News Releases

After months of planning and preparation, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (the Zoo) and fRI Research, a non-profit research corporation based in Hinton, Alberta, have formalized a five-year agreement for the Zoo and the fRI Research Grizzly Bear Program to collaboratively carry out research on grizzly bear conservation and health.

“We are beyond excited to partner with the fRI Research on this amazing grizzly bear conservation and health research program,” says Zoo Manager, Tim Sinclair-Smith.

“This program will provide an opportunity for the Zoo to actively engage in conservation research, allow us to link research initiatives at the Zoo to those happening in the wild and support the conservation of grizzly bears in Canada.”

Over the next nine months, the research program will focus on the following:

• genetic identification of Zoo grizzly bears Mistaya and Koda by hair-based DNA analysis;
• effect of berry consumption on fecal based DNA analysis;
• planning and development of a naturalistic enclosure for grizzly bears at the Zoo which will utilize research findings on grizzly bear habitat and behaviour;
• communication of research activities and findings in the areas of grizzly bear health and conservation; and
• securing financial support for a Conservation Research and Wildlife Health Department at the Zoo, which will include the development and operation of a permanent Wildlife Health Centre.

The program will be coordinated by Dr. Marc Cattet, a wildlife health researcher and veterinarian for the fRI Research Grizzly Bear Program.  Dr. Cattet will work closely with Gordon Stenhouse, Research Scientist, and fRI Grizzly Bear Program Leader, on all aspects of this important new partnership.

“We are very pleased to be moving forward with this important new collaboration with the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo,” Stenhouse says.  “This partnership will allow us to communicate conservation research findings with Zoo visitors and to work with captive bears to answer scientific questions which we hope will ultimately result in the long-term conservation of this species.”

Mistaya is the sole surviving cub from Bear 66, a well-known female grizzly, who was killed in 2005 on the CP Rail tracks through Banff National Park.  He stayed in the wild until it became clear that he could not survive without intervention.

Koda was found orphaned that same year in the Grand Prairie region.  He was rescued and nurtured by zookeepers at the Edmonton Valley Zoo.  The cubs were paired at the Calgary Zoo and later transferred to their permanent home in Saskatoon.

For more information on the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, visit saskatoon.ca/zoo.

As we approach the midpoint of summer, Saskatoon residents are seeing widespread evidence of the investment in the City’s roads and road network infrastructure. Construction projects are underway across the city that will result in improved road and sidewalk surfaces, reduced delays at major intersections, and new infrastructure including significant water and sewer upgrades.

“The volume of construction we’re undertaking this year is unprecedented, and there will be a very noticeable improvement at the end of this construction season,” says Celene Anger, Director of Construction and Design. “Since 2013, residents have been telling us through our annual Civic Services Survey that the condition of our roads is the single biggest issue facing Saskatoon. We’re working to answer that call and have made tremendous progress since we started the Building Better Roads program.”

Intersection Improvements

• Complete – 22^nd Street & Diefenbaker Drive
• On schedule – 51^st Street & Warman Road; Taylor Street & Preston Avenue  

This work will result in reduced delays, easier movements, and increased safety at each of these high traffic intersections.

Resurfacing

Beginning tonight, resurfacing work will begin on stretches of Airport Drive, Circle Drive and Idylwyld Drive. Resurfacing means removing a layer of deteriorated pavement and replacing it with a new layer of asphalt, leaving a smooth and stable driving surface. This work will be undertaken overnight (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) to minimize traffic impacts.

Microsurfacing

Beginning this weekend, the City will start microsurfacing which needs warmer temperatures for successful application. Microsurfacing is a preservation surface treatment that leaves the road in ‘like-new’ condition. It’s applied to weathered or worn surfaces that are structurally sound.

Other Progress

• Close to 4,000 sidewalks panels have been replaced; an additional 765 panels have received a maintenance treatment
• Close to 700 km of roadway and crosswalk lines have been painted
• Sealing of city bridges is taking place throughout July and August
• Grading of gravel back lanes is taking place in more than 40 neighbourhoods
• Pothole repair crews are working seven days a week to fill potholes with hot-mix asphalt
• Significant water and sewer upgrades are underway in neighbourhoods across the city which includes the replacement of dated underground infrastructure and approximately 900 lead water service pipes to homes and businesses
• Work continues to progress on the construction of the new Traffic Bridge and North Commuter Parkway, as well as the construction of new interchanges at Boychuk Drive & Highway 16 and McOrmond Drive & College Drive

“With so many active construction projects underway around the city, we know what a pain it can be for people trying to navigate the roads,” says Anger. “We plan our construction season to lessen these impacts as much as possible, but of course it’s not possible to avoid traffic delays altogether. We’re asking everyone to remember the work is necessary and will be worth it in the long run.”

For 2017, City Council invested more than $61 million on the construction and maintenance of roads, sidewalks, back lanes, plus water and sewer infrastructure. This is roughly $2 million more than last year, and around $8 million more than in 2015. 

As part of an overall commitment to better roads in Saskatoon, City crews are busy repairing and grading a network of more than 400 kilometres of gravel back lanes. The annual work improves surface drainage and provides better access for residents and service vehicles.

“Gravel back lanes were assessed in the spring, so right now we are tackling lanes that were identified as being deteriorated due to weather and vehicle traffic,” says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways and Operations. “In addition to improving surface drainage, back lane maintenance also includes rut and pothole repair.”

Although ponding water is normal after it rains, pools of water in gravel lanes over several weeks can speed up the formation of potholes. Back lane maintenance is both reactive and proactive as it repairs the surface while reducing future deterioration.

Residents can help prevent flooding in back lanes by keeping drainage routes clear of debris and trimming back tree branches that block sunlight in back lanes. Overhanging branches can prevent gravel back lanes from drying properly and also interfere with equipment.  

“Our crews operate large equipment, often in tight surroundings in these gravel back lanes,” says Harris. “We ask that while crews are working everyone stays clear of back lanes so our workers can get the job done safely and efficiently.”   

For everyone’s safety, please respect work zones, and for more information please visit saskatoon.ca/backlanes for the back lane maintenance schedule.

Weather

From now until 8 p.m. tonight there is a chance of showers as well as risk of thunderstorms. The likelihood of precipitation is medium with winds gusting from the east up to 50km/h until 5 p.m. then tapering off to a light easterly wind. The skies will clear to partly cloudy overnight.

Saskatoon experienced a thunderstorm last night with City rain gauges measuring accumulations ranging from 4.4mm in Silverwood Heights to 45 mm in Stonebridge, the rain gauge at the Shaw centre captured 23 mm.  Intensities were even more dramatic in the south and west areas of the city.

Water and Waste Stream

No storm related issues at the Water Treatment Plant.  The generators were put into “storm mode” when lightning started.

Last night two flusher crews were out checking/solving problem areas.

Today crews will perform inspections with Closed Circuit TV cameras in all low lying areas.  Catch basin crews are responding to calls of blocked street drains as needed.

Roadways & Operations

Roadway crews responded to approximately 20 popped manhole covers following last night’s storm.  One manhole cover was unable to be located and has been replaced.  Over the course of the night crews were able to re-open all sections of road except a closure on Melville Street; they are currently working to bring it back into service and expect it will be open sometime this morning.

Transportation

All traffic signals are operating fully except for 22nd Street and Hart Road which is operating in flash mode. Crews are troubleshooting and working to restore regular function.

Saskatoon Light & Power

The four major outages were restored before 10:00 p.m. last night. 

• Haultain, Adelaide/Churchill and Nutana Park. The outage was caused by a lightning strike damaging 3 poles. Power was restored at 9:36 p.m.
• Industrial neighbourhood. The outage was also caused by lightning damaging a capacitor bank. Power was restored at 9:38 p.m.
• Riversdale neighbourhood. The outage was caused by tree contacts. Power was restored at 8:29 p.m.
• Station 20 West. The outage was caused by damaged equipment from the storm. Power was restored at 9:20 p.m.

The smaller outages to single homes were restored by 12:30 this morning.  There were approximately 4650 customers affected.

For lingering impacts, SL&P has some tree trimming clean-up to finish this morning and 3 poles that will need to be replaced. These were the ones that started on fire due to the lightning strikes.   

Transit

Transit was back on schedule by 9:00pm.  There were some minor detours due to localized flooding.

Parks & Urban Forestry

Four reports of tree limb failures were made to dispatch last night and attended to or coned off for follow up response today. There have been an additional four tree damage calls that have been directed to Urban Forestry this morning. We have five Urban Forestry crews that will be responding to tree damage calls on a priority basis today.

Saskatoon Fire Department

Between 6 and 9 p.m. the SFD responded to 25 incidents; of those four involved tree contact or a downed power line which started fires; nine incidents were the result of fire alarms sounding. 

The Fire Department cautions the public against wading into storm water as there may be unseen hazards in the water such as missing manhole covers and dangerous debris. 

Standing water could also be extremely dangerous if there are downed power lines or if it became energized by a lightning strike.

Beginning this Thursday, July 6, the City is undertaking major work to improve the safety and functionality of the intersection at Taylor Street and Preston Avenue. Based on a set of pre-defined criteria that includes collision history and average delays, this intersection was one identified as in need of improvements in 2017. The work is expected to take eight weeks.

“We’re very aware of how disruptive construction work at a major intersection like this can be, and we’ve planned the project in order to minimize the impacts as much as possible,” says Celene Anger, Director of Construction and Design. “We waited until school was out for construction to start, and we’re also undertaking the work in phases so we can keep one lane of traffic open in all directions at all times.”

The planned improvements to the intersection include:

• Construction of a dedicated left turning lane from Preston southbound onto Taylor to improve traffic flow and reduce delays.
• Construction of dedicated right turning lane from Taylor westbound onto Preston to improve traffic flow and reduce delays.
• Moving the island between the intersection and right turning lane from Preston southbound onto Taylor to create a bus bay. This will allow buses to pull out of the flow of traffic to pick up and drop off passengers.
• Improving the alignment of crosswalks for the ease and safety of pedestrians.
• Painting lane lines to improve safety and the road user experience.

Some of the other major intersections undergoing improvements this summer include 22nd Street and Diefenbaker Drive (now complete) and 51st Street and Warman Road. For more information about 2017 construction projects, visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads.