News Releases

In recognition of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and the lives lost in Friday night’s highway bus tragedy, the City is lowering all flags to half-mast at civic facilities across Saskatoon. It is a small way of acknowledging the impact on the hockey community and people all across the province, and further today.

Mayor Charlie Clark says, “We are all devastated by the tragic bus crash of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. 

These players and staff have family and friends throughout our whole province. They have touched us all. 

Saskatoon will offer support in any way we can as we all try to come to terms with the impacts of this heartbreaking accident. We have our Police, Fire, and Ambulance members all on the scene, providing emergency management and wellness supports. 

Sincere thanks to everyone who helped out last night and who continues to provide support, from emergency responders, to the media keeping us updated, to the community members who are providing comfort in this time of deep sadness. 

The City of Saskatoon will be lowering flags to half-mast in recognition of lives lost in this tragedy.” 

Every home has some level of risk for flooding during spring snow melt and rain storms.  An innovative new program was launched today in Saskatoon to help people take proactive measures and reduce their flood risk, thanks to sponsorship provided by the City and SGI CANADA.

“Homeowners can register now for a free or partially-subsidized professional home assessment to help identify flood risks through the Home Flood Protection Program,” said Reid Corbett, Director of Saskatoon Water. “Early action and preventative maintenance activities can help reduce these risks in the short and long term."

Home assessments are completed by a national environmental consulting agency - a $450 value - at a reduced rate of $125. Up to 100 homes that meet the criteria for high-risk flooding areas are eligible for a free home assessment.

Once a homeowner registers and books their 60-90 minute appointment, a trained assessor completes a 50-point visual assessment and provides a list of the top actions to reduce flood risk. Participants can also access self-help resources, a customer service help-line and local service provider information as they start implementing the recommendations.

“This leading-edge flood resiliency program comes at an important time,” said Cheryl Evans, Director of the Home Flood Protection Program at the University of Waterloo’s Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. “As the frequency and severity of extreme weather due to climate change is increasing and exposes many homes to possible basement flooding.”

The Home Flood Protection Program was first piloted in Burlington, Ontario last year and is now available in Saskatoon for up to 400 owners of fully-detached, semi-detached and townhomes. Lessons learned from the pilot program will inform a broader rollout of the program across Canada.

City Council approved funding for the Home Flood Protection Program in response to feedback from residents in areas that experienced flooding during the July and August 2017 intense rain events.

The Home Flood Protection Program was developed by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, is delivered locally by AET Group and sponsored by the City of Saskatoon and SGI CANADA. Homeowners who are interested in participating in the program can register online now or call 1-877-876-9235 (toll-free).

The City is reminding everyone that it wants to hear ideas on how to improve our lives through innovation, data, and technology; it is all part of the Smart Cities Challenge.

The Smart Cities Challenge asks communities to share their best ideas for using technology and data to improve livability and opportunities for the city and its residents.

The first step in the application process is to develop a Challenge Statement that defines the outcomes a community aims to achieve.

For Saskatoon, the focus is on improving community safety and well-being.  We need residents to weigh in with feedback, so the City has begun a process of reaching out to individuals, families, community organizations, institutions, and the technology sector.

Saskatoon residents are being asked for their ideas on how to address the challenges our city faces as they relate to community safety and well-being.

Everyone can get involved by visiting saskatoon.ca/engage on or before Monday, April 2, 2018, and answering four questions to participate in a community-wide brainstorm to narrow down key themes for the Challenge Statement.

The City is partnering with the Central Urban Métis Federation, Saskatoon Health Authority, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Tribal Council, United Way, and University of Saskatchewan in the development of the Smart Cities Challenge Application.

Challenge Details
Recently launched by the Government of Canada, the Challenge has three rounds of competition.  Saskatoon has until Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to submit a Challenge Statement application in the first round.  The Government of Canada will announce round one finalists in Summer 2018, and each finalist will receive $250,000 to further develop their ideas into a full proposal.  Winners will be announced in Spring 2019 and will have their ideas funded through a potential $10 million prize (Eligible Category:  Communities with Populations under 500,000).

Visit the Government of Canada's Challenge website to learn more about Smart Cities, and join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #smartcitiesCanada.