News Releases

The Saskatoon Fire Department and SaskEnergy crews remain on scene of a ruptured natural gas line which happened around 10:13 this morning.

A private contractor was performing some drilling work on 30^th street when it happened. Nine homes in the immediate area were notified, five homes were currently empty; occupants in four other homes moved to a safer location of their choosing.

Right now, everyone is safe; public school board officials notified parents and coordinated with the Emergency Measures Command Bus which is also on scene.

Caswell School students are sheltering in place.  Residents within a one block radius have also been advised to shelter in place as a precaution to minimize movement in the area. The wind is currently from the northeast; the school is upwind from the work zone.

School officials are communicating directly with parents and guardians to inform them of pick-up options at the end of the school day. From 3:00 p.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. the Saskatoon Police Service will restrict northbound traffic on Avenue B at 29^th street accommodate school buses.  

Emergency and work crews are expected to be on scene for most of the afternoon.

The City of Saskatoon’s Snow Management Facility opened today at the new Civic Operations Centre.

“This state-of-the-art facility has the capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow on a 5.7 hectare concrete pad,” says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways and Operations.

Harris says when the snow naturally melts, the meltwater will run through an oil and grit separator and into a meltwater/storm water pond. The meltwater will then go through a series of specially designed baffle curtains before being discharged in a controlled fashion into the storm water system.

“We’ve designed this facility to make sure we are meeting City Council’s Strategic Goal of Environmental Leadership,” Harris says. “We have a responsibility to protect the South Saskatchewan River ecosystem and separating roadway materials from snow removal will go a long way toward meeting that goal.”

The Snow Management Facility will be open and monitored 24/7 for the City’s snow removal equipment and private contractor use.

In addition to the Snow Management Facility at the Civic Operations Centre, the snow storage sites at Central Avenue, Wanuskewin Road and 8th Street are open for public and private use.

Snow Management Facility at a Glance:

• Capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow.
• Storm water and meltwater management pond with inlet sand/oil/grit separator.
• Roller compacted concrete surface to facilitate site operation maintenance and cleaning.
• Geotextile material is in place to protect the soil and groundwater from infiltration and contamination, demonstrating commitment to Environmental Leadership.
• Policies are in place to manage noise created by equipment and tailgate slamming.

At approximately 4:10 p.m. an eastbound Access Transit Bus was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 22^nd Street between Whitney Avenue and Confederation Drive. There are no injuries reported by the operator or passenger. A Transit Supervisor is on scene. Initial reports indicate an eastbound vehicle in the median lane appeared to have cut off another driver, causing that vehicle to end up sideways in front of the Access Transit bus.

From the December 6, 2016 Meeting

6.3.1 Crosswalk Issue at Aden Bowman Collegiate

Decision

*Administration will report back to the Committee at its February 2017 meeting.

Background

*In a letter, the Aden Bowman Collegiate School Community Council is seeking a solution to the issue of students jaywalking across Clarence Avenue from in front of the school to the convenience store and mall.
*Aden Bowman Collegiate School Community Council is requesting the City implement a crosswalk with painted lines and signage in front of the main school doors.

7.2.2 Highway 16 West Operational Jurisdiction Amendment

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the agreement with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure be amended to include the entire portion of Highway 16 from the current city limits to 500 metres after the centre of the intersection with 71st Street; and
2. That the Administration report back regarding the Urban Highway Connector Program and how it benefits various municipalities, along with a comparison with other provinces.

Background

*City Council, at its meeting held on September 29, 2014, considered the Boundary Alteration Proposal – Highway 16 and 71st Street Intersection Improvements report and resolved an agreement with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure be approved, in principle, to take over operational jurisdiction of Highway 16 from the current city limits up to, and including, the intersection of 71st Street.
*The report indicated that under the agreement, the City will be responsible for maintenance, direction, management, and control (including legal liability) of the portion of the highway, excluding the bridge overpass, which was planned for rehabilitation by Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure in 2015.
*The agreement was intended to be an interim agreement until the highway was formally annexed. Annexation has not yet occurred and the agreement was previously extended to January 1, 2018, or at the time the City completed the annexation of the land.

7.2.4 Sidewalk or Multiuse Pathway on 51^st Street between Warman Road and Millar Avenue

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the Administration be directed to bring forward a prioritized list of 2017 sidewalk retrofit locations for Committee and City Council’s consideration.
2. That the Administration report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation in March 2017.

Background

*The report provides information regarding the addition of a sidewalk or multi-use pathway on 51st Street between Warman Road and Millar Avenue.
*The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) identifies a sidewalk on 51st Street between Warman Road and Millar Avenue. The Administration will be bringing forward a report in the first quarter of 2017 with a list of proposed construction locations for the 2017 sidewalk/pathway retrofit program.

7.2.5 Sidewalk or Multiuse Pathway on North Side of Lenore Drive Joining Sidewalk at Russell Road and Lenore Drive

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the Administration be directed to bring forward a prioritized list of 2017 sidewalk retrofit locations for Committee and City Council’s consideration.
2. That the Administration report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation in March 2017.

Background

*The report provides information regarding the addition of a sidewalk or multi-use pathway on the north side of Lenore Drive between Russell Road and Wanuskewin Road.
*The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) identified the need for a sidewalk on the north side of Lenore Drive between Wanuskewin Road and Russell Road. The Administration will be bringing forward a report in the first quarter of 2017 with a list of proposed construction locations for the 2017 sidewalk/pathway retrofit program.

Saskatoon residents woke up to a snow-covered city this morning. To keep drivers moving, Roadways crews are currently plowing snow and sanding high traffic roads and Priority streets like Circle Drive. Current weather forecasts predict snowfall accumulations of 10 to 15 cm.

“It is just another day at work for Roadways,” says Eric Quail, Roadways Manager. “Our team is in great shape coming into the first snow event of the winter season.”

Roadways & Operations

Crews are currently focusing on plowing snow and sanding slippery sections and intersections on Circle Drive and Priority streets. The following has been mobilized:

• 6 Tandem Sanders
• 6 Graders
• 7 Speed Plows

In addition, City staff are undertaking the following initiatives throughout the day:

• Speed Plows are clearing snow from the main lanes and ramps of Priority streets.
• Graders are clearing snow on Priority streets like 8th Street, 22nd Street, and Idylwyld, and transitioning to other areas as required.
• A salt brine or specialty chemical is being applied as required to Priority streets.

Plowing and clearing will continue throughout the night on Priority streets and high traffic roads, transitioning to other areas of need as required.

Contractors will assist with Priority Street Grading, clearing sidewalks, bike lanes, the bus mall and River Landing.

Snow Storage Site Availability

The following snow sites are available:

• Wanuskewin, Central Avenue, and 8th Street Snow Storage Sites are open.
• The Civic Operations Centre Snow Management Facility is scheduled to open around January 9, 2017.

Sanding Operations

Roadway crews are inspecting, sanding and salting high traffic streets, bridges, and overpasses on a regular basis to provide traction and reduce icing. Sanding and salting is also occurring at intersections, curved roads and icy sections on all residential streets, as required. The sanding fleet consists of 27 sanders.

Priority Street Plowing Operations

Priority street plowing occurs on Circle Drive and Priority 1 and 2 outlying streets and rural roads, as required. The Priority street plow fleet consists of 13 tandem plows.

Priority Street Snow Removal

The Priority Street Snow Removal Program is not active due to adequate snow storage capacity. If there is a significant snow fall and Priority street snow storage is at capacity crews will focus solely on Priority streets.

“City crews will be clearing and plowing all day and night as required,” says Quail. “Please slow down and watch for flashing lights that signal winter maintenance equipment is ahead.”

For timely updates check the City website and snow and ice service alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and on Twitter by following @YXEServiceAlert.

Saskatoon Transit has again partnered with PAVED Arts to feature photographs on City buses. The Toon’s on Transit Exhibition will feature a selection of 50 photos taken by local artists. These images are on display on 100 Saskatoon Transit buses through January 2017.  

“We are very excited to be a part of this unique showcase for another year,” says Michael Moellenbeck, Operations Manager for Saskatoon Transit. “The amazing images showcased on our Saskatoon Transit buses really highlight the diversity and beauty of our city. This project is a great fit for us because it enhances the transit experience for our customers and gives talented local artists an avenue to display their work.”

The Toon’s on Transit Exhibition is made possible through a unique partnership between Saskatoon Transit and PAVED Arts. The photos appearing on Saskatoon Transit buses were selected by a panel of judges from PAVED Arts with the goal of reflecting the City of Saskatoon through the eyes of its residents.

“We had such positive response to this exhibit last year and we are very excited to expand our reach even more this year,” says Alex Rogalski, Executive Director of PAVED Arts. “With even more photographs on Saskatoon Transit we are able to really see the power of this exhibit. Art and photography can bring a city together and these photos do just that by being available for viewing by everyone on buses across the city."

In addition to the photographs being available on 100 buses, there will also be a bus dedicated to the exhibit. This bus will act as a true mobile art gallery showcasing work from nine different artists and the different perspectives of Saskatoon that their photographs capture.

For more information on the Toon’s on Transit Exhibition please use this link. 

For the first time in their lives, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z) grizzly bears, Mistaya (miss-TIE’-yuh) and Koda (KOH’-dah), have gone into hibernation this winter.

“We are pleased to be able to provide Koda and Mistaya with an opportunity to exhibit their natural behaviour of hibernating for the very first time,” says SFFP&Z Manager, Tim Sinclair-Smith.

In order for hibernation to occur, the bears’ food supply was limited, and the bear house was modified to allow temperatures to drop below zero; both of these changes would naturally occur in the wild.

The bears’ hibernation will provide conservation and research opportunities, and a wildlife expert says it is the sensible thing to do.

“Most institutions with captive bears keep them awake by continuing to feed year round,” says Dr. Ken Macquisten, Managing Director and Veterinarian of Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife.  “As captive wildlife managers, it is our responsibility to give the animals the most natural life possible.”

Hibernation is a natural and important process for grizzly bears and will improve their health and well-being.  In terms of research opportunities, there is a lot the SFFP&Z can learn from Mistaya and Koda.  For the first time, insight will be obtained on how bears progress through the process of hibernation.

“Koda and Mistaya play essential roles in supporting the conservation of their wild kindred,” says Dr. Marc Cattet, Research Scientist and Program Veterinarian of the Foothills Research Institute.

The SFFP&Z is working on a partnership with the Foothills Research Institute to connect research initiatives on grizzly bears, both in captivity and in the wild.

“This is an exciting time for the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.  We are embarking on more collaborations and aim to connect ourselves to more research opportunities,” Sinclair-Smith says.

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.  Mistaya stayed in the wild until it became clear that he could not survive without intervention.

Koda was also orphaned in 2005, after his mother fled the den when a logging operation came through the Grand Prairie region.  Koda 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 in Saskatoon.

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

To see grizzly bears in hibernation, please visit the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife bear cam at www.grousemountain.com/wildlife-refuge/bear-cam.

From the December 6, 2016 Meeting

On New Year's Eve, the ride is on us!

There is never an excuse for drinking and driving. Saskatoon Transit and Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) have partnered to provide free transit and Access Transit service on New Year’s Eve. Enjoy yourself this New Year’s Eve, and don’t worry about driving because the ride’s on us!

“Impaired driving has been top of mind in Saskatchewan as we have needlessly lost so many lives because someone made the decision to drink and drive,” says Joe Hargrave, Minister Responsible for SGI. “During last year’s holiday season, seven people were killed and 33 others were hurt in 119 crashes involving an impaired driver. Let’s not allow that to happen again this year. For your New Year’s resolution – and every day of the year – please promise, ‘I will never drink and drive.’”

Free bus service, which normally starts at 8:00 p.m., will start at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 31 to ensure residents have a safe ride to the “YXE-NYE-150” event which celebrates Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation at Kiwanis Memorial Park (Spadina Crescent East). Free transit service will run until 2:45 a.m. (times may vary slightly by route).

Customers can wait at regular stops or flag down a bus at any point along the route, if they are in need of a ride. When flagging a bus please use caution: stand on the curb at a safe place for the bus to stop and raise your hand to get the operators’ attention.

“We are thankful that SGI has partnered with us again this year to provide free service,” says Michael Moellenbeck, Operations Manager at Saskatoon Transit. “There is no reason for drinking and driving, especially on New Year’s Eve. We strongly encourage residents to jump on the bus to get to and from their destination.”

Please Note: Route 14 will not be running to the North Industrial area after 7:00 p.m.

For more information about Ding in the New Year schedules visit saskatoontransit.ca or call 306-975-3100 and speak to a Customer Service Representative. Access Transit customers can call 306-975-3555 (normal booking procedures apply).

Roadways crews are encouraged with a new winter road treatment. A pilot test of a coarser salt for ice prevention is underway. The salt pellets may be sprayed with a magnesium chloride solution to make them heavier and increase adhesion to the road, resulting in better management of ice and salt usage. When temperatures drop below -12 degrees Celsius, salt is not as effective by itself and the addition of magnesium chloride will help to increase traction.

“Our initial evaluation of the coarser salt during the extreme cold and windy conditions showed exceptional results,” says new Director of Roadways, Brandon Harris of the technique also known as pre-wetting. “We applied the sprayed salt pellets to a thin sheet of ice that formed on Queen Street and the high winds were unable to blow the salt off the road.”

The City will continue to use the pre-wetting technique on high-traffic streets such as Circle Drive, where wet, heavy sand sticks much more effectively to the road in extreme cold conditions. The City’s pre-wetting fleet consists of twelve tandem sanders. Traditional sanders also use sand already pre-wet with a magnesium chloride spray.

Additionally, with current weather forecasts predicting temperatures will fluctuate around zero this week, City crews are prepared for possible freezing rain and icy road conditions. Workers are inspecting, sanding and salting high-traffic streets, bridges and overpasses to provide traction and reduce icing. Sanding and salting is also occurring at intersections, curved roads and icy sections on all residential streets.

Even with the use of sand and salt to prevent icy road conditions, the change in temperature with an increase in moisture can result in ice developing. Drivers are reminded to slow down and be cautious.

Also new this year are flashing blue and amber lights on the City’s high-speed winter maintenance equipment. The flashing lights will be consistent with highway operations and other municipalities across the country as they signal that winter maintenance equipment is ahead.

“City crews will be out there around the clock,” says Harris. “Please watch for flashing lights and slow down for your safety and the safety of everyone around you.”

Find out what happens in Saskatoon when it snows and how you can be prepared at saskatoon.ca/snow or download the Be in the Know About Snow poster (PDF).