News Releases

On June 11, Administration will bring a series of recommendations around curbside waste management to the Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services Committee of Council. Administration is recommending that a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) waste utility and city-wide organics program be launched together before the end of 2019.

“A successful waste diversion program, which includes more comprehensive organics and recycling programs, is critical to deferring the closure of the landfill,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “It would cost an estimated 26 million dollars to close the existing landfill and 100 million dollars to establish a new one. We are excited and optimistic that so many of our engagement participants share our vision and are committed to diverting waste from our landfill.”

Additional details of the recommendation can be found in the June 11, 2018 report to Committee (Recommended Changes to Waste Management in Saskatoon) and include:

• that organics be collected in a single green cart for co-mingled food and yard waste;
• that waste utility fees be based on cart sizes (lower prices for smaller carts);
• and that no changes be made to the existing recycling program.

To help inform the recommendations, the City held a series of engagement activities between February 12 and March 6 as part of the Saskatoon Talks Trash campaign.  The primary purpose of community engagement was to ensure that changes to waste management in Saskatoon are feasible, desirable, and community-informed in their design and implementation. Residents and stakeholders were informed about city-wide organics and a variable-rate waste utility and were asked to provide feedback based on their preferences, value, and priorities. They were also invited to share ideas about recycling, depots, and other programs that could contribute to the City's goal of 70% waste diversion by 2023. 

"We're happy to report that over 5,000 residents participated in community engagement," Wallace says. "We heard you, Saskatoon! The input and ideas we received from our residents and stakeholders is invaluable, and was instrumental in helping to shape the recommendations being brought forward."

For more information regarding curbside engagement results and the recommendations being brought forward, visit: saskatoon.ca/engage/saskatoon-talks-trash-curbside

For more information on the City’s Waste Diversion Plan, visit: saskatoon.ca/wastediversion.

Community engagement with multi-unit (apartments and condos) residents and property managers is currently underway. The purpose of this engagement is to get valuable feedback and insights on organics, waste diversion, and existing services. Engagement with institutional, commercial, and industrial stakeholders will begin in fall 2018.

The federal government announced today that Saskatoon is a finalist for the federal government’s Smart Cities Challenge. 

The Smart Cities Challenge is a national competition that invites communities to implement bold ideas to address enduring challenges through innovation, data and connected technology. Saskatoon’s application has brought together a wide range of Indigenous, community, and institutional partners to focus on breaking the cycle of Indigenous youth incarceration. The application proposes to create a new cycle based on integrated and coordinated data and programs that build purpose, belonging, security and identity. 

“Through our engagement, our partners and residents have told us that Saskatchewan’s incarceration rates, and in particular Indigenous youth incarceration rates, are at a shameful level,” said Mayor Charlie Clark. “This has a price for all of us in our community and our country. We have an incredible group of partners, and most importantly, we will work directly with Indigenous youth so that this work remains grounded in lived experiences.”

By being selected as a finalist in this competition, the City of Saskatoon has been awarded a prize of $250,000 to more fully develop its proposal. The City will continue work with community partners to develop an innovative technology platform and coordinated programmatic system that will support youth to make choices that reduce the chances of incarceration. 

“We are beyond thrilled to have been selected to move on to the next phase in the Challenge,” says Lynne Lacroix, Director of Recreation and Community Development. “Saskatoon residents, institutions and businesses worked together to successfully and innovatively rise to the challenge, and we have now been given a genuine opportunity to put forward our final proposal that could lead to transformational change to the wellbeing of residents and overall quality of life in our city.”

The community and institutional partners include:

Central Urban Métis Federation Inc.

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools

Saskatchewan Health Authority

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology

Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Saskatoon Police Service

Saskatoon Public Schools

Saskatoon Tribal Council

United Way of Saskatoon and area

University of Saskatchewan

There will be additional partners included in this next phase.

The final proposals are due in the coming winter with the winners being announced in early 2019. The competition that Saskatoon has entered is for communities with a population of under 500,000 residents, and there are two prizes of $10 million available to be won in this category. 

Saskatoon Transit is piloting a new bus route that will improve access to many medical and health facilities throughout the city. Route 808 pilot will run on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. starting June 1, 2018.

“Saskatoon Transit, along with the Saskatoon Council on Aging and the Saskatoon Health Authority, recognized a gap in our current network,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “Access to some medical and health facilities on our existing routes sometimes requires our riders to walk long distances. We are running Route 808 as an attempt to make those buildings more accessible.”   

Route 808 will service the following facilities every 45 minutes:

• City Hall
• Saskatoon Housing Authority
• RUH / Cancer Centre
• Field House (front door)
• Luther Tower
• Ronald McDonald House
• City Hospital
• Medical Arts Building

Route 808 will provide Access Transit customers with an alternative transportation option to attend medical appointments.

If the pilot route is determined successful based on customer feedback, it may become permanent. Customers will be able to use the Transit mobile app to plan their trip and view the route map and times at SaskatoonTransit.ca/route-and-schedules. 

Saskatoon Strides - 2017 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability highlights the progress the City continues to make to drive service improvements, savings for taxpayers, and sustainability initiatives throughout many accomplishments in 2017.

“This report highlights the many ways we’ve worked together to build an ongoing culture of innovation and creativity,” says Kim Matheson, Director of Employee Experience and Performance.  “We empower our staff to take on new challenges, try new strategies and come up with new ways to meet the changing needs of our community, and that results in making strides in the right direction.”   

2017 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability highlights:

• Identified savings, additional funding, and revenues total over $30 million in 2017, which included over $4.5 million in operational efficiencies and additional revenue
• Saskatoon Land  delivered over $25 million in total financial returns for 2017
• $1.45 million identified through internal process and civic service reviews
• The City applied for Federal and Provincial Infrastructure Grants and received funding approval for $431,000
• A number of continuous improvement initiatives in Information Technology resulted in over $800,000 savings identified in 2017
• In 2017, to continue to grow the city in a sustainable way, civic Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions were reduced by approximately 48,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) a year, the equivalent of taking over 10,300 cars off our roads
• Civic programs diverted approximately 27,900 tonnes of waste from the Saskatoon Landfill, contributing to reduced GHG emissions reductions and extending the life of the landfill

“We are very proud of our positive, productive, and innovative organizational culture, it empowers our employees, our teams, to build a better city,” adds Matheson.

Along with highlights of the many initiatives in 2017 that made a positive impact and realized improvements in City services, savings, and sustainability, are numerous awards and recognition, and a wide variety of kudos received by the City from residents.

Find the full report and details on the financial savings and project initiatives on the City's website. The Strides report was presented to City Council on May 28, 2018.

Residents living in multi-unit buildings are invited to participate in a series of engagement activities as part of the ongoing Saskatoon Talks Trash campaign. 6% of waste generated in Saskatoon comes from multi-unit residential buildings, representing an important component of reaching the City’s target of 70% waste diversion by 2023.

“Decisions about how we manage waste will impact all current and future residents, so it is important we get this right.” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “Approximately 34% of housing in Saskatoon is multi-unit residential. We hope to hear from a large cross-section of multi-unit residents including people of all ages, people living in different areas, people of various incomes, and people with differing abilities. Everybody is encouraged to get involved.”

Wallace says 61% of waste generated by multi-unit residents (8,600 tonnes annually) could be diverted with the right programs, policies and resident participation rates.

“To extend the life of our landfill it is critical to add multi-unit organics collection, review current waste services, look for innovative diversion ideas from our residents, and develop a sustainable funding model for waste,” Wallace says.

She adds the costs to close the existing landfill and establish a new landfill are estimated at $26 million and $100 million respectively. Engagement sessions will involve residents and property managers of condominiums and apartment buildings to gain insights on waste diversion opportunities and service.

The engagement project will gather input and ideas about: designing an organics collection program and determining whether service will be provided by the City or mandated through a bylaw; how existing waste and recycling services are used by multi-unit residents and opportunities for improvement; and additional programs and services to increase waste diversion and resident participation.

Public engagement begins June 3. For more information, including dates and locations of events, visit saskatoon.ca/yxetalkstrash.

Conversations with institutional, commercial, and industrial stakeholders will begin in fall 2018.

The City of Saskatoon, Office of the Treaty Commissioner, Saskatoon Tribal Council, Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. along with 84 business and community organization members of Reconciliation Saskatoon gathered in Civic Square outside City Hall today to raise the Reconciliation flag in honour of Indian residential school and Sixties Scoop survivors.

“Looking back at what happened to us in residential schools - the loss of culture and language, the physical, sexual and mental abuse, the blatant racism we experienced – this ceremony is incredibly important to me and for all the survivors,” says Frank Badger, Elder and Indian residential school survivor.

“By going back to our roots and celebrating our culture, language and traditions, we are making our way back to who we once were as proud First Nation, Inuit and Métis people. We are teaching our ways to the generation today and those yet to be born, and we will show our children that no one will ever experience this dark time again.”

The Reconciliation Saskatoon movement has grown to 88 member organizations since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Report with the aim to further a community conversation about the process of Canadian reconciliation and to educate residents to engage in calls to action.

“In Saskatoon, there is a tremendous effort underway throughout the community to work towards reconciliation and to create a stronger Treaty relationship now and into our shared future,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

“By honouring survivors and keeping the next generations top of mind, over 80 non-profits, businesses, institutions, and faith communities have been making a positive change in our community through the work of Reconciliation Saskatoon. It is remarkable to see such a strong community-wide support for this important work as we raise the Reconciliation Saskatoon flag this morning and recommit ourselves to a stronger community.”

Upcoming reconciliation events in Saskatoon include the official unveiling ceremony for “The Coming Spring” Reconciliation Art Project in Victoria Park on June 20 and the third annual “Rock Your Roots” Walk for Reconciliation along with National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations on June 21.  

“Reconciliation is a shared journey which begins with each and every one of us,” says Shirley Isbister, President, Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. ”It’s important for us to provide opportunities like the Flag Raising Ceremony and the Rock Your Roots walk to help people explore the meaning of reconciliation and respond to the Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action.”

In 2015, Saskatoon committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action, with a proclamation by City Council on June 22, declaring 2015-16 the Year of Reconciliation. In addition, the City committed to working with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and other community groups, leaders and institutions in Saskatchewan, to promote reconciliation in our province.

For more information on events, or to have your reconciliation event added to the calendar, please visit www.OTC.ca.

The City of Saskatoon is participating in the Commuter Challenge (June 3-9, 2018), a national initiative coordinated by municipal volunteer representatives from across the country. The intent of the initiative is to encourage people to try one or multiple modes of active and sustainable transportation like transit, cycling, or carpooling.

The City of Saskatoon is putting its own spin on the initiative by inviting City employees to participate in a game of Commuter Challenge Bingo.

“Saskatoon Transit is a great fit for an initiative like this because we tick all the boxes,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “Bus travel is sustainable and it’s also active—the bus is typically one piece of a trip that also includes walking and/or cycling.”

“We just saw a very successful turnout for Bike to Work Day YXE, and this is our chance to build on that success,” says Jay Magus, Acting Director of Transportation. “Some feedback we received following Bike to Work Day is that it’s surprisingly easy and pleasant to bike to work. We’re hoping this day will be an opportunity for more City employees to see that cycling, carpooling and taking the bus are actually convenient, affordable and enjoyable options.”

As the City of Saskatoon continues to move towards expanding transportation options around the city – with initiatives like Bus Rapid Transit and new cycling infrastructure – participation in initiatives like the Commuter Challenge will become even more commonplace.

While this particular challenge is directed at City of Saskatoon employees, other Saskatoon organizations and individuals are encouraged to consider leading or participating in their own game of Commuter Challenge Bingo.

More information at saskatoon.ca/CommuterChallenge.

As the world prepares to watch a new generation of the Royal Family celebrate marriage vows of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this Saturday, May 19, we have an opportunity to look back in time to share a Saskatoon story with a connection to royalty.

“We recently digitized a – colour – film of the 1939 royal visit to Saskatoon,” says City Archivist Jeff O’Brien.  “We have this one-of-a-kind treasure in the archives; with the help of social media, so many people can now experience this part of our community’s history from nearly 80 years ago.”

The film was originally produced by John Sproule Mills.  J.S. Mills was a former principal of King Edward School, instructor at Saskatoon Normal School (teacher’s college), city councillor and mayor.  The film capturing the visit of Her Majesty’s parents, King George V and Queen Elizabeth, was acquired by the City of Saskatoon Archives in 2017.

O’Brien narrates the digitized version of Mills’ film and helps transport us back to the first ever visit to Canada by a reigning King and Queen. See the digitized film on our YouTube channel. 

City staff, contractors and Costco management worked throughout the weekend and established a temporary water supply for the store as of 11 p.m. Sunday, May 13.

“We continue to work closely with Costco to help keep things business-as-usual at the store,” says Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation & Utilities.

Friday, May 11 the Water Security Agency (WSA) issued a Do Not Use notice after City staff suspected hydrocarbons in three hydrants on the water line that supplies Costco.

With the temporary line in place and following the usual WSA protocol, Costco will remain on a Drinking Water Advisory for the next 36-48 hours until water tests on the temporary line come back clean.

“This is a strict precaution, there is also no reason to believe there is any health risk or that any of the adjacent residential homes in Rosewood are impacted.”

In January, the WSA issued a similar notice after hydrocarbons were visually detected in some fire hydrants within one section of the Aspen Ridge neighbourhood. Even though there were no signs of hydrocarbons beyond the hydrant structures and the residential water supply continued to test clean and clear, about 10 homes have been on temporary water lines since late winter.

“Just like everyone else affected, we want some definitive answers about what’s going on,” Gardiner says. “There could be something about the materials and how they were made, or about how they were installed or there may be some other way any hydrocarbons got there.”

Gardiner says part of the investigation involves an external consultant to develop the permanent remediation plan. The current focus she says is to confirm the exact type of hydrocarbon.

“This is done by sending tests to a lab in Ontario, which takes about three-to-four weeks for results. Once the type of hydrocarbon is confirmed, we will know what direction to take.”   

The City of Saskatoon is proud to sponsor Bike to Work Day YXE, an initiative of Saskatoon Cycles, on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. The aim of this event is to encourage people to give biking to work a try and to celebrate those individuals that regularly make cycling a part of their commute.

“We’re pleased to play a role in the delivery of an initiative that encourages and supports people in trying out an active and sustainable mode of transportation,” says Jay Magus, the City’s Acting Director of Transportation. “As we continue to move towards expanding transportation options around our city – with initiatives like new cycling infrastructure and Bus Rapid Transit – we’re going to see more and more people choosing alternatives to driving.”

“We often hear from people that they’d like to try biking to work but that they feel intimidated to do it that very first time,” says Cathy Watts, co-chair of Saskatoon Cycles. “Bike to Work Day is the perfect day to give it a try because you’ll be out there alongside others doing the same thing—it will also be an extra supportive environment.”

Between 7 and 9 a.m. on May 16^th, participating local businesses and organizations will have bike stations set up around the city. Anyone on a bicycle is invited to make a stop for coffee, giveaways, or a chance to win prizes.

“These stations will attract your attention; with coffee and treats of all kinds as well as tons of encouragement to keep going,” says Watts. “It could be described as a party on the way to work. It would be best to start your commute early on Wednesday to make the most of a very fun day.”

Learn more about Bike to Work Day YXE, including details on the Workplace Challenge and a complete map of bike stations, at biketoworksaskatoon.com.