News Releases

The City of Saskatoon and communities across Canada are celebrating Water Week, March 20-26, 2017; it’s an opportunity for the City to highlight the vital role water plays in our daily lives and how it contributes to the overall quality of life we enjoy.

“Modern, efficient water and wastewater infrastructure is essential to safeguarding the well-being of Canadian families and building the Canada we want for tomorrow,” said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “We are very pleased to have provided funding so that Saskatoon can address their specific infrastructure priorities, while helping grow the middle class with good, well-paying jobs."

This year, the Government of Canada invested an additional $15.8 million in funding through its Clean Water Wastewater Fund, while the Government of Saskatchewan invested $7.9 million.

“The Government of Saskatchewan’s $7.9 million investment will contribute to improving Saskatoon’s water infrastructure and help keep our province strong,” the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Minister of Government Relations, said. “We are pleased to be working with our federal and municipal partners to make services better for the citizens we serve.”

The City is investing $43.3 million to replace aging water mains, sewer mains and lead service lines. All this funding approximately quadruples the annual budget for underground pipe renewal.

“Saskatoon is fortunate to have some of the best quality drinking water in Canada,” says Reid Corbett, Director of Saskatoon Water. “We can attribute this to the high regulatory standards we meet, our professional and highly-skilled staff, and our commitment to investing in state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure to serve a growing city and region.”

Lined up end-to-end, the underground pipes (not including service connections) that make up Saskatoon’s water distribution, sanitary sewer collection and storm water collection systems total 2,843 kilometres; that’s roughly the same distance as driving from City Hall to Toronto around the Great Lakes. The 2017 work includes the replacement of approximately 900 lead water service pipes, rehabilitation of approximately 15 kilometres of water mains, and re-lining approximately 22 kilometres of sanitary sewer mains.

In the Government of Canada’s Budget 2016, the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund was introduced to accelerate short-term municipal investments for the renewal of water and wastewater infrastructure to meet immediate priorities for clean water and healthier environments for communities.

Join the Water Week Facebook LiveChat! On Friday, March 24, everyone is invited to follow Saskatoon City News on Facebook and join our Why Infrastructure Renewal Matters Facebook LiveChat from 12:00 -12:30 pm. You can add your questions to the post now to make sure they get answered.

Learn more about Saskatoon’s water and sewer infrastructure at saskatoon.ca/waterweek and take a video tour of the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant and Water Treatment Plant.

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z) grizzly bears, Mistaya (miss‑TIE’‑yuh) and Koda (KOH’ dah), have successfully completed their first hibernation.

Mistaya and Koda started hibernating on December 5, 2016, and completed their hibernation on March 17, 2017.

“We monitored the bears throughout their first hibernation, gathering data that can be used in future research projects,” said Tim Sinclair-Smith, Manager, SFFP&Z.

After just over three months of hibernation, the bears have lost some weight, but due to not hibernating for ten years, they still have considerable fat reserves.  Mistaya and Koda will be offered small amounts of vegetables; the same food they would find in the wild after hibernation.  Mistaya and Koda will return to the Kinsmen Grizzly Bear Exhibit this weekend.

Mistaya is the sole-surviving cub from Bear 66, a well-known female grizzly killed on the Canadian Pacific railway tracks in Banff National Park, in 2005.  He stayed in the wild until it became clear that he could not survive without intervention.

Koda was orphaned that same year after his mother fled the den when a logging operation came through the Grand Prairie region.  He was rescued and nurtured by zookeepers at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The cubs were paired at the Calgary Zoo and later transferred to their permanent home at the SFFP&Z.

For more information on the SFFP&Z, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/zoo.

A committee of City Councillors says the City should prepare a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saskatoon Tribal Council; the agreement would start a feasibility study for a jointly-owned hydropower station at the weir.

The Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities & Corporate Services approved the move at its meeting today.  It will be considered by City Council later this month.

“This is a positive first step,” says Kevin Hudson, Manager of Sustainable Energy for the City-owned Saskatoon Light & Power. “As we have said before, there could be many benefits of an initiative like this and we look forward to developing a partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council.”

The total estimated cost of the project is $61.5 - 65.2 million, which is expected to be funded by the Saskatoon Tribal Council and private-sector partners, off-set by revenue generated by the power station and funding from other green-energy funding sources.

The committee also recommended the City Administration meet with whitewater park supporters to discuss the development possibility of such a recreational facility be considered at the same time as the hydro project – including costs.

Earlier pre-feasibility and environmental baseline studies concluded the project was technically feasible and is expected to be economically viable.

 “Of course we need further details, but we are confident there is a tremendous opportunity here,” says Darrell Balkwill, Chair of STC investments Inc.  “First Nations would benefit from training, jobs and educational possibilities. Investment returns would help infrastructure and social programs in our member communities.”

The project will involve restoring the weir’s current infrastructure, and the construction of a river crossing for pedestrians and cyclists that will be wider, safer and more accessible than the current one on the CP Rail Bridge.

Previous studies found that such a project would not cause any significant disruption to the ecology of the area or negative downstream effects to the river valley: a slight raise in river water is expected but it tapers to zero beneath the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge.

The project has been on hold since last presented to City Council in 2015 until funding could be identified. 

Construction on two new interchanges in Saskatoon starts this spring - at McOrmond Drive and College Drive and at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16. Site work and the relocation of utilities adjacent to each intersection is currently underway and construction begins in June. In the meantime, transportation plans for each location are in development.

“Commuters will begin feeling the impact of construction in June, and one of the ways we are going to minimize the impact is by maintaining a dual left turning lane from College onto McOrmond,” says Dan Willems, Director of Major Projects and Preservation. “Transportation plans also include the construction of detour roads at each interchange site and recommending alternative routes.”

Through a procurement process, PCL Construction Management Inc. was chosen to design and build both interchanges, which will also include pedestrian and cyclist paths/walkways.

The McOrmond Drive and College Drive interchange is expected to open in the fall of 2018 and the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 interchange will open in 2019.

For more information on the Saskatoon Interchange Project, including background, FAQs, and upcoming Public Information Sessions, please visit Saskatoon.ca/interchanges. 

A catalogue showcasing a collection of temporary public artworks that were a part of the City’s Placemaker Program from 1994 to 2015 was unveiled at the Frances Morrison Library Gallery today.

“Art challenges, engages, and inspires us to see the world in new ways,” says His Worship Mayor Charlie Clark.  “The Placemaker Program has given the City a tremendous legacy of public art over the last 20 years.  Art and culture will continue to have important places in our Strategic Plan and the future of our city.”

The City’s Placemaker Program works with the Business Improvement Districts to add significance to civic spaces.  These exhibits temporarily transform public spaces to engage with audiences and promote an appreciation for contemporary art practices.  All artwork is considered annually and selected by the Public Art Advisory Committee.  Artists can submit in any medium.  Preference is given to submissions by emerging artists and pieces that reflect Saskatoon’s unique sense of place through its people, history, culture, or landform.

“The City recognizes the significance of this catalogue,” says Director of Planning and Development, Lesley Anderson.  “We now have a reference to our past works that is not only useful, but beautiful.”

The Placemaker Artwork Catalogue is the final component of the 66 Physiognomies project, led by local artist, Jinzhe Cui, who used a multi-media approach to celebrate the program’s 20-year history.  The project started in 2015 and included a traditional Chinese-style scroll ink drawing, illustrated cards, six public events, and a video.  Now, added to the list is a catalogue to document and interpret the past Placemaker artworks.

“It has been a joy and opportunity to explore public art practice and to meet new people,” says Cui.  “During my journey of 66 Physiognomies, I have been touched by the beauty and uniqueness from the people, history, culture, art, and landscape in Saskatoon.”

The 20^th Anniversary Placemaker Artwork Catalogue is available online to the public, and a copy can be found at every Saskatoon public library branch.

The City would also like to remind artists that the 2017 Placemaker Program Call for Submissions is open until Wednesday, March 29, 2017.