News Releases

An employment program designed to make community safety and well-being improvements is underway in Saskatoon. 

To acknowledge the launch of the Saskatoon Wellbeing Employment Enterprise Program (SWEEP) and in preparation for Red Dress Day on May 5, a smudging ceremony had taken place this morning to coincide with the cleaning and maintenance of the Red Star Dancer monument located outside the Saskatoon Police Service headquarters.

The monument, known as "Wicanhi Duta Win” (Red Star Woman), is a sculpture that honours missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. To go about the cleaning of the monument in a good way, an all-female SWEEP team had tasked with the cleaning.

SWEEP is a collaborative initiative between the City and Quint Development Corporation (Quint), funded by Public Safety Canada’s Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF). The program goal intends to enhance community safety and well-being through the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). By focusing on environmental improvements, SWEEP aims to reduce crime and foster a sense of security within neighbourhoods. The pilot program will run until March 2026.

“SWEEP is a testament to the City's commitment to fostering an inclusive and safe community. By collaborating with the community, we can support residents by creating jobs that might not otherwise exist due to barriers and past experiences. This allows us to build a stronger and safer Saskatoon while also enhancing community safety and well-being,” says Tenille Thomson, Community Development Manager. “The cleaning of the Red Star Dancer monument is just one example of the great work performed by SWEEP's crews and represents the many successes that have emerged out of this program."

The program, operated by Quint, provides employment opportunities for community members who are leaving a correctional life or who may face significant barriers to workforce entry. Individuals have a chance to rebuild their lives through stable employment, which is complemented by comprehensive support services. SWEEP crew members receive life-skills training and wraparound support, including assistance with housing, family reconnection and navigating parole. This holistic approach ensures that participants are well-equipped to reintegrate into society and contribute positively to their communities.

“SWEEP is a unique social enterprise that addresses unjust social and economic barriers and embodies our organization's mission. The program stacks positive outcomes, both revitalizing our neighbourhoods and empowering participants to transform their lives. In less than a year, we have already seen the remarkable impact SWEEP has had not only on our participants but also the community at large,” says Kristen Thoms, Executive Director, Quint Development Corp.

SWEEP’s services are dedicated to tasks that improve overall public safety, cleanliness and community wellbeing. Examples of work performed by SWEEP crews include:

• Trash removal and diversion
• Graffiti maintenance
• Biological waste removal
• Additional supports to City operations

Those who are interested in hiring a SWEEP crew can do so by contacting Quint at info@quintsaskatoon.ca.

For additional information about SWEEP, visit: quintsaskatoon.ca/sweep.

The City of Saskatoon and Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik (Women Walking Together) invite families and community members to join them in recognizing Red Dress Day on May 5—the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People. The day aims to honour, and to broaden and sharpen societal awareness of the thousands of Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people who have experienced disproportionate violence in Canada. This year's events include a focus on the prevention of future violence against these groups in our community.

The day will begin with a Knowledge Sharing event at Cosmo Civic Centre, featuring information booths focused on raising awareness of safety, domestic violence, human trafficking and its risk factors, and current community supports. The goal of the Knowledge Sharing is to build capacity within the community to prevent and ultimately eliminate the risk that Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit+ individuals face in everyday life. Community members can register for a session on Training Active Bystanders, where they will gain tools for responsible intervention and supporting those in need while avoiding complicity through inaction.

The Red Dress Day Walk will follow the Knowledge Sharing. The walk was started three years ago in Saskatoon by Faith Bosse, daughter of Daleen Bosse, a 25-year-old University of Saskatchewan student, wife, and mother, who disappeared in 2004 and was later found murdered. Faith explains, “As the daughter of a missing and murdered Indigenous woman, hosting this walk is important to me, and being her voice, as well as the voice of other women and girls, who are still missing or have been taken away from their families. My main goal is to get the message out to our community and also educate them about the dangers we as Indigenous women face every day.”

Darlene Okemaysim-Sicotte is a 20 plus year member and co-chair of Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik (Women Walking Together), one of the partner organizations for Red Dress Day. Darlene affirms, "Red Dress Day is for families of MMIWG 2SLGBTQQIA to share their love about their missing loved ones. Nothing about us without us."

Other partners coming together to host Red Dress Day include the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), Métis Nation—Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon, Central Urban Métis Federation Inc., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Police Service, and Family Information Liaison Units (Department of Justice, Government of Canada). Financial support for the event comes from the Government of Saskatchewan’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls+ Community Response Fund.

For details on Red Dress Day events, visit http://www.saskatoon.ca/reddress 

For media interview requests please contact:

Carrie Catherine, Event Organizer: 306-241-6297 makesharechange@gmail.com

2025 is going to be an exciting year as the Link rapid transit project drives forward, according to reports going forward to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on May 6, 2025. The reports outline the concept plan of Link along College Drive, as well as a construction update for 2025. This builds on the numerous come-and-go events the project team held in March and marks a major milestone in the project as construction moves forward toward a goal of a 2028 service launch.

“The College Drive section of the Link route is incredibly important, as it will move a large number of people from, to and through the area,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “We are also pleased to share that we will be building 44 Link station platforms across the city in 2025, a major addition to the six platforms that were built in 2024. The rest of the platforms, as well as the building of shelters, information displays and other furniture will come online over the next few years with system launch planned for 2028.”

Link rapid transit routing, including dedicated bus lanes on College Drive and 1^st Avenue, was approved by City Council in April 2019 and work has continued since through technical design and engagement with the public. 2025 construction work is anticipated to start in mid-May and will continue through to mid-October. Construction of corridor improvements on College Drive is planned to commence in 2026.

“More than 73 per cent of the cost of Link is being covered by partnerships with the Province of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada,” says Schmidt. “Once service is launched it will move people across the city more sustainably and efficiently and will change the way transit works in Saskatoon.”

For more information on the project please visit saskatoon.ca/link.

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and the City of Saskatoon celebrated a special signing ceremony today in Council Chamber. During the ceremony the Municipal Services and Compatibility Agreement, and the corresponding Police Services Agreement, were signed by Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Peter Beatty, along with Council of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners Chair, Shirley Greyeyes. The agreements pave the way for the Nation’s land located at 1623-1625 Quebec Avenue to be designated as an urban reserve by the federal government.

At its regularly scheduled meeting on September 25, 2024, City Council approved the Municipal Services and Compatibility Agreement negotiated with Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners also approved the Police Services Agreement at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 19, 2024. These agreements fulfill the municipal requirements for urban reserve designation. Due to the 2024 municipal election the signing ceremony was delayed until today.

"This signing ceremony is the culmination of many people’s efforts and dedication to economic Reconciliation in our community, including our partners at Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and our former and current Mayor and Councils. The City of Saskatoon’s approach to economic growth is rooted in collaboration with Indigenous leadership," said Mayor Cynthia Block. "I’m proud of the work we’ve done to create opportunities for Indigenous communities, including supporting the establishment of 12 urban reserves - more than any other city in Canada. Reconciliation must be more than words. We need to move forward side-by-side with mutual benefit, as the Treaties intended.”

"I look forward to seeing our partners at Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation continue to grow and thrive in our city."

This marks the 12^th urban reserve application in Saskatoon, with eight urban reserves having been formally designated by the federal government. Decisions on reserve designation are made by the federal government. When a property transfers to reserve status, it is no longer under City jurisdiction.

The municipal and police services agreements address:

• municipal and police services the City will provide;
• service fees Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation will pay the City in lieu of property taxes; and,
• compatible land-use and development standards.

“We look forward to this partnership with the City of Saskatoon. This assists us in continuing to grow and adds to our other seven businesses that are already established in Saskatoon and area through Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies and its partners,” says Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Peter A. Beatty

“Our development as a First Nation is tied to Economic Development activities as one of the success factors. The creation of an urban reserve in Saskatchewan’s largest city and economic centre will assist PBCN in achieving those goals and only makes sense to do this. We look at this as a win-win scenario for PBCN and the City. It benefits all by establishing more jobs and employment opportunities in the local area as well as creating more revenue for the local economy.

We would like to thank the former Mayor Charlie Clark and Council for starting this process as well as the current Mayor Cynthia Block and Council members for continuing to invest in the future of the City and PBCN.”

For more information on urban reserves, please visit saskatoon.ca/urbanreserves.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) to the City of Saskatoon for its annual financial report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. This is the 17^th time the City has received this award. View the Administrative Report to be presented to the Standing Policy Committee (SPC) on Finance on May 7. 2025.

The GFOA presented the City with the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting in recognition of the City’s ability to present financial information in a clear, concise, educational, and informative manner.

“Our Finance team continues to uphold financial reporting best practices in terms of clarity, accountability and transparency year-after-year, they consistently align with GFOA annual report format and content standards,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “We are dedicated to serving community taxpayers and stakeholders with clear communication and transparency on the City’s overall financial standing.”

To be awarded the CAnFR, a municipal government must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized annual financial report, whose contents conform to program standards. Such reports should go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles and demonstrate an effort to clearly communicate the municipal government’s financial picture, enhance an understanding of financial reporting by municipal governments, and address user needs.

The CAnFR Program was established to encourage municipal governments across Canada to publish innovative financial reporting and to maintain a high standard of quality recognized amongst peers.

The attainment of this prestigious award represents a significant achievement by the City of Saskatoon and its financial management team.

View the City of Saskatoon’s award-winning 2023 Annual Report.

Following a year-long pilot study, City Administration recommends a community-wide multi-unit organics program be implemented by the City. This program will further improve waste diversion in Saskatoon and see all residents have access to the same waste services.

“Expanding organics collection to multi-unit residences is a critical step in Saskatoon’s waste diversion strategy,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “From the feedback we heard, a City-provided service will ensure a consistent and cost-efficient program that builds on the success of the residential curbside organics program and supports the long-term sustainability of our new organics processing facility.” 

A report to the May 6, 2025 meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services provides a detailed analysis of the options available to the City for multi-unit organics programs.

The recommendation follows engagement with pilot participants, including residents, condominium boards and property managers. A City-provided service was both the preferred option by participants and is expected to be lowest cost option when compared to current market options. Organic material gathered through the program would be handled at the City’s organic processing facility, which begins construction this July. In addition, this approach is expected to achieve higher rates of waste diversion by aligning education programs and enforcement efforts to support program goals.

In Spring 2023, the green cart was successfully introduced to single-detached dwellings across the city, diverting over 41,000 tonnes — equal to about 3,500 full garbage trucks — of organic waste from the Saskatoon landfill to date.

Following approval, different deployment options will be evaluated that aim to have a city-wide program fully operational by the end of 2028. All impacted properties would be given a minimum of one-year advance notice.

To learn more about the pilot program, visit saskatoon.ca/multiorganics. 
 

Saskatoon’s Broadway Bridge will close for approximately six months starting on Monday, May 12, 2025. The 93-year-old structure will undergo rehabilitation, including deck repairs and improvements to the multi-use pathways on both sides.

"This proactive project is essential in ensuring the historic Broadway Bridge, which has an annual average daily traffic count of 20,000 vehicles, retains its structural integrity and reliability for the community,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “We appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation and remind Broadway Bridge users to reroute their commutes."

New asphalt, new waterproofing, new traffic barriers, arch and railing improvements and the removal of old and abandoned utilities underneath the bridge are also a part of the project. At the same time as the bridge work, Schmidt says there will be water main replacements on 19th Street, and the 4th Avenue South and 19th Street East intersection will be reconfigured for overall safety and to improve the efficiency of buses travelling between Broadway Avenue and 19th Street - a future Link route.

“The right northbound flow-through lane will be removed, and that intersection will change into a “T” intersection. Traffic signals will be relocated, pedestrian signals will be added, and the island and centre medians will be removed.”

Throughout construction, pedestrian access to Meewasin Trail will be maintained via scaffolding tunnels under the bridge. Friendship Park will remain open, with fencing adjacent to the bridge. Spadina Crescent between the bridge and 3rd Avenue South will be closed. The boat launch will remain open and accessible via Spadina Crescent from 20th Street East.

Full closures will include the Broadway Bridge (including multi-use pathways on both sides), Broadway Avenue from Saskatchewan Crescent East to 20th Street East, 19th Street East from 3rd Avenue South to Broadway Avenue, and 4th Avenue South from 19th Street East to 20th Street East.

“Saskatoon Transit will be affected by these projects, with some Broadway Avenue, Victoria Avenue and Downtown routes being redirected. Keep an eye on Transit service alerts and real-time bus information available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit.” 

For the latest updates on the Broadway Bridge Rehabilitation project and work happening on other Saskatoon roadways during the 2025 construction season, check the Daily Road Report and visit saskatoon.ca/construction. 

Saskatoon City Council today approved making a formal written submission to SK Recycles (formerly Multi-Material Stewardship Western), the provincial stewardship agency, signaling intent to participate in their SK Recycles-led collection models. Starting in January 2028, SK Recycles will deliver both the curbside and multi-unit residential recycling programs for the City of Saskatoon. This will allow time to transition the funding model for waste services that had previously been supported by SK Recycles funding. The change is not expected to cause disruption to the service level for residents. 

The decision follows a formal offer from SK Recycles to transition to its new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) household recycling program. In May 2024, the Government of Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment approved the Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, appointing SK Recycles to take over municipal recycling programs. 

A report to the April 1 meeting of the Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services Committee (EU&CS) provided a detailed analysis of the options available to the City. Due to considerations such as existing contractual requirements for blue carts and compost depots, Administration recommended and City Council approved maintaining the status quo while Administration works with SK Recycles and recycling service providers to explore an interim agreement that could see the City join earlier as a collector. 

Residents will learn more about the service-provider change in the months leading up to the 2028 SK Recycles implementation. By 2028, all Saskatchewan communities will have the option to transition to a full Extended Producer Responsibility program for household packaging and paper, joining the SK Recycles program. 

The City of Saskatoon is proposing a revised property tax ratio following recent amendments to primarily warehouse property assessments that would have a material impact on the distribution of the 2025 municipal property tax levy if left unadjusted.

The amended assessments, finalized on March 27, 2025, reflect necessary time adjustments to warehouse property assessment data to align with the base valuation date of January 1, 2023. The result is an increase of approximately $653 million in assessed value within the commercial property class.

"These updated assessments ensure our property values reflect current market conditions and maintain fairness across all property types," says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer. "However, the scale of the change means we must also adjust our property tax ratio to reflect the original intent of City Council’s direction."

As a result, City Administration is proposing to revise the commercial-to-residential tax ratio from the previously approved 1.88 to 1 to 1.71 to 1, at the April 9, 2025, Governance and Priorities Committee meeting. This updated ratio maintains the intended balance of 32% of tax revenue from non-residential properties and 68% from residential properties, consistent with City Council’s previously stated objectives.

"This recommendation ensures that we remain aligned with Council’s direction and avoid placing an undue tax burden on one part of the tax base due to the amended assessment values," Hack adds.

Visit saskatoon.ca/propertytax for more information.

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is proud to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) as its newest Institutional Member, underscoring its dedication to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats worldwide.

“We are thrilled to join WAZA showcasing our unwavering commitment to animal care, welfare and education,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “As the only accredited zoo in Saskatchewan, we are proud to be leaders in conservation and education in Canada. Our mission is to create impactful experiences that strengthen the bond between visitors, wildlife and natural environments. Being part of WAZA empowers us to achieve this goal, enhancing our ability to make a meaningful difference.”

Since its inception in 1935, WAZA has been committed to guiding, encouraging and supporting zoos, aquariums and like-minded organizations globally in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation.

As a member of the WAZA network, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo adheres to WAZA’s Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare and joins over 400 members worldwide. WAZA promotes cooperation between leading zoos, aquariums, national and regional associations as well as with leading wildlife experts, academies and universities. WAZA provides support for species-conservation management and husbandry of animals in human care, while encouraging the highest standards in member institutions.

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo has become the 13th institution in Canada to achieve WAZA accreditation, joining the ranks of Assiniboine Park & Zoo, Calgary Zoo and Toronto Zoo. For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/zoo or waza.org.