News Releases

Five ‘white powder’ calls in recent days have used up Saskatoon Fire Department resources totaling $75,650.

“Each instance was determined to be non-hazardous, but each time we have to treat it as a potential safety threat,” says Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger. “So, each time, we have to call out our hazardous materials and emergency measures teams, on top of regular crews – and that costs money.”

Saskatoon police detectives are now investigating the calls.  No arrests have been made in the March events, but following a similar incident in November, a Saskatoon woman is accused in court.

During the City Council meeting Monday, the most recent events prompted Councillor and Police Commissioner Darren Hill to ask the City Solicitor to explore seeking restitution in any ‘white powder’ court case which results in a conviction.

“These incidents cause a lot of disruption for the businesses they target, for the people who work in these buildings and for our community,” Rodger says.  “If someone is arrested and a judge decides any of these incidents break the law, City Council does not want taxpayers to pay for the emergency response.”

The costs as presented below include the salaries and operating costs of all Fire Department staff who attended the scene of each incident.  Also included are costs of off-duty staff called back to provide coverage of stations left vacant during each incident.

Each incident was attended with 7-8 vehicles/apparatus and 23-26 staff.

Date                         Hours            Cost

March 16, 2017     4.00            $20,900.00
March 23, 2017     2.00            $10,500.00
March 27, 2017     2.50            $13,125.00
March 27, 2017     3.00            $15,750.00
March 28, 2017     3.00            $15,375.00

If anyone suspects a package or container they believe has questionable contents:

• do not handle more than necessary
• isolate the area: prevent people access to stop the spread of possible contamination
• call 9-1-1

Komodo dragons, Thorn and Shruikan (Shrew-khan), arrived in Saskatoon on March 5, 2017, and have been settling into the new Komodo Island exhibit at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z).

“We know kids and adults of all ages will be amazed by the Komodo dragons,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Manager, SFFP&Z.  “Having these unique animals in Saskatoon provides a great opportunity for us to talk about threatened species around the world, including those in our own backyard.”

Visitors to the SFFP&Z will have their first opportunity to see the Komodo dragons when the exhibit officially opens to the public on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

The Komodo dragons are currently on loan from the Calgary Zoo and will be featured at the SFFP&Z for the 2017 season.  The exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is thrilled to embrace the opportunity to be part of the Komodo Island exhibit,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.  “Working with the Zoo and many local sponsors, we were able to create a world class exhibit in a short amount of time.  We hope this exhibit will help bring awareness to the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation as we continue to work tirelessly to build for the future of this facility.”

The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation raises funds for capital improvements within the SFFP&Z.

Do not miss your opportunity to see the Komodo dragons!  From September to April, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and from May to August, daily hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information regarding the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo can be found online at Saskatoon.ca/zoo.

For the sixth consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon is one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017.

This competition examines Canadian employer’s initiatives for workplace diversity and inclusion and recognizes those with noteworthy and unique programs. 

“We are taking a more systematic approach to help us organize, guide, and support the development of specific action plans,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.

Gryba says, “It’s more than just diversity and inclusion hiring practices. We’re committed to comprehensive plans that create a workplace that is respectful and inclusive to all employees.”

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017 are outlined in the March 28, 2017 edition of The Globe and Mail as well as on Eluta.ca.

The City has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion including being an equity partner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  As an equity partner, the City commits to the basic principles and objectives which outline a larger responsibility to foster an inclusive society.  

City  Council today approved a tax ratio of 1.59; the ratio used to be 1.75.

In simple terms,  the City’s annual budget determines how much it will need to ask from property owners to pay for services like garbage pick up or snow clearing.

The tax ratio policy determines how the taxes needed to cover those costs are split up; or putting it another way: what share of the taxes that different property classes like residential and commercial will pay. 

So, the approved ratio of 1.59 means that for every $1.00 in property taxes that a residential property pays, a commercial property will pay $1.59 on an equivalent assessment.

Here's what it looks like: 

The tax ratio shift has not affected Saskatoon's standing as having some of the lowest property taxes among Canadian prairie cities. 

City Council wants to explore appropriate legal measures in coordination with SUMA and other affected municipalities – including a court injunction – to stop a provincial government plan that would create an $11.4 million shortfall in City finances.

“We are not raising taxes today. Instead we are considering every other option available,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “What is happening is not fair or equal. The provincial government is asking city residents to pay twice for the same service. This is not right and we believe the provincial government should reconsider and explore other options.”

The Government of Saskatchewan released its budget Wednesday March 22, 2017; it became clear the provincial government plans to stop paying Grants-in-Lieu (GIL) of property taxes and to redirect those funds to the provincial government general revenue fund.

“The provincial government-owned power and gas companies are still charging customers the same amount, but instead of passing some of that on to cities, towns and villages for services those companies use, the government is keeping that money,” Mayor Clark says.  

“This leaves the City in a situation where our citizens will have to make up this loss of revenue one way or another - whether in service cuts or further cost reductions.”

Following a four-and-a-half hour special meeting Sunday afternoon, Council also resolved:

• To look into the long-term service agreements and options over lease payments from the Province for the P3 school sites including, but not limited to, charging market rent for the land
• That the Administration report on how much the Province be charged for emergency services and any other services the City provides on its properties
• That the Administration explore a market rent for the Rights of Way access by Crown Corporations
• That the Administration report on options for internal savings and revenue
• That the Administration implement a temporary hiring and discretionary spending freeze until Council can make a decision how to handle this situation, subject to the discretion of the City Manager (in the case of filling positions related to life-safety)
• That it request a joint meeting with Saskatoon Caucus MLAs from both parties to give them an information session on the impact the 2017 Provincial Budget will have on the citizens of Saskatoon

Mayor Clark stresses the provincial government’s move will have a huge impact on cities, towns and villages across the province.

“The city of Yorkton, for example, would lose the equivalent of 58% in revenue sharing – that’s a big hit.”

City Manager Murray Totland reports that nearly two-thirds of Saskatchewan’s population live in cities and are growing while other municipalities are getting smaller. He emphasizes that cities are the economic engine of the province and the magnitude of this cut is unprecedented and will have a lasting impact.

Clark adds the provincial government has suggested municipalities can fix this by taking money out of their reserves.

“Taking the money out of reserves would create a huge problem and a future liability for the city. We can’t kick the can down the road and create problems for the future,” states Clark. He says reserves are meant for when there is a big snowstorm or when buildings start to deteriorate. 

“This is why the Traffic Bridge went from being a $400,000 paint job to a $35 million bridge replacement - because there was not enough money put away to look after and maintain that bridge in the first place. We need to have the ability to maintain what we’ve already built.”  

Mayor Clark will join with other Mayors and Municipal leaders on Wednesday to meet with the provincial Minister of Government relations, Donna Harpauer, possibly other related Ministers.

“I will be talking about the impact this will have on our ability to provide services to our residents, the risk of drawing down reserves to pay for operating deficits, and the need to find another approach to dealing with this situation.  We need to take a problem-solving approach and keep the lines of communication open.”

The City of Saskatoon and communities across Canada are celebrating Water Week, March 20-26, 2017; it’s an opportunity for the City to highlight the vital role water plays in our daily lives and how it contributes to the overall quality of life we enjoy.

“Modern, efficient water and wastewater infrastructure is essential to safeguarding the well-being of Canadian families and building the Canada we want for tomorrow,” said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “We are very pleased to have provided funding so that Saskatoon can address their specific infrastructure priorities, while helping grow the middle class with good, well-paying jobs."

This year, the Government of Canada invested an additional $15.8 million in funding through its Clean Water Wastewater Fund, while the Government of Saskatchewan invested $7.9 million.

“The Government of Saskatchewan’s $7.9 million investment will contribute to improving Saskatoon’s water infrastructure and help keep our province strong,” the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Minister of Government Relations, said. “We are pleased to be working with our federal and municipal partners to make services better for the citizens we serve.”

The City is investing $43.3 million to replace aging water mains, sewer mains and lead service lines. All this funding approximately quadruples the annual budget for underground pipe renewal.

“Saskatoon is fortunate to have some of the best quality drinking water in Canada,” says Reid Corbett, Director of Saskatoon Water. “We can attribute this to the high regulatory standards we meet, our professional and highly-skilled staff, and our commitment to investing in state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure to serve a growing city and region.”

Lined up end-to-end, the underground pipes (not including service connections) that make up Saskatoon’s water distribution, sanitary sewer collection and storm water collection systems total 2,843 kilometres; that’s roughly the same distance as driving from City Hall to Toronto around the Great Lakes. The 2017 work includes the replacement of approximately 900 lead water service pipes, rehabilitation of approximately 15 kilometres of water mains, and re-lining approximately 22 kilometres of sanitary sewer mains.

In the Government of Canada’s Budget 2016, the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund was introduced to accelerate short-term municipal investments for the renewal of water and wastewater infrastructure to meet immediate priorities for clean water and healthier environments for communities.

Join the Water Week Facebook LiveChat! On Friday, March 24, everyone is invited to follow Saskatoon City News on Facebook and join our Why Infrastructure Renewal Matters Facebook LiveChat from 12:00 -12:30 pm. You can add your questions to the post now to make sure they get answered.

Learn more about Saskatoon’s water and sewer infrastructure at saskatoon.ca/waterweek and take a video tour of the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant and Water Treatment Plant.

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z) grizzly bears, Mistaya (miss‑TIE’‑yuh) and Koda (KOH’ dah), have successfully completed their first hibernation.

Mistaya and Koda started hibernating on December 5, 2016, and completed their hibernation on March 17, 2017.

“We monitored the bears throughout their first hibernation, gathering data that can be used in future research projects,” said Tim Sinclair-Smith, Manager, SFFP&Z.

After just over three months of hibernation, the bears have lost some weight, but due to not hibernating for ten years, they still have considerable fat reserves.  Mistaya and Koda will be offered small amounts of vegetables; the same food they would find in the wild after hibernation.  Mistaya and Koda will return to the Kinsmen Grizzly Bear Exhibit this weekend.

Mistaya is the sole-surviving cub from Bear 66, a well-known female grizzly killed on the Canadian Pacific railway tracks in Banff National Park, in 2005.  He stayed in the wild until it became clear that he could not survive without intervention.

Koda was orphaned that same year after his mother fled the den when a logging operation came through the Grand Prairie region.  He was rescued and nurtured by zookeepers at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The cubs were paired at the Calgary Zoo and later transferred to their permanent home at the SFFP&Z.

For more information on the SFFP&Z, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/zoo.

A committee of City Councillors says the City should prepare a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saskatoon Tribal Council; the agreement would start a feasibility study for a jointly-owned hydropower station at the weir.

The Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities & Corporate Services approved the move at its meeting today.  It will be considered by City Council later this month.

“This is a positive first step,” says Kevin Hudson, Manager of Sustainable Energy for the City-owned Saskatoon Light & Power. “As we have said before, there could be many benefits of an initiative like this and we look forward to developing a partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council.”

The total estimated cost of the project is $61.5 - 65.2 million, which is expected to be funded by the Saskatoon Tribal Council and private-sector partners, off-set by revenue generated by the power station and funding from other green-energy funding sources.

The committee also recommended the City Administration meet with whitewater park supporters to discuss the development possibility of such a recreational facility be considered at the same time as the hydro project – including costs.

Earlier pre-feasibility and environmental baseline studies concluded the project was technically feasible and is expected to be economically viable.

 “Of course we need further details, but we are confident there is a tremendous opportunity here,” says Darrell Balkwill, Chair of STC investments Inc.  “First Nations would benefit from training, jobs and educational possibilities. Investment returns would help infrastructure and social programs in our member communities.”

The project will involve restoring the weir’s current infrastructure, and the construction of a river crossing for pedestrians and cyclists that will be wider, safer and more accessible than the current one on the CP Rail Bridge.

Previous studies found that such a project would not cause any significant disruption to the ecology of the area or negative downstream effects to the river valley: a slight raise in river water is expected but it tapers to zero beneath the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge.

The project has been on hold since last presented to City Council in 2015 until funding could be identified. 

Construction on two new interchanges in Saskatoon starts this spring - at McOrmond Drive and College Drive and at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16. Site work and the relocation of utilities adjacent to each intersection is currently underway and construction begins in June. In the meantime, transportation plans for each location are in development.

“Commuters will begin feeling the impact of construction in June, and one of the ways we are going to minimize the impact is by maintaining a dual left turning lane from College onto McOrmond,” says Dan Willems, Director of Major Projects and Preservation. “Transportation plans also include the construction of detour roads at each interchange site and recommending alternative routes.”

Through a procurement process, PCL Construction Management Inc. was chosen to design and build both interchanges, which will also include pedestrian and cyclist paths/walkways.

The McOrmond Drive and College Drive interchange is expected to open in the fall of 2018 and the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 interchange will open in 2019.

For more information on the Saskatoon Interchange Project, including background, FAQs, and upcoming Public Information Sessions, please visit Saskatoon.ca/interchanges. 

A catalogue showcasing a collection of temporary public artworks that were a part of the City’s Placemaker Program from 1994 to 2015 was unveiled at the Frances Morrison Library Gallery today.

“Art challenges, engages, and inspires us to see the world in new ways,” says His Worship Mayor Charlie Clark.  “The Placemaker Program has given the City a tremendous legacy of public art over the last 20 years.  Art and culture will continue to have important places in our Strategic Plan and the future of our city.”

The City’s Placemaker Program works with the Business Improvement Districts to add significance to civic spaces.  These exhibits temporarily transform public spaces to engage with audiences and promote an appreciation for contemporary art practices.  All artwork is considered annually and selected by the Public Art Advisory Committee.  Artists can submit in any medium.  Preference is given to submissions by emerging artists and pieces that reflect Saskatoon’s unique sense of place through its people, history, culture, or landform.

“The City recognizes the significance of this catalogue,” says Director of Planning and Development, Lesley Anderson.  “We now have a reference to our past works that is not only useful, but beautiful.”

The Placemaker Artwork Catalogue is the final component of the 66 Physiognomies project, led by local artist, Jinzhe Cui, who used a multi-media approach to celebrate the program’s 20-year history.  The project started in 2015 and included a traditional Chinese-style scroll ink drawing, illustrated cards, six public events, and a video.  Now, added to the list is a catalogue to document and interpret the past Placemaker artworks.

“It has been a joy and opportunity to explore public art practice and to meet new people,” says Cui.  “During my journey of 66 Physiognomies, I have been touched by the beauty and uniqueness from the people, history, culture, art, and landscape in Saskatoon.”

The 20^th Anniversary Placemaker Artwork Catalogue is available online to the public, and a copy can be found at every Saskatoon public library branch.

The City would also like to remind artists that the 2017 Placemaker Program Call for Submissions is open until Wednesday, March 29, 2017.