News Releases

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is growing by five as a dazzle of zebras in need of a home arrived at the Zoo earlier this week.

“The Zoo was contacted by provincial officials regarding a herd of zebra that needed different accommodations,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “As the only CAZA (Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums) facility in Saskatchewan, we knew we had the space, skills and expertise to create a safe environment for these animals.”

The zebras have moved into one of the three caribou habitats at the Zoo. The space includes a heated and insulated barn and features a large outdoor yard with access to a pond for the herd to graze and explore.

“We will keep a close eye on the herd as it adapts to its new home,” says Mitchell. “Our primary concern is the comfort, health, safety and wellbeing of these amazing animals. We expect the zebras will keep close to the barn for the next several weeks and will eventually explore the greater areas of their new habitat.”

Known for their distinctive black-and-white striped coats, zebras can be found in a variety of habitats including savannas, grasslands, woodlands, shrublands and mountainous areas of eastern and southern Africa.

The City of Saskatoon, the Canadian Armed Forces and members of numerous veterans’ organizations will commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the original dedication of the Next-of-Kin Memorial Avenue in Woodlawn Cemetery on Sunday, June 18 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Next-of-Kin Memorial Avenue was opened on June 17, 1923, before a crowd of 8,000 people. This beautiful avenue serves as a living memorial to those who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918. It runs from 33^rd Street, through the Woodlawn Cemetery gates and on to the Soldiers Cairn.

Immediately following this 100^th anniversary commemoration will be the Saskatoon’s Annual Citizens’ Decoration Day Service, with ceremonies to follow, at the Soldiers’ Memorial Cairn. Decoration Day provides an opportunity to pay tribute to those brave individuals who lost their lives in the service of our country.

This outdoor event is open to the public and attendees will be able to view all the activities from designated standing areas.

For more information, please visit saskatoon.ca/woodlawn

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is now one step closer to building a new home for grizzly bears Mistaya and Koda thanks to a one-million-dollar donation from local residents Jerry and Tina Grandey. The announcement was made on Friday, June 9^th at the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation’s 24^th annual ZOOGALA, marking the single largest private donation in the Zoo’s history.

“Tina and Jerry have been amazing supporters of the Zoo for many years,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Chief Executive Officer, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation. “Tina served on the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation board for many years playing a key role in building the bears current habitat at the Kinsmen Bear Exhibit. Tina was also instrumental in the creation of ZOOGALA, our one-of-a-kind annual fundraiser that has enabled the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation to contribute to several capital projects and improvements to the Zoo and will celebrate its 25^th anniversary of the event next year.”

“We are so thankful for this generous contribution” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “This donation provides us with an opportunity to further enhance the habitat features and amenities to not only provide the best care and quality of life for our grizzly bears, but also an opportunity for an enhanced visitor experience for those who come to learn more about these majestic animals.”

Grizzly bears Mistaya and Koda have called the Kinsmen Bear Exhibit home since arriving at the Zoo as orphaned cubs back in 2008. The pair enjoy taking dips in their swimming pool, soaking up the sun on their favourite rocks and of course, taking a long winter nap in their dens.

The new bear habitat will be significantly larger than the current habitat and will feature climbing structures, foraging opportunities, resting and sleeping locations, safe retreats, natural vegetation and soils, water features and a number of environmental enhancements that will allow the bears to continue to demonstrate their natural behaviours.

The Zoo is currently working to develop detailed design specifications along with construction estimates for the new habitat.

Donate today to help build the bears a new home, visit saskatoonzoofoundation.ca for more information.

Ceremonialists representing the main Indigenous linguistic/cultural groups on Treaty 6 Territory this morning held a pipe ceremony near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 23rd Street.

The ceremony was to acknowledge the importance of working together in a good way as the planning and feasibility work for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District project continues. Holding the ceremony is a way to honour the Indigenous histories and cultures that are an integral part of the Saskatoon community.

“The goal of the District is to create a welcoming and vibrant gathering place for all people,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “The foundational relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is an essential starting place to help guide this planning and achieve that goal. This is not a groundbreaking ceremony, but a ceremony to help us work together in a good way and build a city that acts on Truth and Reconciliation.”

Indigenous people hold ceremonies to honour the land and what will be done on the land. This was the first of several ceremonies to mark different elements of this project.

Representatives of the main partners for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District project attended the pipe ceremony:

• City Council
• Administrative Steering Committee
• DEED Advisory Group
• TCU Place
• SaskTel Centre
• Midtown Plaza

More information about the ceremonies can be found in the attached background document.

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is set to open the new Small Mammal House following interior and exterior renovations to the former Children’s Zoo building. The newly renovated facility will be home to some familiar faces including a mob of meerkats, African crested porcupines and the Goeldi’s monkeys.

“We are so excited to share this new space with our guests,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “The renovations allowed us to create a new habitat for our meerkats and African crested porcupines, as well as some fantastic exhibits for new species including naked mole rats and sugar gliders.”

Renovations to the exterior of the building started last September and included a complete overhaul of the building envelope. Inside, three new exhibits have been added to the second floor, along with a larger habitat for the meerkats and African crested porcupines on the main floor and better spaces for the zookeepers to continue critical conservation work with animals involved in Species Survival Plan programs like the Goeldi’s monkeys.

The total project cost is approximately $850,000 with a significant contribution from the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation ($250,000) and the remainder from the Civic Buildings Comprehensive Maintenance, a reserve set aside for the ongoing maintenance and upgrades of City facilities.

“We would like to thank the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation for its continued partnership and support in raising funds for capital improvements for the Zoo including $250,000 dedicated to the Small Mammal House,” says Mitchell.

The Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit or learn more about the Zoo Season Pass.