News Releases

The City of Saskatoon (City) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting free activities for youth and families during the February break.  Get out and get active with the City and join us at these upcoming events and programs:

Family Day Skate
A Free Family Day Skate will be offered on Monday, February 17,  from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval (11th Street and Avenue R South in the Gordon Howe Complex), and at Cosmo Civic Center (3130 Laurier Drive).

There are vending machines, change rooms, and public washrooms for your convenience at both locations.  You do not need speed skates to enjoy skating at the Oval; however, bring your own skates and safety gear as rentals are not available.

Please note if the temperature reaches -25˚C or below with the windchill, the outdoor event will be cancelled and all participants should go to the indoor skate at Cosmo Civic Centre.

If you prefer to stay warm inside, there will also be free activities in the Cosmo Civic Centre gym with games, arts, and crafts available from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Break-Away Sports Camp
A sports camp that provides youth ages 10 to 14 the opportunity to try new sports in a non-competitive environment.  Two days to choose from:

February 18 - Wrestling
Cosmo Civic Centre (3130 Laurier Drive)
Girls only:  9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Co-ed:  1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

February 19 - Basketball
Cosmo Civic Centre (3130 Laurier Drive)
Girls only:  9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Co-ed:  1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To register, please call Community Development at 306-975-3378.

Art Ventures
An exciting morning or afternoon packed full of artistic activities for ages 10 to 16, in partnership with SCYAP.

February  20
Cosmo Civic Centre (3130 Laurier Drive)
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To register, please call Community Development at 306-975-3378.

Learn to Skate Program
Drop in to a free skating program at location near you, no experience is necessary! Participants must bring their own skates and CSA-approved winter helmets.
Please note, children under the age of six must be accompanied by an adult or responsible care giver.

February 22, March 1, 8, 15:
Achs Park
102 Elm Street – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

St. George School
748 Redberry Road - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
 
Holliston School
3rd Street East - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 
King George School
721 Avenue K South - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

February 23, March 2, 9, 16:
Briarwood Pond
509 Braeside View - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Park entrance located at Braeside and Braeburn Cres.)

Archibald McDonald Park
1001 Northumberland Avenue - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

For Immediate Rlease:  February 11, 2014

The following are the hours of civic services and facilities for Family Day on Monday, February 17, 2014:

City Hall will be closed.

Parking meters will not require payment.  Motorists are required to move their vehicles within the time period shown on parking meters, allowing for a constant turnover of parking availability.

Municipal Impound Lot will not be releasing vehicles to the public.

Saskatoon Landfill will be open with regular winter hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Garbage and recycling collection will take place as scheduled.

All Saskatoon Public Library locations will be closed.  Please note that all Library locations are now open on Sundays until May 18, 2014.

Mendel Art Gallery and Saskatoon Civic Conservatory will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Admission is free.

TRANSIT SERVICES

Saskatoon Transit will operate with regular Sunday/Holiday Service.

Access Transit will operate with regular Holiday Service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.  Trips must be booked in advance as per normal procedures.  Customers are reminded that subscriptions do not apply on Statutory Holidays.

Transit Customer Service Center will be closed.

Transit Customer Service phone lines will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Recreation & Sport

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo: Open during regular hours.

Indoor Arenas: 
ACT Arena: Parent & Tot skating cancelled.  Bonus public skating from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cosmo Arena: Parent & Tot skating cancelled.  Free Family Day Skate event from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval: Regular hours of operation.
Free Family Day Skate event from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cosmo Civic Centre: FACILITY CLOSED February 17.

Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track (in the SaskTel Sports Centre): FACILITY CLOSED February 17.

Lakewood Civic Centre: Open 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For modified Lane, Public Swim and Public Gym times visit Drop-in Online at www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.

All fitness classes and child minding CANCELLED.

Lawson Civic Centre: Open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For modified Lane, Parent & Tot and Public Swim times visit Drop-in Online at www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.

All fitness classes and swim lessons CANCELLED.

Saskatoon Field House: Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Special holiday fitness class from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

All fitness classes and child minding CANCELLED.

Shaw Centre: Open 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For modified Lane, Public and Parent & Tot Swim times visit Drop-in Online at www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.

All fitness classes and child minding CANCELLED.

Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre:  Open 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For modified Lane, Public and Parent & Tot Swim times visit Drop-in Online at  www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.

All fitness classes and swim lessons CANCELLED.

For more information on programs and operating hours on Family Day, Monday, February 17, 2014, please contact the Leisure Centres or facilities directly.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

For Release: February 10, 2014

The City of Saskatoon has once again been awarded as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2014.  The achievement award is featured in a special editorial supplement in the February 10^th edition of The Globe and Mail, with a detailed outline of the award also to appear online on Eluta.ca, upon searching the City of Saskatoon Employer Review section.

“Fostering workplace diversity and inclusiveness is a must for our organization. We aim to successfully serve the evolving needs of Saskatoon’s diverse population as a 21^st century city,” City Manager Murray Totland says.

“We must attract and retain skilled employees so that we may continue to provide a high standard of customer service to our citizens. Our dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Strategy is always top of mind; it supports the City’s goal of creating a workforce that is diverse, inclusive and importantly, representative of our growing community,” Totland says.

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2014 is a national competition that evaluates organizations on both qualitative and quantitative, external and internal data and initiatives, as well as leadership on inclusion and diversity practices. In addition, the City of Saskatoon was particularly recognized for its many community partnerships.

“Our emphasis on creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is what makes the City stand out as a great place to work.  Our goal is not just limited to attracting new employees, retention of a diverse workforce is also critical to our success,” Director of Human Resources Marno McInnes says.

“This year we will be making concerted efforts to engage with our Aboriginal employees to better understand what keeps them working for the City, along with developing new strategies to make sure we meet our employment equity goals,” McInnes says. “With rapid change in our City and the labour market so competitive, we must continue to reach out to our City’s growing newcomer and young Aboriginal communities for all the potential and new talent they have to offer.”

The City of Saskatoon is committed to the Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement by creating and offering an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse backgrounds and building a workplace culture that champions innovation and forward-thinking.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

 

 

 

 

Starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2014, Broadway Avenue northbound lanes between Main Street and 10th Street will be closed for emergency watermain repairs.  Broadway Avenue southbound traffic will not be affected.  Motorists please use Clarence Avenue as a detour.

The work should be completed and restrictions lifted by late Saturday afternoon, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.  The City thanks everyone for their patience.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

 

The City is currently investigating an appropriate Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for Saskatoon. The AMI technology would allow the City to implement the use of smart meters which can measure and record actual power and water usage by time intervals throughout the day, and transmit that data wirelessly over a secure network to a central data management system.

In October 2013 a consultant was hired to determine the feasibility and cost of an AMI system for Saskatoon. Now the City is asking for feedback from residents through a series of public information sessions.

The Open House events will be held:

February 11, 2014 – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Cliff Wright Branch Auditorium at Lakewood Civic Centre (1635 McKercher Drive)

February 12, 2014 – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Mount Royal Collegiate Cafeteria (2220 Rusholme Road)

The following information will be provided at the Open House events:

• How Smart Meters Work
• Benefits of Smart Meters
• It’s Your Health (Information on Radio Frequency) – Health Canada
• The City’s Meter Exchange Program
• Meter Display – Old Versus New
• Smart Meter Billing
• Tips to Reduce Outdoor Water Use, Indoor Water Use and Electricity Use

Residents unable to attend the Open House events can also provide their feedback using the City’s new online engagement tool, Shaping Saskatoon, located at www.shapingsaskatoon.ca.

To sign up, click on the Shaping Saskatoon link on the City’s homepage, and enter your email address and demographic information. Residents can sign up from a home computer, or anywhere that’s convenient on a mobile device.

The Smart Meters project will be available for comment on Shaping Saskatoon starting today until the end of February.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

 
The City of Saskatoon is proposing to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Martensville to negotiate an agreement to provide both water and  waste water services.

“This is a key step towards a regional planning approach for land use and servicing,” says Randy Grauer, Community Services Department General Manager.  “It’ll also help the City of Martensville to continue playing an important role in the growth and development of the Saskatoon Region.”

A report to City Council will be on its Agenda, which will be public information later this afternoon.

Martensville will soon reach its lagoon capacity and it approached the City to consider allowing a connection to Saskatoon’s existing Waste Water Treatment Plant.

“Basically, it’s an agreement to agree,” Grauer says and it sets out the regional planning goals of the City and Martensville, as well as creating an outline for a more detailed formal agreement on water and waste water services.

The MOU would be in effect until the City of Martensville reaches 20,000 people at which point it would be renegotiated.

“Saskatoon residents will not be subsidising those in Martensville,” Grauer says.  “We’re proposing the rates will be negotiated on the basis of Martensville customers paying a premium on top of what Saskatoon users pay.  The premium will be based on industry rate models and reviewed every three years.”

The cities would agree to work together on several points including:

• A regional plan including Martensville’s future land use plans.
• Explore tap water delivery opportunities
• A plan to fairly share the costs of developing new and upgrades to existing waste water and water infrastructure
• Cost estimates for sanitary sewer infrastructure including a lift station, a force main, an odour abatement structure, and a gravity pipe.

“The City is aware of odours near the Waste Water Treatment Plant.  Construction of a new odour abatement system is in the works and connecting Martensville would help pay for that project,” Grauer says.

City Council will consider the Administration report at its meeting, Monday, February 10, 2014.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon (City) has once again been awarded as one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers for 2014!  This achievement is highlighted in a magazine supplement in today’s Saskatoon StarPhoenix and the Regina Leader-Post.

The City applied for the competition last year and the winners were selected according to a number of factors including: physical workplace, workplace atmosphere, benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and skills development, and community involvement.

“While I am proud of our past accomplishments, I am very excited about our future.  We have a new vision for our great city and a strategy and workforce plan on how we will achieve this vision,” City Manager Murray Totland says. “Our staff is well prepared to face the changes of our rapidly growing community.  Without their dedication and hard work, we would not be a top employer.”

To again be recognized as one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers for 2014 is a welcomed achievement for the City.  The City continues to promote forward-thinking and the use of innovative ways to increase employee satisfaction and engagement levels, all part of dedication to its corporate Strategic Goal of building a culture of continuous improvement.

The City of Saskatoon employs over 4,000 people and offers a broad range of career opportunities, a workplace that prides itself as an employer where employees can “Build a Career – and Shape a City.”

“This is our third year of recognition as one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers.  I am proud to say the City has built a reputation as a great place to work and build a career,” Employment & Total Compensation Manager Mubarka Butt says.  “We were pleased this year to include our employee testimonials and their career paths at the City as part of our application,” Butt says.  “You know you are doing something right as an employer when your employees want to tell others about why they love working for the City!”

“To continue to build a stimulating and supportive work environment for our employees, we have aligned our workplace structure to enhance employee engagement.  This will ensure we have the absolute best chance to be successful in meeting our corporate Strategic Goals,” Butt says.

“The City is excelling in many areas because of our employees and the positive attitude they bring to work every day.  Our employees continue to make Saskatoon an even greater place to live – a 21^st Century City and a real ‘can do’ organization we can all be proud of,” Totland says.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon

on Twitter and Facebook.

 

The City of Saskatoon is pleased to announce the launch of the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon website at www.growingfwd.ca. 

“Growing Forward! is an exciting initiative that will take us from vision to action - on how we grow to half a million people,” says Alan Wallace, Director of Planning and Development.  “The Growing Forward! website is mobile-friendly and is the first step to providing ample opportunities for people to have their say about their future.”

Change is inevitable and how the City manages that change is important.  Growing Forward!  Shaping Saskatoon is a wide-reaching public planning exercise.  It will help guide civic investments to accommodate Saskatoon’s growth to half a million people within the next 30 to 40 years. 

“The input we get from the website will be incorporated into the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million,” Wallace says.  “We hope this framework will allow us to make changes in our community in a way that will keep Saskatoon a prosperous and great place to live for all citizens.”

Growing Forward! will build on a strong foundation of past achievements and public input.  It will look at ways to improve how we move around Saskatoon while making sure growth within the City remains sustainable.  This project will address three key elements:

• Shaping Growth;
• Shaping Transit; and
• Shaping Bridges.

A public event will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at TCU Place to start the discussion about future options for transit, bridges, and how to shape Saskatoon’s growth to half a million people.

For more information on Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon, please visit www.growingfwd.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

"CONTINUING STRONG ECONOMY”: ‘AAA’/STABLE CREDIT RATING AGAIN

For another year, the City of Saskatoon has earned the highest possible rating from international bond rating agency, Standard & Poor’s; S&P today reaffirmed its ‘AAA’/stable credit rating for Saskatoon - one of the hottest Canadian economies.

“Standard and Poor’s assessment again sends the message that the City’s budget process and resource allocation is open, accountable and transparent, and that Saskatoon has an economy that will keep our growth on track,” says His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison.

Every year Standard & Poor’s reviews the City’s finances and delivers the credit rating and supporting rationale in a report based on that study.

“This is exactly what we work toward every day,” says Acting Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff. “Saskatoon continues to be headed into healthy economic times, and S&P’s rating underlines that position.”

As it did last year, Standard & Poor’s continues to view the financial outlook for Saskatoon as stable. The agency is confident that cash flow and cash investments will increase to offset any rising debt. In other words, Saskatoon’s leading economy is expected to keep growing.

“Saskatoon's economic fundamentals are very strong, in our view” the report says. “We think Saskatoon is managing its growth well, and we expect this will continue.”

The City of Saskatoon demonstrates strong and prudent financial policies and solid management, and these have a positive impact on the credit profile. The City has received the ‘AAA’/stable credit rating every year for more than a decade.

Receiving a ‘AAA’ credit rating essentially means that the City of Saskatoon can borrow money at lower rates, and is viewed by financial institutions as having virtually no-risk with respect to defaulting on credit. The City of Saskatoon’s favorable budget performance, as well as its self-generated revenues, continue to place the City in a strong and stable financial position, supporting the City’s Strategic Goal of Asset and Financial Sustainability.

 For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases,  Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. on January 22, Cumberland Avenue South between Taylor Street and 1st Street will be closed while crews replace a sewer connection.  Drivers are encouraged to use Louise Street.

The roadway is expected to reopen by 6:00 p.m., weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.  The City thanks everyone for their patience. 

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.