News Releases

Saskatoon firefighters want to remind everyone river ice is dangerous for people and pets alike.

The Saskatoon Fire Department has had to respond to a number of emergencies which have involved dogs in distress on river ice.

“Since 2011, firefighters have responded to ten emergencies that involved dogs in the river during the winter months – that’s over one a year on average,” says Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger. “So far this year the Saskatoon Fire Department has been called out to two such emergencies.”

Rodger points out moving water in the river introduces an inherent structural weakness to the ice and is one of the main reasons firefighters always warn people to stay off river ice throughout the winter season.

“Ice will weaken when water is moving above or below the ice surface,” Rodger says.  “River currents and temperatures constantly affect the quality of the ice on the river making it unstable and dangerous.”

The Saskatoon Fire Department again reminds residents to never go on the river ice and whenever possible, to maintain contact and control of dogs in off-leash areas near the river.

To move towards 70% waste diversion, residents are invited to participate in a series of engagement activities that will assist the City in redesigning the curbside waste collection system.

“Decisions about how we manage the waste-stream will impact all current and future residents. It’s important we get this right.” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “The City wants to hear from a large cross-section of curbside customers including people of all ages, people living in different areas, people of various incomes, people in different types of housing and people with differing abilities. Everybody is encouraged to get involved.”

Wallace says three-quarters of what goes into Saskatoon’s Landfill could be diverted with the right programs, policies and citizen participation rates.

“Redesigning the curbside waste collection program to help make waste diversion more attractive behaviour-- while building a sustainable funding model for waste -- is critical to extending the life of the landfill,” Wallace says.

She adds the costs to close the existing landfill and establish a new landfill are estimated at $26 million and $100 million respectively.

Beginning February 12, the City will host a series of public engagement sessions, workshops and surveys to look at priorities, preferences and any barriers that might impact a redesigned curbside collection system.

The scope of the project includes: a review of the current containers and collection frequency for garbage and recycling; development of a variable-rate utility for waste; introduction of a residential city-wide composting program; and evaluation of depots and other waste services.

For more information, including dates and location of activities, visit www.saskatoon.ca/yxetalkstrash.

Community discussions with multi-unit and business stakeholders will begin in the spring of 2018.  

More work has determined that hydrocarbons have not been detected beyond seven fire hydrants in a small area of the Aspen Ridge neighbourhood; even so, the Water Security Agency (WSA) Do Not Use Notice for just over a dozen homes remains in effect.

“This is very encouraging,” says Russ Munro, Acting General Manager of Transportation and Utilities. “We are now in a position where we can get residents back to a normal routine by installing above-ground temporary water lines.”

The WSA issued the Notice on January 10th after hydrocarbons were visually detected in some fire hydrants within one section of the neighbourhood.

So far, the City’s investigation has revealed no signs of hydrocarbons beyond the hydrant structures. The residential water supply continues to test clean and clear.

“We dug up pipes and looked; we removed water meters and looked and there was no sign of hydrocarbons in either,” Munro says. “Even though tests in the home have come back clear, we simply do not take any chances with water quality. The Do Not Use Notice will remain in effect until the water quality is fully restored.”

The City replaced all the water meters in the affected area and the temporary water line installations are scheduled to happen in about two weeks. Until then, residents in about 10 affected homes will continue to receive bottled water.

The City has also arranged to suspend water billing for the affected properties as of January 10th.

The Do Not Use Notice does not extend to laundry and toilets – those uses are allowed.

To promote winter fun in Saskatoon, a WinterCityYXE pilot program has brought two unique warming huts from The Forks in Winnipeg.

The warming huts can be found at the Nutrien Wintershines Festival from Saturday, January 27 to Sunday, February 4 and the Kôna – Wanuskewin Winter Festival on Saturday, February 10. After that, the warming huts will be on the riverbank at two locations until early March:  Spadina Crescent and Oxford Street, and Spadina Crescent and Avenue D.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to share their experiences with the warming huts by emailing wintercityyxe@saskatoon.ca.

For more information, including the design of the warming huts and a full calendar of winter activities in Saskatoon, visit saskatoon.ca/wintercityyxe. To have an event or activity added to the WinterCityYXE calendar, please contact us at wintercityyxe@saskatoon.ca.

The City and Thunderchild First Nation have cleared a path to designate the First Nation’s Retro Petro Gas Station and Convenience Store at the corner of Idylwyld Drive and 33rd Street as an urban reserve.

Mayor Charlie Clark and Chief Delbert Wapass, along with the Council of Thunderchild First Nation, today signed the agreements at a special meeting of City Council.

“I want to thank Thunderchild First Nation for choosing to invest in our community with the development of the Retro Petro and the establishment of an urban reserve at this busy Saskatoon intersection,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “Our long history of establishing urban reserves has proven the shared benefits they bring in investment, job creation, and services that benefit the Indigenous community and all citizens of the community.  Tangible partnerships like these are meaningful steps in the journey of Reconciliation.”

The agreement will address:

• services the City will provide;
• service fees Thunderchild First Nation will pay the City in lieu of property taxes; and
• compatible land-use and development standards. 

“We are very excited to finally conclude the urban reserve process with the City of Saskatoon,” says Chief Delbert Wapass.  “This would not be possible without the prayers and support of our Elders/membership and the hands-on support of our Mayor Charlie Clark and his Council.  Today is a good day and the beginning of a new chapter in Thunderchild First Nation’s road to economic sovereignty.”

Decisions on reserve designation are made by the federal government.  If the property is designated as a reserve, it would become the sixth urban reserve in Saskatoon.  When a property transfers to reserve status, it is no longer under City jurisdiction.

For more information on urban reserves, please visit saskatoon.ca/urbanreserves.

About Thunderchild First Nation
​Thunderchild First Nation is an independent Cree First Nation whose home reserve is located approximately 200 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon near Turtleford, Saskatchewan.  A signatory of Treaty No. 6, Thunderchild First Nation has 2,800 members.  Approximately 1,300 members reside on the home reserve, and 1,500 members live in other communities throughout the province.