News Releases

With the colder temperatures setting in, grizzly bears Mistaya (miss‑TIE’‑yuh) and Koda (KOH’-dah) are well on their way to beginning their third hibernation at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo).

Preparation for the bears’ hibernation has been underway for several weeks.  The Zoo has worked closely with fRI Research and wildlife nutritionists to carefully monitor the bears leading into hibernation.

“We are very excited to see that Mistaya and Koda are continuing to follow a normal weight gain and loss cycle as they prepare to enter their third hibernation,” said Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.  “As their bodies continue to adjust to an annual hibernation schedule, we are closely monitoring and comparing Mistaya and Koda’s weight each year to that of their wild counterparts.”

At their current weight, the Zoo is predicting the bears will lose about 150 kilograms each year during hibernation.  Mistaya and Koda are currently weighing in at approximately 355 and 340 kilograms, respectively.

Cameras will once again be live in the hibernation dens so that the Zoo can closely monitor behavior, activity levels, and breathing patterns.  A live camera feed found at saskatoon.ca/zoo will also be available for Saskatoon residents to check on Mistaya and Koda throughout their hibernation.

For more information on the Zoo, please visit saskatoon.ca/zoo.

Any upcoming work to plan for the future of Downtown Saskatoon should consider an arena in the Central Business District. A report to be considered Tuesday by the Governance and Priorities Committee outlines the suggested course.

“As we’ve been asked to do, we carefully reviewed the analysis of whether to renovate or to build new event and convention facilities,” says Director of Planning and Development, Lesley Anderson.

“Considering all factors, the Administration concludes that any future Downtown planning should be developed with the option of a future Arena construction in mind.”

The report points to potential combined benefits between an arena-convention centre and with other Downtown amenities such as restaurants, hotels, and a vibrant shopping district.

“There will need to be a further analysis of Downtown infrastructure,” Anderson says.

“Next we have to explore the effects of any new facilities on roads, parking, water, sewer and how to mitigate potential impacts.”

Additionally, the report outlines future City Councils will have to weigh the benefits of a downtown location, and its role as a catalyst for development against other community goals.

Another report outlines high-level information about what funding may or may not be possible.

“This analysis is not intended to provide funding strategy for such a project,” says Chief Financial Officer, Kerry Tarasoff. “We want the Committee to have some information and to highlight what some of those financing options could look like.”

A number of convention centres have been built in Canada since 2010, and on average, about 25 per cent of the funding came from the municipality.

Since 2005, in cities without NHL teams, on average about 60 per cent of the funding for arenas or stadiums has been funded by the municipality – as is the case with Mosaic Stadium in Regina (62.2%).

Funding of large arena, stadium or convention centre projects include various sources of funds; borrowing remains the largest component and several repayment possibilities are also explained.

City Council approved the adoption of a new purchasing policy at its October 22, 2018 meeting, the measure recommended by the Standing Policy Committee on Finance.

The new policy, which takes effect December 1, 2018, now reflects best practices for public procurement, and brings the City’s policy into compliance with trade treaty obligations. It draws on criteria from federal and provincial procurement rules and will use ‘best value’ rather than lowest price in the procurement of civic goods and services for the City.

A highlight of the new policy is that purchases made in accordance with an approved budget and within the authority of the policy provisions, will now be delegated to the Administration for the awarding of contracts and purchase orders rather than City Council.

With an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and transparency, a procurement review was conducted over the past year, presenting the City with opportunities to:

• identify any gaps in the procurement process;
• document all current purchasing processes;
• provide greater transparency for vendors;
• give clear direction for City employees on common standards to be used consistently for the majority of purchases made by the City; and
• provide consistency across the organization by developing new templates and contracts.

As part of the procurement review, engagement opportunities were provided to external and internal stakeholders through the City’s website and in-person meetings asking for their feedback and recommendations on the draft purchasing policy, new procurement manual, templates and standard contracts. An engagement workshop was also conducted to gather feedback on the expansion of the new policy for the future inclusion of social and Indigenous procurement best practices.

Administration will continue to monitor and make amendments to various protocols as required, including at the request of City Council, adding new engagement opportunities to support the future inclusion of environmental best practices for procurement at the City.

The City’s new procurement policy will ensure equal access to all qualified suppliers.

Visit saskatoon.ca/engage for future engagement opportunities.

Yellow Quill First Nation announced today the successful creation of a new urban reserve in downtown Saskatoon.  Yellow Quill First Nation received notification from the Government of Canada of the successful status change for the property located at 224 4^th Avenue South.  The building is home to the First Nations Bank of Canada and is located adjacent to Yellow Quill First Nation’s original urban reserve in Saskatoon, located at 240 4^th Avenue South.

“Attaining urban reserve status where our office tower is located in downtown Saskatoon is an important milestone for our nation,” says Yellow Quill Chief John Machiskinic.  “The designation of reserve status will support us in securing additional tenants who value an on-reserve location in a major downtown centre.  It also provides another source of revenue to assist us in funding various initiatives for our members living both on and off reserve.  We are proud to celebrate this achievement today.”

“For the past 30 years, the City of Saskatoon has been working with First Nations across the province to create urban reserves,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “This is a point of pride for our city, as we work with our First Nations partners to help lead the country in forging a new and positive relationship and to build a stronger Saskatoon.  I would like to thank the leadership and community of Yellow Quill First Nation for investing in Saskatoon with this urban reserve and for their commitment to working together with our community.”

The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, congratulates the community, stating, “I wish the Yellow Quill First Nation great success in the development of their new urban reserve.  This added urban land provides an important opportunity to advance economic growth and development in the community.”

Yellow Quill First Nation is confident that achieving urban reserve status where its existing office tower is located will attract First Nations companies and organizations that wish to do business in a downtown location.  Yellow Quill First Nation also has plans in place to construct an office building on the adjacent 240 4^th Avenue South site, pending securing an anchor tenancy.

Municipal Service Agreements were negotiated between Yellow Quill First Nation and the City a number of years ago when the property was originally purchased.  Following the subsequent purchase of the adjacent property, which currently is a vacant parking lot, the Municipal Service Agreements were updated to reflect both properties.

The Agreements address:

• services the City will provide;
• service fees Yellow Quill First Nation will pay the City in lieu of property taxes; and
• compatible land use and development standards.

Decisions on reserve creation are made by the federal government.  The site becomes the sixth urban reserve in Saskatoon.  When a property transfers to reserve status, it is no longer under City jurisdiction.

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

About Yellow Quill First Nation
Yellow Quill First Nation is a Saulteaux First Nation located twelve miles northwest of Kelvington, Saskatchewan.  The Yellow Quill First Nation is a signatory of Treaty No. 4, which was signed by Chief Yellow Quill on August 24, 1876.  Approximately 968 members reside on reserve, and 2,005 members live in other communities throughout the province.  Yellow Quill Holdings Inc. oversees the various economic development initiatives on behalf of Yellow Quill First Nation, as well as lands purchased by Yellow Quill Treaty Land Entitlement.

The 2019 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget proposes to keep service levels up while being able to put money into the needed infrastructure and priorities citizens want and need today and for the future. It invests in the actions and projects outlined by City Council’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan to ensure that Saskatoon remains a great place to live, work, learn and play.

“Over the years, citizens told us they want us to maintain the civic services they rely on every day,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer. “A significant portion of the proposed 2019 Budget goes to covering costs for growth and asset preservation. We’re taking care of today’s needs and carefully planning for community requirements in years to come.”

This year, a four-step process was used to build the City’s 2019 Budget:

• Costs to maintain current service levels were determined;
• City Council set a property tax target of 4.0% - 4.5% to maintain current service levels and to allocate dollars to support City Council’s Strategic Priorities;
• Business plans were developed to align with the proposed property tax rate and City Council’s priorities; and
• The business plans were then incorporated into the proposed 2019 Budget.

To address inflation, $10.6 million will be allocated with $3.5 million to the Saskatoon Police Service, and the remaining for other civic services.

To address such growth, $6.9 million is proposed in 2019: $1.1 million is for the Saskatoon Police Service, and $5.8 million for other civic services.

With these considerations, the 2019 Operating Budget proposes total expenditures of $511.3 million.  This is an increase of $20.6 million, or 4.20%, over the 2018 Operating Budget.

“With a projected growth rate around 3%, Saskatoon expects to add population about one and a half times the size of Humboldt,” Tarasoff says. “Because of this, our city remains one of the fastest growing in Canada and we have to plan for that.”

The 2019 Capital Budget – used for hard infrastructure projects preparing the city for continued growth – proposes $259.7 million in investments with a continued focus on roads, transit, water and wastewater distribution systems.

A total of $7.78 million in options aimed at achieving City Council’s 2018-2021 Strategic Priorities was presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee in August. The Preliminary Budget includes $2.6 million to be utilized for the implementation of a portion of these strategic initiatives, to be considered during City Council’s 2019 Business Plan and Budget Review. While other specific initiatives to be implemented for 2019 have yet to be finalized, City Council will be presented with a report and associated recommendations for consideration at their Budget Review.

The 2019 Operating Budget stays within City Council’s tax target by proposing a property tax increase of 4.5%. For a homeowner with an average assessed property value of $371,000, this equates to approximately $80 per year, or $7 a month.

Provincial law says cities must pass a balanced budget each year. A 4.5% property tax increase will generate enough money to balance the 2019 Budget, with a 1% increase in the property tax equal to $2.3 million. Here’s how the required property tax increase for 2019 was determined:

Operating expenses – Operating revenues = Revenue gap (property tax fills the gap)

As mentioned, for the 2019 Budget, the City will need a total of $20.6 million more to operate services at the levels citizens want. The operating revenues, or the money the City brings in, is subtracted, leaving the City with a revenue gap of $10.4 million.

This year, the 2019 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget Review is scheduled for November 26, 27 and 28 in City Council Chambers.

Full details on the investments the City has made in various programs, initiatives and projects through the 2019 Preliminary Budget are on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/budget.

Saskatoon will have a city-wide curbside organics program for single-family households, which is expected to launch in 2020. City Council voted in favour of the initiative at its regular business meeting on Monday, October 22.

“This is an important step forward for our City, so we are pleased with Council’s decision,” says Dan Willems, Acting General Manager of Corporate Performance. “This is a very complex matter with many variables, so the decision to implement a city-wide organics program demonstrates City Council’s commitment to its strategic goal of Environmental Leadership.”

City Council also approved the recommendation for black and green bins to be collected bi-weekly once the organics program has rolled out, and that compost depots continue to operate at the current level of service. The decision on rates and whether garbage and organics will be funded through property taxes or by a new utility has been deferred until the next City Council meeting.

“These improvements to waste management will help us move closer to our 70% waste diversion goal, which would allow the City to avoid the need to plan for a new landfill, estimated at $120 million” says Willems.

The Administration will report back to City Council with more information on November 19, 2018.

The complete agenda from the October 22 City Council meeting can be found here.

For more information about the City’s waste diversion plan, visit saskatoon.ca/wastediversion.

The City will accept one of two gold Infrastructure awards at this year’s National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships. The award, in recognition of the Bridging to Tomorrow project, will be presented by the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) at the organization’s annual conference in Toronto on November 5, 2018.

“We are incredibly honoured to be receiving this award,” says Acting General Manager or Corporate Performance, Dan Willems. “Our entire team, including City employees, our Technical Advisory Team, and Graham Commuter Partners worked together to ensure that this project took into consideration the highest levels of safety, environmental preservation, and value to Saskatoon and area citizens.”

The project, which involved the construction of Chief Mistawasis Bridge and Traffic Bridge, was selected for breaking new ground in how P3 projects are built, financed or delivered, as well as the impact they have on boosting the economy, saving costs and creating more vibrant, inclusive communities.

Willems says not only did the Bridging to Tomorrow project deliver two new bridges and connecting roadways to improve traffic flow in some of the busiest areas of Saskatoon, but it also took into account the City’s cherished history and Indigenous roots.

“The Chief Mistawasis Bridge naming process signified an important step toward Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and the important role they played and continue to play in our community’s development,” Willems says.  “Additionally, the design of the Traffic Bridge was kept true to the original steel-truss structure, honouring the City’s history while providing a safe commuting route to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

The City is grateful for its funding partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan to allow for the delivery of the Bridging to Tomorrow project which will benefit Saskatoon and area citizens for generations to come.

The Bridging to Tomorrow project is the largest infrastructure project ever delivered in the City and the first bundled transportation P3 in Canada. The new bridges and roadways opened to the public on October 2, 2018.

Near perfect weather through this year’s Building Better Roads program led to the completion of more projects. Twice as much preventative crack sealing was applied to roadways, twenty percent more sidewalks were replaced than originally projected, and a total of 206 lane kilometres of roadways were replaced or rehabilitated. Construction will continue until it snows or gets too cold.

“The condition of our roads are getting better every year, so we’ve been able to also turn our focus to preventative maintenance this fall with our crack sealing program,” says Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation & Utilities Department. “With new equipment, we’ve applied the crack sealing treatment to 56 kilometres of roads, extending their life and preventing water seepage, which leads to the formation of potholes.”

Cooperative construction season weather allowed for the completion of a total of 206 lane kilometres of roadway, bringing the total to more than 1,000 kilometres of replaced or rehabilitated roadway since 2014. The City also replaced or rehabilitated 33 kilometres of sidewalk this year, for a total of 64 kilometres since 2014.

“The additional sidewalk replacements and repairs were completed in locations that are planned for micro surfacing next year to better coordinate the two programs,” says Gardiner. “This sets us up for success next year and in years to come.”

The following is an update on some key areas of City construction and maintenance:

• Back lanes: 400 km of back lanes were graded and 15.3 km of gravel back lanes were reconstructed.
• Line painting: 892 km of lines have received a coat of paint, including 9 km of durable line markings.
• Water & sewer: 26 km of water mains and sanitary sewer mains have been replaced or rehabilitated.
• Intersections: The reconfigured roadway at Taylor Street & Arlington Avenue will improve the flow of traffic through the intersection and alleviate the congestion.
• Interchanges: Traffic has moved onto the new interchanges at McOrmond Drive & College Drive and Boychuk Drive & Highway 16 with expected completion in July 2019.
• Overpass structures: The major rehabilitation and repair work of the Circle Drive over 33rd Street northbound overpass was completed five weeks ahead of schedule.
• Bridges: The new Traffic Bridge and the Chief Mistawasis Bridge (and Central Avenue & McOrmond Drive extensions) opened October 2nd and added just over 10 km of roadway to the City’s network.
• Victoria Avenue: Victoria Avenue was reimagined, redesigned and reconstructed in time for the Traffic Bridge reopening. It marks the first time a raised cycle track has been installed in an established neighbourhood.
• Resurfacing and water & sewer improvements on Idylwyld Drive: The City undertook road resurfacing and water and sewer upgrade work on Idylwyld Drive between 33rd and 39th streets. As a result, the reliability and quality of the water distribution has been protected and a key section of a major Saskatoon throughway has been preserved for years to come.

“Significant progress has been made over the past five years and the Building Better Roads Program has established an annual funding level of $61 million to cover road construction, road repair, pothole patching, sidewalk rehabilitation, back lane upgrades, street sweeping, and snow and ice management into the future,” says Gardiner. “You’ll notice a difference as you drive, walk or cycle around Saskatoon.”

For more information about projects completed in 2018 and the Building Better Roads program, please visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads and view at https://youtu.be/m0MRb3C9oc8

Leading experts, community leaders, elders and youth are coming together in Saskatoon for the Wîcihitowin (wee-chee-HEE’-toe-win) conference to discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and address Aboriginal engagement and inclusion issues. 

“Over the past few years, we’ve noticed a growing sense of awareness of Aboriginal engagement and inclusion issues facing our community. Saskatoon is leading the way in Canada right now with bold initiatives like the community-driven naming process of Chief Mistawasis Bridge and the University of Saskatchewan’s new strategic plan which focuses on Indigenization,” says Neal Kewistep, Executive-in-Residence, Johnson Shoyama Institute of Public Policy.

“However we must not forget that real and lasting change is hard. We must continue to push for systemic change within our organizations, institutions and governments. What is needed now is less talk, more action,” Kewistep says.

This year’s conference theme is Voices of the people – past, present and future with key note speakers Senator Murray Sinclair, Former Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and Dr. Marie Wilson, Former Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

“During the National Truth and Reconciliation Events held here in Saskatoon and across Canada, we documented the history of Indian Residential Schools in Canada and heard the accounts of more than 6,750 residential school survivors. It’s more important now than ever to learn from those voices of the past if we’re going to take the next step forward on the path to reconciliation,” says Senator Murray Sinclair.

“Creating safe, collaborative spaces for open discussion like Wîcihitowin is crucial.  This way we can make sure those voices are part of the conversation to affect real and lasting change in our community,” says Sinclair.

This conference is presented in partnership with the United Way of Saskatoon, Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Johnson Shoyama Institute of Public Policy and the City of Saskatoon, and supported by community sponsors such as Nutrien, Saskatoon Community Foundation and Affinity Credit Union.

"Our audience has grown to be incredibly diverse and we now have people attending from all over Canada. Now in our fourth year, our numbers have peaked to over 600 showing how much this conference is needed and supported by the community,” says Brad Bird, Director of Community Impact & Strategic Partnerships, United Way.

Wîcihitowin is Cree/Saulteaux for “helping each other” or “working together”, which is an important component of delivering enhanced programs and services.

Wîcihitowin supports the City’s Strategic Goal of “Quality of Life” by identifying actions for enhancing Aboriginal well-being and participation in our community.

The McOrmond Drive and College Drive interchange will open to traffic on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, alleviating congestion on priority roads that have become busier as the city continues to grow.

“Once open, traffic at the McOrmond Drive and College Drive intersection will be free flowing with all interchange ramps operational,” says Bryan Zerebeski, the City’s manager for the Saskatoon Interchange Project. “Due to a wet September, some work surrounding the interchange will now resume in the spring.”

Southbound traffic on McOrmond Drive exiting onto College Drive will continue to use the existing ramp. All traffic exiting from College Drive onto McOrmond Drive northbound and southbound must use the right lane. (see attached gif)

The Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 interchange partially opened to traffic on September 30, nearly a year ahead of schedule. Construction on both interchanges started in April 2017 and both are expected to be totally complete by the end of July 2019. 

Drivers are reminded that the speed limit through work zones at both interchange sites is 60 km/h. For more information about the project, including renderings and video updates, visit saskatoon.ca/interchanges.