News Releases

City Council updated its Building Bylaw and repealed its 25-year-old predecessor at its Tuesday, May 23 meeting.

“It’s business as usual, just better,” says Director of Building Standards, Kara Fagnou.  “We have consolidated and improved our information to capture all key aspects of the building process into the bylaw.”

Building Bylaw No. 9455 (Bylaw) will replace Building Bylaw No. 7306.

“The intent of the Bylaw is to better reflect current practices and provide tools to better administer our programs,” Fagnou says.  “The updates will also clarify the requirements and conditions for building permit applicants and what people or companies can expect when building in Saskatoon.”

The Bylaw updates will enhance program transparency by clarifying what the application requirements and permitting conditions are.  Some of these conditions include:

• defining permit expiry dates;
• outlining the process for requesting a permit extension; and
• clarifying site conditions and construction signage requirements.

Importantly, key industry stakeholders were involved in improving the way life-safety systems are addressed throughout the building process.  These partners helped incorporate new requirements for on-site life-safety system reviews to make sure installations are done in accordance with the approved engineered design; this was previously outside the scope of the program.

The updated Bylaw will contain new administration fees to support the sustainability of the Building Inspection and Plan Review Programs.  The administration fees will apply only to customers who request to:

• extend the term of their building permit;
• reinstate a building permit; or
• cancel a building permit.

Full enforcement of the Bylaw provisions is proposed for January 1, 2018.  The City’s Building Standards Division will work with industry and civic departments over the next six months to develop an implementation plan to support the rollout of the updated Bylaw.

“Overall, the updated Bylaw provides a platform to communicate building permit requirements and conditions in a clear and consistent manner,” Fagnou says.  “It helps promote good neighbour practices through transparent building permit program administration, and it supports the City’s Strategic Goals by balancing growth with accountability and public safety.”

For more information on the updated Bylaw, please visit saskatoon.ca/buildingstandards or contact Building Standards at 306-975-2645.

From beginning to mid-May, the City will take action to control cottony ash psyllid.  As outlined in a report to City Council late last year, the pest is affecting trees in Saskatoon’s downtown area, business improvement districts, and surrounding neighbourhoods.

“Large numbers of psyllids were detected in trees planted within concrete cut-outs in our central business areas, which have been particularly susceptible,” says Michelle Chartier, Superintendent of Urban Forestry and Pest Management.

Cottony ash psyllid is a non-native yellow/green pest first identified in Saskatoon, in 2006, on black and mancana ash trees.  Native to central Europe, the insect has made several appearances in North America, including recent infestations in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Alberta.

“Cottony ash psyllids are most easily recognized by the damage they create, such as browning, yellowing, and curling around leaflets, and the presence of white cotton within the leaflet,” Chartier says.  “Heavily infested trees will often lose leaves, with the remaining leaves twisted into a corkscrew shape.”

Chartier says City-owned trees have been examined and marked with colour codes to signify the action that will be taken to lessen the infestation of psyllids and preserve the natural beauty of the business districts.

• White-marked trees will receive injections of an insecticide to try to prevent further damage and spread.
• Green-marked trees will be removed and replaced with a different species not susceptible to psyllids, including:  52 trees downtown, 14 in the Broadway area, 10 in Riversdale, and 29 along 22^nd Street.  Short-term parking restrictions will be in place in the work area.

“Cleanup, including stump removal and backfilling of topsoil, will be coordinated after tree removal.  During this time, safety measures will be placed around the tree stump area to avoid any possible tripping hazards,” Chartier says.

At home, the best approach to avoid cottony ash psyllid is to keep your ash trees in good health.  Water between rainfalls, protect your trees from root or trunk damage, and avoid the use of herbicides or excessive salts in the soil near trees.

For more information, please visit saskatoon.ca/cottonyashpsyllid or call 306-975-3300.

The City’s Planning and Development Division has released the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Census Metropolitan Area Population Projection 2015 to 2035 report.  The population in Saskatoon is projected to reach 380,650, and the Saskatoon Census Metropolitan Area is projected to reach 448,985 by 2035.

Saskatoon’s growth will result in the need to build the equivalent of six new neighbourhoods and 24,000 dwelling units by 2025.  Saskatoon’s current development capacity in existing, developing, and planned new neighbourhoods will be able to accommodate this projected growth.

“It is an exciting time for Saskatoon,” says Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development.  “Some of our recently adopted long-range plans, such as the Growth Plan to Half a Million, will be integral in setting our City up for the future.”

“Change is inevitable, but this change will be managed.  Saskatoon will be able to accommodate this growth and remain a city where citizens continue to enjoy a high quality of life.”

Based on the annual growth rate of 2.0%, the 20-year projected population growth indicates Saskatoon will see a large increase in the number of people over age 65 and an even larger increase of those over the age of 80.  This spike is due to the aging baby boom generation.  The seniors’ population will increase from its current 12.8% to make up 14.1% of the total population by 2035.

Other highlights in the report are as follows:

• Net migration is forecast to account for 69.0% to 74.0% (62,000 to 122,000 persons) of the population increase projected over the next 20 years.
• New neighbourhoods are typically designed to house 10,000 people.  The Medium Growth Scenario will require the equivalent of an additional six neighbourhoods and 26,000 dwelling units by 2035, assuming an average household size of 2.4 people.
• An increase of 28.8% of children will be coming into, or already be in, the primary and secondary school systems by 2025 and 58.8% children by 2035.
• The estimated median age is projected to increase from 35.8 in 2015, to 37.4 in 2035.
• The dependency ratio is 65 to 67, which is an increase from 58 in 2015.Population projections are also useful to community agencies planning for future service provision.  The Planning and Development Division completed similar projections in 1996, 2002, 2008, 2010, and 2012.

The Planning and Development Division regularly calculates population estimates for the City using information from Statistics Canada and factoring in recent trends in growth.  These projections assist City Council and the Administration in developing policy framework, long-range plans, and forecasting future municipal servicing needs and land consumption.

Population projections are also useful to community agencies planning for future service provision.  The Planning and Development Division completed similar projections in 1996, 2002, 2008, 2010, and 2012.

For more information, or to view the full report, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/sustainable-growth.

Komodo dragons that is!  On loan from the Calgary Zoo for the next year, Thorn and Shruikan (Shrew-khan) are settling into their home away from home in the new Komodo Island exhibit at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo.  Building of the new exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, and it will officially open to the public on April 1, 2017.

“We have been very fortunate to work with zoos from across Canada over the years to bring unique species to Saskatoon, including the Komodo dragons,” says Tim Sinclair‑Smith, Manager, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo.  “We are very excited to share the unique story of the Komodo dragons and provide an opportunity for visitors to get an up-close look at these larger than life lizards.”

Komodo dragons are easily identified by their massive size, flat heads, bowed legs, and long, thick tails.  Known as the heaviest lizards on Earth, Komodo dragons can reach more than three metres in length and weigh more than 150 kilograms.  While Komodo dragons are not considered endangered, they are very rare and, today, are found in the wild only on Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands.

Do not miss your opportunity to see these giant reptiles at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo!  From September to April, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from May to August daily hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information regarding the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo can be found online at www.saskatoon.ca/zoo.

For the first time in their lives, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z) grizzly bears, Mistaya (miss-TIE’-yuh) and Koda (KOH’-dah), have gone into hibernation this winter.

“We are pleased to be able to provide Koda and Mistaya with an opportunity to exhibit their natural behaviour of hibernating for the very first time,” says SFFP&Z Manager, Tim Sinclair-Smith.

In order for hibernation to occur, the bears’ food supply was limited, and the bear house was modified to allow temperatures to drop below zero; both of these changes would naturally occur in the wild.

The bears’ hibernation will provide conservation and research opportunities, and a wildlife expert says it is the sensible thing to do.

“Most institutions with captive bears keep them awake by continuing to feed year round,” says Dr. Ken Macquisten, Managing Director and Veterinarian of Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife.  “As captive wildlife managers, it is our responsibility to give the animals the most natural life possible.”

Hibernation is a natural and important process for grizzly bears and will improve their health and well-being.  In terms of research opportunities, there is a lot the SFFP&Z can learn from Mistaya and Koda.  For the first time, insight will be obtained on how bears progress through the process of hibernation.

“Koda and Mistaya play essential roles in supporting the conservation of their wild kindred,” says Dr. Marc Cattet, Research Scientist and Program Veterinarian of the Foothills Research Institute.

The SFFP&Z is working on a partnership with the Foothills Research Institute to connect research initiatives on grizzly bears, both in captivity and in the wild.

“This is an exciting time for the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.  We are embarking on more collaborations and aim to connect ourselves to more research opportunities,” Sinclair-Smith says.

Mistaya is the sole-surviving cub from Bear 66, a well-known female grizzly killed on the Canadian Pacific railway tracks in Banff National Park, in 2005.  Mistaya stayed in the wild until it became clear that he could not survive without intervention.

Koda was also orphaned in 2005, after his mother fled the den when a logging operation came through the Grand Prairie region.  Koda was rescued and nurtured by zookeepers at the Edmonton Valley Zoo.  The cubs were paired at the Calgary Zoo and later transferred to their permanent home in Saskatoon.

For more information on the SFFP&Z, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/zoo.

To see grizzly bears in hibernation, please visit the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife bear cam at www.grousemountain.com/wildlife-refuge/bear-cam.

Today, the City and SaskCulture celebrated the start of Saskatoon’s 7^th Annual Culture Days at River Landing.

“Culture Days is a chance for all of us to recognize the role that arts and culture has in making our city a better place to live, work, and play,” says Community Development Manager, Kevin Kitchen.  “Cultural activities are important as they bring people from all across our community to participate in the arts, to learn more about other cultures, and to celebrate our community and all it has to offer.”

The public is encouraged to create, participate, experience, and celebrate culture in Saskatoon with free activities and workshops being held to celebrate Culture Days from Friday, September 30, to Sunday, October 2, 2016.

The City is offering other activities throughout the weekend in support of Culture Days.  All are welcome and all events are free.

Friday, September 30
Sutherland Culture Fair
11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sutherland Hall (1112 Central Avenue)
*New public artwork, meet the artist, farmers’ market, SaskCulture Community Engagement Animateur Zoe Fortier, artist-led activities, Remai Modern Art Caravan, and cultural demonstrations.

Indian and Métis Friendship Centre
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
168 Wall Street
*Engage in First Nations and Métis cultural activities, hands-on workshops, and SaskCulture Community Engagement Animateur Zoe Fortier.

Saturday, October 1
I Am The Bridge
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
River Landing under Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge
*Short film screening in collaboration with PAVED Arts, Moving Stories YXE documentary premiere, and meet the artist (participants should bring their own lawn chairs).

Sunday, October 2
Public Art Bike Tour
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Downtown, Riversdale, and River Landing
*Guided bike tour of new and existing public artworks and meet the artist (meet at 1:00 p.m. downtown at Drinkle Mall, 22^nd Street East and 3^rd Avenue South).

Many more events will be happening in Saskatoon throughout the weekend, focusing on our city’s vibrant cultural scene, some of which are listed below.  For a complete list of activities, visit the official Culture Days website at http://www.culturedays.ca/en/celebration-schedule.

Culture Days is a national initiative intended to raise awareness of arts and culture in communities across Canada.

In July 2016, the Government of Canada announced the designation of 13 new nationally significant persons, places, and events that helped define Canada’s history.  Saskatoon’s Montgomery Place and Marr Residence are among those designated.

The Marr Residence received its national historic designation under the category of Developing Economies.  Constructed in 1884, the Marr Residence is the second oldest building in Saskatoon.  It is also part of the history of the Temperance Colonization Society, which established the first major European settlement in the area, facilitated by cooperation with the resident First Nations population.  The Marr Residence is the only survivor of three houses that were part of a field hospital established during the North-West Rebellion of 1885.

Montgomery Place received its national historic designation under the category of Military History.  Saskatoon’s Montgomery Place neighbourhood was developed following World War II as part the Veterans’ Land Act (Act) of 1942, which provided most veterans, ex-servicemen and women, and those with disabilities with a wide range of benefits later extended to veterans of the Korean War.  The Act’s main goal was to provide veterans with the means to become financially independent after their return to civilian life, and it included assistance to build their own homes.

Montgomery Place was built in 1946, on 230 acres of rural land previously in the Rural Municipality of Cory.  The neighbourhood featured small homes on generous, half-acre (minimum) lots, where veterans were expected to plant gardens to supplement their incomes.

2016 marks the neighbourhood’s 70^th anniversary.  To celebrate, the Montgomery Place Community Association is hosting a “Back to the 1940s!” event on Saturday, September 17, 2016.  For event details, visit montgomeryplace.ca.

Other National Historic Sites in the Saskatoon area include the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, the Next-of-Kin Memorial Avenue, and Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

For more information on heritage properties and programs, visit saskatoon.ca/heritage.

Today, the City and Wanuskewin Heritage Park (Wanuskewin) entered into an agreement to lease a tract of public land for $1 per year for 99 years.  The agreement is in support of Wanuskewin’s renewal campaign.

Part of Wanuskewin’s vision for renewal is to become the first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in Saskatchewan.

“Wanuskewin links our past to the present,” says Mayor Donald Atchison.  “Today, we are planning for the future of the Saskatoon region, which includes aligning the City’s cultural strategy with innovative approaches like the Wanuskewin UNESCO project.  We must protect this unique part of history and promote our cultural heritage.”

In support of this vision, the City developed a long-term lease agreement for approximately 152 hectares (375 acres) of adjacent City-owned lands for $1 per year for 99 years.

“The City of Saskatoon recognizes the significance of Wanuskewin’s revitalization vision and the benefits the development will bring to the city, the region, and our entire province,” says City Manager, Murray Totland.

Wanuskewin’s renewal project is multi-faceted and involves:

• preserving the ecology and biodiversity of the site;
• expanding the land base to meet UNESCO’s buffer criteria; and
• returning a small herd of Plains bison to its native prairie habitat.

“If ever a legacy exists, the story of the Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains is one that must be told in a manner respectful of the millions that were here before us – in culture, spiritual integrity, and the environment,” says Wanuskewin CEO, Dana Soonias.  “Wanuskewin is excited to embark on this journey and we are grateful to the City of Saskatoon, which has committed to helping us achieve our remarkable vision.”

Wanuskewin’s plans include renovating and expanding the facility to attract international exhibitions, conferences, and special events; expanding the art gallery and showcasing Plains Indigenous art in Canada; dedicating additional green space and grassland reclamation; and increasing Saskatoon’s reputation as a global tourism destination.

“From the beginning, the City of Saskatoon has been a key partner,” says Wanuskewin Board Chair, Candace Wasacase-Lafferty.  “With the renewal of a 99-year lease, the City has once again demonstrated visionary leadership to preserve and protect this extraordinary historic Indigenous gathering place for future generations of Canadians.”

On June 17, 2016, Wanuskewin publicly revealed a team of exceptional community leaders who have committed to help Wanuskewin realize its ambitious plan, led by both Wayne Brownlee, Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer of PotashCorp, and Felix Thomas, Chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, aims to build intercultural understanding through the protection of heritage and support for cultural diversity.  There is a stringent application process, which is managed in Canada by Parks Canada.  Inscribing a site on the World Heritage List is not the end of the story; site managers and local authorities continuously work toward managing, monitoring, and preserving World Heritage properties.

City Administration will be presenting the final Active Transportation Plan (ATP) report to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on Monday, June 13, 2016, requesting that the report be forwarded to City Council for approval, in principle, of the long-term benefits and key directions outlined in the plan.

“The ATP was developed with broad input from residents and stakeholders and establishes a long-term vision for active transportation in Saskatoon that complements the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan),” says Alan Wallace, Director of Planning and Development.  “Guided by community input, a vision, and goals, targets for active transportation have been developed, along with key directions and action items to improve active transportation facilities, policies and standards, support programs, and education and awareness initiatives over the next 30 to 40 years.”

Some of the key directions and action items included in the ATP are to:

1. address gaps in sidewalks, shared pathways and cycling facilities in core neighborhoods, existing employment areas, and other established neighbourhoods;
2. improve connectivity of sidewalks, shared pathways and cycling facilities in new neighborhoods, and employment areas;
3. address year-round accessibility and maintenance of sidewalks, pathways, intersections, and cycling facilities;
4. address road safety and personal security issues;
5. address barriers, such as crossings of major roads, river crossings, underpasses and overpasses, railways, and natural features, to provide adequate access for all active transportation users;
6. ensure adequate levels of bike parking in the downtown, at civic facilities, and other major destinations throughout Saskatoon;
7. ensure active transportation facilities are provided along key transit, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and growth corridors, as identified in the Growth Plan; and
8. enhance education and awareness to support and promote active transportation, including promotion of sharing the road between all road users, and responsible travel behaviours and attitudes to provide more accessible, convenient, and safe transportation choices for all.

The ATP target is to double walking and cycling trips to 24% of all daily trips and 15% of all commute trips by 2045.

“Without the ATP, increased traffic congestion, longer commutes, and higher infrastructure costs are expected to impact economic growth and prosperity, quality of life, and environmental leadership as Saskatoon’s population grows to half a million people,” said Wallace.

If the ATP is approved, in principle, a five-year implementation plan will be created and brought to City Council for approval in early 2017.

Comments and requests to speak at the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation meeting may be submitted, in advance, via the City’s website at www.saskatoon.ca/writetocouncil.

For more information on the ATP, please visit the project website at www.growingfwd.ca.

Following extensive consultations and a Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study commissioned by the City, the YMCA of Saskatoon (YMCA) and the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), a community need for a city centre recreation facility was identified.  However, to benefit everyone in the community now and in the future, the partners have determined that the soundest financial investment is to pursue two opportunities moving forward.

“This approach will provide the greatest value for all citizens who will have an opportunity to participate in not one, but potentially two, new or upgraded facilities with more program opportunities in the growing city centre area,” says Director of Recreation and Community Development, Lynne Lacroix.  “In addition to being able to reach new community members and deliver increased programs and services for Saskatoon’s city centre area neighbourhoods, the facilities will bridge together the key growth areas of downtown and 20^th Street to fulfill the needs of current and future area residents and workers.”

One facility opportunity would be a collaboration between the City, STC, and a new potential partner, Saskatoon Public Schools.  Ideally, it could be located in proximity to White Buffalo Youth Lodge (WBYL) and Princess Alexandra School.  The facility would provide access to education, social, recreation, and community programs for those living in the city centre.

“The long-term goal is to improve the health of Saskatoon families and individuals regardless of income and ethnicity.  Working together on a city centre facility supports STC’s strategy to work with the community and governments to improve the quality of life of First Nations residents living in Saskatoon,” says Tribal Chief Felix Thomas.

“As we look to the future, we have begun exploratory talks with the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Tribal Council with regards to a new facility that may help us provide greater support to families in the community.  If there is an opportunity to increase services to our students during their educational journey that will help them to be successful, we are open to looking at those possibilities,” says Ray Morrison, Board Chair for Saskatoon Public Schools.

The second opportunity involves the YMCA and the City exploring a full range of partnership models to meet various community needs in growing areas of Saskatoon.  To do this, there is a commitment to continue to develop a long-term strategy that outlines the greatest benefit to the community.  This approach includes creating a long-term strategy based on the needs assessment, the City Recreation Master Plan, as well as the YMCA’s strategic plan.

“Through the research process and partnership conversations, the YMCA has developed a fuller understanding of the needs of the community and has also increased its understanding for the valuable work that each organization does.  We believe that at this point, the YMCA can make a significant impact in Saskatoon by focusing on specific gaps that were identified in the needs assessment.  We will do this by ensuring our services and programs continue to adapt to meet children, family, and adult needs, and we feel this is best provided by staying in our current downtown location at this time.  To reach our Vision, we will reinvest in the downtown YMCA location, which will help meet community needs by focusing on healthy living, helping families, and fostering belonging and connection,” says Dean Dodge, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA.

All the partners want to make sure their visions continue to align as they work on reducing barriers to achieve healthy lifestyles for everyone.  To meet those goals, the best choice is to reduce overlap in services and facilities, and to invest in facilities that meet the needs of Saskatoon residents.

Based on these new developments and decisions by various partners, there are now two parallel tracks moving toward creating recreation facilities in the city’s central area.  The next steps for the City, STC, and Public School Board will be to continue to solidify the financial and human resources for a project near WBYL to proceed.  The City and the YMCA will keep working on a joint long-term plan, with the YMCA continuing to provide services in downtown Saskatoon.