News Releases

City snow crews are making great progress in the city-wide clean-up following the severe winter storm. Clearing of driving lanes on residential streets will be complete later today, which is three and a half days ahead of the projected schedule.

“There’s no question that we have more work to do,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation & Construction. “But I’m proud of the way our crews and contractors are putting everything they have, around the clock, into this operation.”

With the first pass of driving lanes in residential areas completed, crews will now focus their attention on the following:

• Continuing to clean and clear priority streets as needed;
• Residential streets that need more attention to improve drivability;
• Addressing problem areas on residential streets (e.g. snow piles near driveways or in front of fire hydrants);
• Removal of snow in Business Improvement Districts;
• Industrial areas.

Where piles of snow present a clear issue, they will be removed. This includes large piles that restrict sight lines on priority roads and piles of especially heavy, packed snow around driveway entrances and parked vehicles. With the massive accumulation of snow, there will still be piles of snow on residential streets reducing on-street parking at times. Crews will return in the coming weeks for snow removal, once the other priorities have been addressed.

“This is the first time we’ve undertaken a snow operation of this magnitude and we’re truly grateful for the patience and cooperation of Saskatoon residents,” says Schmidt. “We’re seeing people shovelling out their neighbour’s vehicle or driveway entrance; it truly is a community effort.”

A reminder that Saskatoon Transit has resumed normal operations and is available to get residents where they need to go.

Following the postponement of Monday’s election, the election office reports the official voter turnout figures as 58,734 or 27.4 per cent of eligible voters. This figure includes 19,666 ballots cast at advance polls and 8,600 mail-in ballots. The next most comparable turnout was in 2000 when 26.4% of eligible voters cast ballots.

The election office adds 20,906 ballots were cast on Monday, November 9, which is four per cent of eligible voters, and 8,532 ballots cast on Friday, November 13. There are 214,301 eligible voters in Saskatoon.

“Given the environmental challenges confronted, voters went to the polls,” says Returning Officer Scott Bastian. “This election was held during a pandemic and then a severe winter storm rolled over Saskatoon leading into election day. Through it all, an important part was to adjust and comply with provincial legislation and orders,” Bastian says. “Options were provided to voters that fit within boundaries of the law.”

Bastian acknowledges his office experienced challenges, including long lineups at advance polls and the new online mail-in ballot application process. Like past civic elections, the Returning Officer will prepare a report on the 2020 Civic Election to submit to City Council in the first quarter of 2021. The report will outline the election process, successes and challenges faced during this election, and opportunities to pursue for future elections.

“There will be an opportunity to explore facets of the 2020 election with the election office and perhaps in conjunction with other municipalities in Saskatchewan and Elections Saskatchewan,” Bastian adds.

Bastian says the conclusion of an unconventional election is a testament to the dedicated staff working the election and to the community.

“I want to thank all the dedicated election workers who worked advance polls and in care homes and hospitals, carefully following COVID-19 safety protocols, and to those who braved a snowstorm on Monday to open the polls, as well as those who were available again Friday, November 13 to ensure the postponed day went ahead successfully.”

The City of Saskatoon’s official results from the 2020 election are available at electionresults.saskatoon.ca.

The City has recently been informed that two Saskatoon Transit Operators have tested positive for COVID-19. The first individual received a positive diagnosis on Friday, November 13 and the second individual received their diagnosis on Monday, November 16.  

"Neither of these cases are related and unlikely to be linked to transmission within the workplace. Both individuals have relayed that they were exposed to the virus in settings outside of the workplace," says Mike Moellenbeck, Operations Manager for Saskatoon Transit. "Due to the need to protect the privacy of the individuals, we cannot provide further details about the positive cases."

The City has implemented health and safety protocols and precautions to protect both employees and the public. This includes mandatory masks for all riders, proper hygiene and vinyl barriers for drivers 

"We understand this may cause concern for bus riders. This situation stresses the importance of the layers of protection the City has put in place to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 on Saskatoon Transit." 

Below are the affected routes and time periods. If you were riding the bus during these time periods, it is always a good idea to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and stay home and call HealthLine 811 to arrange for testing if symptoms occur. 

**UPDATED LIST DUE TO SASKATCHEWAN HEALTH AUTHORITY (SHA) CONTACT TRACING PROCESS**

• Nov 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14: Route 15 Civic Operations Centre
• Nov 7, 4:45 pm to 11:45 pm: Route 2 Meadowgreen
• Nov 8, 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Route 50 Lakeview/University
• Nov 10, 5:00 pm to 11:45 pm: Route 1 Exhibition and Route 7 Dundonald 
• Nov 11, 4:45 to 10:30 pm: Route 12 River Heights and Route 19 Centre Mall  
• Nov 14, 4:00 pm to 1:30 am: Route 2 Meadowgreen
• Nov 15, 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Route 50 Lakeview/University 

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting have taken place in all impacted busses and areas since the positive cases were identified.

"It is our understanding that SHA will be following up and contacting individuals identified as close contacts as per their contact tracing process and providing information to them on the next steps. The City will support SHA in their contact tracing process as necessary," says Moellenbeck. 

The City also has processes in place so supervisors can be aware of which employees need to be sent home if necessary or contact Health Line at 811 for further instruction. 

Moellenbeck emphasizes that, "this positive case reminds us that we all have a shared responsibility to limit the transmission risk of COVID-19 in our community. Stay home if you are feeling unwell, follow all Public Health Orders and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and others."

Council Chambers will look different when it reopens for the new City Council. Over the course of this fall, the Chamber underwent renovations to improve the function and accessibility of this important public space.

The improvements include:

• Audio visual upgrades to improve video and audio of Council proceedings.
• Changes to room configuration to improve accessibility and enable distancing.
• Equipping gallery seats with power tables where occupants can plug in devices.
• Providing a new space for media, including a fully connected media box.
• HVAC system upgrades to improve heating/cooling and air filtration.
• New paint, carpeting, and gallery seating.

“These changes will improve access and engagement for citizens,” says Troy LaFreniere, Director of Facilities Management. “This long-planned modernization of Council Chambers will mean appropriate and high-quality connection to public meetings. The technology in Chambers was well past end of life.”

With the exception of a few minor things, Council Chambers has not been renovated since 1981. These upgrades have been planned for the past five years but there wasn’t an opportunity to conduct the work without significant disruption to Chamber business. The move to largely virtual gatherings during the pandemic, and the suspension of Council activities during the election period, presented an opportunity to undertake this work this fall with minimal disruption.

The funding for Chamber renovations was allocated by the City’s Comprehensive Building Maintenance Reserve. A portion of these funds is earmarked for replacing/renewing aging infrastructure such as Council Chambers.

LaFreniere continues: “Managing and maintaining our physical assets should meet the needs of our citizens and reflect the pride and priority we place on the space where citizens engage with their municipal government.”

The incredible undertaking of clearing snow from last week’s winter storm has been moving ahead of schedule, with road clearing now expected to be complete tomorrow, days ahead of the original projection of Friday, November 20. Once snow clearing is complete, efforts will turn to snow clearing on industrial streets and removal of snow from neighbourhoods across the city. 

“At first, we’d planned on focusing efforts on clearing those streets worst affected or those with higher traffic, but with our increased capacity, crews are now clearing snow from driving lanes on all streets, in every neighbourhood, city-wide,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “This has proven to be the most efficient method. We are also going to back lanes to level out the snow, or pack it down, to improve mobility. This work is all happening at the same time as residential clearing. If there’s still problem areas after the initial pass through, crews will return once all neighbourhoods and major roadways have been addressed.”   

By tonight it is estimated that clearing will have been restored, or work continuing, in a total of 63 (or 97 per cent) of the 65 residential neighbourhoods on the schedule. Efforts will also be turned to industrial streets and snow removal in Business Improvement Districts. 

“I would like thank the many people behind the scenes who are supporting and orchestrating this monumental effort to get the city moving around again,” says Schmidt. “This has been an extraordinary event and people are coming together all through our City, whether that be neighbours helping neighbours or crews working around the clock.” 

Residents are asked to please avoid pushing snow out onto the street when clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways, as this can clog up streets with even more snow and continue to create accessibility issues. 

More information on our process for snow clearing can be found at saskatoon.ca/snow.