News Releases

The City of Saskatoon has announced that the new Fire Chief for the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) will be Morgan Hackl. Hackl is currently the Assistant Fire Chief and will succeed the retiring Chief Dan Paulsen. Hackl is a long-time member of the SFD who started as a firefighter in 1987. 

“He progressed through the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant, becoming a Battalion Chief in 2013 and Assistant Chief in 2014,” says City Manager, Murray Totland. “Over his 28 year career with the Department, Morgan has been involved in every aspect of operations and comes very qualified to now lead and continue making strides with the many performance improvement initiatives underway.”

Totland says the SFD not only serves the citizens of Saskatoon from a public safety perspective as an emergency services provider, but also as a key provider of non-emergency and support services. He says under Hackl’s leadership, the SFD is in good hands.

“His efforts will help us continually improve the quality of life for our citizens.”

Hackl will officially become Saskatoon’s Fire Chief on August 1, 2015.

The City of Saskatoon wishes to sincerely thank Chief Dan Paulsen who will retire from the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) later this month. Chief Paulsen started his career with the SFD on May 1, 1984 as a firefighter.

“Chief Paulsen is a tremendous leader who has guided and trained hundreds of fire personnel over the past several years,” says City Manager, Murray Totland. “He has become a mentor and a friend to many throughout the organization and we are sad to see him leave, but we wish him well in his retirement.”

Chief Paulsen served as a firefighter with the SFD until 1998. After completing his Fire Company Officer training, he moved in to the Training Division in the field of technical rescue. In 2003, he assumed a leadership role as the Assistant Chief in Training and in 2008, transferred to the Assistant Chief of Communications and Administration.

Paulsen, who became Saskatoon’s Fire Chief in 2012, brought a wealth of education and experience to the SFD. He holds several professional certificates relating to the Fire Service, including Certificates in Fire Service Administration from Dalhousie University and Western Oregon State College and the Chief Fire Officer designation through the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. He is recognized in the Court of Queen’s Bench as an expert witness in Fire Dynamics and has Certificates of Leadership Development through the University of Saskatchewan.

Chief Paulsen’s final day with the Saskatoon Fire Department will be on Friday, July 31, 2015.

A Protected Bike Lane is a dedicated, marked lane for people on bikes that is physically separated from vehicles and pedestrian traffic by parked cars, a painted buffer, and flexible posts.

The new 23^rd Street Protected Bike Lane is now open.  The lane runs between Idylwyld Drive and Spadina Crescent East in both directions.

The 4^th Avenue Protected Bike Lane will open in 2016.  The lane will run between 19^th Street East and 24^th Street East in both directions, and connect to the Broadway Bridge.

A short video on how Protected Bike Lanes work in Saskatoon is now on YouTube  and www.saskatoon.ca/moving-around/cycling/cycling-plans-projects.

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.

NEW

22ND ST W WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING KENSINGTON BLVD
(New intersection)
Through traffic will be maintained in the median lane
Start: July 27, 9:00 a.m. End: July 27, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR S SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 19TH ST E
(Junction box replacement)
Start: July 27, 9:00 a.m. End: July 27, 3:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR S NB & SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED ON 8TH STREET OVERPASS
(Guardrail repair)
Start: July 27, 9:00 a.m. End: July 28, 5:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: 22ND ST W EB & WB LANE CLOSURES FROM DIEFENBAKER DR TO WITNEY AVE N
(Lane line painting)
Nightly lane closures change as needed to paint lanelines
Start: July 27, 7:00 p.m. End: July 28, 6:00 a.m.

NIGHT WORK: CIRCLE DR W SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 22ND ST W TO FAIRMONT DR
(Resurfacing)
Start: July 27, 7:00 p.m. End: July 28, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

21ST ST E EB CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE S TO 2ND AVE S
(Concrete work)
Start: July 26, 7:00 a.m. End: July 30, 7:00 p.m.

HWY 11/16 WB OVERPASS CLOSED AT CLOVERLEAF INTERSECTION
(Overpass repair)
Two EB lanes and one WB lane of traffic will be maintained on the EB overpass.
Start: July 24, 7:00 a.m. End: Tentative - August 31, 5:00 p.m.

20TH ST W WB CLOSED FROM AVE G S TO AVE H S
(Streetscaping)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in the EB lanes.
Start: July 24, 7:00 a.m. End: July 31, 5:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE CLOSED BETWEEN GARVIE RD & AGRA RD
(Force main installation)
Start: July 18, 7:00 a.m. End: August 15, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: September 11, 5:00 p.m.

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE.

NEW SATURDAY

ATTRIDGE DR WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM CENTRAL AVE TO CIRCLE DR E
(Jersey barrier installation)
Start: July 25, 9:00 a.m. End: July 25, 3:00 p.m.

SPADINA CRES E CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 3RD AVE S
(Pets in the Park)
Start: July 25, 10:00 a.m. End: July 26, 6:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: 22ND ST EB OFF RAMP TO CIRCLE DR SB CLOSED
(Resurfacing)
Use Diefenbaker Dr > Fairlight Dr > Fairmont Dr > Clancy Dr
Start: July 25, 6:00 p.m. End: July 26, 6:00 a.m.

NEW SUNDAY

ATTRIDGE DR & CENTRAL AVE INTERSECTION 4-WAY STOP
(Traffic signal replacement)
Start: July 26, 5:45 a.m. End: July 26, 8:15 a.m.

21ST ST E EB CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE S TO 2ND AVE S
(Concrete work)
Start: July 26, 7:00 a.m. End: July 30, 7:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: MILLAR AVE LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM CIRCLE DR E TO 43RD ST E
(Lane marking)
Start: July 26, 7.00 p.m. End: July 27, 6.00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: CIRCLE DR W SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 22ND ST W TO FAIRMONT DR
(Resurfacing)
Use Clancy Dr exit
Start: July 26, 6:00 p.m. End: July 27, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

HWY 11/16 WB OVERPASS CLOSED AT CLOVERLEAF INTERSECTION
(Overpass repair)
Two EB lanes and one WB lane of traffic will be maintained on the EB overpass.
Start: July 24, 7:00 a.m. End: Tentative - August 31, 5:00 p.m.

20TH ST W WB CLOSED FROM AVE G S TO AVE H S
(Streetscaping)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in the EB lanes.
Start: July 24, 7:00 a.m. End: July 31, 5:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE CLOSED BETWEEN GARVIE RD & AGRA RD
(Force main installation)
Start: July 18, 7:00 a.m. End: August 15, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: September 11, 5:00 p.m.

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE.