News Releases

As directed by City Council, Saskatoon will consider its first Climate Budget during the 2024-25 Business Plan and Municipal Budget deliberations on November 28-30, 2023.

The Funding Environmental Sustainability Actions and Climate Budget Report responds to a request from the Standing Policy Committee on Environment Utilities and Corporate Services (EUCS) and will be on the November 1 agenda. It includes a preview of the Climate Budget as well as details of the resources needed to progress the Low Emissions Community (LEC) and Green Pathways plans.  It outlines both funded and unfunded projects related to these plans.

“What City Council has asked us to do is come up with measures that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases that will require investments in the short term”, says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The ultimate expectation, looking 30 years out, is that these measures will make us more resilient and efficient while meeting our climate commitments.”

A climate budget is a governance system that establishes actions that the City needs to take in the short-term to achieve long-term targets as set out in the climate action plan.  By integrating the Climate Budget into financial budget decision-making processes, climate and environmental impacts are understood before they occur. This creates a coordinated approach with other budgeting considerations, such as societal impacts, asset management, safety, and economics.

If significant global climate action is not taken, ClimateWest (Costs of Climate Change Report, March 2023) estimates by 2050, the direct annual economic impacts of climate change in Saskatchewan will be $3.1B or $1,875 per capita. ClimateWest projects damage to electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure due to climate change to cost $65-95M annually by 2050 in Saskatchewan alone. Annual flood damages are expected to cost $70-80M, while costs due to delays arising from increased road and rail damage are expected to be $65-125M in the province by 2050.

The 2024-25 Climate Budget presents a two-year window within the 30-year Low Emissions Community (LEC) Plan. The LEC Plan was created to improve the community’s long-term resiliency and efficiency to achieve the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target incrementally over time.

Seventy-five per cent of the projects in the Climate Budget support efficient civic operations and services, enhance resiliency, and/or promote sound asset management; these are recommended for funding in the 2024/2025 Business Plan and Budget. These projects also have environmental benefits; most will achieve GHG reductions, some will result in utility cost savings or improve green network resilience and performance. Subject to City Council’s approval, the funded projects include:

• Bus Rapid Transit and electrification - system improvements for Saskatoon Transit and bus purchases;
• Water-saving measures at spray pads/paddling pools and irrigation upgrades in parks which will result in operational savings;
• Civic facility improvements - such as renovations at Archibald Arena;
• Managing the long-term viability of the landfill and reducing waste through the Material Recovery Centre operation, restoration of landfill gas wellfield, and development of a bulky waste program; and
• Green Pathways initiatives that enhance the green network through existing planned projects like park upgrades and storm sewer trunk and collection.

Funding for the initiatives listed comes from capital reserves, external non-City funding, and loans.

The unfunded projects are still required to progress City goals and plans, even if they do not move forward this budget cycle.  These projects may be reconsidered in the next budget cycle, or if priorities and/or resource availability changes. Some of these projects could be funded through loans that pay themselves back with savings, such as loans to the community or fleet electrification. Other projects would require new funds, for instance from property taxes; this has not been recommended at this time.

The GHG reductions estimated from projects in the 2024-2025 Climate Budget includes:

• The LEC reduction goal for 2025 = 201,500 tonnes of CO2e (100 per cent)
• Funded projects estimate = 1,200 tonnes of CO2e reduction (0.6 per cent of the LEC reduction goal)
• Unfunded projects = 18,800 tonnes CO2e reduction at full build-out (9.3 per cent of the goal)
• After combining funded and unfunded projects, there is a gap of undefined projects required to achieve 181,500 tonnes of CO2e reduction, or 90.1 per cent.

The 2024-2025 Climate Budget GHG projection is a conservative estimate; it does not include reductions from projects with high uncertainty that could not be quantified (e.g., active transportation, bus rapid transit); or reductions from projects that were implemented in 2022/2023 (like organics, landfill gas expansion, and others) that could amount to more than 40,000 tonnes of CO₂e reductions each year. 

You can find additional information at Saskatoon.ca/ClimateBudget and Saskatoon.ca/ClimateChange.

While the company hired by the City to process green cart material has defaulted on its contract, green cart organics collection will continue. In the short-term, Loraas will continue to assist the City in processing organics materials while City officials explore cost reduction options by processing the organics in-house.

“We are disappointed that the successful vendor was unable to provide organics processing services under the contract but are fortunate to have measures in place allowing us to pursue other options to avoid disruption of the program,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water & Waste Operations. “In the short-term, we will continue working with Loraas while we look to complete a portion of the processing at our own facilities. By sending materials to both the Saskatoon Regional Waste Management Centre and the West Compost Depot, we will help to reduce financial pressures on the utility rates in the short term.”

A report to the November 1 meeting of the Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services Committee (EU&CS) contains details that outline short-term options for processing organics following Green Prairie Environmental's default of its organics processing contract.

The City awarded Green Prairie Environmental (GPE) the contract in September 2020 to provide organics processing services to support the City’s Curbside Organics Program. Despite it being a key condition of the contract, GPE did not site a permanent location for an organics processing facility. The Administration supported GPE to find a suitable location following its initial denial in the RM of Corman Park, but as preparation for a site progressed, GPE was unsuccessful in obtaining regulatory approval to construct the facility. GPE is ultimately unable to process organics in accordance with the contract and has defaulted on the contract as a result.

Since program launch, organics materials have been composted by Loraas and not landfilled unless contaminated. In addition to continuing to haul organics materials to Loraas for processing, the Administration is pursuing options to temporarily process a portion of the materials at the Saskatoon Regional Waste Management Centre and West Compost Depot. The City will continue to divert organics away from the landfill to make a beneficial use product and reduce greenhouse gases from waste. To date, more than 15,000 tonnes of organic waste have successfully been diverted from the landfill since collections began in May. No disruptions to the curbside organics program are expected.

A report with long-term options will be presented to EU&CS by Q1 2024.

Beginning at 3 a.m. City of Saskatoon crews were applying salt to Priority 1 streets as the snow began to fall, and remain on the go today, focusing on Circle Drive and continuing to manage the road conditions on priority streets.  

“Crews focused on Circle drive and other high-speed streets, as these are the streets where collisions due to icy conditions have the potential to be the most serious,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “Bridge decks were also an area of focus.” 

The timing of the snowfall did not allow crews to spread salt on all priority streets before the morning commute. It takes up to 12 hours to apply de-icing material to all priority streets in Saskatoon. Additionally, spreading salt in advance of the overnight snowfall on dry pavement would not have been effective. This is because without any moisture, the majority of the salt would have been blown off the road surface by traffic.  

There is a chance that some icy conditions will develop overnight, as Environment & Climate Change Canada forecasts temperatures to drop further overnight and stay below freezing for the remainder of the week. Crews will be out on the streets continuously to monitor and address conditions as they change. 

Drivers should adjust their driving for the road conditions and leave extra room and time for their commute. We understand the inconvenience that the first snowfall a few hours before the morning commute and icy driving conditions create. We ask for everyone’s patience as crews work to restore normal winter driving conditions on City streets. 

Please watch for blue and amber flashing lights on road maintenance equipment and leave room for the operators to do their work.  

Learn about winter road maintenance at saskatoon.ca/snow. Stay in the snow with the Snow & Ice Report at saskatoon.ca/snowreport. 

The City of Saskatoon has released a new tool for homeowners to better understand their home’s energy use and make improvements.  The map uses artificial intelligence (AI) to produce a digital energy score that can be used to compare against other homes of similar size, age, and type and help users understand how much energy their home consumes.  The map also provides each homeowner with a customized “retrofit roadmap” to see what actions they can take to reduce their energy consumption. 

“Just like home appliances have energy labels that indicate how efficient they are, this map provides a digital energy score for Saskatoon homes. The lower the score, the more efficient the energy use in that home,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The Home Energy Map helps residents to visualize their home energy use in a different way, comparing it against other homes in the city, and providing them with a list of renovations they can consider to help decrease energy use.”

Saskatoon’s extreme temperatures means that a lot of energy is used at home, with 42% of Saskatoon’s total greenhouse gas emissions coming from heating, cooling, and providing power to homes. The core objective of the Home Energy Map is to help homeowners build momentum on a retrofit journey, and to connect them to other resources such as Energy Coaching to provide hands-on support through the process.

Users have the option to create an account for their home address and provide additional information about their home - including any upgrades they have already completed - to update the total energy score. While only the home energy score is publicly visible, the tool also provides a set of personalized recommendations to account holders for renovations that could help reduce overall energy consumption. 

“The goal of our software tools is to help cities and homeowners to see which actions in which buildings will generate the biggest energy and emissions savings,” says OPEN Technologies CEO Donovan Woollard. “We applaud the City of Saskatoon for its leadership in setting an ambitious reduction target, and for investing in tools like the Home Energy Map to provide a roadmap on how to get there.” 

According to the 2023 Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) Homebuyer Preference Survey, four of the top ten most desired features are energy-related, with “overall energy efficient home” among the top priorities for prospective homebuyers. 

With the Canada Greener Homes initiative, homeowners can access up to $40,000 in interest free loans, and up to $5,600 in grants, making it easier to fund these kinds of renovation activities. This is the fourth home energy-focused initiative the City has launched in 2023 (links below); all programs were funded by the Green Municipal Fund, administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Associated links:  
Saskatoon.ca/EnergyMap
Saskatoon.ca/EnergyCoaches
Solar.myheat.ca/saskatoon
Saskatoon.ca/RenoResources

The City of Saskatoon is pleased to announce $200,000 funding from the Government of Canada under the Active Transportation Fund to support the implementation of its Active Transportation Plan. The Active Transportation Plan aims to provide more choices to move around Saskatoon by addressing infrastructure for cycling, walking and other modes of active transportation.  

“Residents of Saskatoon increasingly walk, bike, drive or use public transportation to get to their destinations. Our government is investing in these projects to ensure their commutes are safe and pleasant, and to encourage more people to take up active transportation. It is good for our health and for our environment,” says the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. 

“This funding focuses on planning and education projects, which supports the goals of the Active Transportation Plan to have more places for walking and cycling safely, to build a culture for active transportation, and to encourage more people to walk and ride a bike,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. 

The funding is divided between four active transportation projects, with $50,000 allocated for each:  

1. Millar Avenue from 43rd Street to Marquis Drive: Planning project that includes assessment, engagement and design of a multi-use pathway. 

2. College Drive from Preston Avenue to McOrmond Drive: Feasibility analysis to determine active transportation crossings at interchanges and rail crossings. 

3. Victoria Avenue from Taylor Street to Ruth Street: Planning project that includes assessment, engagement, and design of pedestrian improvements and an all ages and abilities cycling facility. 

4. Active Transportation Street Team: Provide an education program about the rules of the road and the existing bike network.  

“We continuously invest in making Saskatoon a great place to live. Providing active transportation options is one of many ways we are working to support our residents," says Magus.  

Learn more about the City of Saskatoon's Active Transportation Plan.

Yellow Quill First Nation announced today the successful creation of a new urban reserve in downtown Saskatoon.  Yellow Quill First Nation received notification from the Government of Canada of the successful status change for the property located at 224 4^th Avenue South.  The building is home to the First Nations Bank of Canada and is located adjacent to Yellow Quill First Nation’s original urban reserve in Saskatoon, located at 240 4^th Avenue South.

“Attaining urban reserve status where our office tower is located in downtown Saskatoon is an important milestone for our nation,” says Yellow Quill Chief John Machiskinic.  “The designation of reserve status will support us in securing additional tenants who value an on-reserve location in a major downtown centre.  It also provides another source of revenue to assist us in funding various initiatives for our members living both on and off reserve.  We are proud to celebrate this achievement today.”

“For the past 30 years, the City of Saskatoon has been working with First Nations across the province to create urban reserves,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “This is a point of pride for our city, as we work with our First Nations partners to help lead the country in forging a new and positive relationship and to build a stronger Saskatoon.  I would like to thank the leadership and community of Yellow Quill First Nation for investing in Saskatoon with this urban reserve and for their commitment to working together with our community.”

The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, congratulates the community, stating, “I wish the Yellow Quill First Nation great success in the development of their new urban reserve.  This added urban land provides an important opportunity to advance economic growth and development in the community.”

Yellow Quill First Nation is confident that achieving urban reserve status where its existing office tower is located will attract First Nations companies and organizations that wish to do business in a downtown location.  Yellow Quill First Nation also has plans in place to construct an office building on the adjacent 240 4^th Avenue South site, pending securing an anchor tenancy.

Municipal Service Agreements were negotiated between Yellow Quill First Nation and the City a number of years ago when the property was originally purchased.  Following the subsequent purchase of the adjacent property, which currently is a vacant parking lot, the Municipal Service Agreements were updated to reflect both properties.

The Agreements address:

• services the City will provide;
• service fees Yellow Quill First Nation will pay the City in lieu of property taxes; and
• compatible land use and development standards.

Decisions on reserve creation are made by the federal government.  The site becomes the sixth urban reserve in Saskatoon.  When a property transfers to reserve status, it is no longer under City jurisdiction.

For more information on urban reserves, please visit saskatoon.ca/urbanreserves.

About Yellow Quill First Nation
Yellow Quill First Nation is a Saulteaux First Nation located twelve miles northwest of Kelvington, Saskatchewan.  The Yellow Quill First Nation is a signatory of Treaty No. 4, which was signed by Chief Yellow Quill on August 24, 1876.  Approximately 968 members reside on reserve, and 2,005 members live in other communities throughout the province.  Yellow Quill Holdings Inc. oversees the various economic development initiatives on behalf of Yellow Quill First Nation, as well as lands purchased by Yellow Quill Treaty Land Entitlement.

Visits to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) are about to get even more fun with the unveiling of the new Orano Fun Zone playground!  A state-of-the-art accessible playground, the Orano Fun Zone playground is an attraction of its own, certain to delight children of all ages.

The new playground features a variety of accessible components, including a nature-inspired themed PlayBoosterR Treehouse, OodlerR Swing, Talk Tubes, and much more!

“The new playground is an excellent addition to the Zoo,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.  “We couldn’t be more grateful for the work of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation and the generous contribution from Orano Canada.”

The playground replaces an older wooden play structure and is located in a new, more accessible area next to the orchard in the Zoo.  The major upgrade was made possible thanks to the efforts and dedication of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, which raises funds for capital projects and improvements within the Zoo.

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation could not be more excited for this playground.  Working closely with Orano and our other playtime partners to build an accessible playground inside the Zoo is a true testament of community spirit.  For a better tomorrow, we want our children to play today, and everyone involved is absolutely thrilled to see the playground’s addition to the wonderful experience the Zoo has to offer,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.

Through the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, the project received a generous donation from Orano Canada Inc. as part of its commitment to invest in community initiatives in the regions where its employees reside.  Orano Canada Inc. has been exploring for uranium, developing uranium mines, and producing uranium concentrate in Saskatchewan for over 50 years.

“We are proud to invest in our community and to support a facility such as the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo that serves so many in Saskatoon, in our province, and many visitors from beyond our borders.  Despite the difficult times for our industry, Orano Canada has been planning for this contribution for some time and we are particularly pleased to have been able to contribute to the construction of this new, accessible playground as it allows all children to have the opportunity to play together,” says Tammy Van Lambalgen, Vice President Corporate Affairs & General Counsel of Orano Canada Inc.  “The Orano Fun Zone provides a space within the Zoo for young children to learn and develop many skills while they play.  It is an area that will be a fun stop for many families visiting the Zoo, including our own employees and their children.”

The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information, such as admission rates and details on the recently launched Season Pass, can be found at saskatoon.ca/zoo.

After more than 900 votes, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (Zoo) is pleased to announce that the infant Goeldi monkey has been named Calli.

“We wanted to extend a huge thank you to everyone that participated in selecting the name Calli for the newest member of the Goeldi troop,” said Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.

Calli was selected by popular vote after the Zoo narrowed down the selection to four potential names, including Calli, Maku, Tupi, and Sofia.

Citizens can see Calli and the rest of the Goeldi troop in the monkey enclosure at the Kinsmen Children’s Zoo exhibit year-round.

The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information, such as admission rates and details on the recently launched Season Pass, can be found online at saskatoon.ca/zoo.

The City is looking for your help to name the infant monkey at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (Zoo)!  Proud parents, Diego and Leah, welcomed an infant female Goeldi monkey on May 27, weighing in at approximately 109 grams.

“It is always exciting to welcome a new addition to the Zoo,” said Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.  “Both baby and mother are doing well, and now it is time to select a name for the newest member of the troop.”

The Zoo has narrowed the selection down to four potential names, including:

• Calli – short for Callimico, the species name;
• Maku – an indigenous South American language;
• Tupi – an indigenous South American language; and
• Sofia – a common Brazilian girl’s name meaning wisdom.

“We want our citizens to have a special connection with this monkey and watch her grow throughout the years.  We are inviting the public to choose the final name by voting from the potential options,” says Sinclair-Smith.

To submit your vote, visit saskatoon.ca/zoo from Tuesday, July 17, to Tuesday, July 31.  The winning selection will be publicly announced on Wednesday, August 1.

The Goeldi and her parents are located in the monkey enclosure in the Kinsmen Children’s Zoo exhibit.  Citizens are encouraged to come and experience the cuteness for themselves.  The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information regarding the Zoo can be found online at saskatoon.ca/zoo.

The newest members of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) family have quickly settled into their new digs at the Meerkat House and embraced their new life as Saskatonians.

“The new exhibit is quite amazing,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.  “It features a naturalistic habitat with desert sand dunes, termite mound replicas, nest boxes, and specially made tunnel systems.  We are also working on setting up nest box cameras that will provide an up-close look at the meerkat tunnels throughout the exhibit.”

Transforming the former Komodo Island exhibit to the new Meerkat House was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation who raises funds for capital projects and improvements within the Zoo.  Following up on the success of the Komodo Island exhibit, the Foundation provided the required funding to bring the Meerkat House exhibit to life.

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is very excited to play a role in bringing the meerkats to the Zoo,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.  “We embraced the opportunity to provide the funding to flip the exhibit space in order to bring a species that most of us never imagined coming to the Zoo.”

The new Meerkat House also features original artwork created by students from Georges Vanier Catholic Fine Arts School.  The school has been working with the Zoo to create cut-out displays highlighting various animals, with the latest installation featuring the meerkats.

Visitors to the Zoo will have their first opportunity to see the meerkats in their new permanent home when the exhibit officially opens to the public on Sunday, April 1, 2018.

Residents are encouraged to come and experience the cuteness for themselves. The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the end of April and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting in May.  Additional information can be found at saskatoon.ca/zoo.