News Releases

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a winter storm warning for a storm starting tonight and continuing into Monday. This storm is expected to bring snow, and at times, heavy and blowing snow. City crews and equipment are fully prepared to respond to more winter weather. 

Road conditions and visibility can deteriorate with the combination of snowfall and strong winds. Drivers should adjust their driving for the road conditions, leave extra room in case you need to stop suddenly and watch for blue and yellow flashing lights on road equipment. 

We will continue to monitor high traffic streets and apply de-icing material as required, beginning with Circle Drive and freeways. Crews are ready to initiate plowing and snow grading if the snow accumulates. While the snow continues to fall, the priority for crews is to minimize accumulation along high speed and high traffic streets such as Circle Drive, 8th Street, College Drive and 22nd Street.     

Please watch for their blue and amber flashing lights and leave room for road equipment to do their work.   

Learn about winter road maintenance at saskatoon.ca/snow.  Stay in the snow with the Snow & Ice Report at saskatoon.ca/snowreport. 

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

CIRCLE DR E WB CURB LANE CLOSED AT WARMAN RD
(Directional boring)
Start: February 26, 9:00 a.m. End: February 27, 3:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE NB CURB LANE CLOSED AT GRAY AVE
(Directional boring)
Start: February 26, 10:00 a.m. End: February 27, 6:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

2ND AVE S SB LANES CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Transformer installation)
Start: February 24, 7:00 a.m. End: February 24, 10:00 a.m.

RUTH ST E EB LANES CLOSED AT ROYAL AVE
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Start: February 24, 8:00 a.m. End: February 24, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N SB LANES CLOSED FROM 38TH ST E TO 36TH ST E
(Tree pruning)
2-way traffic in NB lanes
Start: February 24, 9:00 a.m. End: February 24, 5:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR W NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM AIRPORT DR TO AVE C N
(Streetlight repairs)
Start: February 25, 7:00 a.m. End: February 25, 1:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

At the February 14^th meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC), the inspiration for a future, vibrant Downtown Event and Entertainment District (District) core was presented through information reports on the Conceptual Design Overview and the Interim District Plan. These reports both position the development of the District as integral to the revitalization of Saskatoon’s Downtown.

“The inspiration came from Saskatoon and its place in nature, in community and in the world,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services. “The intent is to showcase Saskatoon’s past, present and future identity through design, while also improving streets and existing public spaces. The District will honour, highlight and prioritize Indigenous and Saskatoon storytelling, and will be designed to create an ‘outdoor living room’, where people from all over the city and visitors can gather.”

The conceptual designs were created around four pillars, which capture different aspects of Saskatoon’s defining features:

• Urban with a Prairie Heart
• Where the Earth Meets the Sky
• Warmly Embrace the Winter
• Of the Earth

A number of important public spaces are included in the conceptual design, including an outdoor concert terrace and pavilion, a ‘gateway’ plaza at the entrance of the event centre/arena that can also be used for public programing, and a linear courtyard on the east side which will create an intimate, semi-enclosed space for people to walk through, wait for arriving friends, and enjoy food and drink on outdoor patios.

“The District’s public spaces will be designed to meet a variety of needs and demands,” says Willems. “By integrating a mix of supportive uses and a welcoming public realm into the District, both residents and visitors will find many reasons to linger and enjoy all that Downtown has to offer, encouraging earlier arrivals and later stays, diffusing trips across Downtown over many hours, and making trips by all modes of transportation easy and convenient.”

The renderings developed through the conceptual design process illustrate the potential activation of the Downtown area through the process of developing the District. These renderings can be viewed at saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict. The more technical District Plan will further develop a plan for the Downtown overall and looks at how the land can best be used to achieve a vibrant mix of residential, business, social and outdoor activity, while making Downtown more accessible for everyone to get to and around in. Both the Conceptual Design Overview and the District Plan draw on the feedback collected through the Phase 1 Engagement held in spring 2023 to better reflect what community members would like to see while integrating technical considerations.

Moving forward from GPC to the February 28^th Regular Meeting of City Council are a decision report on the Convention Centre options and an approval report on the acquisition of the Downtown YMCA property.

The City of Saskatoon and Government of Saskatchewan continue to work collaboratively on the final details to prepare for the 30-space emergency shelter to be located at former Fire Station #5 (421 Central Avenue).

All partners know that the way the shelter will operate is one of the most important questions on the minds of residents and business owners and recognize the need to get the right plan in place before the shelter becomes operational.

Much progress has been made on developing an integrated plan – but it requires more time to ensure the best outcomes for the entire community and to meet the expectations of Sutherland residents, businesses and workplaces.

The service provider selected by the Government of Saskatchewan – the Mustard Seed -- has shared its operational plans with all partners to run an enhanced shelter model. The Mustard Seed is an established service provider who will be working in Saskatoon for the first time.

An enhanced emergency shelter provides clients with access to the shelter 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Clients are also provided three meals per day, case planning and access to wrap-around supports to address wellness and cultural needs, with assistance in connecting to services such as financial supports and help to transition to appropriate housing along the housing continuum. The enhanced shelter will also be smaller in scale to other shelters in Saskatoon.

The location of the second temporary 30-space shelter in Saskatoon is still being determined.

The Neighbourhood Information Sessions scheduled for February 13 (virtual) and February 15 (at Sutherland Hall) related to the shelter discussion will be postponed, as well as the reports that were being planned for presentation at the February 28 meetings of City Council.

Neighbourhood Information Sessions will be rescheduled within the month and the public will be notified on saskatoon.ca/shelterspaces and on the City’s social media channels with revised dates when they are available.

The City thanks Sutherland residents and businesses for their patience in allowing all the various organizations necessary time to complete the integrated operating and safety plan work.