News Releases

NEW

20TH ST W CLOSED FROM AVE S S TO AVE R S
(Water & sewer valve replacement)
Start: February 11, 9:00 a.m. End: February 11, 3:30 p.m.

ONGOING

20TH ST W CLOSED FROM AVE J S TO AVE K S
(Water & Sewer Connection Replacement)
Start: February 9, 9:00 a.m. End: February 12, 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 and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The following are the hours of civic services and facilities for Family Day on Monday, February 16, 2015:

City Hall will be closed.

Parking meters will not require payment.  Motorists are required to move their vehicles within the time period shown on parking meters, allowing for a constant turnover of parking availability.

Municipal Impound Lot will not be releasing vehicles to the public.

Saskatoon Landfill will be open with regular winter hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Garbage and Recycling will take place as scheduled.

All Saskatoon Public Library locations will be closed.

Mendel Art Gallery and Saskatoon Civic Conservatory will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Admission is free.

TRANSIT SERVICES

Saskatoon Transit will operate with regular Sunday/Holiday Service.

Access Transit will operate with regular Holiday Service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.  Trips must be booked in advance as per normal procedures.  Customers are reminded that subscriptions do not apply on Statutory Holidays.

Transit Customer Service Centre will be closed.

Transit Customer Service phone lines will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

RECREATION & SPORT

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo:  Regular hours of operation.

Indoor Arenas:

ACT Arena: Parent & Tot skating cancelled. Bonus public skating from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cosmo Arena: Parent & Tot skating cancelled. Free Family Day Skate event from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval: Regular hours of operation.
Free Family Day Skate event from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Leisure Centres

Cosmo Civic Centre: CLOSED.  Special Event: Free Family Day Activities from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Cosmo Gym.  Everyone welcome.

Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track (in the SaskTel Sports Centre): CLOSED

Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre:  Open 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

All fitness classes and swim lessons CANCELLED.

Lakewood Civic Centre: Open 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Leisure pool closed for maintenance (February 14 to 20, 2015)

All fitness classes and child minding CANCELLED.

Lawson Civic Centre: Open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

All fitness classes and swim lessons CANCELLED.

Saskatoon Field House: Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

All fitness classes and child minding CANCELLED.

Holiday Fitness Class 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Shaw Centre: Open 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

All fitness classes and child minding CANCELLED.

For modified Lane, Public and Parent & Tot Swim times, please visit Drop-in Online at www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.  For more information on operating hours and programs, please contact the Leisure Centres or facilities.

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.

-30-

The Standing Policy Committee on Finance today received a report reaffirming the City’s AAA/Stable Outlook credit rating. The report also includes some key factors international bond rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S & P) applies to award such a rating.

The Administration addressed questions from the committee about whether S & P had cautioned the City in its rating report.

“Our citizens need to know this is a very positive piece of news,” says Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff. “Despite a perception S & P may have cautioned the City over its debt load, the agency has not issued any warning.”

“We have a triple-A rating with a stable outlook which is a fantastic achievement and consistent with our past ratings,” Tarasoff says.

The report outlines S & P’s Ratings Score Snapshot in which the bond raters say Saskatoon has a very strong economy, very strong budgetary flexibility, strong budgetary performance, strong financial management, “exceptional” liquidity with a debt burden rating of “very low.”

Standard & Poor’s rating notes: “The City will maintain exceptional levels of liquidity to meet debt service requirements.”

“This means we will continue to manage our finances very well with healthy reserves and it will help build the infrastructure our growing city needs.” Tarasoff says.

The City of Saskatoon has maintained its AAA/Stable credit rating for more than a decade.

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.

-30-

NEW

20TH ST W CLOSED FROM AVE S S TO AVE R S
(Water & sewer valve replacement)
Start: February 10, 9:00 a.m. End: February 10, 3:30 p.m.

ONGOING

20TH ST W CLOSED FROM AVE J S TO AVE K S
(Water & Sewer Connection Replacement)
Start: February 9, 9:00 a.m. End: February 12, 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 and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon’s (City) Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee is now accepting nominations for the annual “Living in Harmony” awards that recognize local organizations or individuals for their efforts in the elimination of racial discrimination. The entry deadline for submissions and nominations is Friday, February 27, 2015, at 4:45 p.m. Committee members will select the winning entries/nominations.

 March 21 is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and in honour of this day the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee invites you to explore what intercultural harmony means to you through words and/or pictures. You may also choose to nominate an individual or group for their efforts in promoting the spirit of living in harmony.

 Living in Harmony Literary Contest
Open to everyone, this contest invites submissions of poems, short stories, or essays on the theme Living in Harmony. There are three categories: elementary school students, high school students, and an open category. The author of each winning entry will receive $100.

 Living in Harmony Art Contest
Open to everyone, this contest invites submissions of all forms of art (drawings, paintings, music video, or other forms of expression) that involve the theme of Living in Harmony. There are three categories for this contest: elementary school students, high school students, and an open category. The artist for each winning entry will receive $100.

 Recognition Award
Open to everyone, this award invites nominations of local youth, adults, and groups that focus their efforts on positive initiatives within our community.

 Entry forms are available on  the City’s website at www.saskatoon.ca. Please submit entries to the City of Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Office, Cosmo Civic Centre (upper level), 3130 Laurier Drive, Saskatoon SK S7L 5J7.

 The winners of the Literary and Art Contests, as well as the recipient(s) of the 2015 Recognition Award, will be announced at the “Living in Harmony” Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at The Broadway Theatre.

 For more information, please call 306-975-7826 or email cultural.diversity@saskatoon.ca.

 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.