News Releases

The City is pleased to announce that the City’s Public Art Advisory Committee has received a sculpture on temporary loan from Saskatoon artist Douglas Bentham.   

“We are always grateful for an opportunity to enhance our public art program,” says Community Development Manager Kevin Kitchen.  “Public art transforms public spaces and engage with audiences to promote an appreciation for contemporary art practices.  

Titled “Perfect World” the 12m-tall (40 foot) stainless-steel sculpture will be on display near the intersection of Idylwyld Drive and 20^th Street East until June 30, 2025.  

“The sculpture is a tribute to Mother Nature,” Bentham says. “The subject matter speaks for itself: a gleaming sphere held aloft on a man-made column.”  

Bentham is a practitioner of abstract, constructivist sculpture for over forty years.

Other Bentham sculptures on exhibit in Saskatoon include: 

• Unfurled at Spadina Crescent and 25^th Street; and  
• Gentle Rain (on-loan from Remai Modern) in Hyde Park. 

To learn more about the City’s public art collection, visit saskatoon.ca/publicart. 

All aboard! The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is excited to announce the return of guided train tours with the addition of a new electric, trackless train the Kinsmen Express II.

“Visitors have been anxiously awaiting the return of guided train tours at the Zoo,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “We are so thankful to the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation for their continued partnership and contributions that led to the return of this much-loved attraction at the Zoo.”

The Kinsmen Express II is equipped with a ramp and wheelchair accessible car and will provide a fun way to learn more about the many magnificent animals that call the Zoo home. Train tours are FREE with your Zoo admission and will be guided by the Saskatoon Zoo Society from May until Labour Day each year. Tours will run continuously from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, with extended hours on weekends throughout July and August.

Zoo-goers will have their first opportunity to ride the Kinsmen Express II on July 1, 2022. The Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit.

The new dry storm pond in W.W. Ashley District performed exceptionally well when approximately 65 millimetres of rain fell (Aden Bowman Collegiate rain gauge) during the afternoon of Monday, June 20, 2022. The pond, which was completed last fall, was designed to handle a 1-in-10-year rain event but accommodated a storm closer to a 1-in-25-year rain event, preventing water damage to approximately 37 neighbourhood homes that typically experience flooding during intense rainfall.

“Flash flooding, especially in neighbourhoods developed prior to storm water infrastructure standard improvements in 1989, can be devastating which is why we have been working to protect as many people and properties as we can through our Flood Control Strategy,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Utilities and Environment. “Monday’s rain was an ideal test. We are very impressed as we have not received any reports of flooded homes adjacent to the new pond and the infrastructure handled more water than anticipated. The pond had completely drained by 8 o’clock that evening.”

Dry storm ponds hold water that would otherwise cause nearby flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows into storm drains and through pipes into the dry storm pond, then slowly drains into the storm sewer before it drains into the South Saskatchewan River. Whenever dry, it is used as park space. When it fills with storm water, it is deep and dangerous, and residents should stay away.

The W.W. Ashley Park Dry Storm Pond will open to the public this fall after the landscaping has fully rooted. Residents are asked to stay out of the enclosed area until then.

Construction on a dry storm pond in Churchill Park is underway right now and will be completed later this year. Plans are in the works for a dry storm pond in Weaver Park in 2023 and more flood mitigation projects will be built between 2024 and 2027.

“Once these flood control projects are completed, we anticipate seeing a substantial decrease in the amount of neighbourhood flooding in the top 10 highest risk areas of the city.” says Gardiner.

On Monday, storm water and debris infiltrated the sewer system and ended up at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. As a result, the city’s lift stations were operating at capacity and there was a minor sewage spill into the South Saskatchewan River.

“This is an extremely rare occurrence. Due to the small volume, the sewage quickly diluted, and downstream lab sampling did not detect any harmful impacts. The spill was reported to the Water Security Agency and there was no risk to the public.”

A report on the City’s June 20, 2022 Rain Event Response will be presented to City Council on Monday, June 27, 2022.

The prairie dogs have a new habitat to explore and start digging their complex tunnel systems in at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo).

“We are so excited to have the prairie dogs in their new home,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager.  “The exhibit was designed to feature a naturalistic habitat and is over nine feet deep allowing them to exhibit their natural behaviours of digging and exploring”.

The new habitat also provides visitors the opportunity to get an up-close look at the prairie dogs with over 40 feet of glass around the new exhibit.

Building the new exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation who raises funds for capital projects and improvements within the Zoo. The Foundation secured the required funding to bring the new prairie dog exhibit to life thanks to the generous support of Rempel Brothers Construction, Dynamic Glass and Door, Richter Fencing, York Windows and Doors, One Mouse Graphic Design, LB Signs and the Forster Families. 

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is very excited to have been able to contribute to the new Prairie Dog Exhibit and are very thankful for all of our partners and donors,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation. “We couldn’t contribute to the Zoo without our supporters and because of them we can continue to connect citizens to nature so they can all enjoy this wonderful gem.”

The new prairie dog exhibit also features original artwork created by the Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Program. “We were so excited to work with the Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Program,” says Mitchell. “The piece really brings the space to life and makes this exhibit extra special and feel like you are out in a Southern Saskatchewan Prairie.”

Prairie dogs live in tight-knit family groups called coteries and communicate using squeaky calls. While their squeaky calls may sound simple and repetitive to the human ear, prairie dogs’ vocabulary is thought to be more advanced than any other animal language that has been decoded.

Residents are encouraged to come and experience the cuteness for themselves. The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the end of June and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting in July.  Additional information can be found at saskatoon.ca/zoo.

With the Government of Saskatchewan’s recent announcement that Step 3 of the Re-Opening Roadmap will begin on July 11, the City continues the process of planning and preparing for a gradual and full resumption of the remaining impacted programs and services.  

The City’s approach to recovery will be phased and methodical to keep employees safe so they can continue to deliver programs and services to residents. Important work is well underway within many City departments as there are many programs and services that are being reviewed prior to full resumption. 

Return of Staff to the Workplace 

Preparations include the return of staff to the workplace who have been working at home since the onset of the pandemic, by September 1. As staff return, the City will be following the direction from the Government of Saskatchewan and Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety to meet our duty under the Occupational Health & Safety Act. 

Masks and Physical Distancing – Civic Facilities and Public Outdoor Spaces 

Masking and physical distancing requirements during the transition period will be guided by applicable Government of Saskatchewan directives at the time. Masks are always welcome to be worn, with a reminder they must be removed when participating in aquatic activities in Leisure Centres.  

Until July 11, when visiting an indoor civic facility such as a Leisure Centre, City Hall, Transit Customer Service, and while riding a bus, protocols must still be followed by all staff and customers including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. This includes wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance. 

Throughout the summer, any remaining outdoor and facility signage indicating mask wearing and/or physical distancing will be addressed by City crews.  

Saskatoon Transit  

Saskatoon Transit is reviewing all options and consulting various regulations and practices across Canada. Information will be shared on saskatoontransit.ca as it becomes available. Operator vinyl barriers will remain on buses and the number of riders will be monitored as we transition to full standing loads in July. 

City Hall  

The Payment Centre, Customer Service & Collections counters located in the lobby of City Hall continue to be open for in-person transactions. Additional customer services, previously available on other floors of City Hall, may be available from the lobby starting September 1. Access to the remainder of City Hall will be reviewed along with cafeteria services on the fourth floor.  

Residents and customers are still encouraged to continue to use convenient online services.   

Announced earlier, City Council meetings will resume in Chambers this September. Watch for more details on upcoming in-person meetings as they are announced. 

Leisure Facilities & Programs 

Leisure Centres and seasonal facilities and attractions will be preparing to increase regular programming in the Fall. Details will be available on the City’s website and social media channels, and in the seasonal Leisure Guide, available starting Friday, August 6 on saskatoon.ca/leisureguide or to pick up at any at leisure facility, library or over 120 retail locations where the StarPhoenix is sold. 

Watch for more information and announcements regarding programs and services at saskatoon.ca.