News Releases

After a year of COVID-imposed hiatus, the Reconciliation Saskatoon Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation is back for 2021. In adherence with ongoing public gathering restrictions, the event will look a bit different than in past years. Pre-COVID, this annual event attracted thousands of people to Saskatoon’s riverbank to walk together.

The Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation represents the commitment of our community to acknowledge the past in order to forge a stronger future. It’s a public demonstration of support for residential school attendees, and an opportunity for people to consider how they are fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action in their lives and work. The walk takes place in conjunction with National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), an important moment to consider what Indigenous peoples have contributed to the founding of Canada.

Melissa Cote, Director of Indigenous Initiatives at the City of Saskatoon, says: “This is an opportunity to either make or reconfirm a commitment to reconciliation. As you’re walking, consider what you’re doing to address racism and discrimination in our community. Think about residential school survivors and how you’ll honour them this year through your engagement in reconciliation. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.”

Eugene Arcand, a residential school survivor and member of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle, says: “I attended a residential school from 1958 to 1969. I remember the separation of our families as soon as we got there. It wasn’t until somewhere between Grades 3 and 6 where we got to take Sunday walks altogether in the springtime. This was the only time where we could mix with the girls, talk to our relatives and friends. I’ve talked to various students from different schools and they all had a similar experience of going for a walk on Sunday afternoons. That walk meant a lot to all of us no matter what residential school we went to. And now we have a walk called Rock Your Roots in honour of these survivors; we really sincerely thank everyone who takes part.”

Shirley Isbister, president of the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI), says: “The Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation is an opportunity to honour First Nation, Métis and Inuit residential school survivors. It is a day to celebrate cultural diversity and a day to remember that Truth must come before reconciliation. Please join us in rocking our roots!”

In order to keep everyone safe, residents are invited to plan to walk individually or in small groups. Participants may choose to wear their cultural regalia or the reconciliation colours of yellow, blue, and red during their walk. This dress demonstrates the diversity and inclusivity of our community. People can further showcase their support by sharing a photo to social media with the hashtag #RockYourRoots.

Reconciliation Saskatoon, which the City co-chairs, will also hold a Live Virtual Event on June 21st featuring stories, entertainment and messages from residential school survivors. The video will be available anytime on June 21st at beaconnectr.com/june21. You can also join the event page at facebook.com/ReconciliationSaskatoon or change your Facebook Profile Picture Frame to increase awareness – visit facebook.com/profilepicframes and search Rock Your Roots by Bang Up Productions. 

Today, the City of Saskatoon announced that work is now completed on the Digester and Heating Upgrades project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

The 3-year, $48.2 million project is funded by the Government of Canada ($9.5 million) and Government of Saskatchewan ($9.5 million) through their New Building Canada Fund, with a $29.2 million investment by the City of Saskatoon.

“Investments in modernizing wastewater infrastructure address communities’ needs and help protect the environment. By partnering with Saskatchewan to upgrade Saskatoon’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, our Government is supporting the local economy while ensuring residents benefit from improved water quality and healthier local ecosystems,” said the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.

“Reliable local water systems are important to position Saskatchewan communities for growth and attract new business,” Saskatoon Riversdale MLA Marv Friesen said on behalf of Don McMorris, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations. “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to invest $9.5 million toward this important wastewater infrastructure project in Saskatoon, which will benefit the local economy, residents and environment.”

“As our city continues to grow, it’s important to maintain our high standards and stewardship in protecting people and property downstream from Saskatoon,” said Mayor Charlie Clark. “The investments in a new digester and heating upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment Plant will help us meet demand by improving capacity, sustainability, as well as maintaining our high-quality standards into the future. The expansion includes an exciting sustainable energy recovery process that will recycle biogas to be used as fuel in boilers and solid matter as nutrients for local and nearby crops.”

The new digester is the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s fourth and will improve capacity to allow the plant to maintain Water Security Agency processing standards whenever another digester is taken out of service for maintenance. The digesters are large circular tanks that hold the solids removed during the wastewater treatment process. The solids are deprived of oxygen to allow bacteria to form and break the solids down, and methane biogas is produced during the process. The methane biogas helps heat the WWTP, which in turn, reduces reliance on the use of natural gas for heating. Boiler upgrades and the installation of a methane biogas treatment filter were also a part of the project.

To learn more about the Digester and Heating Upgrades project, visit saskatoon.ca/digester.

Summary of Facts

• Construction on the fourth digester and Heating and Gas Scrubbing Building began in 2019 and was completed in 2021, ahead of schedule and under budget.
• Digesters are the last stage in the wastewater treatment process. The solids removed during the treatment process are held in an oxygen deprived environment to allow bacteria to form and break the solids down.
• The digesters produce two types of renewable resources; biogas (energy) and biosolids (soil nutrient).
• This expansion includes a new sustainable energy recovery process that will condition biogas to be used as fuel in the boilers while the solid matter is used as nutrient for local crops.
• Construction of a fourth digester tank improves capacity and allows the City to maintain Water Security Agency processing standards when another digester is taken out of service for maintenance purposes.
• Upgrades to boilers were also made to accommodate the additional heat that will be required to run all four digesters.
• Now that construction is complete, residents can no longer see an open flame at the Wastewater Treatment Plant as the flare has been replaced with two enclosed flares.

After a two year pause due to COVID, the Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation is back in-person for the community to gather together and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) at 10:00 a.m.

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, attended by thousands in past years, was first held in 2016 with attendance growing each year. The intent 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 working towards an inclusive community.

“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 for organizers to see Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples come together in this way.”

Individuals of all ages are invited to attend, including groups representing organizations, workplaces, and schools. Cultural performers from across the city have been invited to ‘rock their roots’ along the walk route by sharing a piece of their culture and showcasing Saskatoon’s incredible diversity.

“This walk is an opportunity to learn about and honour Indigenous history as well as celebrate the cultural mosaic that is our community,” says Shirley Isbister, President of the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI). “It’s an inclusive event that welcomes everyone to participate; I’m really hoping that we’ll see a great turnout.”

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

Walk participants are invited to wear their cultural regalia, an EveryChildMatters shirt, or any other orange shirt. Rock Your Roots t-shirts – with all proceeds directed to programming and activities for Rock Your Roots – can be ordered by emailing RockYourRootstshirts@gmail.com.

“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.”

The Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation event takes place on National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) in Victoria Park between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. The start location is in Victoria Park near Legion Branch 63 on Spadina Crescent West. All are welcome. More information is available at saskatoon.ca/Indigenous.

At 8:50 a.m. today, Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received multiple 911 calls reporting a house on fire on Kirkpatrick Crescent. Dispatched to the scene were three engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and a Battalion Chief. On arrival, fire crews found a house with an attached garage with significant fire and smoke showing. Crews began an aggressive attack with multiple large lines to knock the fire down. There was significant fire damage to the house including the loss of the roof structure. Preliminary indication is the fire started on the exterior of the house and spread to the whole structure.

There were no injuries as a result of this fire.

The fire is under investigation and further information will be provided when available.