News Releases

The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Police Service remind drivers to slow down when passing work zones and obey posted signs. To reduce speeding in work zones, City crews will start using temporary speed signs slowing people to 30 km/hr within the work zone on some roads where the speed limit is normally 50 km/hr.

“Even with bright clothing, barricades and signs, drivers continue to risk the lives of our road workers when they drive into equipment, between signs, and speed past without care and attention,” said General Manager Angela Gardiner. “By identifying and posting a temporary speed, it makes the expectation to slow down pretty clear.”

Hundreds of men and women work hard every day to provide Saskatoon residents with services that matter: from drinking water and sewer services, to smooth roads, clean and maintained parks and utility services. But at what cost? Too many drivers continue to ignore work zone signs and put lives at risk.

“It’s not only the law, but the responsibility of every driver to obey work zone signs,” said Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar. “The Traffic Unit will be patrolling work zones, reminding people to slow down, and charging drivers who insist on putting lives in danger by speeding.”

The new 30 km/hr construction zone signs will be rolled out over the next few months for City crews working on local streets. Regardless of whether a temporary speed sign is posted, drivers can be fined by Police for speeding or entering a work zone. Police have asked City workers to report these incidents.

The City’s annual Respect Work Zones public awareness campaign started today, in partnership with the Saskatoon Police Service, stressing that drivers must slow down in a work zone and obey signs. Advertisements include testimonials from real workers talking about their close calls s with drivers in City work zones.

Learn more at saskatoon.ca/respectworkzones.ca.

City Council has directed the Administration not to accelerate the Solair Neighbourhood project into the Holmwood Suburban Development Area.

Currently the proposed development lands are mostly outside Saskatoon City Limits and not in the development stream for any immediate city development.

Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Transportation and Construction, says the Civic Administration works hard to support developers and to create a business-friendly community.

“We completely respect and appreciate the goals of such a business and these companies need to make money on their developments; however, that cannot be done on the backs of taxpayers, or at the expense of other developers,” Gardiner says.  “We have an obligation to ensure Saskatoon develops in a fair and predictable manner for all developers.

“We also need to make sure the multi-million-dollar underground services – water, sewer, storm water, power, and communications – work properly and are constructed in a cost-effective way.”

Arbutus Properties has proposed a development of lands that are outside city limits southeast of Saskatoon that it says could be a future neighborhood.

The proposal has concepts that support many of the City’s environmental and development goals, but the civic Administration suggests the developer try a different approach.

“We would be very interested to see Arbutus implement some of the eco-friendly concepts it has proposed within the extensive undeveloped lands they own in Rosewood.”

Gardiner says there are multiple billion-dollar private developments already underway in Saskatoon.

“Adding another development will not attract additional housing demand in the City: it will simply take away demand from areas where City Council has already made significant investments.”

Council has also asked the Administration to report back on any possible ways to expand oversight or regulation around environmental features of new neighbourhood development.

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Encouraging individuals, businesses, and communities to keep the fire burning to spark change in our lives and city, the theme for the fourth annual Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation is Re-igniting the Fire.

“The Rock Your Roots Walk is an incredible example of coming together with the common cause of creating a better future for the generations yet to come,” said Mayor Charlie Clark. “The theme this year of Re-igniting the Fire is a reminder that we all have a role to play in this journey. As we seek the best for our community, we have to look inwards for answers and for action. We have so much potential in all of us, in our city, to help lead the way in living in right relationship and seeing strength in one another.”

The Walk honours survivors and answers the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.

"The Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation, honours residential school survivors, 60's scoop survivors, day school survivors and Murdered Missing Indigenous Women and Girls,” says Shirley Isbister, President, Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. “The walk is a day to promote diversity as we all walk together to support reconciliation in our community. We all need to re-ignite the fire of answering the calls to action."

Along the walk route, participants experienced live music, dance and entertainment - from traditional Indigenous performances to the Filipino Heritage School to Dance Egypt. The Walk joins with National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations hosted by the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre. Celebrations include free lunch, special guest speakers, live entertainment and fun for the whole family.

“I am very proud to be part of Rock Your Roots Walk in the spirit of Reconciliation,” says Mark Arcand, Tribal Chief, Saskatoon Tribal Council. “As we are all Treaty people we need to continue working together to promote partnerships and relationships so we can all have a quality of life.”

The “Rock Your Roots” Walk for Reconciliation is one of a number of events organized by Reconciliation Saskatoon, an initiative of 98 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 significance of the Walk goes back to the days we were children -- when on Sundays we were allowed to go for a walk,” says a residential school survivor who wishes to remain anonymous. “This was the only time we got to mingle with the girls and a short time that we were able to see our sisters, cousins, and brothers. We could go on this one mile walk as long as we were finished all our duties or if we weren’t in trouble.

When the TRC came together, we thought of ‘how can we start this journey?’ That is with a Survivors Walk -- a walk with our family -- a walk to remember all the children who are now gone, who are missing, who are still here: a Walk for Reconciliation.”

Since 2016, the Walk for Reconciliation has grown, drawing almost 5,000 people to Victoria Park to recognize the sacrifices and resilience of Residential School and Day School Survivors, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and 60s Scoop Survivors. The event is made possible through the generosity of community investors, including the Saskatoon Community Foundation and Nutrien.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ReconciliationSaskatoon or www.otc.ca. 

The City of Saskatoon’s commitment to the TRC’s Calls to Action supports the City’s Corporate Strategic Goal of Quality of Life by identifying actions for enhancing well-being and participation of Indigenous peoples in our community.