to creating affordable housing for our most vulnerable individuals and families.” – Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon

Quick facts:

• The RHI is delivered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), under the National Housing Strategy (NHS). 
• Canada’s NHS is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home. Launched in 2017, the NHS will build and repair thousands of housing units, and help households with affordability support. 
• The RHI is a $1 billion program launched in October 2020 to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians, especially in the context of COVID-19, through the rapid construction of affordable housing.
• Due to this success, an additional $1.5 billion for the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) was recently announced through Budget 2021 with $500 million in funding under the Cities Stream being allocated to the following municipalities: Burnaby, Calgary, Capital Regional District, Durham, Edmonton, Gatineau, Greater Sudbury, Halifax, Hamilton, Iqaluit, Kingston, Laval, London, Longueil, Montreal, Niagara, Ottawa, Peel, Quebec, Regina, Saskatoon, Surrey, St. John’s, Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo, Whitehorse, Windsor, Winnipeg, and Yellowknife.
• Under the Projects Stream: $1 billion will be allocated to eligible applications submitted during the RHI’s initial application period last fall and having not yet received funding.
• Based on feedback from stakeholders, CMHC has introduced new flexibilities to the RHI:
  • Program applicants will be eligible to receive funding for additional forms of new construction beyond modular, if units can be built within 12 months.
  • Non-profits will now have an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to support the viability of units without government subsidy (self-funded). 
  • Cities will have a longer time to submit projects (60 days instead of 30).
  • Project delivery timelines have been adjusted for projects located in the North and special access communities.
• At least 25 per cent of this new funding will go toward women-focused housing projects. The units will be built within 12 months of when funding is provided to program applicants.
• The RHI will continue to prioritize proposals that target units serving Indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups. It will also continue to provide flexibilities on timelines to Indigenous governing bodies or organizations as needed.
• Due to the considerable response during the first round of the Projects Stream, many eligible applications remain unfunded. Applicants with eligible proposals from the first round of RHI that have not yet received funding will be contacted directly with further details.
• The RHI takes a human rights-based approach to housing, serving people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and other vulnerable people under the NHS, including: women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people experiencing mental health and addiction issues, veterans, LGBTQ2 individuals, racialized and Black Canadians, and recent immigrants or refugees.
• CMHC supports the government’s efforts to improve the well-being of Canadians facing housing and homelessness challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Associated links:

• Rapid Housing Initiative  
• National Housing Strategy 
• New Rapid Housing Initiative to create up to 3,000 new homes for Canadians 
• Rapid Housing Initiative will exceed targets by creating more than 4,700 new homes for Canadians 
• Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience 

As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Fire Chief Morgan Hackl and other fire officials will welcome the newest group of firefighter-paramedics to the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) at a private graduation ceremony this afternoon. The ceremony will recognize the successful completion of comprehensive training programs where 15 recruits will be presented with their badges and battalion assignments.

All 15 firefighter-paramedics have completed basic training in firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous material mitigation and fire inspections. They are also certified to the level of Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and are licensed through the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics. Their training and experience have prepared them for operating effectively on high-hazard emergency scenes.    

"We hold a high standard of training at SFD. Our team of Fire Service Instructors has worked with these recruits over the past four weeks to review their firefighter and paramedic skills, and educate them on how they will apply these in their new role at the SFD,” says Anthony Tataryn, Assistant Chief of Staff Development and Safety. “Our fire department strives to be a leader in training as we recognize the vital importance that it plays in the safety of both our staff and residents.”

EMS incidents make up over 40 percent of SFD's response, making the recruits’ PCP certification a valuable asset to the fire service.

"When we seek new recruits, we look for individuals who will contribute to the overall success of our team," says Chief Hackl. "With the growing number of EMS calls in our city, it's important for our crews to be equipped with paramedic training. Having the added PCP certification means our firefighters can effectively respond to EMS incidents that occur in high-hazard situations.”

These firefighter-paramedics demonstrate the Saskatoon Fire Department’s commitment towards enhanced front-line emergency care and the investment that City Council continues to make in emergency services.

Chief Hackl adds, “We commend the hard work each recruit has put forward to reach this milestone and we’re thrilled to welcome these 15 individuals to the Saskatoon Fire Department.”

The new firefighter-paramedics will start their first shifts beginning Monday, July 25.

The City’s 2020 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability (SSS Report) highlights how teams worked together, and apart, in 2020 to find new and improved ways to deliver services to residents during the pandemic while focusing on finding savings and reducing our impact on the environment.

“I am very proud of our City employees,” says Celene Anger, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “Despite last year’s extraordinary circumstances, including a work-from-home directive impacting about 1,000 staff, they continued to find innovative ways to continue the safe delivery of essential core services to residents, maximize value for taxpayer dollars and minimize costs for the Corporation.”

“Even with the challenges of 2020, the City moved forward on several major projects including the approval of our Official Community Plan and nationally recognized Green Infrastructure Strategy,” Anger adds. “From making the switch to LED streetlights, adding GPS to our City fleet of vehicles, or the innovative ways found to administer the civic election during the pandemic - every efficiency gained and savings achieved are especially important within a year where COVID-19 greatly impacted our civic finances.”

 2020 SSS Report financial highlights include:

• An estimated $850K in operational savings were identified through a combination of one-time overall and annual savings.
• Saskatoon Land generated $43.7 million in sales and leasing revenues. Financial returns from Land Development operations stay in Saskatoon and are allocated for use in capital projects that would otherwise be funded through property taxes or borrowing.
• Grant funding approvals totaled $69.8 million through a combination of federal and provincial programs.

The annual SSS Report provides highlights to City Council and the community at large on the City’s previous year’s accomplishments related to our Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement through improved service, increased savings and found efficiencies, and successful sustainability initiatives across civic operations.

The 2020 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability report will be presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council today, Monday July 19.