News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
City Council defeats The COVID-19 Gathering Bylaw, 2021 No.9782
October 29, 2021 - 10:53am
- Red: 16% reduction in gathering size but no decrease in proportion of people mixing in the community.
- Olive: 43% reduction in gathering sizes but no decrease in proportion of people mixing in the community.
- Green: modest reduction in people mixing in community.
- Blue: greater reduction in people mixing in community (half of pre-pandemic mixing).
- Magenta: greater reduction in people mixing in community (half of pre-pandemic mixing).
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative test within 72 hours are mandatory for ages 12 and over within all Leisure Centre areas and indoor arenas as per a Public Health Order and subsequent Council direction.
- A Public Health Order requires masks to be worn in all indoor public spaces including all City facilities.
New map highlights areas affected by SL&P power outages
October 28, 2021 - 2:00pm
Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P) has launched a new interactive power outage map, making it easier than ever for customers to access and view outage information.
“While our crews are troubleshooting and repairing an outage, we’re committed to keeping customers informed in the easiest, most helpful way,” says Trevor Bell, Director of SL&P. “Service alerts issued on Twitter and on the City website are the primary form of communication for outages, but now the map will also be included with the alerts making it easier to see the area impacted, cause, and estimated time of repair.”
Outages are either identified from data notification from the electrical system (i.e. smart meters) or through calls from customers. Crews are then dispatched to determine the cause of the outage, and then isolate the issue and complete the repair. Outages may involve minor work, such as trimming trees away from power lines, or much larger tasks such as replacing broken poles, faulty cables, or damaged transformers. Repair work can take minutes or up to several hours.
“Prior to the power outage map, the impacted outage area was written in a service alert, but since the outage area usually does not follow neighbourhood boundaries it can be difficult to describe the affected area accurately,” says Bell. “While the written information will still be provided, the new map will be a better visual representation of the outage area and will be especially helpful in the event of planned outages.”
Bell adds that Saskatoon Light & Power’s index of reliability in 2020 was 0.9998, which means that power was delivered to the average customer 99.98% of the time.
Saskatoon Light & Power provides power to over 60,000 properties within its service area. All customers outside of the service area should refer to the SaskPower website for any outage related information.
Visit saskatoon.ca/outages for more information on the new power outage map and for power outage tips.
Civic Election Update: Mail-In Ballot Applications
October 28, 2020 - 6:25am
- For voters who do receive their mail-in ballot package before November 2, mark your candidates and promptly send your ballot back in the mail using the postage-paid envelope provided.
- For voters who receive their mail-in ballot package on or after November 2, given the uncertainty of mailing times, plan to drop your mail-in ballot off in-person or have a designate drop it off for you at the election office (226 Cardinal Crescent) before 8 p.m. November 9.
- Due to the high volume of mail-in applications received and awaiting verification, in the coming days, we will identify additional city facilities where voters can drop off their mail-in ballots before election day.
Like the pandemic and its uncertainty, the response for mail-in ballots has been unprecedented. Thousands of Saskatoon residents have chosen the option to vote by mail for the 2020 Civic Election and are taking part in the important democratic process of electing their mayor, city councillors and public or Catholic school board trustees. To date, the Civic Elections Office has received over 14,000 mail-in ballot applications through the online form.
The Civic Elections Office acknowledges some voters have not had a smooth online application experience. This is the first election the online application has been offered and it’s been a slower than anticipated process in replying to residents that their mail-in ballot application has been received.
We recognize there are improvements to make in future elections. More immediately the Election Office is addressing the concern and has added additional staff and work hours to support the process of reviewing, approving, creating the ballot package specific to the ward for which the voter has applied, and mailing the ballot packages out.
The civic election mail-in ballot application review process takes longer to verify for each voter. Municipal elections in Saskatchewan do not rely on an established voter’s list. It is a different process than the provincial election and it requires more checks because there are three races – mayor, councillor and public or Catholic school board trustee.
After careful review, mail-in ballot applications may be rejected due to incomplete information, the form only partially filled out, or in some instances, identification not supplied.
If your application for a mail-in ballot has been rejected, there are other options for you to cast your ballot. With COVID safety protocols in place at all voting locations, we invite residents to consider in-person voting options such as the advance polls October 30 to November 5, or on Election Day, November 9. The 2020 Voter’s Guide on saskatoon.ca/vote2020 has the dates, times and details on safety at the polls.
The provincial law for municipal elections states that mail-in ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on election day (Monday, November 9) by the 2020 Civic Election Office officials in order to be counted.
Mail-in Ballot process update for voters:
The election team wishes to thank all Saskatoon residents for their patience as we are working with full force to process the unprecedented and amazing demand for mail-in ballots.
Visit saskatoon.ca/vote2020
City invites feedback on draft Strategic Plan 2022-2025
October 27, 2021 - 5:13am
- Advance City Council's Priorities
- Deliver Excellence in Core Services and Operational Priorities
- Drive Corporate Transformational Change
The City is seeking public input on its draft Strategic Plan for 2022-2025. The current Strategic Plan for 2018-2021 will be retired at year’s end.
The City has been working to develop the new strategic plan over the course of the past year. The document is intended to capture the priorities and direction for the City over the next four years. The draft plan includes three pillars that underline how the City will achieve the goals set out in its plan:
Why do we need a Strategic Plan?
The Strategic Plan is a guiding document that sets out the City’s big picture. It outlines the specific outcomes that City Council and Administration will work together to achieve over the next four years. Strategy does not cover all the important work a City does. Strategy speaks specifically to the changes and improvements that are planned over a period to ensure Saskatoon remains a city that residents are proud to call home.
Public Input
The City is gathering feedback on the draft plan and content of the three pillars. This feedback will be presented alongside the plan at the Nov. 22nd meeting of City Council. The Strategic Plan presentation and the discussion that follows will be available via livestream at saskatoon.ca and residents are welcome to tune in.
The 2022-2025 draft Strategic Plan and the accompanying survey are available now at saskatoon.ca/engage. If you or someone you know cannot complete the online survey, please contact the City's Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476 to request a paper copy. The survey is open until 5 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2021.
City proclaims November 1 to 8 Health Care Worker Appreciation Week: 40% discount offered at City Indoor Leisure Centres
October 25, 2021 - 4:30pm
City Council today proclaimed November 1 to 8, 2021, Health Care Worker Appreciation Week in Saskatoon.
“On behalf of the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon City Council extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to all health care workers who continue to show heroic efforts in protecting our community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.
In appreciation for all the physicians, nurses, health care aides, home care providers, pharmacists, paramedics, emergency management teams and all others working in health care, the City is offering a 40% discount on a family, adult or youth Leisure Centre general admission during Health Care Worker Appreciation Week -- November 1 to 8, 2021.
In addition to the required vaccination or negative test proof, health care workers will be asked to provide proof of employment in order to receive the discount. The offer is valid at all City Leisure Centres including Cosmo Civic Centre, Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre, Lakewood Civic Centre, Lawson Civic Centre, Saskatoon Field House and Shaw Centre.
For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/leisurecentres.