News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Saskatoon Fire Department welcomes 15 new recruits
July 22, 2022 - 2:00pm
Fire Chief Morgan Hackl and other fire officials will welcome the newest group of firefighter-paramedics to the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) at a private graduation ceremony this afternoon. The ceremony will recognize the successful completion of comprehensive training programs where 15 recruits will be presented with their badges and battalion assignments.
All 15 firefighter-paramedics have completed basic training in firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous material mitigation and fire inspections. They are also certified to the level of Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and are licensed through the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics. Their training and experience have prepared them for operating effectively on high-hazard emergency scenes.
"We hold a high standard of training at SFD. Our team of Fire Service Instructors has worked with these recruits over the past four weeks to review their firefighter and paramedic skills, and educate them on how they will apply these in their new role at the SFD,” says Anthony Tataryn, Assistant Chief of Staff Development and Safety. “Our fire department strives to be a leader in training as we recognize the vital importance that it plays in the safety of both our staff and residents.”
EMS incidents make up over 40 percent of SFD's response, making the recruits’ PCP certification a valuable asset to the fire service.
"When we seek new recruits, we look for individuals who will contribute to the overall success of our team," says Chief Hackl. "With the growing number of EMS calls in our city, it's important for our crews to be equipped with paramedic training. Having the added PCP certification means our firefighters can effectively respond to EMS incidents that occur in high-hazard situations.”
These firefighter-paramedics demonstrate the Saskatoon Fire Department’s commitment towards enhanced front-line emergency care and the investment that City Council continues to make in emergency services.
Chief Hackl adds, “We commend the hard work each recruit has put forward to reach this milestone and we’re thrilled to welcome these 15 individuals to the Saskatoon Fire Department.”
The new firefighter-paramedics will start their first shifts beginning Monday, July 25.
Saskatoon Fire Department cautions summer water safety
July 19, 2022 - 1:30pm
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Stay calm.
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Keep your head above the water.
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Remove any heavy or bulky clothing items.
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Don’t fight the current; move with the current as you work your way to the riverbank.
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Call 911 immediately to report the incident, noting details about the individual, time, and situation.
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Keep track of recognizable landmarks around the area where the individual was first seen in distress in the water.
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Coach the individual from the riverbank or shore edge with the above noted tips for water self-rescue.
The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) urges the public to be extra cautious and always be aware of surroundings if the South Saskatchewan River is part of a summer fun activity.
“Hot weather like we have right now makes people look for fun ways to cool off and get out on the river,” says Deputy Chief Rob Hogan. “There are many things that we can do safely, but there are some that folks shouldn’t do because it puts them and others at great risk.”
On the weekend, SFD crews assisted three individuals to safety in two separate incidents after they found themselves stranded in the river near Poplar Bluff south of city limits.
Bylaw No. 4433 prohibits swimming in the South Saskatchewan River within city limits. Areas along the river outside of city limits are popular cool-down spots in the summer. Deputy Chief Hogan says response times to water rescue calls outside of the city can be affected by many factors.
“The Saskatoon Fire Department’s priority is to attend to calls for emergency services within city limits, and so the Mutual Aid service that we provide to areas outside of the city in the RM of Corman Park can be impacted if our crews are already busy with fire or emergency calls inside the city,” Hogan says. “We want all residents to be mindful of this when making the decision to venture near, in, or on the water, and have a back-up plan if our crews can’t get to you immediately.
“Evaluate the weather and water conditions from the shore before you venture out and inform others of your plans and route. You should keep your cell phone as charged as possible, refrain from alcohol which affects judgement, have a personal floatation device, and take a whistle and flashlight to call out and notify of your location.”
If you are in distress in the river:
If you witness someone in distress in the river:
For additional information, visit saskatoon.ca/watersafety.
City releases 2021 Service, Savings, Sustainability (SSS) Report
July 13, 2022 - 10:06am
- Doubling minor sidewalk repairs
- City Hall Lobby reconfigured to prioritize customer experience
- Improvements to Saskatoon.ca to make it more mobile friendly
- Reintroduction of prescribed fires to help ecological health
- LED street light upgrade completed
- Solid Waste Reduction & Diversion Plan unveiled
- Facility improvements to increase energy efficiency
- Use of recycled asphalt
- ePermitting improvements for building and development permits
Every year, the City of Saskatoon produces its Service, Savings and Sustainability (SSS) Report. The report focuses on the preceding calendar year and highlights the ways City employees worked to capture savings, enhance services for residents, and make improvements in the area of sustainability.
“The theme of the 2021 report is 2021: Resilience & Readiness,” says Celene Anger, the City’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “We wanted to tell the story of how we worked together to continue delivering and improving programs and services in the second year of a global pandemic, all while working to keep residents and staff safe.”
Initiatives featured in the 2021 report include:
The 2021 Service, Savings and Sustainability (SSS) Report reflects the City’s year-over-year commitment to find savings, explore and take on new challenges, and find practical, forward-thinking solutions to meet the changing needs of the community.
“At the City of Saskatoon, we have a strong commitment to continuous improvement and are always looking for new ways to improve performance and deliver value for taxpayer dollars,” says Anger.
The 2021 SSS Report will be presented as an information item at the Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Monday, July 18. The report is available now at saskatoon.ca/SSSreport.
Hydrant collision causes flood, washout & water outage: City reminds drivers to obey barricades, avoid flooded streets
July 6, 2022 - 5:20am
City crews will continue to work on an emergency water main break at 60th Street and Millar Avenue, which appears to have been caused by a vehicle colliding with a fire hydrant Tuesday afternoon, July 5, 2022.
“When the hydrant was sheared off, it caused significant flooding at the intersection which undermined the roadway and water pipes,” says Pam Hamoline, Interim Director of Saskatoon Water. “Once we can excavate the road surface and get down to the pipe, we will know more about whether the water main was also damaged from the collision.”
The break and flood, which happened shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, caused a water outage for the Provincial Correctional Centre and several businesses near the intersection. City staff worked quickly to provide an emergency water supply to the Correctional Centre and had water service restored around 8 p.m that night. Currently, those addresses are under a Drinking Water Advisory.
Several vehicles were captured on video shared from passersby on social media driving through the flooded area and one car became stuck in the cratered roadway.
Hamoline also reminds drivers to respect work zones: obey all barricades and do not drive around them. Overnight, another truck ignored barriers and became stuck in the washout crater. Fortunately, there was no spill of fuel or other environmental concerns.
“We can’t stress enough that when people see a roadway flooded out, they should not drive through,” Hamoline says. “There may be, and quite often there are, hazards and unsafe conditions they cannot see – as was the case with this incident. Barriers are there to keep everyone safe – residents and workers -- to avoid injuries, further costly damage to property and City infrastructure.”
As crews continue repair work the intersection will remain closed and a detour will be in place.
More info at Respect Work Zones.
Local artist loans sculpture to City’s public art collection
July 5, 2022 - 2:30pm
- Unfurled at Spadina Crescent and 25th Street; and
- Gentle Rain (on-loan from Remai Modern) in Hyde Park.
The City is pleased to announce that the City’s Public Art Advisory Committee has received a sculpture on temporary loan from Saskatoon artist Douglas Bentham.
“We are always grateful for an opportunity to enhance our public art program,” says Community Development Manager Kevin Kitchen. “Public art transforms public spaces and engage with audiences to promote an appreciation for contemporary art practices.
Titled “Perfect World” the 12m-tall (40 foot) stainless-steel sculpture will be on display near the intersection of Idylwyld Drive and 20th Street East until June 30, 2025.
“The sculpture is a tribute to Mother Nature,” Bentham says. “The subject matter speaks for itself: a gleaming sphere held aloft on a man-made column.”
Bentham is a practitioner of abstract, constructivist sculpture for over forty years.
Other Bentham sculptures on exhibit in Saskatoon include:
To learn more about the City’s public art collection, visit saskatoon.ca/publicart.
Guided train tours return to Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo
June 29, 2022 - 10:00am
All aboard! The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is excited to announce the return of guided train tours with the addition of a new electric, trackless train the Kinsmen Express II.
“Visitors have been anxiously awaiting the return of guided train tours at the Zoo,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “We are so thankful to the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation for their continued partnership and contributions that led to the return of this much-loved attraction at the Zoo.”
The Kinsmen Express II is equipped with a ramp and wheelchair accessible car and will provide a fun way to learn more about the many magnificent animals that call the Zoo home. Train tours are FREE with your Zoo admission and will be guided by the Saskatoon Zoo Society from May until Labour Day each year. Tours will run continuously from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, with extended hours on weekends throughout July and August.
Zoo-goers will have their first opportunity to ride the Kinsmen Express II on July 1, 2022. The Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit.
New W.W. Ashley Park dry storm pond system exceeded expectations Monday
June 24, 2022 - 6:31am
The new dry storm pond in W.W. Ashley District performed exceptionally well when approximately 65 millimetres of rain fell (Aden Bowman Collegiate rain gauge) during the afternoon of Monday, June 20, 2022. The pond, which was completed last fall, was designed to handle a 1-in-10-year rain event but accommodated a storm closer to a 1-in-25-year rain event, preventing water damage to approximately 37 neighbourhood homes that typically experience flooding during intense rainfall.
“Flash flooding, especially in neighbourhoods developed prior to storm water infrastructure standard improvements in 1989, can be devastating which is why we have been working to protect as many people and properties as we can through our Flood Control Strategy,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Utilities and Environment. “Monday’s rain was an ideal test. We are very impressed as we have not received any reports of flooded homes adjacent to the new pond and the infrastructure handled more water than anticipated. The pond had completely drained by 8 o’clock that evening.”
Dry storm ponds hold water that would otherwise cause nearby flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows into storm drains and through pipes into the dry storm pond, then slowly drains into the storm sewer before it drains into the South Saskatchewan River. Whenever dry, it is used as park space. When it fills with storm water, it is deep and dangerous, and residents should stay away.
The W.W. Ashley Park Dry Storm Pond will open to the public this fall after the landscaping has fully rooted. Residents are asked to stay out of the enclosed area until then.
Construction on a dry storm pond in Churchill Park is underway right now and will be completed later this year. Plans are in the works for a dry storm pond in Weaver Park in 2023 and more flood mitigation projects will be built between 2024 and 2027.
“Once these flood control projects are completed, we anticipate seeing a substantial decrease in the amount of neighbourhood flooding in the top 10 highest risk areas of the city.” says Gardiner.
On Monday, storm water and debris infiltrated the sewer system and ended up at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. As a result, the city’s lift stations were operating at capacity and there was a minor sewage spill into the South Saskatchewan River.
“This is an extremely rare occurrence. Due to the small volume, the sewage quickly diluted, and downstream lab sampling did not detect any harmful impacts. The spill was reported to the Water Security Agency and there was no risk to the public.”
A report on the City’s June 20, 2022 Rain Event Response will be presented to City Council on Monday, June 27, 2022.
Local students to have art displayed on buses
June 23, 2022 - 12:30pm
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Saskatoon Transit was pleased to unveil two pieces of art on the side of transit buses today. This is the third time a student art contest has been run by Saskatoon Transit and this year the contest was open to Grade 3 and Grade 7 students across the city.
“It is such an exciting opportunity for Saskatoon Transit to partner with the elementary schools on this project. These students should feel very proud and honoured when they see their artwork driving past on the side of a bus this summer,” says Tracey Davis, Acting Director, Saskatoon Transit.
Grade 7 students Nuala, Neha, Radinsa and Marlee from Lakeridge School and Grade 3 students Reem, Ayan and Seth from Ecole Alvin Buckwold put their creativity to the test and were selected as this year’s best of show winners.
The winning pieces were chosen through a collaboration with the Remai Modern. Learning Program Coordinator Wendy Paterson judged the submissions based on how well they reflected the “Active Transportation” theme.
“Submissions clearly indicated students had reflected thoughtfully and imaginatively on the many ways people get around Saskatoon,” says Paterson. “Their collaborative depictions of communities that are themselves collaborative projects, were fittingly brimming with activity and colour, just like this community!”
The winning artwork will be displayed on the side of ten Saskatoon Transit buses traveling across Saskatoon throughout the summer.
“Congratulations to these students for showcasing the benefits of active transportation and exhibiting what it means to be environmentally responsible citizens,” says Superintendent Nicola Bishop-Yong with Saskatoon Public Schools. “Through our ‘Move to Grow’ initiative, our school division encourages students to pursue active transportation and make mindful choices that support their well-being, community, and world. I am proud of all the students who took part in this contest and expressed the importance of being community-minded stewards of the environment.”
“This partnership with the Remai, the Saskatoon Public School Board, and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Board helps support and promote art, especially local art, alongside how active transportation plays a critical part of public transit,” concludes Davis.
TRC Calls to Action inspire new piece of Indigenous art
June 22, 2022 - 3:16am
- In front of Aden Bowman Collegiate (1904 Clarence Ave S)
- 12th Street and Broadway Avenue
- E.D. Feehan on the north side of Rusholme Road, west of Avenue M
To coincide with Indigenous History Month and Indigenous Peoples Day, Saskatoon Transit has unveiled its fourth bus shelter displaying Indigenous artwork. These shelters reaffirm Saskatoon Transit’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #79.
This year’s shelter was created through a collaboration between the Saskatoon Survivors Circle and Indigenous artist, Justine "Tini" Stilborn. Stilborn worked to capture the reflections of the Survivors using visual art. She sought to tell the story of their past including the atrocities of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and those resulting from the child welfare and foster care system. But the artwork is also intended to capture the Survivors’ hopes for the future.
Stilborn created her designs using Procreate and Adobe Illustrator which were then cut out of metal sheets by MetalShapes for installation at 885 Confederation Drive.
“The meetings between the Survivors and Justine were open and emotional conversations about what we wanted to communicate through this piece of art” says Survivor Frank Badger.
“We hope this will become a place and symbol of reconciliation, healing, and unity for all Indigenous people” says Survivor Barb Badger.
The artwork’s storytelling begins on the left panel, with the Sixties Scoop depicting young Indigenous children being taken from their homes and families. This panel was done in red to convey the stereotype of the red skin of Indigenous people and the bloodshed and pain experienced.
The back panels illustrate Indigenous children’s involuntary assimilation to euro-western culture shown by the cutting of their hair. These panels also show Indigenous children being removed from their homes in more contemporary times, bridged by shoes that represent the unmarked graves of residential school children. The hands at the top reflect the broken connection between Indigenous generations and the yearning to reconnect. These panels were done in orange to align with orange shirt day and the Every Child Matters movement.
The right panel is designed to elicit a sense of freedom as Indigenous people return to their cultural practices and reconnect with their ancestors. This panel is yellow to represent hope and joy.
For the first time, art was also added to the ceiling of a bus shelter. “This piece depicts the dawn of a new day where Indigenous persons can celebrate their babies again without the fear of having them taken,” says Stilborn. “There are little faces in the clouds, drawn from the ultrasounds of my two daughters.”
“Saskatoon Transit’s work with the Saskatoon Survivors Circle continues to advance reconciliation in Saskatoon,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “The stories of the Survivors are the truth we must understand that leads us towards meaningful reconciliation. The beautiful work of art by this Indigenous artist is now a visual representation of the Survivors stories. Thank you to the Survivors Circle, to Justine, and to Saskatoon Transit for all being part of our shared journey towards reconciliation.”
“Following the location of unmarked residential school graves, Saskatoon Transit was inspired to reach out to the Saskatoon Survivors Circle,” says Tracey Davis, Acting Director of Saskatoon Transit. “Truth and reconciliation go hand in hand, and this year was our opportunity to help tell those truths through this shelter installation.”
“Art brings people together; it creates conversations, inspires and unifies our communities, and gives hope for the future,” says Melissa Cote, the City’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “This project is a perfect example of how art can be healing as well as an opportunity for learning.”
The other three Saskatoon Transit bus shelters displaying Indigenous artwork are located at the following locations:
City celebrates completion of Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester and Heating Upgrades project
June 15, 2022 - 10:00am
- Construction on the fourth digester and Heating and Gas Scrubbing Building began in 2019 and was completed in 2021, ahead of schedule and under budget.
- Digesters are the last stage in the wastewater treatment process. The solids removed during the treatment process are held in an oxygen deprived environment to allow bacteria to form and break the solids down.
- The digesters produce two types of renewable resources; biogas (energy) and biosolids (soil nutrient).
- This expansion includes a new sustainable energy recovery process that will condition biogas to be used as fuel in the boilers while the solid matter is used as nutrient for local crops.
- Construction of a fourth digester tank improves capacity and allows the City to maintain Water Security Agency processing standards when another digester is taken out of service for maintenance purposes.
- Upgrades to boilers were also made to accommodate the additional heat that will be required to run all four digesters.
- Now that construction is complete, residents can no longer see an open flame at the Wastewater Treatment Plant as the flare has been replaced with two enclosed flares.
Today, the City of Saskatoon announced that work is now completed on the Digester and Heating Upgrades project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).
The 3-year, $48.2 million project is funded by the Government of Canada ($9.5 million) and Government of Saskatchewan ($9.5 million) through their New Building Canada Fund, with a $29.2 million investment by the City of Saskatoon.
“Investments in modernizing wastewater infrastructure address communities’ needs and help protect the environment. By partnering with Saskatchewan to upgrade Saskatoon’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, our Government is supporting the local economy while ensuring residents benefit from improved water quality and healthier local ecosystems,” said the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
“Reliable local water systems are important to position Saskatchewan communities for growth and attract new business,” Saskatoon Riversdale MLA Marv Friesen said on behalf of Don McMorris, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations. “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to invest $9.5 million toward this important wastewater infrastructure project in Saskatoon, which will benefit the local economy, residents and environment.”
“As our city continues to grow, it’s important to maintain our high standards and stewardship in protecting people and property downstream from Saskatoon,” said Mayor Charlie Clark. “The investments in a new digester and heating upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment Plant will help us meet demand by improving capacity, sustainability, as well as maintaining our high-quality standards into the future. The expansion includes an exciting sustainable energy recovery process that will recycle biogas to be used as fuel in boilers and solid matter as nutrients for local and nearby crops.”
The new digester is the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s fourth and will improve capacity to allow the plant to maintain Water Security Agency processing standards whenever another digester is taken out of service for maintenance. The digesters are large circular tanks that hold the solids removed during the wastewater treatment process. The solids are deprived of oxygen to allow bacteria to form and break the solids down, and methane biogas is produced during the process. The methane biogas helps heat the WWTP, which in turn, reduces reliance on the use of natural gas for heating. Boiler upgrades and the installation of a methane biogas treatment filter were also a part of the project.
To learn more about the Digester and Heating Upgrades project, visit saskatoon.ca/digester.
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