News Releases

The City and museum today made the first tangible step toward hosting our community and visitors to a multi-purpose gathering space like none other before in Saskatoon.

“We now have the keys to the building, which means we can get to the finishing work and secondary contracts,” says His Worship the Mayor, Charlie Clark.  “We have the keys to a bright future and tomorrow begins with today’s handover.”

Mayor Clark also outlines the impacts of this project on the City and its residents.

The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority expects Remai Modern to contribute $17 million in annual GDP impact.

Remai Modern Board Chair Alain Gaucher emphasizes that while work to move from the former gallery is coming along, preparations continue at the new building.

“Over the next few months, work will continue in spaces like the feature gallery, restaurant kitchen and the installation of vault systems. We continue to work towards an opening in the Fall of 2017."

“Once we know the air quality, heating and humidity levels are where they must be, we can begin the complex process of moving art into the building. It’s our responsibility to safeguard the significant investments and public assets we are entrusted to protect at Remai Modern.”

Gaucher says Remai Modern has the potential to be an incredible art museum and so much more for citizens and visitors alike.

Among its many functions, Remai Modern will include a state-of-the-art learning centre where young and old will learn and engage with art and each other.

It will offer spectacular event spaces for community gatherings, family events or professional conferences, showing off sweeping views of the South Saskatchewan River.

It will be a gathering place where everyone can come to sit and think, catch up with friends and take in the art on display, including significant Canadian and international works.

“There is no doubt: this gallery will become the living room of our city, a place where locals and travellers come to the heart of our community,” Mayor Clark says.

Five ‘white powder’ calls in recent days have used up Saskatoon Fire Department resources totaling $75,650.

“Each instance was determined to be non-hazardous, but each time we have to treat it as a potential safety threat,” says Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger. “So, each time, we have to call out our hazardous materials and emergency measures teams, on top of regular crews – and that costs money.”

Saskatoon police detectives are now investigating the calls.  No arrests have been made in the March events, but following a similar incident in November, a Saskatoon woman is accused in court.

During the City Council meeting Monday, the most recent events prompted Councillor and Police Commissioner Darren Hill to ask the City Solicitor to explore seeking restitution in any ‘white powder’ court case which results in a conviction.

“These incidents cause a lot of disruption for the businesses they target, for the people who work in these buildings and for our community,” Rodger says.  “If someone is arrested and a judge decides any of these incidents break the law, City Council does not want taxpayers to pay for the emergency response.”

The costs as presented below include the salaries and operating costs of all Fire Department staff who attended the scene of each incident.  Also included are costs of off-duty staff called back to provide coverage of stations left vacant during each incident.

Each incident was attended with 7-8 vehicles/apparatus and 23-26 staff.

Date                         Hours            Cost

March 16, 2017     4.00            $20,900.00
March 23, 2017     2.00            $10,500.00
March 27, 2017     2.50            $13,125.00
March 27, 2017     3.00            $15,750.00
March 28, 2017     3.00            $15,375.00

If anyone suspects a package or container they believe has questionable contents:

• do not handle more than necessary
• isolate the area: prevent people access to stop the spread of possible contamination
• call 9-1-1

Komodo dragons, Thorn and Shruikan (Shrew-khan), arrived in Saskatoon on March 5, 2017, and have been settling into the new Komodo Island exhibit at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z).

“We know kids and adults of all ages will be amazed by the Komodo dragons,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Manager, SFFP&Z.  “Having these unique animals in Saskatoon provides a great opportunity for us to talk about threatened species around the world, including those in our own backyard.”

Visitors to the SFFP&Z will have their first opportunity to see the Komodo dragons when the exhibit officially opens to the public on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

The Komodo dragons are currently on loan from the Calgary Zoo and will be featured at the SFFP&Z for the 2017 season.  The exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is thrilled to embrace the opportunity to be part of the Komodo Island exhibit,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.  “Working with the Zoo and many local sponsors, we were able to create a world class exhibit in a short amount of time.  We hope this exhibit will help bring awareness to the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation as we continue to work tirelessly to build for the future of this facility.”

The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation raises funds for capital improvements within the SFFP&Z.

Do not miss your opportunity to see the Komodo dragons!  From September to April, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and from May to August, daily hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information regarding the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo can be found online at Saskatoon.ca/zoo.

For the sixth consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon is one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017.

This competition examines Canadian employer’s initiatives for workplace diversity and inclusion and recognizes those with noteworthy and unique programs. 

“We are taking a more systematic approach to help us organize, guide, and support the development of specific action plans,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.

Gryba says, “It’s more than just diversity and inclusion hiring practices. We’re committed to comprehensive plans that create a workplace that is respectful and inclusive to all employees.”

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017 are outlined in the March 28, 2017 edition of The Globe and Mail as well as on Eluta.ca.

The City has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion including being an equity partner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  As an equity partner, the City commits to the basic principles and objectives which outline a larger responsibility to foster an inclusive society.  

City  Council today approved a tax ratio of 1.59; the ratio used to be 1.75.

In simple terms,  the City’s annual budget determines how much it will need to ask from property owners to pay for services like garbage pick up or snow clearing.

The tax ratio policy determines how the taxes needed to cover those costs are split up; or putting it another way: what share of the taxes that different property classes like residential and commercial will pay. 

So, the approved ratio of 1.59 means that for every $1.00 in property taxes that a residential property pays, a commercial property will pay $1.59 on an equivalent assessment.

Here's what it looks like: 

The tax ratio shift has not affected Saskatoon's standing as having some of the lowest property taxes among Canadian prairie cities.