News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Update: Fire Department & community partners move to house residents of unsafe motel
July 23, 2020 - 11:11am
- One health professional to conduct COVID-19 screening and swab testing
- Two or more outreach workers to assess needs and determine appropriate housing options
- 10 – 12 members from the Saskatoon Tribal Council
- Seven Ministry of Social Services members plus one supervisor
- Five members from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA)
- Five members from The Salvation Army
- Three members from AIDS Saskatoon
- Three members from Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership
- Two members from Saskatchewan Housing Authority
- Two members from the City of Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization
- One member from Public Health
- unsafe and unsanitary conditions
- locked exit doors
- stairs at risk of collapse
- combustible material too close to buildings
- inaccessible fire extinguishers
- too few and un-inspected extinguishers
- improper smoke alarm records
- failure to maintain fire alarm systems
The plan to provide housing for residents displaced as a result of the Fire Department ordering the closure of the City Centre Inn and Suites, continues to move forward. As of 1 p.m. residents began to move to alternate housing. That process is still underway.
The Ministry of Social Services offered the option of temporary housing at local shelters. Residents with medical or unique personal needs were offered the option of temporary housing in local hotels.
A full summary of City Centre Inn & Suites Order of Closure can be found here.
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The Saskatoon Fire Department with the support of many community partner organizations will today take action to house approximately 150 residents of the City Centre Inn and Suites.
The Fire Department has taken the unusual but necessary steps ordering a closure of the entire City Centre Inn and Suites because of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions; the notice remains pending and will be in effect at 3 p.m. today, Thursday, July 23.
“The Department is limited in its legal authority to enter and inspect what are essentially people’s homes,” says Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer. “Once we were alerted by an anonymous complaint, we moved forward with the inspection process. When it became clear there were immediate hazards because of unsafe and unclean living conditions, we quickly moved to close the entire facility.”
Approximately seven teams will conduct door-to-door visits to each room at the City Center Inn and Suites to support relocation of the residents.
The circulating teams will be comprised of:
Approximately 40 staff resources from the following agencies will be on site to support this process:
The SHA Health Bus is one on site until 4:30 p.m.
Saskatoon Transit is providing transportation to the new locations for the residents.
Canada Post is supporting the residents with change of address.
Meals, water and coffee for staff and displaced residents is being provided by the Salvation Army today.
The Saskatoon SPCA and Okihtcitawak Patrol Group were also on hand to lend assistance to the residents.
Single adults will go either to a shelter, hotel or stay with family or friends for short term housing needs.
The Saskatchewan Housing Authority is also on site to provide case management for longer term housing options.
Four families have already been relocated.
“The Fire Department is so grateful for the collaboration and support of our government and community based partners to make this happen in roughly 48 hours,” Raymer says.
Assistant Chief Raymer says the most recent visit to 610 Idylwyld Drive North which involved four Fire Inspectors revealed an immediate hazard with issues such as:
The owner of the City Centre Inn and Suites has been ordered to remedy 34 deficiencies under the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement Bylaw; and 27 deficiencies under the National Fire Code of Canada.
The closure notice – which is pending – is expected to be in effect by 3 p.m. today, Thursday, July 23.
Fire Department & Community Partners Move To House Residents of Unsafe Motel
July 23, 2020 - 5:38am
- One health professional to conduct COVID screening and swab testing
- Two or more outreach workers to assess needs and determine appropriate housing options
- 10 – 12 members from the Saskatoon Tribal Council
- Seven Ministry of Social Services members plus one supervisor
- Five members from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA)
- Five members from The Salvation Army
- Three members from AIDS Saskatoon
- Three members from Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership
- Two members from Saskatchewan Housing Authority
- Two members from the City of Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization
- One member from Public Health
- unsafe and unsanitary conditions
- locked exit doors
- stairs at risk of collapse
- combustible material too close to buildings
- inaccessible fire extinguishers
- too few and uninspected extinguishers
- improper smoke alarm records
- failure to maintain fire alarm systems
The Saskatoon Fire Department with the support of many community partner organizations will today take action to house approximately 150 residents of the City Centre Inn and Suites.
The Fire Department has taken the unusual but necessary steps ordering a closure of the entire City Centre Inn and Suites because of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions; the notice remains pending and will be in effect at 3 p.m. today, Thursday, July 23.
“The Department is limited in its legal authority to enter and inspect what are essentially people’s homes,” says Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer. “Once we were alerted by an anonymous complaint, we moved forward with the inspection process. When it became clear there were immediate hazards because of unsafe and unclean living conditions, we quickly moved to close the entire facility.”
Approximately seven teams will conduct door-to-door visits to each room at the City Center Inn and Suites to support relocation of the residents.
The circulating teams will be comprised of:
Over 50 staff resources from the following agencies will be on site to support this process:
The SHA Health Bus is one on site until 4:30 p.m.
Saskatoon Transit is providing transportation to the new locations for the residents.
Canada Post is supporting the residents with change of address.
Meals, water and coffee for staff and displaced residents is being provided by the Salvation Army today.
Single adults will go either to a shelter, hotel or stay with family or friends for short term housing needs.
The Saskatchewan Housing Authority is also on site to provide case management for longer term housing options.
Four families have already been relocated.
“The Fire Department is so grateful for the collaboration and support of our government and community based partners to make this happen in roughly 48 hours,” Raymer says.
Assistant Chief Raymer says the most recent visit to 610 Idylwyld Drive North which involved four Fire Inspectors revealed an immediate hazard with issues such as:
The owner of the City Centre Inn and Suites has been ordered to remedy 34 deficiencies under the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement Bylaw; and 27 deficiencies under the National Fire Code of Canada.
The closure notice – which is pending – is expected to be in effect by 3 p.m. today, Thursday, July 23.
Construction around Saskatoon progressing as planned and on time
July 23, 2020 - 1:09am
- The replacement of aging water mains on 8th Street. Work is on schedule and will wrap up in early fall. The project also includes sidewalk rehabilitation and road resurfacing. Other water main replacement projects are currently underway on Cumberland Avenue, Clarence Avenue, Avenue J North and Avenue C North.
- The second and final phase of the Sid Buckwold Bridge Rehabilitation project has reached the mid-way point and remains on track for completion in October. Once complete, it will have a wider walkway with taller barriers, improved drainage, and the bridge deck and ramps will be completely resurfaced.
- Road resurfacing on sections of College Drive, Taylor Street, and Boychuk Drive is complete. Crews are currently resurfacing on Circle Drive from the College Drive overpass to 14th Street. This work is being done at night to minimize impacts to motorists.
- The installation of a primary water main under Garvie Road that will service the Evergreen and Aspen Ridge neighbourhoods. This project wrapped up ahead of schedule and also included road resurfacing.
- The Taylor Street extension from Rosewood Gate North to Wess Road is expected to be complete and open to traffic in October.
- The installation of sewer trunks to service the Brighton neighbourhood. This two year project began in the spring and will be finished in 2021.
Construction is moving along on schedule in all areas of the city this summer. In 2020, City Council invested over $61 million to rehabilitate and preserve road, water and sewer infrastructure to improve the safety and lifespan of the assets residents rely on every day.
Key construction projects this year include:
The City has also invested $53 million toward the development of new infrastructure needed to support developing neighbourhoods. 2020 development projects include:
“We started this construction season with an edited ‘to-do’ list in order to ensure the safety of workers and residents during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Matt Jurkiewicz, Director of Construction & Design. “For example, we opted to put non-emergent lead line replacements that require workers to enter homes on hold this year, but the effects of the pandemic have not slowed down or interrupted all other planned work.”
The City continues to evaluate all projects as they proceed while continuing to follow the provincial Public Health Orders and recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
More information about 2020 construction projects is available at Saskatoon.ca/construction.
We thank you for your pave-tience during construction. We know it can be a real ‘pain in the asphalt.’
Electric bus charges into service: test aims to lower fuel bills and greenhouse gasses
July 21, 2020 - 3:44am
- The electric bus can be charged in approximately 5 hours
- One bus is expected to reduce 50.3 tonnes of CO2 per year (this number accounts for the bus and the electrical grid’s emissions intensity factors) and save ~$27,500 in fuel costs per year compared to a conventional diesel bus
- This electric bus pilot initiates one of the 40 actions in the Saskatoon’s Low Emission Community Plan for the municipal transit fleet to be 100% electric by 2030. The City will also start testing electric vehicles later this year as part of another transportation action to electrify the entire municipal fleet
- The electric bus unit number will be 1948, representing the year the first 8 electric buses hit the streets of Saskatoon
- Improved air quality at transit terminals, and along bus routes will improve public health
- Less noise pollution along bus routes will improve the community’s quality of life
- Lower operation and maintenance costs
- Offering a modern transit system will help to increase transit ridership
Saskatoon Transit is proud to announce it will be testing an electric bus over the next year as part of the public transport fleet. This initiative supports elements of the Official Community Plan and the City of Saskatoon’s Strategic Plan goals of Environmental Leadership and Moving Around.
The total project cost is estimated to be $533,600 of which $234,300 is funded from the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), a fund financed by the Government of Canada and administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
Today’s announcement also reaches a milestone in Saskatoon’s Low Emission Community Plan, which prescribes the municipal transit fleet be 100% electric by 2030. The electric bus project’s net carbon emissions reduction is expected to be 50.3 tonnes of CO2 per bus, per year (this number accounts for the bus and the electrical grid’s emissions-intensity factors) and saves approximately $27,500 in fuel costs per bus, per year.
This project will include a strong focus on how an electric bus will perform in Saskatchewan’s very cold winter weather, which will be of interest to many other Canadian communities with longer, colder winters like ours. Also, Saskatoon Transit’s collaboration on this project with the Saskatchewan Research Council will be valuable to replicate it and share that knowledge across the province.
Quick facts:
Benefits:
Quotations:
“We’re investing in the future. This electric bus pilot project will give the people of Saskatoon a practical and environmentally friendly option for their everyday commute. Canada’s Infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across Canada and builds stronger communities.” The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
“Zero emissions vehicles are part of Canada’s net-zero future. Our government is working to give Canadians greener options to get where they need to go.” The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
“This is a great step towards the further expansion of zero-emission technology in Saskatoon. The world of transportation is changing rapidly and we need to adapt and implement these new technologies to be ready. This will also help us make important strides in meeting our long-term sustainability goals.” City of Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark
“Local governments are Canada’s builders. They own nearly two thirds of the public infrastructure that supports Canada’s economy and quality of life. Whether it’s through better transit, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, or stronger local infrastructure, municipalities like Saskatoon are building better lives for Canadians. Supported by our strong federal-municipal partnership, FCM’s Green Municipal fund helps municipalities do what they do best: deliver solutions that work.” Darren Hill, FCM Third Vice-President and Councillor, City of Saskatoon
"Buses already help tackle climate change by providing a way to get around other than in cars or trucks. With more people taking transit in Saskatoon, electric buses will make a real difference. This pilot helps Saskatoon Transit achieve our goal of replacing 10 conventional buses with electric buses per year, creating an all-electric fleet within the next 10 years." Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit.
Improving service, maximizing efficiency & leading innovation: City releases report
July 15, 2020 - 10:47am
- Establishing the Indigenous Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) to engage in meaningful dialogues on issues that impact Indigenous peoples in Saskatoon
- Creation of a new Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook to provide guidance and options for employers seeking to improve their recruitment outcomes
- Highest ever attendance at the 5th Annual Wîcihitowin Conference
- Kahkewistahaw Signing Ceremony
- Publishing the 2nd Edition of ayisiyiniwak: A Communications Guide
Now available online: the City’s annual Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability highlighting how City teams worked together to maximize value, minimize costs and find innovative ways to deliver better service to citizens in 2019.
“The report highlights our many achievements in 2019 and showcases the innovative projects, initiatives and partnerships City teams undertook last year,” says Celene Anger, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “I am proud of our City employees, they continue to move the organization towards becoming the best-managed city in Canada and show their commitment to our Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement every day.”
Featured stories include numerous service improvements and enhancements focused on delivering quality and reliable front-line civic services, such as the achievement of Saskatoon Transit in converting all buses to fully accessible status through investments from all three levels of government.
Savings stories outline more than $1.1 Million in operational efficiencies through one-time and recurring annual savings. Sustainability accomplishments celebrate ongoing efforts to ensure Saskatoon grows in harmony with nature and plans for a sustainable future. Many initiatives featured helped to reduce the City’s environmental footprint and mitigate the risks posed by climate change. Other projects moved the City forward to create a more equitable and socially responsible community.
The report proudly presents the City’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation. Notable achievements in 2019 included:
The 2019 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability will be presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee on July 20, 2020.
View the full report here.