News Releases

More than 70% of the Priority 1 street snow piles have already been hauled away, including Idylwyld Drive, College Drive, 8th Street and 22nd Street. Due to the unusual delay in snow pile removal, contractors are being hired to help haul away more snow beginning next week.

“Snow stored in the medians of Priority 1 streets must be removed and hauled away first because they present the highest risk to public safety if there is no place for new snow to be stored,” says Director of Roadways, Fleet & Support Goran Saric. “With all the extra snow this year, we’re adding contractor assistance to the job so we can get to the next priority streets quickly.”

Snow removal on Priority 2 streets in all areas of the city will begin over the next couple of weeks. Watch for “No Parking” signs posted on snow piles with the scheduled date for removal, and encourage your neighbours to move their vehicles off the street to help the work go smoothly.

“I can empathize with residents who are frustrated with the size and height of these snow piles,” says Saric. “Our roadways staff are doing their best and giving their all this winter to get that snow out of the way to improve visibility and safety.”

Snow piles along the busiest streets in Saskatoon, called priority streets, remain after a snowfall so the network can be graded quickly. Removing them requires different equipment and is best done at night when traffic and pedestrian activity is lighter for the safety of workers and the public.

The snow piles are unusually large this year because of the above average number of snowfalls and frequency. Each time it snows, snow removal is halted as City staff attend to the priority streets to clean up.

You can find more answers to frequently asked questions about snow removal and priority street grading at saskatoon.ca/snow.

Many people in our community do not have the same opportunities to access online services. To address growing barriers and risks for those residents, the City of Saskatoon is launching a pilot project to provide free public Wi-Fi internet service to residents in a segment of Saskatoon’s core neighborhood area. The project status is outlined in a report for the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services on Monday, February 7.

“This is an exciting project that can have immediate quality of life impacts for residents in the area,” says Celene Anger, Chief Officer of Strategy and Transformation. “Through the COVID pandemic, the City, other orders of government and community organizations, have moved services online. While this has improved service offerings for many, it has created a service gap for many people in Saskatoon.”

Commonly referred to as the ‘digital divide,’ the pilot project aims to help people currently without or with limited Internet access gain better access to online services and participate in today’s growing digital society. In December 2016, the federal government declared Internet access a basic right of all Canadian citizens. Cities across Canada are moving forward with initiatives to address this situation.

The pilot project explores a cost-effective City-delivered solution for approximately 1500 residents to access the Internet from or near their homes and in public areas at no cost. This project will be launched in an area of Saskatoon with a high percentage of residents as measured across five population groups:

• youth
• seniors
• immigrants
• Indigenous peoples
• low-income

With access to the Internet, residents will be able to access key tools like telehealth and learning applications as well as important information about housing, food, pandemic restrictions, and government services.

Moving ahead with project implementation, the City will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) next week for a vendor to supply products to deliver wireless internet access points throughout the proposed area. The City will deliver high speed internet via fibre to the Saskatoon Fire Development Centre, a City-owned building located at 116 Avenue W South to serve as the connection point (hub) for these Wi-Fi devices. As the primary hub, a wireless signal will then be broadcast to the pilot area through the solution identified through the vendor’s RFP submission. The City is intending to install the wireless internet access points on City-owned streetlamps and power poles in the designated area.

“Through the RFP, we’re looking for a vendor to partner with us to determine the best tools to reach our goals of a strong Wi-Fi signal to the door of, and hopefully inside, the homes of residents in the pilot area,” says Anger. “We’re hoping to identify opportunities, problem-solve the challenges and evaluate the success of providing public Wi-Fi through this project.”

The pilot project valued at $250,000 is expected to become operational late summer/fall 2022 and run for one year. Financial support was made possible through City Council’s approval of a reallocation of funds as a result of Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) 2020 funding. The project will be evaluated throughout the pilot phase, and the results of the evaluation will be used to guide City Wi-Fi strategies and any plans for future continuation or expansion of the program.

City Council approved a new Strategic Plan for the City of Saskatoon at yesterday’s Council meeting (January 31, 2022). The 2022-2025 Strategic Plan is a guiding document that sets direction and priorities for City Council and the Administration over the next four years.

Along with the Official Community Plan and the Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, the Strategic Plan ensures City programs and services continue to address the changing needs of our community, while keeping within our financial means.

The City’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan was retired in December 2021.

Mayor Charlie Clark says: “The foundation of the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan is miyo-pimatisiwin (me-o-pi-ma-ti-si-win) which is a Cree phrase meaning 'the good life' for all residents. I believe this is a powerful common purpose to focus our efforts around. We are living in very dynamic times, and it is essential that we plan strategically to create the conditions for our citizens to live a good life here. I am proud of the work done by citizens, our staff, and my Council colleagues to bring this plan together and focus our work in the years ahead.”

City Manager Jeff Jorgenson says: “I’m proud of the work our Council and Administration have done in pulling together this vision for the City of Saskatoon over the next four years. The process, and the discussions and decisions that were a part of that, enabled us to land on one clear and powerful document that will be the focus for the work of thousands of City employees in the years ahead.”

What’s in the Plan

The 2022-2025 Strategic Plan was developed using contributions from the public, Council, and City employees. The following three pillars underline the identified deliverables and the key actions to achieve them:

1. Advance City Council's Priorities
2. Deliver Excellence in Core Services and Operational Priorities
3. Drive Corporate Transformational Change

Certain elements of previous strategic plans remain relevant and are included in this new one, including the Vision, Mission, Values, Purpose and Strategic Goals.

Public Input

A draft version of the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan was made available for public feedback between Oct. 27 and Nov. 10, 2021. Residents were invited to review the draft plan and provide input using a public survey. A summary on What We Heard was attached to the information report put before Council on Nov. 22, 2021.

What’s Next

In the weeks ahead, the City will be ensuring its various departmental business plans and employee work plans align with the Strategic Plan. This alignment will ensure Council and Administration are working toward the same outcomes and optimizing resources by focusing on the right initiatives at the right time.​​​​​​​

The City’s newly approved 2022-2025 Strategic Plan is available at saskatoon.ca/StrategicPlan.

The Saskatoon Fire Department recently became aware of deficiencies to fire and life safety systems in a building at 1416, 20th Street West.

"During a recent call to the building, firefighters identified concerns with the operability of the fire alarm system, sprinkler system and fire extinguishers," says Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger. "As a result, the Fire Department issued a Notice to Remedy for this address."

Rodger says the department also arranged qualified technicians to repair these systems and make sure they are operable, so residents have a safe living space.

Work on these systems will commence at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Friday January 29.

"We collaborated with many people on this course of action and the goal is to have the building safety systems operational and safe for occupants by Saturday morning."

Residents will not be confined, but to ensure compliance with the Provincial Health Orders, residents are being asked to stay in their suites while the work is completed.

The Saskatoon Police Service has agreed to support the technicians by helping provide a secure work site for them.  Officers will also escort residents if they need to leave or enter the building.

The City of Saskatoon, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Radius Community Centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatoon Tribal Council are coordinating the kanātan nipīy (the water is clean/clean water) program. The training is an opportunity for Indigenous people to gain essential skills and access employment opportunities in water treatment and distribution facilities —such as with the City of Saskatoon’s Water and Waste Operations. 

The program offers two streams, one for Indigenous youth between 18-29 years of age and another for Indigenous people of any age. The stream for Indigenous youth will begin in early March with essential skills training taught by the Radius Community Centre. Saskatchewan Polytechnic will provide training in water treatment and distribution to both streams starting in late March/early April. 

"This kanātan nipīy program is an important pathway to knowledge and employment and I am very pleased that the City of Saskatoon is part of it," says Mayor Charlie Clark. "Our futures are bound together, in our city and in Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan. I would like to thank all of the partners who are part of this program and are strengthening our future together."

"Partnerships like this, that bring all stakeholders to the table, remove barriers and ensure the greatest success possible for everyone involved," says Geordy McCaffrey, Executive Director, Gabriel Dumont Institute. "GDI is proud to be a part of this initiative that will lead to sustainable employment for our Métis clients."

"For 50 years Radius Community Centre has been helping people work towards their career goals," says Dorothy Hyde, Executive Director, Radius Community Centre. "We are honoured to be a part of this community team supporting Indigenous employment and know that working together helps to build a brighter future for individuals, families, business and community." 

"Indigenous students are an important part of Saskatoon’s community. Providing essential skills training is one way to help the Indigenous learners participating in the program to succeed in their water treatment training and as members of today’s workforce," says Dr. Larry Rosia, President and CEO, Saskatchewan Polytechnic. "We are excited to partner with the City of Saskatoon, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Radius Community Centre, and Saskatoon Tribal Council on this innovative program."

"This training will enhance and improve the quality life for all people that require clean potable water," says Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand. "As First Nations people, we are all protectors of water. STC has developed many training and employment partnerships. By working together with our partners, we provide opportunities for our people to become gainfully employed."

Applicants must have their Grade 12 or GED and a Class 5 driver’s license. Interested applicants can send their transcript, driver abstract, resume, and three references to kanatannipiy.project@gmail.com by February 12, 2021. 

The kanātan nipīy (the water is clean/clean water) project costs $1,642 per student. Funding for training costs and living allowances may be available to some applicants through the Gabriel Dumont Institute and Saskatoon Tribal Council. Funding options will be discussed during the application process.