News Releases

Close to 1,000 people from across Canada and around the world are coming together virtually for the first-ever online, land-based Wîcihitowin (wee-chee-HEE’-toe-win) Indigenous Engagement Conference. Today marks day one of the two-day conference.

“Like fire through a forest, COVID-19 is causing havoc on communities far and wide. It has made us rethink how we interact while continuing to support those in our communities who want to listen, learn, grow and support reconciliation efforts,” says Neal Kewistep, conference co-emcee and member of the organizing committee. “This year’s virtual conference provides us with an opportunity to share the teachings of Indigenous peoples across our nation and further to continue building an inclusive community.”

Under Indigenous teachings of natural law, fire is believed to be the giver of new life where balance of Mother Earth is restored. From destruction comes rejuvenation and replenishment.

This year’s virtual conference theme—Through the Fire—will explore Indigenous worldviews and natural law, such as the Cree word wahkohtowin, which refers to kinship or the interconnectedness nature of relationships, communities, and natural systems. Within the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, wahkohtowin is also about working together towards respectful Indigenous engagement and inclusion.

The new format features a condensed lineup of five keynote presentations that will challenge the audience’s ways of knowing, thinking and acting to get “through the fire” of COVID-19 and guide them on their journey of reconciliation. Speakers include:

• Niigaanwewidam (Niigaan) James Sinclair, Associate Professor, University of Manitoba & Columnist, The Winnipeg Free Press;  
• Ira Horse, Knowledge Keeper and Cree Language Advocate;  
• Davis Swindler, Cree Language Advocate;  
• Shayla Stonechild, TV Host, Yoga Instructor, Founder of Matriarch Movement;  
• Marilyn Poitras, Director, Native Law Centre, University of Saskatchewan; and  
• members and children of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle, including Eugene Arcand, Maria Linklater, A.J. Felix, Patsy Felix, Rick Daniels, Donna Pelly, and Elsie Ballantyne. 

This Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is possible because of the financial support of community investors such as Nutrien and the Saskatoon Community Foundation.   

“Nutrien is tied to the land and the interconnected natural systems, relying on ancient mineral deposits in order for farmers to grow enough food to feed the world in a sustainable manner.  Part of feeding the world in a sustainable manner includes our relationships with Indigenous communities.  Our partnerships with Indigenous communities are mutually beneficial based on trust and respect,” says Lisa Mooney, Global Lead, Sustainability and Strategic Inclusion at Nutrien. “For Nutrien investing in the Wîcihitowin conference results in exponential impact by developing a shared understanding and building capacity for us to create a future where we are all included and valued.”

The Wîcihitowin Organizing Committee is already looking ahead to next year’s conference, which will held on October 5 - 7, 2021. 

For more information on the speakers and performers, visit wichitowin.ca. 

It’s time to get ready for winter at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo). Preparations for winter vary for many animals at the Zoo. For some like the bison, mountain goats and pronghorns, now is the time to start developing heavier coats in anticipation for cooler temperatures. Many animals have also been increasing their food consumption including grizzly bears Mistaya and Koda who are gearing up for their long winter sleep.

“It is always great to see the animals exhibiting their natural adaptations for the upcoming winter season,” says Zoo Manager, Jeff Mitchell. “We have already seen our grizzly bears showing familiar signs of preparing for torpor, many of our elk and caribou are already displaying full antlers and soon our arctic fox’s fur will begin to change from grey to white. These are just some of the amazing transformations that we can expect to see as we move into the fall and winter seasons.”

Mitchell notes, the grizzly bears will likely be spending more time in their dens as they begin to settle in for their long winter slumber.

Dingoes Maple and Euci will also be adjusting their daily routine soon. Once the temperature falls below minus five degrees Celsius, the dingoes will start to spend more time indoors in favour of warmer temperatures.

Kazi (KAH-zee) the snow leopard is settling into his new home at the Nutrien Ark and is ready for the cooler temperatures.

“You will not see many big changes from Kazi, as he is so well adapted for winter,” says Mitchell. “One thing you may notice is his tail may get a little fluffier, that is because snow leopards will often use their tail as a scarf or a blanket during the winter months.”

The Zoo would like to remind residents that a non-medical mask is required when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services including the Meerkat House and washroom facilities at the Zoo. Although masks are not required in outdoor spaces, the City recommends wearing a mask throughout your visit, even while enjoying the outdoor exhibits.

The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visit saskatoon.ca/zoo for more information or to plan your next visit.

The City of Saskatoon (City) and University of Saskatchewan (USask) recently collaborated on a study to see if chemicals that leach from rubber tires are entering the stormwater system. Water that enters storm drains, through snowmelt or rain runoff, flows into the South Saskatchewan River.

“Chemicals from rubber tire leachate have been associated with mortalities in Coho salmon in Washington State,” says Markus Brinkmann, USask Assistant Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability. “However, we currently don’t know the effects on wildlife in our region. The results, in what we believe is the first study of its kind in a Canadian municipality, show high readings of the tire rubber related compounds in Saskatoon’s runoff.”

The findings are a result of samples taken from snow facilities, snowmelt puddles, and about a dozen outfall sites along the South Saskatchewan River within the city in 2019 and 2020. The study indicates the high concentrations may relate to occasional but intense rainstorms in the summer and snowmelt in the winter. Both types of events can lead to significant accumulation followed by sudden flushing of tire rubber chemicals from roads into the stormwater system.

Russ Munro, Director of Saskatoon Water, says further research is required to better understand the factors driving the findings.

“This is a great example of why continued research and partnerships with institutions like the University of Saskatchewan are so important. Saskatoon Water operates within the guidelines set out by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency and we’ll work with them to determine what next steps should be.”

Munro points to positive City initiatives already in place that are designed to protect the environment from contents within stormwater. Initiatives include the annual street sweeping program, numerous storm ponds that help reduce contaminants and manage water runoff, and the new Snow Management Facility. Melt water from the Snow Management Facility runs through an oil and grit separator into a meltwater/stormwater pond. The meltwater then enters a series of specially designed barriers before being discharged in a controlled fashion into the stormwater system. The City also participates in the Yellow Fish Road Program to educate residents about the impact communities can have on water runoff.

The study has been supported through an Engage Grant of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Because the risks to species of fishes and aquatic organisms in the South Saskatchewan River are unknown, the USask team has submitted a grant application to dig deeper into the mechanisms of toxicity. Another joint application from USask and the City that focuses on detection of the compounds is being prepared.

The study has been published in the peer-reviewed Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

On Monday, October 4, the Administration will present an information report to the Standing Policy Committee of Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services outlining the proposed service level and budget requirements to support the new waste diversion regulations for the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) Sector.

The proposal aligns and expands on a January 2020 report to City Council. The program includes administration, education, and support to improve compliance and reduce the administrative burden on businesses. The annual operating cost of $284,000 for the program services would be considered in the City’s 2022-2023 budget process later this year.

“This is a good step forward in achieving our waste reduction and diversion target,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Utilities and Environment. “By implementing the necessary service levels to support these programs, we expect to divert approximately 5,400 tonnes of recyclable and organic waste from the City’s landfill every year, extending its life by approximately 5%.”

At its meeting on August 30, 2021, City Council passed Bylaw No. 9775, The Waste Amendment Bylaw, 2021. With a phased-in approach beginning in 2022, all businesses and organizations will be required to have a separate container for recycling, and those that generate food or yard waste as part of their operations will be required to have a separate organics waste container.

The full report and attachments can be found here.

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