News Releases

The Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation has been rescheduled for September 30, following the cancellation on June 21 due to extreme weather. The event will take place on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. The walk will begin at Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) and end at the “Where our Paths Cross” Reconciliation Circle art installation in Victoria Park (across the road from 422 Spadina Cres W).

“The significance of a walk can be attributed to the Sunday walks in residential schools; this was often the only time when siblings and cousins of different genders might be reunited,” says Judy Pelly, a Residential School Survivor and member of the Rock Your Roots Walk organizing committee. “It’s meaningful to see Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples come together in this way.”

Rock Your Roots is put on by Reconciliation Saskatoon, which the City of Saskatoon co-chairs along with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. The event, which has seen attendance in the thousands in past years, was first held in 2016. The intent of this event is to answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action by demonstrating a commitment to Reconciliation, honouring Residential School Survivors, and continuing work towards an inclusive community.

“This walk is an opportunity to learn about and honour First Nation and Métis residential school survivors,” says Shirley Isbister, President of Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI). “It’s an inclusive event that welcomes everyone to come out and participate. We look forward to being together.”

Individuals of all ages are invited to attend—alone or as part of a group. Workplaces and other organizations are encouraged to send a team and invited to come outfitted with banners showcasing their organization’s support for Reconciliation. Many schools will be closed for the day in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which presents an opportunity for parents to bring their children and partake in this powerful Reconciliation event together. Cultural performers will 'rock their roots' to start and end the walk, sharing their culture and showcasing Saskatoon's incredible diversity.

“Rock Your Roots is an opportunity to bring our community together to understand and be educated on residential schools and how they have negatively impacted Indigenous peoples,” says Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand. “This walk is a symbol of Reconciliation and a commitment to change for the better, so that all people can have a good quality of life.”

“Rock Your Roots represents an acknowledgment of the multi-generational impacts of residential schools and a commitment to Reconciliation,” says Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark. “It’s a public demonstration of support for residential school attendees and those lost. It’s a promise to work towards a future that affords every member of our community equal opportunity.”

This event is open to all and there is no charge for participating. Walk participants are invited to wear their cultural dress or symbols, an EveryChildMatters shirt, or any other orange shirt. For the latest event information, follow the Rock Your Roots Facebook Event.

Members of City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Finance will review options for setting the indicative rate for the 2022 and 2023 budget at a special meeting on August 31 at 1 p.m.

At the June 21, 2021, Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) meeting, members asked for a deferral to set the indicative rates for 2022 and 2023 to a later date, in order to further explore options to address the property tax pressure residents and businesses face in this unprecedented year, and to recognize the funds required to maintain quality services and address strategic priorities of City Council.

Setting the indicative rate is not to finalize the property tax rates. It is the starting point in the budget building process and for 2022 and 2023, whereby the estimated rates presented are for a status quo budget. The estimated property tax rates presented at the June 21 GPC meeting of 5.96% in 2022 and 5.42% in 2023 are the rates required to keep all City services and service levels the same as what residents have been receiving. 

Input from residents and the business community is being welcomed as part of this review of the proposed indicative rates. Those wishing to participate or share their input on the 2022 and 2023 indicative rate may submit their intent in the following ways:

• Online through the Submit a Letter/Request to Speak to Council and Committees form
• By post or in person to: Office of the City Clerk, 222 - 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J5
• By fax to 306-975-2784

Interested residents and businesses are encouraged to contact the City Clerk's Office at 306-975-3240 to clarify the requirements for sharing input at this Special Meeting.

The indicative rate guides the Administration in preparing the multi-year budget to allocate resources to the services, programs and initiatives within Council’s priority areas outlined in its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which will be released in early fall. 

Visit saskatoon.ca/budget for more information on the City’s 2022/2023 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget process.

On Monday, August 23, the Administration will present two information reports to the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC). This is in response to the requests made by GPC at its June 21 meeting, that the Administration report back on the following:

• Implications for the funding and operations of waste programs, including the organics program, if funding for the organics program moved to a utility model.
• The option to outsource collections with an affordability threshold, including triple bottom line analysis, that reflects as many factors as possible to ensure that we achieve the best overall organics collection with price and service.

“We are thoroughly assessing all options as we implement this new service for residents, both financially and operationally, but also with our sustainability commitments in mind,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Operations. “We welcome the opportunity to conduct further review, where necessary, and provide City Council with the information required to ensure the success of this program. After an unprecedented and challenging year, it is important that we ensure the decisions made in 2019 reflect and compliment the environment we are in today.”

The City established a contract with Green Prairie Environmental Ltd. in August 2020 to manage organics processing, while a decision on collections has yet to be made. The city-wide curbside residential organics program is expected to launch in spring 2023.

Administrative Reports & Attachments:

• Curbside Organics Collection: Affordability Threshold and Triple Bottom Line Approach to Tendering Collections
• Solid Waste Program Funding Models: Implications and Considerations for Change

Progress updates and a decision history can be found at saskatoon.ca/curbsideorganics.

The City of Saskatoon (City) and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have developed a Climate Commitment and Call to Action with an aim to speed up the transition to a green community.

To formalize this pledge—which progresses the goals of a first-of-its-kind 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between a Canadian university and municipality—the Climate Commitment and Call to Action has been presented to the City’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services (EUCS) on Monday morning, Aug. 9, 2021.

“There are many co-benefits that can result from this strong partnership and project collaboration. The City, USask, Saskatoon residents and students can expect to benefit from lowered emissions and pollution and environmental protection which make the world around us healthier,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “Equity and reconciliation are top priorities throughout this commitment, thus we also expect to see improvements in our relationships and quality of life.”

While both the City and USask have their own climate action plans, this additional commitment will provide common ground between the institution and municipality in order to make way for easier collaboration.

“We are excited to be taking this important step to further develop our relationship with the City on this urgent and accelerating policy challenge,” says Julian Demkiw, Senior Strategist for USask.

If approved by City Council, the first steps will involve sharing information on climate baselines and expanding student engagement. Further work will explore collaboration opportunities around equitable climate action on topics such as energy efficiency and biodiversity conservation.

Visit research.usask.ca/research-junction for more information on collaborations between the City of Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan.