News Releases

The City of Saskatoon is pleased to announce the adoption of a new Place Identity Framework to guide future place identity and place naming initiatives. City Council adopted the Place Identity Framework on May 21, 2025.
 

The purpose of the Framework is to work with all residents to explore the shared understanding that we all have about our home. The Framework will be a guide to how the City names public spaces, and will guide decisions on public art, commemoration and monuments including what cultural symbols, flags, emblems and coats of arms will be displayed. 
 

“The Place Identity Framework recognizes that not everyone has been included in how the City of Saskatoon has identified and visually represented itself,” says Stryker Calvez, Director of Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI). “This is especially important for those who have called this place home since time immemorial. This framework acknowledges the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples, those people raised here, and the newcomers who chose to make it their home. We all contribute to Saskatoon and, therefore, should have a say in the making of its identity.”

Place identity will have four guiding principles within the wider context of existing City policies, plans, projects and related initiatives:

• Build relationships- Commit to creating and sustaining relationships with residents, rights holders, stakeholders and community organizations to build a greater sense of place, identity and community.
• Be informed- Understand that place naming and place identity are informed by traditional knowledge, historical research and community insights.
• Be inclusive- Listen to the diverse perspectives and experiences of the residents of this city and commit to public input, transparency, education and communication when it comes to place identity.

• Be relevant- Understand our stories of Saskatoon and what connects us historically and balance that with celebrating our local culture when it comes to place naming, commemoration and symbols.
   

  Implementation of the Framework will include working with community and multiple internal departments within the City of Saskatoon to integrate place identity practices at the earliest stages when it comes to the planning of new public spaces. 
   

  “This is about recognizing change and accepting new perspectives while honouring and reflecting upon our shared past and creating a better, more inclusive future, for all residents” says Calvez.
   

City Council yesterday approved amendments to Bylaw No. 10079, The Animal Control Bylaw, 2025 (No.2) and Bylaw No. 10080, The Property Nuisance & Abatement Amendment Bylaw, 2025, to prohibit the feeding of wildlife on all public or private property in Saskatoon.

The new regulations aim to help reduce conflicts and promote a respectful coexistence with urban wildlife. The term “wildlife” is defined in accordance with provincial legislation, The Wildlife Act, 1998, and includes any vertebrate animal that is wild by nature in Saskatchewan (e.g., coyotes, foxes, racoons, rabbits, deer, etc.).

Key provisions of the amendments include:

• Feeding Ban: It is now prohibited to intentionally feed wildlife or leave attractants – such as food, food waste, compost or garbage – on any property with the intent of attracting wildlife or that could attract wildlife.
• Bird Feeding Exception: Residents may continue to feed birds on private property using a bird feeder that is above grade to prevent access to other wildlife.
• Enforcement and Penalties: A Notice of Violation may be issued for non-compliance. Fines are set at:
  • $250 for a first offence
  • $500 for a second offence
  • $1,000 for a third or subsequent offence

“These bylaw updates reflect best practices from other municipalities and support our efforts to maintain a safe and healthy urban environment,” says Parks Director, Thai Hoang. “Feeding dangerous wildlife, even unintentionally, can lead to increased risks and poor outcomes for both animals and residents.”

Residents are encouraged to review the updated bylaws and take steps to ensure their properties are free from wildlife attractants.

For more information on co-existing with urban wildlife, visit saskatoon.ca/wildlife.

Today Saskatoon City Council approved the implementation of a City-wide organics collection program for multi-unit residential properties. The move builds on the success of the curbside green cart program for single-family homes and aims to ensure all residents have equal access to waste services.

The recommendation for a City-led multi-unit organics program stems from a yearlong pilot study that explored the most effective ways to provide organics diversion to multi-unit residential properties including apartments, condos and townhouse complexes. A report to the May 6, 2025 meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services provided a detailed analysis of the options available to the City for multi-unit organics programs.

Engagement with pilot participants, including residents, property managers and condo boards, showed a preference for a City-led organics program. In addition to being the preferred option, it is projected to be the most cost efficient when compared to current market alternatives. Organic material gathered through the program would be handled at the City’s organic processing facility, which begins construction this July.

An implementation plan is being developed aiming to have a city-wide program fully operational in 2028.

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

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is excited to welcome its latest addition a pair of Gila Monsters!

“Gila Monsters are one of the few venomous lizards in the world and we are very excited to have the opportunity to share their story with our guests,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “These Gila Monsters will be important animal ambassadors in our education programs, helping visitors and students explore the fascinating world of venomous animals — from the role of venom in nature to how scientists use venom in modern medicine.”

Named after the Gila River Basin in Arizona where they were first discovered, Gila Monsters are known for their vibrant, colourful skin patterns, often in shades of orange, pink and black.

You can find the Gila Monster habitat at the Affinity Learning Centre. 

The Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit or learn more about the Zoo Season Pass.

The City of Saskatoon is committed to providing uninterrupted customer service and business operations in the event of a potential Canada Post service disruption, which may begin on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

“In the event of disruption to mail delivery, we want to remind the community that “it’s business as usual at City Hall,” says Mike Voth, Director of Corporate Revenue. “We encourage residents to use our convenient online services, sign up for paperless ebilling and also visit the City’s website for information and updates.”

The City Offers Convenient Online Services:

Longer than usual in-person and phone wait times for Customer Service Representative assistance may be anticipated in the event of postal service disruption. Customers are encouraged to visit the City’s website saskatoon.ca for updates and for information on how to use our convenient online services:

• Pet License purchasing and renewals
• Business License applications and renewals
• Parking Ticket payment
• Leisure Registration.

Utility Billing:

To ensure your payments are made on time should there be a postal strike, the City strongly encourages residents to adopt these alternative payment methods for utility billing and property tax payments:

• At your banking/financial institution
• Through online banking
• In-person at City Hall (main floor), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Drop off your cheque in the secure night deposit outside the front of City Hall

The City invites its utility customers to sign up for ebill to avoid delay in receiving billing and account updates, it’s easy to use and secure. You’ll gain access to your utility account history and your current consumption charges and receive email notification when your bill is ready. Sign up today.

Property Tax:

The City started the mailout of the 2025 Property Tax notices to over 100,000 property owners on May 7, 2025. 

• If you have not received your tax notice by May 30, please call 306-975-2400. Non-receipt of your property tax notice does not exempt you from late payment penalties.
• Property owners, mailing delays do not change tax deadlines; you remain responsible for ensuring your 2025 property tax payment is received by the City of Saskatoon by the June 30, 2025, deadline to avoid late payment penalty.
• Enter your address in the easy to use Property Assessment and Tax Tool to view your 2025 property tax payment amount ( does not include the phase-in increase or decrease), it’s under the Tax Information TAB. Visit saskatoon.ca/taxtool or call 306-975-2400.

Need to check your utility bill or property tax balance? We've made it easy:

To find out your balance owing for your utilities or property tax, call the City’s automated phone system at 306-975-2400 or call Toll-Free 1-800-667-9944. Please have your utility billing account # or property tax roll # ready:

• For utilities, press 1, then press 1.
• For property tax, press 2, then press 1.

Visit saskatoon.ca for information and updates, email revenue@saskatoon.ca or call 306-975-2400. We’re here to help.

The City has released its 2024 Report on Service, Savings, Sustainability (SSS). The SSS Report has been released annually since 2005 when City Council     directed Administration to prepare a yearly report on efficiencies implemented in the previous year. The report highlights the ways the City’s departments and teams worked together in the preceding year to:

• Capture savings and find efficiencies
• Enhance services for residents through creativity and innovation
• Make improvements in the area of sustainability

“This report highlights the work that our employees do every day to create better services and experiences for the residents of Saskatoon,” says Richard Phillips, the City’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “We are always looking to meet the needs of our growing and diverse community. This report  captures how our City employees, as responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, have found innovative and creative ways to enhance service delivery, capture savings across the organization, and grow in a sustainable way in 2024.”

The report identifies over $5.4 million saved through cost savings, cost avoidance and reductions, with an additional $1.9 million in cost avoidance to come over the next three to five years.

The 2024 SSS Report is available at saskatoon.ca/SSSreport. As well, you will also find a video on this webpage that provides a preview of the full report, highlighting four of the stories featured in 2024. 

 

Saskatoon Transit contracted the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) through the National Planning Service for the Government of Canada’s Zero Emission Transit Fund, to create a comprehensive Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) Implementation Plan. The plan assessed Saskatoon Transit's readiness to transition to a fully zero emission bus fleet.

The study considers economic, technological, social and environmental benefits, risks and constraints of investing in zero emission buses and supporting infrastructure in Saskatoon using three scenarios: full battery electric bus (BEB) fleet, full hydrogen fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) fleet and a fleet with a mix of both.

Both battery electric and hydrogen-powered buses rely significantly on the power grid for charging or fuel production. Saskatchewan power plants use fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas to generate electricity, which emit greenhouse gases and offset the benefits of reduced tailpipe emissions from zero emission buses.

Financial cost is also a significant factor, as the total life cycle cost (15 years) of a fleet of 100% FCEBs would cost $1.1 billion using current prices and $18.2 million for facility retrofits. A fleet of 100% BEBs would have a total life cycle cost (15 years) of $479.2 million and require $47.7 million in facility costs and on-route charging infrastructure.

“The data and analysis in the zero emissions bus study provide a roadmap for Saskatoon Transit to follow when power is generated by a higher proportion of renewable energy sources in Saskatchewan,” says Mike Moellenbeck, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “Saskatoon Transit will continue to monitor advancements in technology, funding programs and changes in the power grid to transition to ZEBs when it is feasible.”

"Transit decarbonization is a critical pathway to the reduction of emissions at the municipal level. But based on the carbon intensity of provincial grids, electrification is not always a slam dunk because of pollution from electrical grids,” says Josipa Petrunic, President and CEO of CUTRIC. “As the provincial grid system decarbonizes in upcoming decades, electrification will become a more viable option for cities like Saskatoon as they transition away from fossil fuels."

A new Transit fleet renewal strategy for annual diesel bus purchases will be presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation (SPCT) for consideration in June.

For more information, please refer to the Full-Fleet Zero Emission Bus Implementation Plan - CUTRIC Report on the agenda for today's SPCT meeting.

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.