News Releases

While mass casualty incidents (MCI) are rare in Canada, our community needs to be prepared.  To that end, the Saskatoon Police Service Foundation (SPSF) is pleased to help provide funding for ballistic vests and helmets for firefighters, who are always on the front line in such an incident.

“Firefighters are often confronted with dangerous situations when they respond to calls,” says Vera Pezer, President of the SPSF.  “They are frequently working alongside police and ambulance service personnel when a high degree of risk is involved.”

A recent MCI training scenario revealed the need for additional protective equipment in the form of ballistic vests and helmets for Saskatoon Fire Department Primary Care Paramedics.  The foundation has committed $10 thousand in funding.

“We’re grateful for this generous support,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “In order for us to do our job in the ‘hot zone’ during a mass casualty incident, our paramedics need to have the equipment that will help us help others.”

The SPS Foundation is an incorporated, not-for-profit, community-led organization. It is dedicated to raising funds to support projects that contribute to community safety.

“We have seen mass casualty incidents occur regularly around the world”, said Police Chief Troy Cooper.  “While Saskatoon has not had a similar incident, this initiative will allow for enhanced cooperation with our partners in response to crisis.” 

The proceeds of its annual SPS Foundation Half Marathon, being held on April 29, will go towards this initiative.

For more information on the Saskatoon Police Foundation, visit https://saskatoonpoliceservicefoundation.org/.

In recognition of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and the lives lost in Friday night’s highway bus tragedy, the City is lowering all flags to half-mast at civic facilities across Saskatoon. It is a small way of acknowledging the impact on the hockey community and people all across the province, and further today.

Mayor Charlie Clark says, “We are all devastated by the tragic bus crash of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. 

These players and staff have family and friends throughout our whole province. They have touched us all. 

Saskatoon will offer support in any way we can as we all try to come to terms with the impacts of this heartbreaking accident. We have our Police, Fire, and Ambulance members all on the scene, providing emergency management and wellness supports. 

Sincere thanks to everyone who helped out last night and who continues to provide support, from emergency responders, to the media keeping us updated, to the community members who are providing comfort in this time of deep sadness. 

The City of Saskatoon will be lowering flags to half-mast in recognition of lives lost in this tragedy.” 

Every home has some level of risk for flooding during spring snow melt and rain storms.  An innovative new program was launched today in Saskatoon to help people take proactive measures and reduce their flood risk, thanks to sponsorship provided by the City and SGI CANADA.

“Homeowners can register now for a free or partially-subsidized professional home assessment to help identify flood risks through the Home Flood Protection Program,” said Reid Corbett, Director of Saskatoon Water. “Early action and preventative maintenance activities can help reduce these risks in the short and long term."

Home assessments are completed by a national environmental consulting agency - a $450 value - at a reduced rate of $125. Up to 100 homes that meet the criteria for high-risk flooding areas are eligible for a free home assessment.

Once a homeowner registers and books their 60-90 minute appointment, a trained assessor completes a 50-point visual assessment and provides a list of the top actions to reduce flood risk. Participants can also access self-help resources, a customer service help-line and local service provider information as they start implementing the recommendations.

“This leading-edge flood resiliency program comes at an important time,” said Cheryl Evans, Director of the Home Flood Protection Program at the University of Waterloo’s Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. “As the frequency and severity of extreme weather due to climate change is increasing and exposes many homes to possible basement flooding.”

The Home Flood Protection Program was first piloted in Burlington, Ontario last year and is now available in Saskatoon for up to 400 owners of fully-detached, semi-detached and townhomes. Lessons learned from the pilot program will inform a broader rollout of the program across Canada.

City Council approved funding for the Home Flood Protection Program in response to feedback from residents in areas that experienced flooding during the July and August 2017 intense rain events.

The Home Flood Protection Program was developed by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, is delivered locally by AET Group and sponsored by the City of Saskatoon and SGI CANADA. Homeowners who are interested in participating in the program can register online now or call 1-877-876-9235 (toll-free).

The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create greater education, career development and training opportunities for Indigenous students and workers.

“SIIT is pleased to strengthen our relationship with the City of Saskatoon through the signing of this MOU,” says Chief Darcy Bear, SIIT Board of Governors Chairperson. “SIIT serves approximately 10,000 students and clients per year across the province,” Chief Bear says. “Partnerships, such as this one, help provide a better conduit for our students to find employment opportunities within all areas of the city’s workforce”.  

The formal agreement outlines a framework for collaboration between the two organizations, including strategic initiatives to improve the quality of life for SIIT students while living in Saskatoon.

“Strengthening our partnership with SIIT will not only help the City of Saskatoon have a more representative workforce, but it will create valuable learning opportunities for SIIT students, many who move to Saskatoon for their program and stay here after they graduate,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

“In working more closely with this academic institution we can ensure that the programming and courses of SIIT fit well with the needs and issues facing the city,” Mayor Clark says. “This will support students in a way that advances the needs and aspirations of everyone.”

Key initiatives include:

• Develop targeted strategies to recruit students to enter into and succeed in employment.
• Engage students to identify and address barriers to employment, such as transportation, child care and housing.

“As the Saskatoon Student Association President, I look forward to any partnerships that help to reduce barriers while students are at SIIT and assist them in securing employment after they complete their education. Pursuing an education can be a stressful experience with many obstacles, any time we reduce obstacles we improve student success,” says Violet Swan, SIIT Saskatoon Student Association President.

In 2014, SIIT and the City of Saskatoon signed an ongoing agreement that provides full time students with a Transit U-pass at a discounted rate, for the September to May academic year.

The MOU responds directly to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, specifically #92: “Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.”

Under the City of Saskatoon’s Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement, this agreement supports the long term strategy of offering an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse backgrounds. This agreement also supports the City’s long-term strategy of strengthening relations with local Aboriginal organizations, under the Strategic Goal of Quality of Life.

Around 8:20 a.m. this morning a westbound Saskatoon Transit Bus was involved in a collision with a truck at the intersection of Idylwyld Drive and 22^nd Street West. No injuries have been reported. The Transit bus sustained significant damage. Emergency services were called to scene.

As is the practice, Transit officials are conducting an internal review of the incident.

Construction milestones are about to be reached on two new interchanges currently under construction in Saskatoon. Both interchanges are ready for the installation of girders - concrete structures that support the bridge deck. 56 girders will first be placed over the eastbound and westbound lanes of College Drive at McOrmond Drive.

“Installation at this site will take approximately three weeks,” says Bryan Zerebeski, Project Manager, Saskatoon Interchange Project. “The girders were manufactured in Alberta. Once on site, a 250 tonne crane will immediately lift them into place.”

The girders range between 29 and 38 meters in length and are 1.2 meters wide by 1 meter high. Installation will begin at the McOrmond and College site on Monday, March 26 and traffic restrictions will be in place on Highway 5, east of the temporary intersection during girder installation. Work on the interchange at McOrmond Drive and College Drive began in April of 2017.

Construction of the new interchange at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 has also been underway since April of 2017. Girders will be installed at that site once installations are complete at McOrmond and College.  

The speed limit through both construction sites is 60 km/h. Drivers are reminded to expect delays.

Visit saskatoon.ca/interchanges for project updates, alternate route maps, and to see 3D renderings.

The Office of the Chief Coroner today concluded the September 11, 2017 drowning death of five-year-old Ahmedsadiq Elmmi was accidental and no inquest will be held.

“First of all – as we did at the time of the incident – the City extends its heartfelt condolences to Ahmed Elmmi’s family, friends, teachers, and classmates,” says Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation & Utilities. “As a parent myself I can’t imagine what this family has had to deal with.”

The Coroner made three recommendations for the City:

1. To assess the feasibility for water safety education within all Saskatoon communities, such as providing learning materials to residential areas with nearby water access.
2. During community planning and development, and to optimize safety, the City of Saskatoon and the school boards should consider future placement of ponds and municipal structures, so that such structures and ponds are located away from schools, playgrounds and areas where children are known to play.
3. Assess the need for additional barriers and modifications to ponds and their surrounding area where the location of such structures is within proximity to schools and areas known to be occupied by children.

To assess the feasibility for water safety education within all Saskatoon communities, such as providing learning materials to residential areas with nearby water access.

“We would agree with the Coroner’s recommendation here,” Gardiner says. “The Fire Department routinely offers public education on safety near the river or ponds, and has reached out to the School Divisions to offer such a program in schools.”

Gardiner says the City presented its proposed recommendations for storm water retention ponds to the community which include an educational component for schools and community associations as well as easy to understand signage around all storm water retention ponds.

During community planning and development, and to optimize safety, the City of Saskatoon and the school boards should consider future placement of ponds and municipal structures, so that such structures and ponds are located away from schools, playgrounds and areas where children are known to play.

Gardiner highlights this is already under discussion with the community and outlines the proposed recommendations:

1. In new neighbourhoods, storm ponds should be located a safe distance from schools, unless separated by a barrier or other risk mitigating factors are in place.   Barriers could be in the form of roads or residential/commercial developments. 
2. If safety risks cannot be mitigated through location and other design options, we would assess fencing as a barrier on a case-by-case basis.
3. Finally, for Dundonald Park, a partial 1.2 m high wrought-iron fence on the school side of the park pathway is recommended.

Assess the need for additional barriers and modifications to ponds and their surrounding area where the location of such structures is within proximity to schools and areas known to be occupied by children.

Gardiner says this is also being addressed with the proposed recommendations shared with the community.

"A partial fence to provide separation between school activities and the public’s activities in the park and the pond is being proposed”, she says. “However, no matter the infrastructure in place, School officials have pointed out in the past that one of the best educational strategies is for parents to be talking to their children about safety whether it be around any ponds, the river, roads, or even railroad tracks that run through the city.”

The City will have a closer look at the report from the Public School Division also being released today and work with all school officials on any recommendations

Gardiner says she’s also expecting a report from the Children’s Advocate which will be carefully considered by the City Administration.

The proposed recommendations under development will be presented first to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services April 16 then to City Council for approval.

• Winter Comfort and Access - Projects that improve comfort and accessibility. 
• Winter Design - Urban design installations which celebrate winter. 
• Winter Activities - Events, festivals and activities that build enthusiasm for winter by taking advantage of winter opportunities and celebrate the fun quality of life.