News Releases

More water is on its way from Gardiner Dam: the speed and height of the river is rising which increases safety risks. The Water Security Agency advises river flows are expected to increase from the elevated current rate of approximately 240 cubic metres per second (m³/s) to approximately 700 m³/s starting on Sunday.

It’s expected the river will rise by about 60 cm or approximately two feet. However, that is not high enough to cause flooding of riverbank areas such as the Meewasin Valley Trail. High flows are anticipated for the next week.

“This represents a significant increase and with that, there’s an increase in the potential dangers on or around the river,” says Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) Deputy Chief Sean Thody.

Deputy Chief Thody urges anyone who may be around the river and along the riverbank to keep their distance, adding swimming in the river is prohibited in Saskatoon.

“Although the river may provide a tempting option to cool down on hot days, the South Saskatchewan is unpredictable. Aside from the changing, dangerously fast currents and unstable bottom, it will have many additional hazards right now such as fallen branches, hidden material like broken concrete and floating debris that will pose a threat to anyone in or near the water.”

Thody further warns SFD is not allowed to put rescue divers in the water above 450 m³/s because it poses a safety risk to the divers.

The Fire Department is working with the Meewasin Valley Authority and will monitor the water flows and will advise everyone including recreational user groups of the greater flow rate. Saskatchewan Search and Rescue suggests the following guidelines for paddling activity: 

• <250 m³/s – Novice paddler; flatwater conditions 
• 250–400 m³/s– Intermediate paddler; those with moving water experience 
• 400–600 m³/s – Expert paddler; paddlers with moving water experience 
• 600–800 m³/s – Only expert paddlers with whitewater experience 
• >800 m³/s – Dangerous – Stay off the water 

Saskatoon Water 
Saskatoon Water is prepared for the greater flows. While expecting more sediment and cloudiness in the river, processes are in place to handle extra clarification that may be needed. Water service is not expected to be impacted by the rising river levels.

Bridges 
The rising and faster flowing water is not expected to pose any threat to bridges nor cause any significant challenges for construction projects. The City’s Asset Preservation team continues to talk with contractors working on both the Broadway Bridge and the University Bridge to ensure their staff remain safe.

Swimming is prohibited in the South Saskatchewan River
As mentioned, Bylaw No. 4433 prohibits swimming in the South Saskatchewan River within city limits.

View weir from a safe distance 
The South Saskatchewan River is equipped with a weir to alter the flow and discharge of water along the river. This barrier produces a powerful backwash of water that can trap objects and people. The weir must never be approached and should only be viewed from designated areas along Spadina Crescent East.

Pet safety 
Just as a fast river poses risks to humans, it is also risky to pets. Pet owners are reminded to keep a close watch on their pets – especially in off-leash areas where they could get into the river. The best advice is to avoid these areas for the coming days.

Water rescue tips 
If you witness someone in distress in the river: 

• Call 911 immediately to report the incident, noting details about the individual, time and situation. 
• Keep track of recognizable landmarks around the area where the individual was first seen in distress in the water. 
• Coach the individual from the shore edge on the below noted tips for water self-rescue. 

If you are in distress in the river: 

• Stay calm. 
• Keep your head above the water. 
• Remove any heavy or bulky clothing items. 
• Don’t fight the current; move with the current as you work your way to the shore edge.

Always be cautious near the river. In an emergency, call 911 immediately. 

Saskatoon firefighters responded shortly after noon Friday to reports of a large house fire on the 400 block of Geary Crecent. Crews arrived in just under six minutes to heavy black smoke and at least one home fully in flames in the Hampton Village neighborhood on the city’s northwest. Four homes are destroyed with two others damaged.

“This is a devastating loss for these families,” says Deputy Fire Chief Sean Thody. “To see four houses burn is never a good thing. Our hearts go out to the families that have lost their homes.”

Recognizing the intensity of the fire, a second alarm was immediately called. In all, 32 firefighters responded to the scene including two aerial trucks, four engines, a rescue engine, safety officer, battalion chief and deputy chief.

“I want to commend the crews for the tremendous stop they made and that we are not in a worse situation than we are now.”

Thody says winds were over 30 Km/h, the temperature was above 30 degrees and the relative humidity was around 30 per cent.

“That’s never a good recipe for fire. When it gets started in those optimal conditions it’s very complicated to get it under control.”

Crews battled the flames for about two-and-a half hours until they had it in hand. Six back-alley garages have also been destroyed. A fire also started in a home across the street but firefighters quickly had it doused.

There are no reports of injures to residents, pets or firefighters. Emergency Management Organization used notifynow to inform area residents of the disruption in the immediate vicinity that would impact Transit routes, school pick-ups and local traffic.

Fire Inspectors will investigate as soon as the area is safe. Crews remain on scene to put out any spot fires.

More information will be released when it is available.

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The City of Saskatoon is excited to launch City Stories, a new storytelling space where residents can explore stories, photos and content that highlight the work being done every day to make Saskatoon a great place to live.

City Stories is the City’s dedicated storytelling platform, designed to share timely, accessible and resident-focused information in an engaging, conversational style. It’s a place to learn more about the people, projects and ideas shaping our city beyond meetings and technical updates.

Every day, the City plans, builds and maintains infrastructure people rely on, including streets, sidewalks, bridges, parks, swimming pools, sewers, water and transit. At the same time, we’re working on things that may be less visible but are just as important such as accessibility, affordability, safety, sustainability and community building.

City Stories will showcase articles covering these topics and more, offering a distinctive glimpse into what it takes to run a city and how we plan for the years ahead. The story items focus on serving the people who live here today, while helping create a city that will welcome many more tomorrow.

Residents are encouraged to visit City Stories often, as new and interesting articles will be shared weekly.

To explore City Stories and read the latest articles, visit citystories.saskatoon.ca.
 

The City of Saskatoon’s 2025 Strategic Plan Progress Report marks the final year of the City’s 2022–2025 Strategic Plan and reflects a year of remarkable outcomes and important transitions as Saskatoon continues to grow.

“The 2025 results reflect both measurable progress and important investments behind the scenes,” says Richard Phillips, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “This report demonstrates the City’s deliberate choices to support affordability, environmental responsibility and reliable services. While there is more work ahead, we are entering our new, 2026-2029 Strategic Plan cycle with strong momentum, building on the value and results delivered over the past four years for everyone who lives, works, learns and plays in Saskatoon.”

In 2025, the City of Saskatoon continued to work on 25 key strategic initiatives, with 7 fully completed. Ongoing work planned for 17 initiatives was completed as scheduled, with work continuing as planned in 2026. One initiative was flagged for caution due to its scale and complexity, with timelines adjusted to ensure long‑term success. This represents a 96 per cent delivery rate on our key strategic initiatives.

While celebrating these achievements, the City remains focused on areas that require continued attention. Progress is being made in strengthening emergency response times, transit performance, and residents’ perceptions of inclusion. These areas of focus, alongside ongoing improvements in workforce diversity, will continue to receive attention. Administration has already identified ways in which these areas can see progress in over the coming years.

“We recognize that there are areas for improvement but we have also taken actions in several areas that are important to residents,” says Phillips. More attainable housing was delivered than in previous years, supporting affordability. Waste diversion reached record levels and greenhouse gas emissions continued to decline as environmental initiatives moved into action.

The City also invested in transit, asset management, digital services, and data systems, strengthening long‑term service delivery and planning as the city continues to grow. Saskatoon also remained one of the most affordable cities, helping residents and local businesses.

Overall, 2025 represents a year of progress and transition, balancing today’s service needs while building a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable Saskatoon.

The full 2025 Strategic Plan Progress Report is available at Strategic Plan | City of Saskatoon

The City of Saskatoon has released its 2025 Service, Savings and Sustainability (SSS) Report, highlighting the progress made over the past year to improve civic services, strengthen long‑term sustainability and deliver strong value for taxpayers.

The report showcases how City teams continue to build on past successes by identifying efficiencies, introducing innovation and investing wisely to meet the needs of Saskatoon’s growing population. In 2025 alone, these efforts resulted in $4.13 million in savings, with $7.88 million in cumulative savings expected over the coming years through continued cost savings, cost avoidance and reductions.

“As Saskatoon grows, we remain focused on using public resources responsibly while delivering high‑quality services residents rely on,” says Jeff Jorgenson, City Manager. “The 2025 SSS Report reflects the dedication and creativity of City employees and the meaningful impact of their work.”

The report also highlights the City’s continued focus on livability, sustainability and inclusive growth, ensuring Saskatoon remains a vibrant and resilient community for current and future residents.

2025 Key Highlights

• Financial Responsibility:
  $4.13 million in savings were achieved in 2025, with $7.88 million in total projected savings over five years.
• Efficient Infrastructure Delivery:
  A new approach to curb stop replacements is expected to save taxpayers up to $425,000 annually, while reducing construction disruption and avoiding the need for drinking water advisories.
• Waste Reduction and Environmental Stewardship:
  City‑delivered services diverted 42,457 tonnes of waste from the landfill, an increase of 1,726 tonnes from 2024. Waste diversion through the Material Recovery Centre increased by 35 per cent year over year.
• Innovation in City Operations:
  The introduction of a GPS‑guided sport field line‑painting robot improves accuracy and efficiency, allowing staff to focus on other priority work while maintaining high‑quality recreational spaces.
• Community Engagement and Reconciliation:
  Residents were engaged on initiatives such as affordable housing, river access and new leisure amenities, while the City advanced Reconciliation through meaningful initiatives, relationship‑building and collaboration with Indigenous communities.

The 2025 Service, Savings and Sustainability Report and Video is available online here.

After considering an approval report on the First Avenue Link Corridor concept plan changes, City Council defeated the motion as presented. Council has now directed Administration to meet with the Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Committee to review the accessibility plan. Council also directed the Administration to report back with broader operational considerations, including emergency response planning, emergency access and snow removal plans.

Once this information is received, Council will determine the next steps and will then direct Administration on how to proceed with the Link design on First Avenue.

In the meantime, work continues on the Link project elsewhere in the city, with the College Drive Link corridor and numerous station platforms throughout the city currently under construction. So far, 41station platforms are already built.

Meeting minutes and associated reports are available on the City of Saskatoon website. For more information on the Link rapid transit project, visit saskatoon.ca/link.