News Releases

Two reports, which outline the work-to-date on the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan), will be presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services on July 20, 2015.

“The importance of growth planning is underscored even more, as the annual mid-year population estimate now calculates Saskatoon’s population at 260,900 people,” Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace, says.

“Even if the city doesn’t grow at the high rates we’ve experienced lately, we’re projecting average population increases between 2% and 2.5% over the long term.  That is like adding a city the size of Humboldt or Melfort to our city each year,” Wallace explains.  “The work we’re doing now will ensure we are ready for that and future growth.”

The first report is the Growth Plan Summary Report #2:  Long-Term Possibilities, which provides a detailed assessment of the preliminary long-term recommendations for:

• A new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT);
• Redevelopment along major corridors like 22^nd Street, Idylwyld Drive, 8^th Street, College Drive, and Preston Avenue; and
• A new core area river crossing at 33^rd Street, combined with bus lanes on the University Bridge.

The second report is the Growth Plan Engagement Summary Report #4, which shares what was heard during the third round of public engagement from February to June 2015.

“This input is being used to finalize the long-term recommendations and set the direction for our priorities on implementing the Growth Plan’s core initiatives of Corridor Growth, Transit, and Core Bridges,” Wallace says.

The resulting draft Growth Plan will be presented for confirmation during the final round of public engagement in the fall of 2015.

Once complete, the Growth Plan will help to guide future infrastructure investments so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan, or to sign up for project update notifications, 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.

Two reports, which outline the work-to-date on the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan), will be presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services on July 20, 2015.

“The importance of growth planning is underscored even more, as the annual mid-year population estimate now calculates Saskatoon’s population at 260,900 people,” Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace, says.

“Even if the city doesn’t grow at the high rates we’ve experienced lately, we’re projecting average population increases between 2% and 2.5% over the long term.  That is like adding a city the size of Humboldt or Melfort to our city each year,” Wallace explains.  “The work we’re doing now will ensure we are ready for that and future growth.”

The first report is the Growth Plan Summary Report #2:  Long-Term Possibilities, which provides a detailed assessment of the preliminary long-term recommendations for:

• A new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT);
• Redevelopment along major corridors like 22^nd Street, Idylwyld Drive, 8^th Street, College Drive, and Preston Avenue; and
• A new core area river crossing at 33^rd Street, combined with bus lanes on the University Bridge.

The second report is the Growth Plan Engagement Summary Report #4, which shares what was heard during the third round of public engagement from February to June 2015.

“This input is being used to finalize the long-term recommendations and set the direction for our priorities on implementing the Growth Plan’s core initiatives of Corridor Growth, Transit, and Core Bridges,” Wallace says.

The resulting draft Growth Plan will be presented for confirmation during the final round of public engagement in the fall of 2015.

Once complete, the Growth Plan will help to guide future infrastructure investments so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan, or to sign up for project update notifications, 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.

Two reports, which outline the work-to-date on the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan), will be presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services on July 20, 2015.

“The importance of growth planning is underscored even more, as the annual mid-year population estimate now calculates Saskatoon’s population at 260,900 people,” Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace, says.

“Even if the city doesn’t grow at the high rates we’ve experienced lately, we’re projecting average population increases between 2% and 2.5% over the long term.  That is like adding a city the size of Humboldt or Melfort to our city each year,” Wallace explains.  “The work we’re doing now will ensure we are ready for that and future growth.”

The first report is the Growth Plan Summary Report #2:  Long-Term Possibilities, which provides a detailed assessment of the preliminary long-term recommendations for:

• A new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT);
• Redevelopment along major corridors like 22^nd Street, Idylwyld Drive, 8^th Street, College Drive, and Preston Avenue; and
• A new core area river crossing at 33^rd Street, combined with bus lanes on the University Bridge.

The second report is the Growth Plan Engagement Summary Report #4, which shares what was heard during the third round of public engagement from February to June 2015.

“This input is being used to finalize the long-term recommendations and set the direction for our priorities on implementing the Growth Plan’s core initiatives of Corridor Growth, Transit, and Core Bridges,” Wallace says.

The resulting draft Growth Plan will be presented for confirmation during the final round of public engagement in the fall of 2015.

Once complete, the Growth Plan will help to guide future infrastructure investments so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan, or to sign up for project update notifications, 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.

City of Saskatoon (City) officials gathered in Civic Square today with representatives from Saskatoon cycling groups to launch the City’s Protected Bike Lane Demonstration Project and to officially open the 23^rd Street Protected Bike Lane.

A Protected Bike Lane is a dedicated, marked lane for use by people riding bikes.  The lane is physically separated from people driving cars by a painted buffer and flexible posts.

The new 23^rd Street Protected Bike Lane runs between Idylwyld Drive and Spadina Crescent East in both directions.  As the lane runs through the downtown transit terminal, people using the lane will continue to walk their bikes through the terminal, as per existing rules.  A second lane will open in the summer of 2016, on 4^th Avenue from 19^th Street East to 24^th Street East and will connect to the Broadway Bridge.

 “Protected Bike Lanes provide another safe option for people to move around our downtown and are part of our continuing efforts to make Saskatoon an attractive, vibrant city, and to improve quality of life,” said Alan Wallace, Director of Planning and Development, for the City.  “We also hope the lanes will bring more people into the downtown area so that local businesses can benefit as well.”

In March 2015, City Council approved a recommendation to proceed with a Protected Bike Lane Demonstration Project downtown.  The goal of the project is to create a vibrant and healthy downtown by improving cycling as a strategy to increase the attractiveness of the downtown for businesses, residents, visitors, employers and their employees.

Saskatoon Cycles was represented at the event by Hilary Gough.  "Cycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes, is a critical component of a bikeable city.  We’re excited to see this important step being taken in our downtown and look forward to further improvements that will help make Saskatoon more accessible, and safe, for everyone."

The project will be evaluated over the next 18 months to determine the impact of the lanes on the downtown area.  A report, and a recommendation on the future of the project, will be prepared for City Council in early 2017.

According to research conducted prior to the start of the demonstration project, 95% of people surveyed on this topic said they believe the lanes will increase the comfort level of people riding bikes; 85% believe they will improve the accessibility of downtown; 84% believe they will make the downtown more attractive; and 60% also said they would ride their bikes more if they felt safer downtown.

Visit www.saskatoon.ca/cycling to watch an instructional video as well as a short video about the project.

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 final phase of the 20^th Street West Streetscape Improvement Project from Avenue G to Avenue H is set to begin on Monday, July 6, 2015, and anticipated to be complete by the end of August.

 The following road restrictions will take place during construction, subject to weather conditions:

• July 6 to July 20:  the intersection of Avenue H and 20^th Street West will be closed.
• July 6 to August 3:  20^th Street West westbound will be closed between Avenue G and Avenue H.  Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the eastbound lanes.
• August 4 to August 31:  20^th Street West eastbound will be closed between Avenue H and Avenue G.  Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the westbound lanes.

 Businesses located in the area will be open, as usual, during construction, and there will be minimal disruptions to people walking.

 This project is part of the 20^th Street Streetscape Improvement Master Plan approved by City Council in 1993.  Developed in conjunction with the Riversdale Business Improvement District (BID) and community, the Master Plan called for streetscape improvements along 20^th Street West from Avenue A to Avenue H with the intent of creating a vibrant and cohesive retail corridor that celebrates the unique character and diverse cultures of the area.  Phases I and II were completed between 2013 and 2014.

 The $3.75 million project, funded from the BID Streetscape Reserve Program, includes aesthetic improvements to the street and sidewalk areas along 20^th Street West such as:

• new sidewalk and amenity strip installation;
• bus bulbs and corner bulbs to enhance pedestrian safety;
• new street furniture, trees, and street banners;
• three public art projects; and
• design elements that incorporate the Riversdale area’s rich history and heritage.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

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’s Summer Youth Centres open for the season on Friday, July 3, 2015.  The last day of programs will be August 19, 2015.  Youth ages 12 to 16 are invited to drop in for sports and games, listen to music, participate in special events, or hang out with friends in a friendly environment supervised by fun, qualified leaders.

Hours of operation, unless otherwise stated, are Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Monday, August 3, 2015).

Youth Centre Locations:

• Brownell School  (274 Russell Road)
• Confederation Park Community School (3555 John A. Macdonald Road)
• St. Peter Elementary School (202 Sumner Crescent)
• St. Volodymyr School (302 Kellough Road)

Arts Only Location:

• Albert Community Centre (610 Clarence Avenue South) Monday to Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Mè Ta Wè Tàn Youth Centre Locations:

• St. John School (1205 Avenue N South)
• St. Mary’s Wellness and Education Centre (327 Avenue N South)
• Westmount Community School (411 Avenue J North)

Sports Only Youth Centre Locations:

Basketball

• Briarwood Park Outdoor Court (beside Briarwood Park spray pad) Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Cosmo Civic Centre (3130 Laurier Drive) Monday and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Monday to Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Forest Grove Outdoor Court (beside Forest Grove School spray pad) Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Lakewood Civic Centre (1635 McKercher Drive) Monday to Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Optimist Park Outdoor Court (beside Riversdale paddling pool) Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Bike (Bring your bike and safety gear)

• Meet beside Lakewood Civic Centre (1635 McKercher Drive) Monday to Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Youth are also invited to practise their boarding with our skilled skateboard leaders who travel to different sites each day.  Equipment is provided or you can bring your own deck.  Program runs from July 3 to August 19, 2015.

Skateboard Leaders are at the following locations at these hours:

• Charlottetown Park  (behind Cosmo Civic Centre) Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Lions Skate Park (Victoria Park - beside Riversdale Pool) Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Morris T. Chernesky Park (beside Shaw Civic Centre) Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Umea Park (behind Lawson Civic Centre off Pinehouse Drive) Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• W.W. Ashley Park (beside Lathey Pool) Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Skateboard sites are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  For more information, please call 306-975-3378 or visit www.saskatoon.ca/skateboard

Citizens’ Decoration Day will be celebrated at the Soldiers’ Cairn located at the Woodlawn Cemetery on Sunday, June 7, 2015.  The annual event provides citizens with an opportunity to pay tribute to those brave individuals who lost their lives in the service of our country.

 Transportation to the event can be prearranged by calling the following Legion offices before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5:

• Legion Branch No. 63:        306-244-7575
• Nutana Branch No. 362:     306-374-6303
• ANAVETS No. 38:                 306-652-3171

 The day will begin with a parade, including Legion members, ANAVET members, and members of the Armed Forces at 2:30 p.m., starting from the Woodlawn Cemetery Office gate (north end of Memorial Avenue) and proceeding into the cemetery shortly thereafter.  The service is at 3:00 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.

The City of Saskatoon’s (City) Summer Leisure Mini Guide (Mini Guide) will be conveniently delivered to households with The Sunday Phoenix on Sunday, June 7, 2015, and is also available for pick up at any indoor Leisure Centre or Saskatoon Public Library.

The Mini Guide is your community source for a variety of arts, culture, and recreational activities throughout the summer months.  It contains up-to-date information on summer sites and programs, including outdoor pools, municipal golf courses, playgrounds and play programs, youth centres, skateboard parks, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, Gordon Howe Campground, Leisure Centres, and Red Cross Swim Programs.

The Mini Guide also includes information on Recreation and Sport Summer promotions, including:

The Summer Indoor LeisureCard is a limited-time promotion that provides unlimited access to the City’s seven indoor Leisure Centres in July and August for one low price ($90/Adults; $55/Youth; $185/Families).  Sales end July 20, 2015.  Restrictions apply.  Please visit www.saskatoon.ca/admissions for more information.

Participate in a fun colouring contest for kids, ages 2 to 12.  All submissions will be entered into a draw for the opportunity to be on the cover of next year’s Mini Guide.  In addition, the winner will receive a $50 Recreation and Sport gift card.  Submissions are accepted from June 8 to July 31, 2015.

For more information on the Mini Guide or other summer programs and promotions, visit www.saskatoon.ca/leisureguide.

 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.

Doors Open Saskatoon, a collaborative effort of the City of Saskatoon, Meewasin Valley Authority, Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, Saskatchewan Association of Architects, Saskatoon Heritage Society, and Tourism Saskatoon, will give people a free peek behind the doors of some of Saskatoon’s most interesting buildings on Sunday, June 7, 2015, 12 - 5 p.m.  This citywide celebration of Saskatoon’s built heritage has something for everyone with an exciting mix of old and new buildings, demonstrating this year’s theme “The Old is New.”

Many popular buildings will be featured, including the Delta Bessborough, Marr Residence, new Saskatoon Police Service building, Affinity Credit Union, and University of Saskatchewan Observatory, to name a few.  Visit www.doorsopensaskatoon.com for a complete listing, event information, and updates.

Saskatoon Transit is offering free bus service for the day.  To ride for free, pick up your Doors Open Saskatoon 2015 button available now at the following locations:

• City Hall (222 3rd Avenue North)
• Meewasin Valley Authority (402 3rd Avenue South)
• Tourism Saskatoon (101 - 202 4th Avenue North)
• Saskatoon Transit (23rd Street Bus Mall)

Call for Volunteers:  In past years, Doors Open Saskatoon has succeeded, in large part, due to its overwhelming volunteer support.  This year, organizers are hoping that just as many people will be interested in taking part in the event acting as hosts, ambassadors, greeters, and tour guides.  People who are interested in volunteering can register online at http://surveymonkey.com/s/DOSYXEvolunteer.

 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 Saskatoon Civic Conservatory (Conservatory) will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, now that the Mendel Art Gallery has closed.

The Conservatory continues to showcase a variety of orchids, tropical and arid plants, and a new seasonal flower display each month.

The cost of admission is by donation.  For more information, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/conservatory and watch for pictures during show changes on the City of Saskatoon Facebook page.

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.