News Releases

After a distinguished career of nearly 36 years, City Manager Murray Totland will retire on December 31, 2017. 

“After serving five Mayors, 11 City Councils, and the people of Saskatoon since the early 1980s, it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter,” says Totland. “I have been fortunate to have had the solid support of both Mayor Atchison and now Mayor Clark.  Managing Canada’s fastest growing city for nearly a decade has been extremely rewarding.” 

Totland thanks his staff for all of their support over the years. “Any success I have enjoyed as City Manager is largely due to having 3,600 dedicated colleagues here at the City who work tirelessly to deliver the great civic services our citizens and visitors depend upon.”

"Mr. Totland has navigated this city through many big changes and unprecedented growth over the last decade,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “His steady leadership has been instrumental in bringing innovation and new approaches to City Hall to improve how we deliver important civic services. I have seen the dedication Mr. Totland has to the success of the City and I am grateful for his many decades of service."

Both Totland and Mayor Clark note Totland’s trusted relationship with the current and previous City Councils.

“It’s been my pleasure and privilege to serve three City Councils in this role,” Totland says. “Their support of my continuous improvement efforts over the years has been critical in our City’s pursuit to become the best-managed city in Canada.”

“Mr. Totland has built a strong relationship with every City Council I have seen him work with.”  Mayor Clark adds “I am grateful for these months we have worked together in my role as Mayor. His reassuring presence will be a challenge to replace”.

Murray joined the City in 1982, and has held increasingly senior positions within the corporation.  In 2004, he was selected as General Manager of the Utility Services Department, where one of his goals was to change the organizational culture to be more accountable, responsive, and adaptive.

In 2006, he was appointed General Manager of the Infrastructure Services Department where he adapted the change strategy to meet the requirements of this large, diverse department.  

In January 2009, Murray was appointed to the position of City Manager. 

In these capacities, Murray was responsible for delivering critical, multi‑million dollar infrastructure projects, including the $300 million Circle Drive South project, and the City’s Civic Operations Centre being delivered as Saskatchewan’s first P3 project.

“I am confident that City Council’s goal of providing our citizens with a high quality of life, and our position as an economic and cultural leader, will be in good hands with whomever City Council chooses as my successor.”

City Council will launch the recruitment process for a new City Manager in the coming weeks.  

Since nominations opened in July, all members of the community have been invited to submit names for the North Commuter Parkway Bridge that either acknowledge an Aboriginal historical event or figure, represent the spirit of community, coming together, or connection.

A series of public information sessions are being planned in October for citizens to get involved with naming the North Commuter Parkway Bridge.

“We’re striving to be inclusive and ensuring all Saskatoon citizens have an opportunity to get involved in the reconciliation process by nominating a name for the North Commuter Parkway Bridge.” says Harry Lafond, Executive Director, Office of the Treaty Commissioner.  “It’s essential First Nations, Métis and all members of our diverse community can see themselves represented in the naming of our shared public spaces, such as bridges, parks and streets.”

The community-led project responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #79: Participate in a strategy to commemorate Aboriginal People’s history and contributions to Canada.

“Naming the bridge shows our community’s commitment to answering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the process of reconciliation,” says Shirley Isbister, President of Central Urban Métis Federation Inc.  “Reconciliation is what is going to move Saskatoon forward by uniting our community and building positive and mutually beneficial relationships.”

Citizens can nominate online or in-person at a number of general public information sessions planned, including specific sessions targeting groups such as youth, seniors/old people and people living with disabilities.

For more details on how to nominate online and information sessions, visit Saskatoon.ca/namethencp.

All qualified names received through the naming project will be added to the master names list for use in naming future civic infrastructure.  The nomination period will be open until October 31st.

Under the City of Saskatoon’s Strategic Goal of Quality of Life, this project supports the recognition of our built, natural, and cultural heritage.  The naming of civic facilities celebrates the history, environment, and outstanding contributions of our diverse community.

Following the incident Monday at Dundonald Park, representatives of the City and Saskatoon Public School Division administrations met this afternoon to discuss safety reviews underway within each organization.

“We both agree that working together on the review of this tragedy and to come up with rationale and timely recommendations to increase safety in our community, is in everyone’s best interest,” says City Manager Murray Totland. 

The City and public school officials will compile a diverse team for the comprehensive review.

“Our school division has a valued partnership with the City of Saskatoon. We believe when it comes to the safety of children, a community response is necessary,” says Saskatoon Public School Division Director of Education, Barry MacDougall.

Additionally, the City and Saskatoon Public School Division agree to collaborate and reach out to the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Children’s Advocate to cooperate with those respective investigations.

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo’s resident Red Panda, Phoenix, will be leaving Saskatoon on Sunday, October 1, 2017.

“For the past three years, Phoenix has lived with us in the PotashCorp Ark Exhibit and his presence was enjoyed by visitors of all ages,” says Zoo Manager Tim Sinclair-Smith.

Sinclair-Smith adds, “Phoenix’s move is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) developed by the (American) Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild.”

“The SSP plans to grow and develop a long-term program for red pandas, and Phoenix will play a key role in the continued development of the program.”

Recently, the red panda has been classified as Endangered because its population in the wild is estimated to be less than 10,000 and continues to decline due to habitat loss among other causes.

“We hope that one day red pandas will return to the Zoo, but for now our commitment is to the SSP and the important work it is doing to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse, and stable population for red pandas,” says Sinclair-Smith.

In celebration of Phoenix’s final days in Saskatoon, the Zoo Animal Care team will be on hand to answer questions at the PotashCorp Ark Exhibit throughout the month of September.

The Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the Forestry Farm Park gates are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Following continual review of several financial options, City Administration has estimated the most current property tax increase at 4.96%.

“As we’ve said all along, we’re focussed on exploring numerous strategies to find savings that will help minimize next year’s property taxes,” says Director of Finance Clae Hack.

The Governance and Priorities Committee will consider the 2018 Business Plan and Budget Update at its Monday, September 18 meeting.

Despite a $6.1 million reduction in provincial funding -- equivalent to a 2.77% property tax increase -- the Administration has continued to work towards minimizing the property tax impact for 2018. 

 “While we continue to face significant challenges as a result of the provincial funding decreases, we’ve heard through our public engagement that it’s very important to maintain our existing service levels throughout the City,” Hack says.

As the GPC report outlines, several changes have been made to the 2018 projected budget to arrive at the revised property tax estimate at 4.96% for 2018, some of which include:

• Repayment of sound wall borrowings over 10 years instead of 5 which has resulted in a decrease of $250,000 in expenditures.
• Removal of the $240,000 growth allocation to roadways preservation and maintenance as their annual targets will continue to be met without this due to favourable pricing.
• Decrease of $600,000 to the transfer to Reserve for Capital Expenditures (RCE) in order to reduce the reliance on the property tax.
• Adjustment of $200,000 to traffic fines and penalties based on refined estimates; this adjustment results in an overall decrease in revenue of $300,000 instead of the originally estimated $500,000.

The 2018 Preliminary Budget is currently estimated at $491.0 million which is a $13.3 million increase over 2017.

The next 2018 Business Plan and Budget Update will be the full presentation of the 2018 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget book to the Governance and Priorities Committee on October 16, 2017.

Find further details and related budget and finance documents at saskatoon.ca/budget.