News Releases

The City is starting off 2016 on a high note by making a positive stride toward our Strategic Goal of a Culture of Continuous Improvement.  For the fifth year in a row, the City has been selected as one of Saskatchewan’s 2016 Top Employers. The competition recognizes leading employers which offer exceptional places to work.

“Being named a Saskatchewan Top Employer for five years in a row is an outstanding achievement” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.  “We make conscious efforts to continuously enhance our workplace culture.”

The City of Saskatoon was evaluated on eight criteria, the same used for the Canada Top 100 Employer’s competition:

1. Physical Workplace
2. Work Atmosphere & Communications
3. Financial Benefits & Compensation
4. Health & Family-Friendly Benefits
5. Vacation & Personal Time Off
6. Employee Engagement
7. Training & Skills Development
8. Community Involvement

Employers are compared with other organizations in their field to determine which ones offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

“This achievement would not be possible without the hard work of City staff,” Gryba says. “Our employees are our greatest asset.”

Saskatchewan’s Top Employers 2016 are highlighted in the February 3, 2016 editions of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. 

For more City of Saskatoon news, program information, Service Alerts, Traffic Detours, and links to our social media channels, please visit saskatoon.ca. 

International bond rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) has awarded the City of Saskatoon its top rating of ‘AAA’/Stable. Every year, S&P reviews the City’s finances and delivers a rating in a report based on that study.

“Standard and Poor’s believes the City demonstrates what they view as good political and managerial strength, and this is evidenced in our very lengthy track-record of balancing budgets and meeting goals for the City,” says His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison. “Our financial management is strong, and our financial policies are well-planned and prudent. We time and time again demonstrate our stability.”

Standard & Poor’s notes, “…the stable outlook reflects expectations that, throughout the two-year outlook horizon, Saskatoon will continue benefiting from a very strong economy, and maintain exceptional liquidity and very strong budgetary flexibility.”

“Once again, this is excellent news,” says Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff. “The ‘AAA’ rating will continue to provide the City with the financial certainty and budgetary flexibility necessary to maintain and add infrastructure as we grow toward half a million people.” 

“The City’s budgetary performance has historically been stable and very strong, in our view,” the agency notes.  As S&P continues to view the financial outlook for Saskatoon as stable, it further outlines that even with a downturn in the resource sector somewhat affecting Saskatoon’s economy, the City’s revenue structure will be able to mitigate this impact.

The agency also points to the City’s transparency: “…good, annual financial statements and robust annual operating and capital budget documents…” as other reasons to award the rating.

The City has received the ‘AAA’/stable credit rating every year for more than a decade allowing the City to borrow money at lower interest rates.

View the full report from Standard & Poor’s on saskatoon.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon news, program information, Service Alerts, Traffic Detours, and links to our social media channels, please visit saskatoon.ca. 

Saskatoon is an active winter city and keeping people moving around is a top priority. To keep roads clear through all types of winter weather conditions, our roadway maintenance plan includes a variety of ice management and plowing strategies developed and fine-tuned over a number of years.

“While we continue to look for ways to improve and be more efficient with new products and equipment, the foundation of our winter maintenance strategies is the use of sand for traction and salt to soften the ice,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.

“A constant during winter is change,” Hyde says “Snow, as well as any change to temperature, moisture levels, wind, amount of traffic, or any combination of these, can create new road conditions and this is what happened this past weekend.”

Saskatoon had its first stretch of extreme cold which contributed to icy conditions, followed by light, puffy snow on Monday night adding additional moisture. This, along with dropping temperatures from -14 C to -22 C during the Tuesday morning commute  created ice crystals that settled on the roadways.  Added to this was wind, which effectively polished and concealed the ice. Aware of the forecast for snow, crews were out with a combination sand and salt mixture blended with a magnesium chloride additive to reduce the formation of ice and enhance traction.

In preparation for warmer temperatures that may go above the freezing point forecast for Friday (Jan. 22), crews – as usual – will be out applying sand and de-icing materials. Tonight there will be 13 sanders applying sand and de-icing materials to high-traffic roadways, along with 4 graders that will be shaving down any packed snow or ice.

“Even with the use of sand and de-icing agents, roadway conditions similar to what drivers experienced earlier this week may be present Friday because of the change in temperature, moisture from melting, and peak driving times,” Hyde says.

Drivers are reminded to slow down and be cautious.

Additionally, the City takes extra precautionary measures for managing bridges and overpasses which are more susceptible to icy conditions. When icy conditions exist, all bridge decks are checked and sanded as required every two hours. Bridge decks are usually sanded just before rush hour because it’s very difficult to sand during peak times.

We will also be starting our Circle Drive Snow Removal Program this Sunday night, also known as the “Snow Train.” The goal is to complete this work in two nights, to remove snow from the walls of bridges, overpasses and guard rails.

Please watch for equipment on the road. The large, slower-moving, machines used are equipped with flashing amber lights, and can be found on the road at any time of day or night.  Drivers should stay back a minimum of 15 metres (about 2.5 car lengths) from the equipment and approach slowly if passing is necessary.   

When safe to do so, drivers can report icy locations to Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

Snow What to Do this winter by visiting saskatoon.ca/snow. Find real time Snow & Ice and Traffic Detour alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts or follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

Earlier this morning, a car collided with a Saskatoon Transit bus northbound on Clarence Avenue.  It happened at the intersection of Isabella Street – which is controlled by stop signs on Isabella.

Paramedics have taken a man who was in the car to Royal University Hospital; at last word he was said to be in serious condition.

There were no injuries to anyone on the bus.

Saskatoon Transit is fully cooperating with the ongoing Police investigation. 

Traffic restrictions are in place at the collision scene.  While the # 17 Market Mall-Stonebridge-City Centre continues to run, pick-ups and drop-offs are not available at four stops between Hilliard and Taylor Streets because of the investigation.

Please check saskatoontransit.ca for details or call 306-975-3100.

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.

At 9:00 a.m. today, the two south spans of Traffic Bridge were successfully taken down using explosive charges. The area has now been inspected and secured and road closures and traffic detours are being reopened. The 250 m exclusion zone has also been lifted.

The demolition was managed by Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), through their contract with licensed blasting specialist Rakowski Cartage & Wrecking Ltd. Saskatoon’s Police Service and Fire Department patrolled the area surrounding Traffic Bridge to ensure public safety.

Once the debris from the demolition is cleared, construction of the south portion of the new bridge can begin. GCP is hopeful that residents will start to see the first new southern span being erected by this summer.

The remaining two northern spans of the old bridge will be taken down as construction progresses. Details on future demolition dates will be shared as they are known.

The City wishes to thank residents, especially property owners and tenants within the exclusion zone, for their cooperation during this first phase of demolition. For more information about the Bridging to Tomorrow Project, including the new Traffic Bridge and the North Commuter Parkway, visit saskatoon.ca/bridging.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.