News Releases

The City is committed to working around the clock to get Saskatoon moving again following a severe winter storm over the weekend and into Monday morning.  The storm resulted in impassable roads, large drifts and ice, but progress is being made.

Snow Clearing

Snow clearing crews are focused on clearing all priority 1 roads, including Circle Drive, College Drive, Idylwyld Drive, 8^th Street, 22^nd Street, bridges, overpasses and ramps. All priority 1 roads are now passable, meaning there’s a minimum of one lane open. Right now, approximately 40 percent of all priority 2 roads are also passable.

“We would like to thank residents who have been able to stay off the roads which has allowed room for snow clearing equipment and emergency vehicles,” says Jeff Jorgenson, City Manager. “We remain focused on our priority roads and are working to open as many of our priority 2 roads as possible before the end of the day.”

The City continues to ask residents to avoid unnecessary travel. If travel is necessary, adjust for driving conditions and watch for snow removal crews equipped with blue and amber flashing lights. Stay a safe distance behind and be prepared to stop quickly. Some traffic signs and signals are covered with snow, so drivers should practice extra caution at intersections.

More information on the City’s snow clearing efforts can be found at saskatoon.ca/snow.

Civic Facilities and Service Impacts

City Hall

Residents are encouraged to avoid travelling to City Hall. Instead, please use online services (property taxes, assessment and utility related matters) at saskatoon.ca or contact us through e-mail at revenue@saskatoon.ca or phone at 306-975-2400.

Saskatoon Transit

Transit service is suspended but will resume as conditions allow. Please note the customer service phone line is experiencing a high volume of calls. For updates check the real-time mobile app, Transit, or visit saskatoontransit.ca/servicealerts. Once service resumes, it will be FREE for those who show the special Election Day pass.

Access Transit

Access Transit service is suspended and will resume once roads become more accessible. Affected customers are being contacted. Please call 306-975-3555 with any questions or concerns.

Garbage and Recycling

Garbage and Recycling collection for Monday, November 9 has been suspended. Collection has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 14. The City will continue to monitor the situation and inform residents if other routes are impacted.

The Landfill will close at 5:00 p.m. Anyone planning to visit the Landfill should bring assistance to unload.

Parks and Urban Forestry

Requests for service will be prioritized with service response occurring primarily during daylight hours. Service priorities would include locations where branches are blocking roadways and sidewalks or have the potential for injury or damage. Please report downed branch locations to 306-975-2476.

Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. Brush that is cleared as a result of private trees obstructing public sidewalks or roadways will be left on private property for the owner to clean up.  

All elm branches must be disposed of at the Landfill.

Leisure Services

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo: closed

City Arenas: closed until at least 4:00 p.m. (City will reevaluate later today)

Leisure Centres: closed

Saskatoon Light & Power

There have been no service interruptions, but Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P) is on standby to address any issues that may arise.

For timely updates regarding all service disruptions visit saskatoon.ca/servicealerts or follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

Civic Election, Monday November 9th 

It is the Civic Election and the polls are open until 8:00 p.m.

Leisure Centres are not accepting mail-in ballot drop-offs because they are closed. However, voters can dropp off their completed mail-in ballots at any polling location in the city. All poll locations can be found here.  

Visit saskatoon.ca/vote2020 for all election related updates and information.

Emergency Preparedness 

The City has now moved into recovery mode, which is just as important as response.  

Continue to ensure your own safety over the coming days:  

Reach out to people who may require support:  

• More than 300 people in Saskatoon are self-isolating due to COVID-19.  
• Consider whether any of your neighbours may need assistance, including those that are seniors or have disabilities.  

​If travel is necessary:  

• Equip yourself with an emergency kit containing warm clothes, blankets, candles, snacks and a shovel. 
• Try not to travel alone.  Have someone else who can assist you in the vehicle 
• Be sure to let someone know where you’re going and when you arrive.  
• Plan for delays.  
• Activate the GPS locator app on your smartphone (‘Find My’ on iPhone and ‘Find My Device’ on Android) to allow assigned contacts to track you.  
• A more detailed list of emergency preparedness tips can be found at saskatoon.ca/snowstorm2020  

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to NotifyNow for updates on public safety messages.   

For timely updates on snow and ice alerts visit saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and follow us at twitter.com/YXEServiceAlert. 

In 2018, City Council approved a Flood Control Strategy (FCS) aimed at reducing flooding in Saskatoon’s most flood-prone areas during intense rainfalls. The dry storm pond at W.W. Ashley District Park, which took approximately ten months to build, is now substantially complete and will catch overflow but also serve as a sports field and park space when dry.

“The landscaping turned out beautifully with trees, a surrounding pathway, and spectator seating built into the slopes,” says Russ Munro, Director of Saskatoon Water. “We are very pleased with the end result and, while none of us want to experience excessive amounts of rain within very short periods of time, that is when we will see the new pond and underground drainage systems in action.”

Substantial completion means there’s still some finishing touches to be done before the site can open, like installing stair railings and park benches. The site will remain closed until approximately fall 2022 to give the newly installed sod and seed time to establish. In the meantime, Saskatoon Water is gearing up for the second of nine FCS projects: constructing a dry storm pond in Churchill Park.

“Consultations have taken place and we have received great feedback from the community. We have moved forward with design plans and will proceed with construction in early 2022.”

Dry storm ponds are designed to hold water that would otherwise cause nearby flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows from properties and roads into the dry storm pond, then slowly drains into the storm sewer. Prior to the establishment of the FCS, Saskatoon already had nine dry storm ponds, mostly in neighbourhoods built after 1989 when enhanced storm water infrastructure standards were established. The FCS focuses on neighbourhoods that were established prior to then.

The Government of Canada is contributing 40% of the eligible construction costs up to a maximum of $21.6 million toward nine FCS projects.  The City is funding the remaining construction costs through the Storm Water Utility Capital Program and revenue generated from Storm Water Utility charges. 

For more information about the FCS, and to subscribe to Flood Protection Plan updates, visit saskatoon.ca/floodplan.  

Saskatoon experienced a severe blizzard with high amounts of snowfall and strong winds which have created drifting on roads and sidewalks. Freezing rain has also created a layer of ice underneath the snow. This is an incredibly challenging situation and the City is working 24/7 to respond and get Saskatoon moving again.  

The City is actively responding to the ongoing winter storm, after Saskatoon received freezing rain overnight, leaving streets and sidewalks ice-covered under the continued snowfall.

Saskatoon is under a Winter Storm Warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada with forecasted snowfall of up to 35 cm and wind gusts of up to 80 km/hr. Road conditions and visibility are expected to worsen throughout the day.

Snow Clearing

Overnight, crews were spreading sand and salt, plowing Circle Drive and grading snow on the City’s highest traffic streets. High winds are making it challenging to fight ice formation.     

“We’re putting everything we have into this storm today, tonight, tomorrow, and into the coming days,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “We’re staying focused on our priority road system. Once the highest priority streets are cleared, we’ll move through the rest of the system, at times returning to the highest priority roads multiple times to maintain mobility.”

Today’s focus includes sanding and salting ice-covered streets, intersections and bridge decks and minimizing snow accumulation on freeways, expressways and arterials by plowing and grading snow.  Equipment today includes 27 graders, 18 sanders, 8 high-speed plows and 5 sidewalk plows. 

Residents should avoid unnecessary travel on Sunday as freezing rain, continued snow accumulation, and high winds will lead to dangerous driving conditions.

If travel is necessary, adjust for driving conditions and watch for snow removal crews equipped with blue and amber flashing lights. Stay a safe distance behind and be prepared to stop quickly. Some traffic signs are covered with snow, so drivers should practice extra caution at intersections.

More information on the City’s snow clearing efforts can be found at saskatoon.ca/snow

Civic Election, Monday November 9th

Residents are encouraged to get out and vote tomorrow in the Civic Election if they haven’t already. Caution is advised when walking or driving throughout the city. If polling stations are affected by snowfall to the point of being inaccessible or if streets are impassible, crews will respond appropriately.

Residents are encouraged to keep their sidewalks clear, as much as possible, to provide safe access for those who may be walking to polling stations. Please do not push snow out onto the street when clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways, as this can clog up streets with snow and create accessibility issues.

Voting locations can be found here.

Emergency Preparedness

The City would like to once again remind residents of some important emergency preparedness tips to help ensure their safety during the storm.

1. Have an inventory of everything that the members and pets in your household would need for several days, including foods and medications.
2. Charge your phones, tablets, and portable battery packs; and equip yourself with a supply of batteries for radios and other battery-operated devices.
3. Reach out to people who may require support:
   • More than 300 people in Saskatoon are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
   • Consider whether any of your neighbours might need assistance, including those that are seniors or have disabilities.
4. If travel is necessary:
   • Equip yourself with an emergency kit containing warm clothes, blankets, candles, and snacks.
   • Be sure to let someone know where you’re going and when you arrive.
   • Plan for delays in your commute to work on Monday and for getting children to school.
   • Activate the GPS locator app on your smartphone (‘Find My’ on iPhone and ‘Find My Device’ on Android) to allow assigned contacts to track you.
5. A more detailed list of emergency preparedness tips can be found at saskatoon.ca/snowstorm2020

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to NotifyNow for updates on public safety messages.

For timely updates on snow and ice alerts visit saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and follow us at twitter.com/YXEServiceAlert.

Saskatoon is bracing itself for a severe winter storm – in two waves –, with snowfall today and blizzard conditions with more significant amounts of snowfall and wind carrying into Sunday. The City is actively planning and responding to what could be a record snowfall; approximately 35 cm by Sunday evening with wind gusts of up to 80 km/hr.

Snow Clearing

City snow crews are sanding priority roadways and are on standby to begin plowing, clearing and de-icing when needed. During the snowfall, efforts will be focused on the busiest streets and access to emergency services. Crews may need to revisit these streets multiple times to maintain mobility before the snowfall stops.

“Mobility may become a challenge, particularly on Sunday and into Monday morning,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “We ask that residents try to avoid unnecessary travel, but if they must, please practice caution around city crews and allow them to execute the snow clean-up as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Once the highest priority streets are cleared, crews will move through the rest of the priority system, which is expected to take several days to work through.

Saric adds with the Civic election on Monday, the strategy aims to maximize, as is safe and practical, people being able to move around the City before, during, and after the storm, which includes accessing polling stations.

Residents are reminded that snow removal crews are equipped with blue and amber flashing lights. They should stay 2-3 vehicle lengths behind and be prepared to stop quickly.

More information on the City’s snow clearing efforts can be found at saskatoon.ca/snow

Emergency Preparedness

The City would also like to remind residents of some important emergency preparedness tips to help ensure their safety during the storm.

1. Have an inventory of everything that the members and pets in your household would need for several days, including foods and medications.
2. Charge your phones, tablets, and portable battery packs; and equip yourself with a supply of batteries for radios and other battery-operated devices.
3. Reach out to people who may require support:
   • More than 300 people in Saskatoon are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
   • Consider whether any of your neighbours might need assistance, including those that are seniors or have disabilities.
4. If travel is necessary:
   • Equip yourself with an emergency kit containing warm clothes, blankets, candles, and snacks.
   • Be sure to let someone know where you’re going and when you arrive.
   • Plan for delays in your commute to work on Monday and for getting children to school.
   • Activate the GPS locator app on your smartphone (‘Find My’ on iPhone and ‘Find My Device’ on Android) to allow assigned contacts to track you.

A more detailed list of emergency preparedness tips can be found at saskatoon.ca/snowstorm2020

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to NotifyNow for updates on public safety messages.

For timely updates on snow and ice alerts visit saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and follow us at twitter.com/YXEServiceAlert.

There was a serious incident today inside the lobby at City Hall and a man was injured.  City staff are now being offered mental health supports in the wake of this event.

The Saskatoon Police Service publicly shared the following details:

At approximately 2:00 p.m., November 2, 2020, Police responded to City Hall after reports that a man was in the lobby and threatening to cause harm to himself. The man then did produce a knife and caused injury to himself before police could intervene. There were no threats made against any other persons. The 21-year-old man was transported to hospital for treatment and is believed to be in stable condition at this time.

City Manager Jeff Jorgenson says there were many staff members who saw this happen and some may be deeply affected by this traumatic incident. “We understand what our staff members and first responders are going through, and we support them,” he says. “Our thoughts are also with the man that paramedics took to the hospital.”

Jorgenson says counselling resources are available to everyone touched by this. Most immediately, Jorgenson says one-on-one sessions are being arranged with trained counsellors for staff who need someone to talk to.

Additionally, to further help provide the necessary support and counselling to staff, City Hall and the customer care line will be closed on Tuesday, November 3^rd from 8:00 a.m. to noon.  Online services are available. 

The advance polling station at City Hall, accessible through door 1A, will stay open. 

We greatly appreciate everyone’s understanding and compassion at this time.

With the colder temperatures kicking in, the dingoes and grizzly bears at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) are settling into their new daily routines. Grizzly bears Mistaya (miss‑TIE’‑yuh) and Koda (KOH’-dah) are preparing for their annual deep sleep and dingoes Maple and Euci will be heading inside for warmer temperatures.

“Native areas for dingoes typically do not see temperatures below minus 5 degrees Celsius,” says Zoo Manager Jeff Mitchell. “Since Maple and Euci have not adapted to our cold weather in Saskatoon, we will be providing them access to one of our indoor facilities.”

Mitchell notes, while the dingoes will still have access to outside, they will likely stay indoors once colder temperatures set in.

As for the grizzlies, it is business as usual for Mistaya and Koda as the bears prepare for their annual deep sleep called torpor.

“The bears have been steadily building up their fat reserves during hyperphagia – a time when they eat over 10,000 calories a day and drink up to five gallons of water,” says Jeff Mitchell. “Once their deep sleep begins, we expect to see their heart rate and breathing rates decrease along with their body temperature.”

During torpor, bears can sleep for more than 100 days without eating, drinking or passing waste. It is expected that Mistaya and Koda will begin their deep sleep in the coming weeks.

Cameras will once again be live in the bear dens so that the Zoo can closely monitor behavior, activity levels, and breathing patterns. The Zoo will be working closely with Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums Nutrition Advisory and Research Group to carefully monitor the bears throughout the winter.

The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is by donation until March 31. For more information on the Zoo, please visit saskatoon.ca/zoo.