News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Newly Renovated Affinity Learning Centre at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo Opening Friday, November 26
November 23, 2021 - 10:00am
- Poison Dart Frogs
- Hermann’s Tortoise
- Ball Python
- Western Tiger Salamander
- Axolotl
- Garter Snake
- Blue-tongued Skink
- Cichlids from Lake Malawi, Africa
Renovations to the Affinity Learning Centre at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) are nearly complete and the building is set to open to the public on Friday, November 26.
“We have completely redesigned the layout of the Affinity Learning Centre and added some really amazing exhibits that will be home to several new species like the colourful poison dart frogs, axolotl and a variety of cichlids from Lake Malawi, Africa,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager.
The newly renovated facility will be home to a variety of reptiles, amphibians and fish including:
The Zoo would like to thank the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, Affinity Credit Union and Krawchuck Construction for their continued partnership and support of the Affinity Learning Centre.
The Zoo would also like to remind residents that a non-medical mask is required when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services including the Affinity Learning Centre, Meerkat House and washroom facilities at the Zoo. Although masks are not required in outdoor spaces, the City recommends wearing a mask throughout your visit, even while enjoying the outdoor exhibits. The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is not included in the list of City of Saskatoon programs and facilities where public access requires proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is by donation until March 31, 2022. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo for more information or to plan your next visit.
City snow crews addressing residential problem areas
November 19, 2020 - 3:34am
Over the past week, snow crews prioritized improving mobility on residential streets in 65 neighbourhoods across our city. Crews are returning to residential streets that continue to present driveability challenges and streets that were inadvertently missed in residential neighbourhoods.
“It’s been our objective, through increasing capacity of our snow crews, working around the clock, and prioritizing residential streets to get to you as soon as possible,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation & Construction. “Fast tracking the schedule has resulted in some streets being missed or driveability challenges still remaining. Crews are already returning to those locations to fix the problems and will continue to do so over the coming days.”
The Saskatoon road network is approximately 4,000 lane kilometres, with 2,400 lane kilometres, or roughly 60 percent, in residential neighbourhoods alone. In addition to the size of the network, some neighbourhoods present unique challenges such as: narrow streets, street parking, higher winds leading to increased drifting, and limited space to push snow. Depending on the characteristics of the street and availability of equipment, at times a grader was used for the work, where other times a loader, skid steer or other smaller equipment were used. The streets where graders worked together with loaders and skid steers have seen better results.
“This is the largest response to a snow event in the City’s history, and as we go we continue to learn what works and what hasn’t worked,” says Schmidt. “Our City received 35-plus centimetres of snowfall in 48 hours, making it one of the largest snowfall events ever for our City. This has been a challenging situation for residents and crews alike and we’re committed to doing everything we can, with as many crews members as possible.”
The City reports nearly 1,000 work orders for problem areas in residential neighbourhoods. As reports are made, they are prioritized, tracked, and crews will address these concerns over the coming weeks.
As is the forecast for today, if Saskatoon experiences more snowfall, crews will need to prioritize our priority or highest traffic streets as usual.
Winter driving conditions remain while this extensive cleanup is underway. Please drive with caution. For more information visit saskatoon.ca/snow
City of Saskatoon is one of 95 global cities named as new generation of climate leaders on CDP 2021 A List
November 18, 2021 - 10:00am
Saskatoon has been recognized by CDP as one of 95 cities across the globe, and one of only 7 Canadian cities, that are taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency.
CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions. Designed to encourage and support cities to ramp up their climate action and ambition, CDP’s Cities A List is based on environmental data disclosed by cities to their unified reporting system.
To score an A, a city must disclose publicly and have a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target and a renewable energy target for the future, and have published a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. Many A List cities are also taking a variety of other leadership actions, including political commitment from a city’s Mayor to tackle climate change.
“We’re proud to be among the 7 Canadian cities leading the way on climate action,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The actions in our Climate Action Plan guide the City and the community over the next 30 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make Saskatoon more resilient against the changing climate.”
A List cities are taking twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A List cities, and also identify more than twice as many opportunities. Local examples include Saskatoon’s Home Energy Loan Program to help homeowners improve the energy performance of their homes, and the upcoming 2.2 MW Dundonald Avenue Solar Farm to enable Saskatoon Light & Power to generate renewable electricity for their customers.
“What gets measured, gets managed – Saskatoon is committed to managing its environmental risks and impact, and to building a safe and secure city for people to live and work in,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “Disclosing information is a critical step towards taking the right action, and towards cities and governments at all levels developing the right climate change policies.”
Saskatoon, and the other cities on this year’s A List, are also celebrated for showing that urgent and impactful climate action is achievable at a global level, and in cities with different climate realities and priorities. However, actions need to go further and faster to meet the new targets agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow earlier this month.
Visit cdp.net o view the full 2021 A List of cities and to find out more about this ambitious initiative.
City-wide snow clean-up continues
November 17, 2020 - 5:04am
- Continuing to clean and clear priority streets as needed;
- Residential streets that need more attention to improve drivability;
- Addressing problem areas on residential streets (e.g. snow piles near driveways or in front of fire hydrants);
- Removal of snow in Business Improvement Districts;
- Industrial areas.
City snow crews are making great progress in the city-wide clean-up following the severe winter storm. Clearing of driving lanes on residential streets will be complete later today, which is three and a half days ahead of the projected schedule.
“There’s no question that we have more work to do,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation & Construction. “But I’m proud of the way our crews and contractors are putting everything they have, around the clock, into this operation.”
With the first pass of driving lanes in residential areas completed, crews will now focus their attention on the following:
Where piles of snow present a clear issue, they will be removed. This includes large piles that restrict sight lines on priority roads and piles of especially heavy, packed snow around driveway entrances and parked vehicles. With the massive accumulation of snow, there will still be piles of snow on residential streets reducing on-street parking at times. Crews will return in the coming weeks for snow removal, once the other priorities have been addressed.
“This is the first time we’ve undertaken a snow operation of this magnitude and we’re truly grateful for the patience and cooperation of Saskatoon residents,” says Schmidt. “We’re seeing people shovelling out their neighbour’s vehicle or driveway entrance; it truly is a community effort.”
A reminder that Saskatoon Transit has resumed normal operations and is available to get residents where they need to go.
2020 Civic Election: citizens exercise vote amid pandemic & postponed election day
November 17, 2020 - 4:48am
Following the postponement of Monday’s election, the election office reports the official voter turnout figures as 58,734 or 27.4 per cent of eligible voters. This figure includes 19,666 ballots cast at advance polls and 8,600 mail-in ballots. The next most comparable turnout was in 2000 when 26.4% of eligible voters cast ballots.
The election office adds 20,906 ballots were cast on Monday, November 9, which is four per cent of eligible voters, and 8,532 ballots cast on Friday, November 13. There are 214,301 eligible voters in Saskatoon.
“Given the environmental challenges confronted, voters went to the polls,” says Returning Officer Scott Bastian. “This election was held during a pandemic and then a severe winter storm rolled over Saskatoon leading into election day. Through it all, an important part was to adjust and comply with provincial legislation and orders,” Bastian says. “Options were provided to voters that fit within boundaries of the law.”
Bastian acknowledges his office experienced challenges, including long lineups at advance polls and the new online mail-in ballot application process. Like past civic elections, the Returning Officer will prepare a report on the 2020 Civic Election to submit to City Council in the first quarter of 2021. The report will outline the election process, successes and challenges faced during this election, and opportunities to pursue for future elections.
“There will be an opportunity to explore facets of the 2020 election with the election office and perhaps in conjunction with other municipalities in Saskatchewan and Elections Saskatchewan,” Bastian adds.
Bastian says the conclusion of an unconventional election is a testament to the dedicated staff working the election and to the community.
“I want to thank all the dedicated election workers who worked advance polls and in care homes and hospitals, carefully following COVID-19 safety protocols, and to those who braved a snowstorm on Monday to open the polls, as well as those who were available again Friday, November 13 to ensure the postponed day went ahead successfully.”
The City of Saskatoon’s official results from the 2020 election are available at electionresults.saskatoon.ca.