News Releases

The City of Saskatoon, through Indigenous Initiatives and the Office of the Matriarchs, is proud to announce the grand opening of the Coming Home Centre on September 28, 2026.

“The Coming Home Centre is a dream that has been years in the making,” says Melissa Cote, Director of Indigenous Initiatives.

In summer 2021, the City released a report it had commissioned on supporting Saskatoon Indigenous Women & Girls and Two-Spirit people (IWG2S). “The recommendations in the IWG2S (Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples) Coming Home Report were intended to inform the City of Saskatoon’s long-term strategy and action plan on how to improve the quality of life and health and safety for Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people experiencing all forms of violence, trauma and/or exploitation. Now, we’re expanding on those recommendations,” says Cote.

Established as part of Phase 2 of the IWG2S Coming Home Report, the Coming Home Centre will provide a dedicated, culturally appropriate space where Indigenous women and families can access support, connection and advocacy. The Centre has been created to serve as a navigation hub, helping women and families connect with community resources while working collaboratively with City departments and partner agencies.

The Centre is located in the First Nations Bank Building at 224 4th Avenue South, on land leased through Yellow Quill First Nation. The location will serve as the home of both the Office of the Matriarchs and the Coming Home Centre. Yellow Quill First Nation is one of eight urban reserves in Saskatoon. Leasing space from a First Nation reflects the City’s commitment to reconciliation, honours Indigenous rights and treaties, and acknowledges Nation-to-Nation relationships.

"For the comfort and safety of our families, it was important to find a space that met their needs and where they could feel safe, and at home," says Auntie Advocate Dorthea Swiftwolfe. "We support these families during some of the most difficult times in their lives and having the Centre so close to the courthouse will allow us to offer cultural practices such as smudging and ceremony more easily, ensuring families can receive the support they need, when they need it.”

The Coming Home Centre has a small boardroom and space that can accommodate up to 11 employees. This will allow the City to align workspace with the needs of Indigenous-specific roles in departments outside Indigenous Initiatives and the Office of the Matriarchs. This initiative also supports the City’s efforts to attract and retain Indigenous employees and build a workforce that reflects Saskatoon’s population.

“We’re so proud of the Coming Home Centre and what we will be able to offer Indigenous women and families,” says Cote. “This reflects a collaborative commitment to supporting Indigenous women and families while creating opportunities for connection, healing and access to culturally responsive services in the community.”

Updated to include 9:15 a.m. statement.

2:00 p.m. - Updated Statement

The clean-up and fencing activity for the encampment at 20th Street and Avenue K has been paused.

The level of aggressive protest from community advocacy groups has made any work at the site unsafe.

Fire and partner agency workers report most of the protest activity does not involve homeless occupants.

Crews had been prepared to clean up two vacant lots on 19th Street and Avenue K however, protesters encircled contractor vehicles, going so far as to climb on top of the fencing stacked on one of them.

Saskatoon Fire Department, police officers and other partner agency staff were confronted by aggressive protesters directing profane, derogatory and vulgar comments at them.

As a sign of good faith, the Saskatoon Fire Department was opting to forgo a clean-up of 301 Avenue K South as that address is the subject of a court application that will be heard next week.

We know this is frustrating for many in our community, notably the St. Mary’s school families and staff who have been asking for officials to take action for the past year.

City and partner agencies are planning next steps.

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9:15 a.m. - Statement

We know you have heard or seen some news stories or social posts about how the City has dealt with an encampment at 20th Street West and Avenue K South.

Some suggest that people be allowed to live in small communities of tents to address the lack of adequate housing.

At face value, that might seem like a reasonable response, but it has many risks and dangers, which is why the City takes a different approach by removing encampments from private or public property under the Property Maintenance Bylaw.

The City’s encampment response prioritizes outreach and connecting people with available supports and services such as access to shelter, housing, food providers, transportation and medical care.

Each response follows four phases, with outreach offered throughout the process.

Individuals are then granted some time to gather their belongings and vacate the encampment. Anything left behind is removed by City staff or contractors.

However, in light of a recent King’s Bench court filing, the lot at 301 Avenue K south will not be cleaned up. Two other adjacent lots will be cleaned.

Here are the facts:

The situation at Avenue K and 20th Street has resulted in escalating safety concerns each day. The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) has received a high volume of calls, emails and concerns from residents, nearby businesses in addition to the parents and staff of St. Mary’s school, two blocks away.

The Salvation Army has been on scene since August 5, twice a week to connect people living at this site with housing, transportation, outreach and other supports. Many have accepted support.

The City relies on Saskatoon’s Property Maintenance Bylaw because it enforces safe and adequate housing.

Encampments do not meet this standard because:

• There is no access to utilities – water, sewer, heat or electricity
• There is nowhere to remove yourself from the elements

Encampments that remain in place may grow over time and increase risks such as:

• Accumulated human waste, garbage and discarded needles
• Rainwater causing contaminated waste to pool
• Attraction of pests and rodents
• Unattended or uncontrolled fires
• Increased drug use and overdose-related calls
• Reported gang activity
• Reported concerns about human exploitation or trafficking

There are growing concerns for public health as fire inspectors have observed human waste and rotting food which have attracted insects and rodents.

The City’s goal is to always support the safety and well-being of people staying at the site, but also support the safety and well-being of neighbouring residents and businesses, St. Mary’s School students and staff as well as the broader community.

Here is the background to today’s action:

On September 10, 2026, a Notice to Remedy (under the Bylaw) was issued for the Avenue K parking lot.

By September 15, the SFD reported encampments at the parking lot had grown, with additional encampments on three nearby vacant lots.

In recent weeks, The Salvation Army has noted that some people who had previously accepted support, participated in case management or used Mobile Outreach services are now declining assistance. Some individuals have told outreach workers they plan to remain at the encampment now because they believe support will be available there at the vacant lots. As a result, planning for winter supports and connections to services has stalled.

On September 21, the SFD attended the site to assess the number of structures and identify what support may be needed. At the time there were 51 structures.

The Salvation Army returned to the site on September 22 and spent four hours offering supports. SFD also served notice that a cleanup would take place and offered help to connect people with services. No one accepted supports during that visit.

SFD returned to the site on the morning of September 23 to again offer support and help people access available services.

The Ministry of Social Services was also scheduled to attend the site at 11:00 a.m. on September 23, alongside Mobile Outreach, SFD and the Saskatoon Police Service. The group was forced to leave because they were confronted by some people at the encampment who were acting aggressively, using profanity and capturing video.

SFD staff also noted community advocates appeared to outnumber the individuals who were staying in the encampment.

Following the City Council approved processes, a cleanup is scheduled for September 24. Contractors have been arranged, and fencing will be installed to help prevent future use of the site.

Residents in Saskatoon’s Brevoort Park neighbourhood can look forward to reduced flood risk as the City officially opens the newly upgraded Brevoort Park South. Now open to the public, the upgraded park offers enhanced flood protection alongside improved recreational amenities.

The project is the fourth of nine to be completed under the City's Flood Control Strategy (FCS), approved by City Council in 2018. The Government of Canada has contributed $21.6 million toward Saskatoon's Flood Control Strategy through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

“As extreme weather events become more and more common, good water infrastructure is more essential than ever for our communities,” said the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development. “This investment of $21.6 million in Saskatoon’s Flood Control Strategy from the Government of Canada is a great example of that. The reopening of Brevoort Park South means better protection against flooding, more resilient infrastructure, and a refurbished public space for people to enjoy.”

“Projects like this show the value of investing in smart, resilient infrastructure,” said Mayor Cynthia Block. “We’re already seeing the success of this project through improved flood protection and a renewed public space that residents can enjoy. By combining community amenities with critical infrastructure, we’re creating a stronger, more resilient Saskatoon for years to come.”

"The reopening of Brevoort Park South is a great example of how far we've come," says Russ Munro, Director of Saskatoon Water. "We're delivering infrastructure that protects neighbourhoods from floods while people can enjoy new and enhanced public spaces. With multiple projects now complete and others well underway, we're making steady progress toward a safer and more climate-resilient city."

The strategy has already proven very effective. During the rainfall last Monday, September 7, all the completed FCS projects successfully captured storm water and helped prevent floods in surrounding neighbourhoods. The Brevoort Park South underground storage system alone captured enough stormwater to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

With four projects now complete, Saskatoon's FCS moves forward. Construction is substantially complete on a fifth project in Cumberland Park, while a sixth project is underway in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan. The seventh and eighth active projects are under construction at Cahill Park, and the 25^th Street and 4^th Avenue South intersection, respectively. Once complete, these projects will help reduce flood risk in some of Saskatoon's highest-risk areas.

Construction on eight out of nine projects is expected to be complete by the end of 2027, with parks and public spaces reopening in 2028 following landscaping.

Together, these flood mitigation improvements help protect homes, businesses, and public infrastructure during major rain events. Storm water is collected through the City's drainage system and directed to dry ponds, underground storage facilities, or upgraded storm sewers where it can be safely managed and directed toward the South Saskatchewan River.

For more information about the FCS, visit saskatoon.ca/floodplan.

Before Koda’s passing, the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams observed changes that raised concern about a possible spinal injury. A post-mortem examination has now confirmed that Koda had a large tumour pressing on his upper spine.

Koda received daily visual health checks from his animal care team and was monitored regularly by veterinary professionals. His last full veterinary examination under anesthesia was completed in June 2024. At that time, there were no clinical signs of the tumour or a condition affecting his spine.

Full examinations for the Zoo’s grizzly bears are typically completed every two to three years, unless an animal’s health or behaviour indicates that an earlier examination is needed. Due to the tumour’s location, it would have required advanced diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan, to be detected.

When changes in Koda’s condition were observed, animal care and veterinary staff responded promptly and closely assessed his comfort and quality of life. The tumour’s size and location meant it was not surgically treatable. While this finding is difficult, it provides further context for Koda’s recent decline in health and confirms that the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him was made with his comfort and quality of life as the priority.

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is grateful to the animal care and veterinary professionals who provided Koda with knowledgeable, dedicated and compassionate care throughout his life.

To learn more about Koda’s life, legacy and the original announcement from the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, read the original news release: Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo mourns the loss of Koda the grizzly bear

Saskatoon Transit is preparing for the busy fall season and the new Saskatoon Transit Bylaw that is in effect September 1. Riders will begin seeing The Transit Code advertising campaign across the transit system and throughout the community. The campaign supports the new Saskatoon Transit Bylaw and helps customers understand expected behaviour on transit in simple, easy-to-understand language.

The Transit Code focuses on the actions that help create a safe, welcoming and respectful transit experience, including respecting others, paying your fare, offering priority seating when needed, keeping aisles clear and helping keep transit spaces clean.

"Most riders already get on board with The Transit Code every day," said Mike Moellenbeck, Director of Saskatoon Transit. "This campaign is about reinforcing the positive behaviours we see across the system and helping customers understand how we can all contribute to a better transit experience."

The new Saskatoon Transit Bylaw establishes clear and consistent expectations related to fare payment, customer conduct, transit property and enforcement. The Transit Code serves as the public-facing guide to those expectations while the bylaw provides the framework that supports them.

Over the coming weeks, customers will see Transit Code messages on buses, at terminals and shelters, online, on social media, through radio advertising and in community outreach activities.

With thousands of students returning to school and ridership increasing during the fall season, Saskatoon Transit and Saskatoon Police Service will also be conducting education and fare validation activities throughout the system. Riders can expect to see a more visible police presence at terminals, on buses and at other high-ridership locations. The focus is on education, awareness and compliance, helping customers understand expectations while supporting a safe and welcoming transit environment.

Customers can learn more about The Transit Code and the Saskatoon Transit Bylaw at SaskatoonTransit.ca/code.

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is deeply saddened to announce that Koda, one of the Zoo’s most recognized and beloved animals, was humanely euthanized following a recent decline in his health.

Koda was monitored daily by his dedicated animal care team as part of the Zoo’s routine animal welfare practices. When staff recently observed a decline in his health, they continued to monitor his condition, comfort and quality of life closely. Following consultation and careful consideration, the decision was made to humanely euthanize Koda.

“This was an exceptionally difficult decision for the entire animal care team,” said Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “Koda was deeply cared for by the staff who worked with him every day. Our priority was to make the most compassionate decision for him, guided by his welfare and quality of life.”

Koda’s journey began as an orphaned cub from the Jasper area. He was rescued and nurtured by zookeepers at the Edmonton Valley Zoo before being paired with Mistaya at the Calgary Zoo. The pair were later transferred to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, where Koda spent the past 18 years as a well-known and valued member of the Zoo family.

At the Saskatoon Zoo, Koda was supported by animal care specialists who observed him closely each day and tailored his care, training and enrichment to his individual needs. Through positive-reinforcement training, enrichment activities and daily monitoring, staff supported Koda’s physical and mental well-being throughout his life.

For many visitors and staff, Koda will be remembered for the joyful moments he shared with his brother, Mistaya, from playful wrestling and splashing in the pool to foraging together in their habitat. The Zoo’s celebration of the bears’ 20th birthday last year was a special opportunity to recognize Koda and the place he held in the hearts of staff and visitors.

Animal care specialists will also remember Koda’s enthusiasm for training sessions and his careful habit of checking Mistaya’s feeding area after meals, just in case his brother had left something behind.

The Zoo recognizes the close bond Koda and Mistaya shared. Animal care specialists will continue to monitor Mistaya closely, paying attention to his behaviour, activity and overall well-being. His daily care and enrichment plan will be adapted as needed to support him as he adjusts to this transition.

Throughout his life, Koda was an important ambassador for his species, helping visitors connect with the importance of wildlife conservation, habitat protection and responsible human-wildlife interactions.

Koda’s passing will be felt by visitors, staff and community members who came to know him over the years. The Zoo extends its appreciation to the animal care professionals who provided Koda with knowledgeable, compassionate and dedicated care throughout his life.

Community members are invited to sign a memorial card for Koda, which will be available at the Kinsmen Bear Habitat later this week. The card will provide an opportunity for visitors to share their memories and say goodbye to a bear who was an important part of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo family for 18 years.

Thank you, Koda, for the memories. You will be missed.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) responded at 11:50 a.m. to a report of a person and dog in the river.

SFD launched two boats from the 33rd Street boat launch. They went to the individual’s last reported known location on the east side of the riverbank adjacent Spadina Crescent and Ravine Drive.

The fire crews conducted both a riverbank and water search and also began dive operations from the point the person was last seen.

Drone supports from the Saskatoon Police Service and Corman Park Police service also assisted to expand the search area from the air.

A fire department diver conducted rescue operations for approximately 60 minutes but was unable to locate the individual.

Another dive team will continue the search switching to sonar scan operations.

Initial reports indicated a dog was also in the water and self-rescued. However, further conversations with the fire rescue crews and police reveal that so far, no dog has been located.

More information will be released if it becomes available.