News Releases

Since it was built in 1958, the City’s Greenhouse facility (Greenhouse) located within the Vic Rempel yards off Avenue P North, has provided plants for all the City’s flowerpots, flower beds and indoor greenery and has now reached the end of its service life.  

In recent years, the Greenhouse has experienced escalating structural concerns due to its age and unique design and will soon need to be vacated for the safety of staff. In September 2022, an engineering assessment indicated increasing issues with the Greenhouse structure from the previous year and recommended that it be vacated.   

The City wants everyone to know that bright and beautiful flowers will continue to be planted citywide by Parks staff every year. While options will be explored for the future of the Greenhouse, the City has secured a suitable private sector contractor to provide seasonal plants for the 2023 season. 

Later this year, City Administration will bring a report back to City Council outlining longer-term recommendations for the future of the Greenhouse program.  

Through a competitive process, Stantec has been chosen as the City’s Technical Advisor for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District. Stantec has partnered with HOK and LMN who have a wealth of experience in similar projects, including Rogers Place and Edmonton’s ICE District, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Calgary BMO Centre Expansion in Calgary.

“Stantec has put together a highly experienced team of experts for this project,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services. “When it comes to developing event centres and convention centres, our technical advisors bring international expertise to the project. This, combined with the ability to leverage Saskatoon-specific knowledge through City Council, the District Advisory Group, and local stakeholders and rightsholders, gives us confidence we will have a successful project.”

Additionally, at the February 14^th Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting, a draft of the Vision and Guiding Principles for the District Plan will be presented in an Information Report.

The Vision and Guiding Principles are designed to outline the aspirations of the District Plan, with the goal of repurposing Downtown Saskatoon into an entertainment and cultural hub, with vibrant public spaces that are welcoming and accessible for everyone.

“The vision for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District will combine the new event centre, a new or updated convention centre and a plan for the larger area, including enhanced public spaces that will be accessible to everyone through the Bus Rapid Transit system,” says Willems.

“The District Plan creates the foundation to support commerce, tourism, services, residential properties, entertainment and more, and is the key component to the future success of the District.”

The full draft Vision and Guiding Principles can be found through the meeting agenda. The main principles being proposed for the District, including:

• A distinctive identity through placemaking/placekeeping
• Architectural and public realm design excellence
• Reconciliation by honouring Indigenous histories, languages and culture
• Reliable and efficient transportation options
• Downtown density with a focus on housing
• Leadership in sustainability and resiliency
• A robust and diverse economy
• A healthy and safe community

Other aspects of the Downtown Event and Entertainment District continue to progress. The City is continuing to develop funding strategies with the goal of funding the project with little or no additional increases to property taxes. Conceptual design of the new facilities will begin in February.

City Council will be asked to make a decision on the guiding principles at its meeting in March.

For more information visit the project website at saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict.

The City’s Administration and Arbutus have reached an agreement that allows for the potential development of 2775 Meadows Parkway in Rosewood to move forward. The agreement resolves the financial matters between the two parties while at the same time protects City infrastructure and the property of current and future residents.

The City Administration and Arbutus have continued working together throughout the past months and are pleased to have arrived at a mutually agreeable resolution of this matter.

The matter will be considered by City Council at its January 25, 2023 Public Hearing meeting.

Jeff Jorgenson
City Manager

S&P Global Ratings (S&P) has reaffirmed the City of Saskatoon’s credit rating with the highest rating possible, a ‘AAA’ credit rating with a “Stable” outlook. The City has maintained the ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating for twenty-one years since S&P first began affirming the City’s credit ratings in 2002.

“City Staff and City Council have worked hard over the years to ensure that prudent financial management and forward-thinking financial decisions are always top priority.  This endorsement by S&P once again confirms the City of Saskatoon’s financial management practices, economy and outlook as one of the strongest in the country,” says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer. “I’m confident the City’s prudent financial practices and our strong economy will continue to serve the City, residents and our business community well into the future.”

S&P notes “Saskatoon’s broad and diverse economy with a growing population will continue to support the City’s creditworthiness,” and also observes the City’s ability to  “maintain robust financial results that will support its capital plans, low debt, and exceptional liquidity.” As experienced by other Canadian municipalities, “Saskatoon benefits from an extremely predictable and supportive local and regional government framework that has demonstrated high institutional stability and evidence of extraordinary support in times of financial distress.”

“Maintaining the ‘AAA’ credit rating which includes a stable outlook, is important as it supports our confidence in our budgetary decisions, financial management and overall economic outlook for the City of Saskatoon,” adds Hack. “We continue to be a municipal leader and remain assured in our ability to minimize debt as we commit to priorities within the City’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan and undertake long-term planning for infrastructure to support our great quality of life in Saskatoon.”

S&P states rationale contributing to the City’s strong credit rating within January 19, 2023, S&P Global Ratings Direct® Report:

• The City's “strong and prudent financial management is a key credit strength” and “the City’s management team is experienced and qualified to effectively enact fiscal policies and respond to external risks.”
• The City “demonstrates good political and managerial strength with its lengthy track record of passing budgets with minimal variations from budgeted revenues and expenses.”
• S & P views “management accountability as strong and financial policies as prudent. Management’s disclosure and transparency are good, and the city prepares robust annual budget documents.”
• “The City prepares multiyear operating and capital budgets for subsequent years, as well as long-term capital and borrowing plans. We believe that this supports fiscal transparency and discipline.”
• The City maintains “exceptional liquidity” and “debt is supported by high operating margins, which over five years exceed total direct debt outstanding, highlighting the small and manageable debt burden.”

Credit ratings are one of several tools that investors and lenders use when making decisions regarding an organization’s future financial strengths and weaknesses. For the City of Saskatoon, the ‘AAA’/Stable rating serves as an indication of the credit risk and ability to meet its financial obligations in full and on time. This also identifies the credit quality of the City’s debt issue and can translate into lower interest rates for favourable credit ratings since there is minimal or low risk associated with the City’s debt.

View the City of Saskatoon’s past documents on financial performance and credit rating history at saskatoon.ca.

The Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council (GPC) unanimously approved a process to find a private industry partner to oversee the management and operation of future downtown arena and convention centres. 

“Many municipalities that own event centres are moving towards private contracted management,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services. “It’s nearly unheard of for a facility to move from private management back to public management.” 

Right now, SaskTel Centre is managed by a private company. The proposed option would mean, subject to successful procurement and contract negotiations with the preferred proponent, both future facilities could be managed by a single company but remain City-owned.  

This approach will enable the City to: 

• Negotiate a management agreement at a level playing field after receiving competitive bids from all qualified and interested parties; 

• Optimize and streamline governance structures of both facilities; and  

• Obtain the most favourable agreements for the City that will also elevate the new venues. 

Willems says that no third-party management firms will be given preferential treatment through the procurement process, adding that an independent Fairness Advisor will be brought on to monitor the process.  

“This will be a clean slate with the goal of obtaining the highest overall value for Saskatoon. We want to ensure any future management arrangement will maximize seat sales, profits and animation of the facilities, which will in turn create spinoff benefits to the surrounding Downtown area and entire community.” 

Securing a private partner to contribute capital funding towards the facilities will reduce the overall funding required to be secured from other sources.  

The next steps involve securing an Owner’s Representative to assist City Administration with preparing the Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposal documents for the private partner procurement. The Administration will be reporting back to GPC to outline the anticipated schedule for the procurement, in addition to seeking City Council’s endorsement of key elements and principles within the Request for Proposal prior to it being issued – likely in April or May. 

At today’s meeting of the City Council’s Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC), members debated various options to fund the activation of the Roadways Emergency Response Plan (Plan), which prompted city-wide snow grading and planned snow removal for every street following the December 2022 major snowfall. Snow grading and snow removal on local residential streets are not currently funded in the annual $14.8 million snow and ice management budget.

“To be clear, residents will not see an additional tax increase in 2023 related to the City’s ongoing city-wide snow response. The City will proceed with a borrowing strategy to fund the anticipated $20 million cost of the 2022/2023 response.  Further options will be brought back to City Council for a combination of dedicated property tax and deferral of capital funding for the 2024 budget deliberations to repay the borrowing and build a base for future emergency snow responses,” says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer.

 “Through this direction, it’s clear Committee members are committed to ensuring sufficient funding to enact the Roadways Emergency Response Plan when required while also trying to minimize the impact on taxpayers.”

The total cost of the December 2022 city-wide snow clean-up is estimated to be up to $20 million, about $6 million more than in 2020 because of more accumulated snow and higher costs of diesel fuel and equipment. 

The storm in November 2020 is the most recent event with similar snowfall at 30-40 cm and was the largest single snowfall event since January 2007. The Administration applied the lessons learned from the clean-up response to develop a comprehensive Roadways Emergency Response Plan (Plan). While it’s difficult to determine the frequency of large snow events requiring emergency response, with assuredness, more frequent and erratic weather events appear to be increasing globally. 

Find the full agenda from the January 17, 2023, Governance and Priorities Committee and the link to watch the archived video of today’s decision-making later this week at Agendas, Minutes and Meeting Video on our website.  

Members of City Council’s Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) will discuss funding options following the activation of the Roadways Emergency Response Plan (Plan), which prompted city-wide snow grading and removal. The Plan was meant to be used in exceptional circumstances, but this undertaking has occurred twice since November 2020 because of extreme snowfalls. The Administration recommends City Council consider introducing a four-year property tax phase-in of 0.75 per cent for the 2024 to 2027 budgets. 

“A levy would not only repay the borrowing for the 2022 snow event but would also put money in a reserve to fund future responses,” says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer.  “Should the committee approve this recommendation, such a move would have the least impact on the City’s asset management programs and overall service levels that residents expect.” 

Snow grading and snow removal on local residential streets are not funded in the annual $14.9 million snow and ice management budget and are not in the level of service when it snows. However, the latest snowfall this December and the storm in November 2020, required immediate grading, followed by snow removal on every street.  

“Snow removal is a costly undertaking because it requires a variety of equipment, extra operators and lots of hauling costs,” says Hack. “However, it’s necessary to restore sightlines at intersections and the full width of driving lanes for safety reasons, and parking availability along streets.” 

The total cost of the clean-up this time is estimated up to be $20 million, about $6 million more than in 2020 because of more accumulated snow and higher costs of diesel fuel and equipment.  

The storm in November 2020 is the most recent event with similar snowfall at 30-40 cm and was the largest single snowfall event since 2007. The Administration applied the lessons learned from the clean-up response to develop a comprehensive Roadways Emergency Response Plan (Plan).  

On Tuesday, January 17, GPC will review four funding options: 

1. Use cash from reserves and deferral of capital projects like road maintenance;  
2. Repay borrowing by reducing reserve transfers to the Paved Roadway and Sidewalk Capital Reserves or others; 
3. Repay borrowing by making reductions to the 2024-2035 Major Capital Plan, which could impact proposed new and replacement Fire Halls, White Buffalo Youth Lodge Refurbishment/Replacement, Fleet Electrification (including Transit) or other priorities; and 
4. Create a dedicated property tax phase-in to build base for future events and repay borrowing.  

Find the full agenda for the January 17, 2023, Governance and Priorities Committee and the link to watch live at Agendas, Minutes and Meeting Video on our website.  

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is saddened to announce the loss of Georgia the North American Porcupine that passed away on December 31, 2022. Georgia was being treated by veterinarians and our animal care team in the days leading up to her death.

For 16 wonderful years, Georgia was a resident at the Zoo and played a key part in educating visitors and students of all ages on the importance of her species and habitat. She was regularly visited by many who loved to see her and her majestic quills up close and in person.

“Georgia was special,” said Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “She played such an important role in the Zoo’s educational programming and the Affinity Learning Centre for these many years and she will be missed by all of us here who interacted with her on a daily basis.”

The average life expectancy of a porcupine like Georgia is eight to 10 years in the wild and up to 18 years in zoological facilities. The porcupine is classified as Least Concern on the endangered species list.

Saskatoon remains under a Snowfall Warning and the City of Saskatoon has activated a city-wide snow response plan after receiving approximately 34 centimetres since December 25. Once crews are finished clearing all the major routes in the coming days, efforts will switch to a city-wide snow grading and removal program.

“Public safety is our top priority, and we are doing everything we can to get everyone moving around normally again, including those who live along streets that aren’t typically graded,” says Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support Services, Goran Saric. “This is a challenging situation with many residential streets impassable for light vehicles.”

City and contractor crews have been steadily working since the December 25 storm. They were just finishing up the priority streets when last night’s snowfall hit. Some City services that have been affected, like waste collections, will resume as soon as possible or be rescheduled.

Saric says a residential street grading schedule is being developed and will be posted to saskatoon.ca/snow later this week.

The criteria for activating the city-wide Roadways Emergency Response Plan for responding to extreme or unusual snow events is when the snow accumulation is greater than 25 centimetres and/or there’s a combination of snow, freezing rain and wind; and mobility is reduced to the point that light vehicles cannot travel on city streets; mobility across the city is severely impacted, and the regular winter maintenance level of service applicable to typical snow events cannot be met.

“With the recent back-to-back snowfalls of 34 centimetres, Saskatoon has now received a total of 90 centimetres of snowfall this winter. With several months of winter still ahead of us, grading and removing snow across the entire city now will help us avoid compounded mobility issues and potential spring drainage concerns in the coming months,” says Saric.

Learn about winter road maintenance at saskatoon.ca/snow. Stay in the Snow by checking the latest Snow & Ice Report posted to saskatoon.ca/snowreport.

Once again, SGI and Saskatoon Transit have partnered to offer free late-night transit service on New Year’s Eve.

“Having free Transit service on New Year’s Eve removes any financial barrier to planning a safe ride home after a night out,” says Cory Shrigley, Manager Customer Support & Engagement, Saskatoon Transit. “We encourage everyone to plan their route before heading out using the real-time mobile app Transit.”   

Residents are encouraged to think about using a variety of transportation modes on busy nights like New Year’s Eve. Multi-modal options are available on the Transit app. You can plan your trip taking the bus out of the downtown or busy areas and book your ride share for the short distance home all from inside the app. Transit+ seamlessly integrates a Riide or Uber vehicle with a transit connection.

By combining transportation modes residents can minimize wait times and costs.

Free bus service will be available on Saturday, December 31, from 7:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. on January 1 (times may vary slightly by route).

For a transit schedule go to SaskatoonTranist.ca/route-and-schedules, use the transit app or call 306.975.3100 for help with trip planning.

“There is no reason for impaired driving, especially on New Year’s Eve,” Shrigley says. “We are thankful to have SGI as a partner in providing free transit service on New Year’s Eve.”

Access Transit is free for registered customers as well but must be reserved.