News Releases

The City of Saskatoon’s focus on continuous improvement is resulting in increased savings, award winning service, and greenhouse gas reducing environmental programs.

The 2013 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability: How the City of Saskatoon is Improving Productivity has been released, showing the City is on the right track toward achieving its vision of being the best managed city in Canada.

“We are always exploring and implementing new ways to improve service, increase savings, and grow our city in a sustainable way,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance. “The City is ensuring we continue to provide the programs and services that matter most to citizens.”

The report shows the City increased savings in 2013 by taking a fresh look at how it operates, resulting in an approximate $51.7 million in savings and more than $74 million over the next 30 years.  Additionally, there is $600,000 in deferred savings.

The list of new and improved delivery of civic services and programs outlined in the report is long, and includes everything from reintroducing a fall street sweeping program in more than 20 years to enabling citizens to report traffic concerns online, to committing to the development of more affordable housing units.

When it comes to environmental matters, Saskatoon citizens doubled the amount of recycling they do, thanks to the curbside recycling program. Key environmental initiatives are also helping reduce civic greenhouse gas emissions to the equivalent of removing 23,165 cars off Saskatoon roads.

Gryba says the overall report reflects how the City has gone beyond conventional approaches to meet the dynamic changing needs and high expectations of citizens.

“We are ensuring we are continuously dedicated to the creation of a culture of continuous improvement, one of the City of Saskatoon’s seven Strategic Goals.”

The entire 2013 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability is available at www.saskatoon.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The Downtown Transit Terminal will be closed Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22 while crews complete maintenance on the curbs and sidewalks in the area.

While crews are working, the terminal will be moved one block east to 23rd Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue, with temporary stops in effect.  Stops on 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue will not be affected and buses will stop at their usual location. 

For more information call our Customer Service Centre at 306-975-3100.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The first edition of Our Environment: The City of Saskatoon’s Environmental Leadership Report has been released. The report provides an overview of Saskatoon’s environmental health and establishes baselines for the strategies and priorities identified under the City’s Strategic Goal of Environmental Leadership.

“Our citizens value a healthy environment and as Saskatoon continues to grow, there will be corresponding pressures on our land, air, water and waste,” says Ian Loughran, Energy & Sustainability Engineering Manager. “Raising awareness of the overall condition of our environment and our progress toward sustainability will help us all make informed decisions and choices to reduce the negative impacts on our environment.”

How is Saskatoon doing? Highlights of the report include:

Ecological Footprint: Saskatoon's Ecological Footprint is 7.3 global hectares per capita, an increase of 6% between 2003 and 2010. The Ecological Footprint measures the environmental impact of human activity on the planet, expressing this impact in terms of the land area needed to support those activities by considering the space used to both produce the resources we consume and absorb the wastes we generate.

Land: The City, along with partners such as Meewasin Valley Authority and University of Saskatchewan, has established conservation management zones to protect wildlife habitat and encourage healthy and biologically diverse ecosystems. One example of this is Saskatoon's Northeast Swale - one of the largest pieces of unbroken natural habitat in the Saskatoon region.

Air: Corporate and community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions have increased since 2003. The City has a growing number of green and alternative energy projects that reduce the City's overall greenhouse gas emissions. A recent example is the Landfill Gas Project which captures gas (methane) from decomposing organic material in the Landfill, pipes the gas to a generating station and burns the gas in engine-generators to produce electrical energy. The project will eventually produce enough energy to power 1,300 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 45,000 tonnes annually.

Water: Residential water use decreased by over 55 litres per person per day over the 2008-2013 period. One of the reasons for the decrease is an increased awareness of water conservation techniques communicated through the City's Be Water Wise campaign. Water conservation relates directly to cost savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Waste: Diverting waste from the Landfill can reduce the environmental effects of landfilled waste and extend the operating life of the Landfill. The amount of materials diverted from the Landfill in 2013 through composting, recycling and hazardous waste collection programs was 34,539 tonnes - an increase of 30% from 2012.

The “Our Environment” Report is available for viewing at Saskatoon.ca and clicking on “O” for Our Environment.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

OVERNIGHT: CIRCLE DR E CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED ON CIRCLE DR NORTH BRIDGE
(Bridge sealing)
Start: August 18, 8:00 p.m. End: August 19, 6:00 a.m.
OVERNIGHT: IDYLWYLD DR SB FROM 24TH ST TO 22ND ST
(Paving)
Two-way traffic will be accommodated on Idylwyld Dr NB from 22nd St to 24th St. 
23rd St WB left turn bay approaching Idylwyld Dr is closed.
Start: August 19, 7:00 p.m. End: August 20, 7:00 a.m.

OVERNIGHT: 22ND ST WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE FROM IDYLWYLD DR TO AVENUE B
(Paving)
Start: August 19, 7:00 p.m. End: August 20, 7:00 a.m.

1ST AVE N NB LANE CLOSED FROM CIRCLE DR E TO 42ND A ST E
(Water & sewer work)
Turning onto 1st Ave from Circle Dr will be restricted. Detour: use Faithfull Ave or Millar Ave
Start: August 19, 7:00 a.m. End: August 20, 6:00 p.m.

ONGOING

CENTRAL AVE LANES CLOSED FROM GRAY AVE TO 110TH ST W
(Streetscaping)
Detour via Egbert Ave.
Start: August 17, 7:00 p.m. End: August 24, 6:00 p.m.
IDYLWYLD DR N SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 25TH ST W TO 24TH ST E
(Streetscaping)
Traffic will merge to one lane. Right turn from 25th St EB to Idylwyld Dr SB will be maintained
Start: August 13, 12:00 p.m. End: August 27, 4:00 p.m.
KINGSMERE BLVD & WHITESHORE CR (E. LEG) INTERSECTION CLOSED
(Water pipe boring)
Bus routes will be affected. Please watch for temporary bus stop locations and allow extra time in case of delays. Call Saskatoon Transit at 306-975-3100
Start: August 7, 8:00 a.m. End: August 22, 6:00 p.m.

20TH ST W WB LANES CLOSED FROM AVE F S TO AVE G S
(Streetscaping)
Two way traffic will be accommodated in the EB lanes. Speed reduced to 30km/h
Start: August 7, 9:00 a.m. End: September 4, 6:00 p.m.
All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.
Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Looking for a way to help your dog cool off in the heat? Bring your pooch for a swim at the FREE Dog Day of Summer Event at Mayfair Outdoor Pool on Monday, August 25!  Service dogs welcome between 2 and 4 p.m., and all dogs are welcome between 5 and 7 p.m.

All dogs must be well-socialized, vaccinated, and licensed in Saskatoon. If you don’t have a current license don’t worry, licenses can be purchased at the time of entry.

Skip the lines and be entered to win a prize by pre-registering before Wednesday, August 20 by emailing animalservices@saskatoon.ca with your name and your dog’s pet license number.  Registered participants will be admitted through the doors first.

The Saskatoon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be hosting a fundraiser BBQ with broth flavoured sno cones for dogs.

The Dog Day of Summer Event is planned for the day after the pool closes for the season. No human swimming will be permitted. Participation in this event is at your and your dog’s own risk.

For more information on this event or Animal Services, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/animalservices.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

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