News Releases

The City of Saskatoon is taking a new approach to line painting on major roadways and high-speed freeways this year by expanding the use of durable markings.  When these types of roadways are built or rehabilitated, durable markings will be used. Durable markings are more visible and also last longer than regular road paint. 

“Winter operations, including the use of gravel and snow clearing, as well as higher traffic volumes, wear off road paint faster,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “This is why we are expanding the use of more durable markings on higher volume roadways. While the upfront cost is higher, these markings last longer and are visible year round.” 

The cost of the annual road marking program is $800,000 per year. In 2014, an additional $500,000 will be spent on durable markings. 

Road marking begins once sweeping is underway and nighttime temperatures are consistently at 5 degrees or warmer (generally late April/early May and until late October).  

There are no specific dates for painting road markings as the program is coordinated during or after other road work, and is weather dependent. High-traffic areas (such as downtown and Idylwyld Drive) are generally painted during the night to minimize disruption to traffic.  

In 2014, some of the locations where durable markings will be installed include:
- Circle Drive – Circle Drive North to Attridge Drive overpass, eastbound
- Circle Drive – Warman Road to Circle Drive, eastbound
- 51st Street

City crews paint road markings two to three times each year:
- Lane lines, edge lines and centre lines are painted three times a year
- Crosswalks are painted at least twice a year
- Sharrows, chevrons and parking stall lines are painted once a year
- Road markings are re-painted if they have been removed due to paving, patching, etc.

More information about Road Markings is available at saskatoon.ca as part of the Building Better Roads campaign.  Saskatoon’s Road Plan is a coordinated approach to repair, maintain and construct better roads in Saskatoon.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroads and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook. 

Deb Davies, a firefighter with Saskatoon Fire Department, credits her training with the fire department and the availability of an Automated External Defibrillator or AED at the Las Vegas airport for helping her save a bystanders life.

On Friday, April 11^th, Deb Davies and a group of her friends went to Las Vegas for a short holiday. When they arrived at the luggage carousel Deb noticed someone who was in distress. Immediately her training as a Primary Care Paramedic kicked in. Utilizing her CPR training, she started compressions while calling for others to find the AED and call 9-1-1. Other professionals assisted Deb and together they were able to shock the individual and successfully revive him.

Firefighters with the Saskatoon Fire Department are trained as Primary Care Paramedics and on the job regularly respond to life threatening emergencies. Deb recognized that as an off-duty firefighter she was a person to take control of the situation and use her training to save a life.

At their awards banquet in June, the Saskatoon Fire Department will be recognizing Deb Davies.

The Saskatoon Fire Department will also be recognizing other firefighters who were instrumental in saving a life while off-duty at a Saskatoon Hilltops football game on September 7^th, 2013.

For Release: April 17, 2014


The City of Saskatoon’s compost depots are now open for the 2014 season. Residents of Saskatoon are encouraged to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill by bringing their leaves and grass to one of the depots:
- McOrmond Drive Depot, located just north of 8th Street East on McOrmond Drive, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
- Highway 7 Depot, located at the corner of Highway 7 and 11th Street West, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday to Sunday. 
The depots also accept tree and shrub material.  Due to the threat of Dutch Elm disease, provincial regulations prohibit the acceptance of elm and any other material that cannot be distinguished from elm at the compost depots.  A provincial pruning ban on elm is in effect from April 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014.  During this period, it is illegal to prune elm without a permit.  These materials cannot be accepted at the depots at any time and must be disposed of at the Saskatoon Landfill.  The Landfill is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week, including all holidays throughout the summer.
The depots are free to residents of Saskatoon.  Commercial haulers are required to purchase and display an entry permit when visiting the compost depots.  The registration fee for 2014, per business, is $200 for the first vehicle and $50 for each additional vehicle.  Registration forms are available at City Hall or online at www.saskatoon.ca and look under “C” for Compost Depot. 
New for the 2014 season: commercial hauler registrations and payments can now be accepted online at http://saskatoonenvirostore.ca! 
For timely updates, watch for Compost Depot Service Alerts at Saskatoon.ca and on Twitter and Facebook.
For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Saskatoon Transit would like to remind those headed to the Black Sabbath concert at Credit Union Centre on Friday, April 18 that the concert will finish after statutory holiday transit service has ended. This means that there will be no transit connections from the Downtown Terminal Special Events Stop after the concert, and no connections from Malls serviced by the Credit Union Centre Park & Ride Services after the concert.

Credit Union Centre Park & Ride services will still be offered after the concert, however those concert goers who need to take a regular transit route from any of these locations (including downtown) are advised to make alternative arrangements.

Departures to the Black Sabbath concert from the Saskatoon Transit Special Events Stop, located on 2^nd Avenue and 23^rd Street, will be every 15 minutes between 6:45 p.m. and 7:45p.m. on April 18. Buses will depart Credit Union Centre for the Special Events Stop immediately after the concert.

Regular fares, transfers, and passes are accepted to and from the Downtown location only. Please contact Credit Union Centre for information on the mall Park and Ride Service.

For more information call Customer Service at 306-975-3100

The renovation and rejuvenation of Saskatoon’s most beloved park began today as PCL Construction broke ground at Kinsmen Park.

PCL Construction has been contracted for Phase One of the Kinsmen Park Master Plan, which is anticipated to open in time for Summer 2015.

Phase One includes the development of the PotashCorp Playland, which will be an attraction for both the young and the young at heart.  The PotashCorp Playland will include a “rides garden” with a ferris wheel and carousel, a children’s play area with water features, sandplay and natural elements, and the highly anticipated, new train.  The train will be a 1/3 scale locomotive built to resemble a modern day Dash 9 freight train engine.  There will be three carriages built to resemble modern-day Canpotex freight cars, and of course a caboose sponsored by Canadian Pacific Railway!  A special event is being planned in the coming months to give a sneak peek of the train and other exciting elements of the park, so watch for details to be announced shortly.

Highlights of Phase One, including the arrival of new rides, will be posted on the City of Saskatoon’s website throughout the year.  For more information on the Future Home of PotashCorp Playland at Kinsmen Park and the Kinsmen Park Master Plan, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/kinsmenpark

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.