News Releases

The groundwork for the City’s response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice is outlined in a report to the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council. The report to be presented at the Committee meeting Monday, September 21, provides an overview of current City initiatives relating to the National Inquiry and the approach for the development of a long-term strategy.

“Municipalities can play an important role in supporting and implementing programs and policies that answer the Calls for Justice,” says Melissa Cote, Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “Locally, by working together across the organization and with our community partners, we can make changes and act to address these issues.”

The report outlines current City initiatives that align with the Calls for Justice, such as the City’s “Little Sisters in Action Program,” working with community partners in their efforts to create safe spaces for Two-Spirit youth in ceremony and cultural spaces, “Safe Bus” basic training for City of Saskatoon staff, and contributing to the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership.

The long-term strategy will involve a wide range of community voices and organizations as well as involve a cross-functional team within the City’s various divisions and departments. The goal is to create a coordinated and holistic approach to address reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion as well as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA* people.

The outlined approach will include engaging with Indigenous matriarchs, individuals and families with lived experience, community-based organizations and leaders, academics and service delivery organizations.

Initial discussions have highlighted the importance of several principles and approach to the strategy, including:

• A community-driven and citizen-centred approach that is flexible, responsive and respectful to the Indigenous community, organizations, families and individuals.
• That responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, the MMIWG2S Calls to Justice and work on Anti-Racism -- although linked -- remain distinct and separate.
• The issues are complex and require a long-term strategy, while demonstrating short-term progress and outcomes.
• It is important to support and not duplicate the work of other organizations.
• The long-term strategy and actions should inform the provincial and national action plans.

A report will be provided in the future to City Council outlining the actions and projects included for implementation in the long-term strategy.

To view agendas, minutes and video for meetings of City Council, Boards & Committees, visit saskatoon.ca/agendas.

*Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Asexual

In response to the new provincial public health measures, the City wishes to remind residents that masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit and when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services. City Council approved the action at its meeting on Monday, August 30 as an added safety measure to address the increasing spread of COVID-19 in our community and it is now required and enforceable under the public health order.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan public health order, youth athletes under age 18 are exempt from the masking order for indoor youth athletics and while they are actively engaged in athletic activity. Masking in venues hosting youth athletics will remain required for general entry and exit into the facility, for athletes and spectators. 

The Government of Saskatchewan also introduced a mandatory vaccination or COVID testing requirement for all Government of Saskatchewan ministry, crown and agency employees. These employees will be required to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine by October 1. Employees that do not provide proof of vaccination will be required to provide proof of a negative test result on a consistent basis. 

The City has been planning the launch of regular mandatory COVID-19 rapid tests for all staff who report to the workplace, with adjustments for fully vaccinated staff who choose to share their vaccination status. The program will launch October 4 for City staff.

At the earlier request of City Council and in response to the Government of Saskatchewan’s October 1 requirement to show proof of vaccination or negative test for public access to certain establishments, businesses and event venues that bring groups of people together, the City will explore the impact to civic facilities, programs and services once full details of the proof of vaccination system and technology are shared by the province.

More details on the Government of Saskatchewan’s announcement are available on their website. For the latest updates, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

One case of Dutch elm disease (DED) has been confirmed in Saskatoon. An elm sample sent to the provincial lab by the City’s Urban Biological Services staff has come back positive for DED.

In accordance with the City’s DED Response Plan, which requires immediate removal of all positive trees, crews will begin tomorrow removing the infected tree located in the Montgomery neighbourhood. Also in accordance with the City’s DED Response Plan, inspectors will follow up and search for stored firewood in yards located in Montgomery, Fairhaven, Meadowgreen and the South Industrial area in an effort to pinpoint a source. Staff will respect all physical distancing protocols as they provide the necessary inspection services.

“This discovery of Dutch elm disease demonstrates that our screening procedures and inspection program works,” says Darren Crilly, Director of Parks. “We have had success in the past with our response plan and are now taking the same aggressive action to stop it from spreading to other neighbourhoods.”

Saskatoon’s DED Response Plan requires:

• Immediate removal of all positive trees
• Disposal of infected trees at the City landfill
• Sampling of adjacent trees
• Surveillance and testing of private and public trees in the surrounding area with an intensive search for elm material and other sources of infection

“Dutch elm disease is a serious disease of the American elm,” says Jeff Boone, Entomologist. “The disease was introduced into North America in the 1930s, and has wiped out millions of elms across Canada and the United States. Dutch elm disease has been present in Saskatchewan since the 1980s and Saskatoon has not had a tree test positive for the disease since summer of 2015.”

American elm trees with Dutch elm disease may start showing symptoms as early as the month of June. Typically, the leaves will start to wilt and turn yellow, then curl and turn brown. Residents who start to notice any of these symptoms, are encouraged to call Urban Biological Services at 306-975-2890.

The most effective management strategy for DED is to not transport or store elm wood. Infected firewood is the most likely way that DED would be brought into Saskatoon.

Residents can help prevent Dutch elm disease by:

• Not pruning elms during the provincial pruning ban (April 1 to August 31)
• Not storing or transporting any elm firewood – provincial regulations prohibit the storing or transporting of elm firewood
• Always dispose of any elm wood at the City Landfill

For more information on DED, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease.

The City is preparing for Orange Shirt Day (Sept. 30) by urging Saskatoon residents, businesses, and organizations to 1) wear an orange shirt on September 30^th and, 2) accept the ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge.

Orange Shirt Day is a day to mark the healing journey of residential school survivors and their families and to renew our commitment to the ongoing process of reconciliation. It’s a day for us to reaffirm that Every Child Matters. The date was chosen because it’s the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools.

“Wearing an orange shirt on September 30^th is an easy but important way to acknowledge the impact residential schools had and continue to have on Indigenous communities,” says Melissa Cote, the City’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “The ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge is an opportunity to go one step further and gain insights into the past and present realities of Indigenous people. We’re really excited to see people take up the challenge.”

Wear an Orange Shirt

Any orange shirt will do, however, there is the option to purchase an Every Child Matters t-shirt at orangeshirtday.net. Shirts are $15 apiece with discounts for bulk orders. (Note: you need to be registered and logged in to place an order.) Partial proceeds go to the Orange Shirt Society to support awareness activities.

Accept the ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge

The Reconciliation Challenge is a commitment to start or continue a journey of reconciliation by using the BeAConnectR.com website to learn more about Indigenous peoples' past and present experiences. Each week for 8 weeks, beginning this Sunday (Sept. 13^th), participants choose a new challenge. Things like:

• Read an Indigenous author
• Learn about the treaty territory you reside on
• Try an Indigenous recipe
• Watch residential school survivor videos
• Watch an Indigenous film

Organizations and individuals can also join the ConnectR Challenge Facebook Group to share experiences and receive updates to help guide and support their journey. The group will be a link to survivor videos and four online events where Indigenous Elders, survivors, educators, artists and youth inspire and educate this community of people learning and taking action. Those not on Facebook can email BeAConnectR@gmail.com to be added to an email list.

Orange Shirt Day ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge was made possible through investments by Nutrien and a partnership between Reconciliation Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Survivors Circle—a group of Elders that are residential school survivors who ensure that residential schools and their legacy are never forgotten. Reconciliation Saskatoon is a community of over 115 organizations, non-profits, businesses and partners who have come together towards one mission: to initiate a citywide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The City of Saskatoon co-chairs Reconciliation Saskatoon.

Saskatoon’s Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge is stronger with a smoother driving surface and a wider, more protected pedestrian walkway. The two-year, $20 million rehabilitation project on the 54-year-old structure is complete and the bridge will fully reopen on Sunday, September 6.

“Work progressed so well this summer that we are able to open the bridge approximately two months earlier than originally planned and within budget,” says Rob Frank, City of Saskatoon Engineering Manager of Asset Preservation. “We’ve improved the overall life span of the bridge by strengthening it and residents will notice a wider, safer walkway that better protects them from vehicular traffic.”

The City of Saskatoon utilized $15 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) allocations towards the Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation project. The GTF program in Saskatchewan is administered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations.

“It is great news that the rehabilitation of the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge has been completed early,” says the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “The improvements to the structure and walkway will keep traffic moving smoothly across this key Saskatoon crossing for years to come while also making it safer for pedestrians. Canada’s Infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across Canada, and builds stronger communities.”

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to play a role in administering the federal Gas Tax Fund program,” Government Relations Minister Lori Carr says. "This federal funding helps local governments advance important infrastructure projects, like the rehabilitation of Saskatoon's Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge and ramp structure. With the completion of each project, we help strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for Saskatchewan's residents."

The Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge Rehabilitation Project included:

• Resurfacing of the Idylwyld Drive ramp over 19^th Street to 1^st Avenue 
• Walkway widening with taller barriers for improved pedestrian protection 
• New drainage system to help better traction by reducing puddles and splashing
• Concrete deck repairs and asphalt replacement
• Strengthening of piers  
• Barrier replacement 

Crews will remain on site over the next couple of weeks to complete some minor work and clean-up following the bridge opening.

The bridge officially opened in 1966 and was renamed in 2001 in honour of Senator Sidney L. Buckwold, who was the Mayor of Saskatoon when the bridge was built. It is 183 metres (600 feet) long and spans over the narrowest point of the South Saskatchewan River within Saskatoon.