News Releases

Firefighters will today begin protecting the southeast end of the City from the newly built Fire Station No. 3, at 2613 Clarence Ave South. The station, relocated from the corner of Taylor Street and York Avenue, is now in commission.

“This was a strategic choice to help strengthen neighbourhood amenities while providing improved service to the community at large,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl.

“We hope Fire Station No. 3 will become part of the neighbourhood and act as a community partner.”

Chief Hackl points out the new station includes community rooms with bookable space for the public meetings. The space can also accommodate opportunities for health and wellness clinics, such as car seat check clinics. 

Mayor Charlie Clark explains as the City grows, gaps and overlaps in emergency response service requires re-evaluating station locations. 

“As our community continues to grow, the City of Saskatoon has to rise to the challenge and ensure that we are delivering the services that citizens rely on while making sure that the money the City spends has the largest impact possible,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “This relocation of Fire Station No. 3 is an investment that does just this: it helps us deliver a crucial service in a way that does not compromise on quality while saving us money in the long term.”

By following this approach, a previously identified new station will not be required in the neighbourhood of Stonebridge which results in a savings of $6 million in capital costs and $2 million in annual operating costs. 

Residents can watch for an invitation to attend an open house at Fire Station No. 3 during Fire Prevention Week this fall.

The relocation of Fire Station No, 3 supports the Strategic Goal of Quality of Life and the four-year priority to ensure that emergency response times for the Saskatoon Fire Department meet the needs of our citizens. 

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.

There is a risk of a severe thunderstorm late this evening. Environment Canada has been monitoring rapidly changing conditions and says the City of Saskatoon could be on the edge of a severe storm cell.

Environment Canada says Saskatoon and area could experience wind gusts up to 40 km/h, hail and heavy rainfall late this evening and overnight.

The City reminds everyone heavy downpours may cause flash floods; water pooling on roads, and flooding in low-lying areas are possible.

Anyone should avoid driving or wading through flooded areas.  There are many hidden dangers such as open manholes or downed power lines that pose an obvious hazard to people and property.  

Known intersections to avoid include:

• Confederation Drive/ Laurier Drive
• Idylwyld Drive under the Circle Drive overpass

Please report flooded streets and manhole cover issues to the 24-hour Customer Service Centre at 306-975-2476.

To reduce the risk of damage to property, we recommend cleaning out eaves troughs and checking they drain into downspouts that are extended at least two metres (six feet) from the home foundation.

For information about possible disruptions to City services due to potential heavy rain, including leisure services, detours, and closures, citizens are encouraged to monitor saskatoon.ca/service-alerts or follow @YXESrviceAlert on Twitter.

To register for a home flood assessment or find more tips to reduce the risk of basement flooding, visit homefloodprotect.ca.

The Saskatoon Fire Department is collaborating with Saskatoon Police Service arson and major crimes detectives as they investigate a suspicious death following an early morning house fire.

“With all fire deaths, we proceed with the assumption of some level of suspicion until it can be disproved,” says Acting Fire Chief Anthony Tataryn. “Our fire investigators work closely with the police arson investigators and they’re the ones who determine who needs to be involved and at what point.”

At 2:31 a.m. fire crews were called to reports of smoke in the area of Avenue F North and Bedford Road. A single engine from Station No. 1 was dispatched to further investigate the reports. After a search in the neighbourhood, the responding fire crew discovered smoke coming from the rear of 229 Avenue F North.

More crews were called immediately – upgrading the response with two more engines, an aerial ladder truck and a rescue truck from stations No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4.

Fire crews made a quick interior fire attack from the rear of the structure. They had the flames under control in 12 minutes.

“The damage was fairly extensive,” Tataryn says. “Based on the interior and the charring in the structure, the fire was likely burning in a closed environment for a length of time prior to us getting the call – but that will be determined by the investigators.”

Fire crews searched the home and found an adult body. The deceased person was left in place and the Saskatoon Police Service was notified.

The arrival of warmer temperatures has allowed the City to get an early start on its microsurfacing work. Microsurfacing is a road surfacing treatment that preserves the roadway without the cost and inconvenience of full road replacement. It’s applied to weathered or worn surfaces that are structurally sound.

“Microsurfacing is one of those treatments that many residents don’t really like the look of when it’s first applied,” says Celene Anger, Director of Construction & Design. “It appears kind of rough and pebbly immediately after application. But, over time, it wears into a smooth and structurally sound surface that road users can appreciate.”

The City is undertaking microsurfacing at approximately 70 locations in 2018. Many of these locations are residential but there are some higher traffic routes that will also be treated including sections of the Sid Buckwold Bridge, Idylwyld Drive, and 51^st Street.  The work will be undertaken at night at those locations where the noise won’t be disruptive to area residents.

Microsurfacing is fast moving work that poses little interruption. In most locations, if weather cooperates and there are no unforeseen issues, contractors can be in and out of a location within a day or less.

More information about the 2018 Building Better Roads plan is available at saskatoon.ca/betterroads. You can also access Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/servicealerts or follow @YXEServiceAlert on Twitter.

It’s a new time and a new way forward for the City of Saskatoon. We’re moving to a new multi-year business plan and budget.  Rather than budgeting for one year at a time, residents can now expect to see a two-year business plan and budget created for 2020-2021. 

To get started, a new Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey will kick off the first significant public engagement activity. This survey is the first of two, which along with other engagement activities, will ask residents for their input to be used in preparing our 2020-2021 Multi-Year Budget.

We value public input as an important part of the budget process and want to keep improving opportunities for residents to participate. To do that, the 2020-2021 Multi-Year Budget will create even more ways to help us better understand residents’ perceptions, views and priorities for the City. The goal is to include as many residents as possible by providing a variety of opportunities for people to participate, be heard and learn more.

This year, any resident can complete the Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey online at saskatoon.ca/engage. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes. We hope to hear from you; tell us how we’re doing and how to improve. If preferred, a hard copy of the survey is available to print and submit to City Hall.  The Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey is open until Sunday, July 29, 2018.

All public input collected this summer and fall will be compiled and presented to City Council in January 2019.  Your important feedback will be used throughout the year as we plan the 2020-2021 Multi-Year Budget. Watch for updates on what we heard after each survey closes.

The Saskatoon Fire Department would like to remind the community of safe practices for purchasing, enjoying, and disposing of fireworks. This Canada Day, Sunday, July 1^st, low-hazard fireworks can only be discharged on private property between the hours of dusk and 11:00 p.m.

Low-hazard fireworks are designed for public recreational use and include some roman candles and sparklers, among others, and travel less than 50m (160ft) high.

High-hazard fireworks are designed for professionals and can only be purchased by persons holding a valid Fireworks Supervisor – Level I or Level II card issued by Natural Resources Canada.

The Saskatoon Fire Department would like to remind residents and visitors of the risks and obligations associated with fireworks:

• Carefully read and follow the manufacturer instructions,

• Exercise increased caution when handling and discharging any type of firework,

• Choose your location wisely, noting that fireworks can only be discharged on private property,

• Ensure your location is free of overhead obstructions, is clear side-to-side, and is a safe distance from combustible materials,

• Familiarize yourself with the space requirements for the type of firework being discharged; requirements vary depending on the firework type,

• Be sure to properly stabilize the firework according to manufacturer direction, and

• Keep in mind that you are solely responsible for any debris that may land on your spectators or another’s property.

After dusk, when you are ready to discharge the fireworks, ensure that it is not windy, that everyone under the age of 18 is supervised by a parent or guardian, and that you always light the fuse at its tip. Other than sparklers, never light or hold a lit firework in your hand. Always have a water supply available when discharging fireworks.

Wait at least 30 minutes before beginning the clean-up process. At that time, it is a good idea to dispose of used fireworks and debris in a pail of water. Never try to relight or fix the fuse on fireworks that didn’t go off.

Always be extremely careful when discharging fireworks. The debris or smoldering embers could cause injuries, property damage, and/or fires.

The Saskatoon Fire Department wishes everyone a safe and happy Canada Day. Currently, there is no fire ban in effect for Saskatoon. It’s always recommended that residents and visitors celebrate at public firework displays that are hosted by a trusted organization; however, if you choose to celebrate Canada Day by sending off your own fireworks, please follow all safety practices, and only send them off between dusk and 11:00 p.m.

On June 25, 2018 City Council approved the recommendations to move forward with the development of a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) waste utility and city-wide organics program, both projected to launch before the end of 2019.

“The decision by City Council to move forward with these programs is an important step toward better community-wide waste management,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “The associated improvement to our waste diversion performance  will save future generations the costs of building a new landfill and recover valuable resources that lead to jobs and economic growth from what has previously been simply wasted.”

Additional details of the recommendations can be found in the June 25, 2018 report to City Council (Recommended Changes to Waste Management in Saskatoon) and include:

• that organics be collected in a single green cart for co-mingled food and yard waste;
• that waste utility fees be based on cart sizes (lower prices for smaller carts);
• and that no changes be made to the existing recycling program.

“These recommendations were informed by more than 5,000 curbside residents who participated in our community engagement events and online survey. There was a wide spectrum of responses that will help us design better programs,” Wallace says. “We want the program to be an improvement over the current situation for everyone and considering fairness and equity for all demographics is an important part of the program design. Further details on how these programs meet affordability principles will be put forward in September.”

Administration will report on more details of the curbside PAYT and city-wide organics program in September 2018.  Administration is also engaging with the Multi-unit and Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional sectors, and will be tabling reports on how to manage and divert waste from these sectors throughout the rest of 2018.

For more information regarding curbside engagement results and the recommendations brought forward, visit: saskatoon.ca/engage/saskatoon-talks-trash-curbside

For more information on the City’s Waste Diversion Plan, visit: saskatoon.ca/wastediversion

Saskatoon Transit has chosen the winners of its first Student Art Contest. The contest was open to all grade 3 and 7 students in Saskatoon.

“In an effort to create a greater sense of community we decided to host a Student Art contest, where the winner’s artwork would be displayed on our buses throughout the summer,” said Jim McDonald, Director, Saskatoon Transit. “Working with both school boards, we decided grades 3 and 7 would be most appropriate based on the theme of Active Transportation.” 

Grade 7 students, Nimarta, Nicoletta, and Zehua from Sylvia Fedoruk School and Mrs. Liebrecht’s grade 3 class from College Park School are this year’s best of show winners. The winning pieces were chosen by a member of Paved Arts based on how well they reflected the “Active Transportation” theme.  These pieces were selected from 130 entries from 19 schools.

“The opportunity to share art with the community reinforces to children and youth the joy art brings to others,” said Lisa Fleming, Superintendent of Education for Saskatoon Public Schools. “Art creates a sense of belonging and appreciation for creative expression. Thank you to Saskatoon Transit for inviting our children to share their gifts with the greater community.”

The winning artwork will be displayed on the side of Saskatoon Transit buses travelling across Saskatoon for the months of July and August and will receive $375 from our prize sponsors, UFCW 248P & UFCW 649, My Private Wealth, and Galon Insurance.

“Both students and teachers had fun with this initiative,” said Scott Gay, Superintendent of Learning, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. “Anytime our partnerships can provide tools to teach students in a new and unique way, it helps keep the classroom environment interesting for students. And learning more about active ways to get around in our communities is positive from the perspectives of sustainability and health and wellness. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

“We hope to turn this contest into a tradition that helps promote the use of public transportation,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. 

From now until the snow flies, men and women wearing reflective vests and hard hats will be working alongside drivers to complete as much maintenance, repair and construction as possible on roadways and other City infrastructure. The difference between these people and those who are driving, is the amount of protection they have in a collision.

“Our staff come to work for many reasons like all of us, but at the end of the day they look forward to going home and seeing their loved ones,” says Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation & Utilities. “Work zone signs and barriers are in place to let drivers know where they must not enter in order to keep these workers safe. It’s your responsibility as vehicle operator to watch for signs and respect work zones.”

Work zones are clearly marked with orange signs to show you're entering a road construction area and white signs showing the reduced speed limit. Drivers are required to slow to 60 km/h or whatever speed is posted when you enter the work area, and follow the directions of all signs in the zone. In residential areas, where the speed limit is 50 km/h, drivers are expected to slow down when passing workers.

“Fines double for speeding in a work zone and the Saskatoon Police Service will be watching for this,” says Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar. “Driving 20 km/h over the speed limit in a work zone will cost you $440 and 40 km/h over will cost $1008.”

The Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit will be patrolling various types of City work zones and workers are encouraged to report license plate numbers to the Saskatoon Police Service, which will follow up with the vehicle owner.

“Aside from people speeding past or driving through work zone barriers, our people report hearing threats and profanities from drivers,” says Gardiner. “Verbal and physical abuse of City and contractor workers is not acceptable and to stop this behaviour we will actively pursue court action to the extent of the law.”

The City is launching a public awareness campaign “At what cost?” to remind drivers that they put lives at risk when they are distracted or speed while passing construction work zones.

Visit saskatoon.ca/respectworkzones for more information.