News Releases

In 2018, City Council approved a Flood Control Strategy (FCS) aimed at reducing flooding in Saskatoon’s most flood-prone areas during intense rainfalls. The dry storm pond at W.W. Ashley District Park, which took approximately ten months to build, is now substantially complete and will catch overflow but also serve as a sports field and park space when dry.

“The landscaping turned out beautifully with trees, a surrounding pathway, and spectator seating built into the slopes,” says Russ Munro, Director of Saskatoon Water. “We are very pleased with the end result and, while none of us want to experience excessive amounts of rain within very short periods of time, that is when we will see the new pond and underground drainage systems in action.”

Substantial completion means there’s still some finishing touches to be done before the site can open, like installing stair railings and park benches. The site will remain closed until approximately fall 2022 to give the newly installed sod and seed time to establish. In the meantime, Saskatoon Water is gearing up for the second of nine FCS projects: constructing a dry storm pond in Churchill Park.

“Consultations have taken place and we have received great feedback from the community. We have moved forward with design plans and will proceed with construction in early 2022.”

Dry storm ponds are designed to hold water that would otherwise cause nearby flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows from properties and roads into the dry storm pond, then slowly drains into the storm sewer. Prior to the establishment of the FCS, Saskatoon already had nine dry storm ponds, mostly in neighbourhoods built after 1989 when enhanced storm water infrastructure standards were established. The FCS focuses on neighbourhoods that were established prior to then.

The Government of Canada is contributing 40% of the eligible construction costs up to a maximum of $21.6 million toward nine FCS projects.  The City is funding the remaining construction costs through the Storm Water Utility Capital Program and revenue generated from Storm Water Utility charges. 

For more information about the FCS, and to subscribe to Flood Protection Plan updates, visit saskatoon.ca/floodplan.  

Saskatoon experienced a severe blizzard with high amounts of snowfall and strong winds which have created drifting on roads and sidewalks. Freezing rain has also created a layer of ice underneath the snow. This is an incredibly challenging situation and the City is working 24/7 to respond and get Saskatoon moving again.  

The City is actively responding to the ongoing winter storm, after Saskatoon received freezing rain overnight, leaving streets and sidewalks ice-covered under the continued snowfall.

Saskatoon is under a Winter Storm Warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada with forecasted snowfall of up to 35 cm and wind gusts of up to 80 km/hr. Road conditions and visibility are expected to worsen throughout the day.

Snow Clearing

Overnight, crews were spreading sand and salt, plowing Circle Drive and grading snow on the City’s highest traffic streets. High winds are making it challenging to fight ice formation.     

“We’re putting everything we have into this storm today, tonight, tomorrow, and into the coming days,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “We’re staying focused on our priority road system. Once the highest priority streets are cleared, we’ll move through the rest of the system, at times returning to the highest priority roads multiple times to maintain mobility.”

Today’s focus includes sanding and salting ice-covered streets, intersections and bridge decks and minimizing snow accumulation on freeways, expressways and arterials by plowing and grading snow.  Equipment today includes 27 graders, 18 sanders, 8 high-speed plows and 5 sidewalk plows. 

Residents should avoid unnecessary travel on Sunday as freezing rain, continued snow accumulation, and high winds will lead to dangerous driving conditions.

If travel is necessary, adjust for driving conditions and watch for snow removal crews equipped with blue and amber flashing lights. Stay a safe distance behind and be prepared to stop quickly. Some traffic signs are covered with snow, so drivers should practice extra caution at intersections.

More information on the City’s snow clearing efforts can be found at saskatoon.ca/snow

Civic Election, Monday November 9th

Residents are encouraged to get out and vote tomorrow in the Civic Election if they haven’t already. Caution is advised when walking or driving throughout the city. If polling stations are affected by snowfall to the point of being inaccessible or if streets are impassible, crews will respond appropriately.

Residents are encouraged to keep their sidewalks clear, as much as possible, to provide safe access for those who may be walking to polling stations. Please do not push snow out onto the street when clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways, as this can clog up streets with snow and create accessibility issues.

Voting locations can be found here.

Emergency Preparedness

The City would like to once again remind residents of some important emergency preparedness tips to help ensure their safety during the storm.

1. Have an inventory of everything that the members and pets in your household would need for several days, including foods and medications.
2. Charge your phones, tablets, and portable battery packs; and equip yourself with a supply of batteries for radios and other battery-operated devices.
3. Reach out to people who may require support:
   • More than 300 people in Saskatoon are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
   • Consider whether any of your neighbours might need assistance, including those that are seniors or have disabilities.
4. If travel is necessary:
   • Equip yourself with an emergency kit containing warm clothes, blankets, candles, and snacks.
   • Be sure to let someone know where you’re going and when you arrive.
   • Plan for delays in your commute to work on Monday and for getting children to school.
   • Activate the GPS locator app on your smartphone (‘Find My’ on iPhone and ‘Find My Device’ on Android) to allow assigned contacts to track you.
5. A more detailed list of emergency preparedness tips can be found at saskatoon.ca/snowstorm2020

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to NotifyNow for updates on public safety messages.

For timely updates on snow and ice alerts visit saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and follow us at twitter.com/YXEServiceAlert.

Saskatoon is bracing itself for a severe winter storm – in two waves –, with snowfall today and blizzard conditions with more significant amounts of snowfall and wind carrying into Sunday. The City is actively planning and responding to what could be a record snowfall; approximately 35 cm by Sunday evening with wind gusts of up to 80 km/hr.

Snow Clearing

City snow crews are sanding priority roadways and are on standby to begin plowing, clearing and de-icing when needed. During the snowfall, efforts will be focused on the busiest streets and access to emergency services. Crews may need to revisit these streets multiple times to maintain mobility before the snowfall stops.

“Mobility may become a challenge, particularly on Sunday and into Monday morning,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “We ask that residents try to avoid unnecessary travel, but if they must, please practice caution around city crews and allow them to execute the snow clean-up as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Once the highest priority streets are cleared, crews will move through the rest of the priority system, which is expected to take several days to work through.

Saric adds with the Civic election on Monday, the strategy aims to maximize, as is safe and practical, people being able to move around the City before, during, and after the storm, which includes accessing polling stations.

Residents are reminded that snow removal crews are equipped with blue and amber flashing lights. They should stay 2-3 vehicle lengths behind and be prepared to stop quickly.

More information on the City’s snow clearing efforts can be found at saskatoon.ca/snow

Emergency Preparedness

The City would also like to remind residents of some important emergency preparedness tips to help ensure their safety during the storm.

1. Have an inventory of everything that the members and pets in your household would need for several days, including foods and medications.
2. Charge your phones, tablets, and portable battery packs; and equip yourself with a supply of batteries for radios and other battery-operated devices.
3. Reach out to people who may require support:
   • More than 300 people in Saskatoon are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
   • Consider whether any of your neighbours might need assistance, including those that are seniors or have disabilities.
4. If travel is necessary:
   • Equip yourself with an emergency kit containing warm clothes, blankets, candles, and snacks.
   • Be sure to let someone know where you’re going and when you arrive.
   • Plan for delays in your commute to work on Monday and for getting children to school.
   • Activate the GPS locator app on your smartphone (‘Find My’ on iPhone and ‘Find My Device’ on Android) to allow assigned contacts to track you.

A more detailed list of emergency preparedness tips can be found at saskatoon.ca/snowstorm2020

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to NotifyNow for updates on public safety messages.

For timely updates on snow and ice alerts visit saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and follow us at twitter.com/YXEServiceAlert.

There was a serious incident today inside the lobby at City Hall and a man was injured.  City staff are now being offered mental health supports in the wake of this event.

The Saskatoon Police Service publicly shared the following details:

At approximately 2:00 p.m., November 2, 2020, Police responded to City Hall after reports that a man was in the lobby and threatening to cause harm to himself. The man then did produce a knife and caused injury to himself before police could intervene. There were no threats made against any other persons. The 21-year-old man was transported to hospital for treatment and is believed to be in stable condition at this time.

City Manager Jeff Jorgenson says there were many staff members who saw this happen and some may be deeply affected by this traumatic incident. “We understand what our staff members and first responders are going through, and we support them,” he says. “Our thoughts are also with the man that paramedics took to the hospital.”

Jorgenson says counselling resources are available to everyone touched by this. Most immediately, Jorgenson says one-on-one sessions are being arranged with trained counsellors for staff who need someone to talk to.

Additionally, to further help provide the necessary support and counselling to staff, City Hall and the customer care line will be closed on Tuesday, November 3^rd from 8:00 a.m. to noon.  Online services are available. 

The advance polling station at City Hall, accessible through door 1A, will stay open. 

We greatly appreciate everyone’s understanding and compassion at this time.

With the colder temperatures kicking in, the dingoes and grizzly bears at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) are settling into their new daily routines. Grizzly bears Mistaya (miss‑TIE’‑yuh) and Koda (KOH’-dah) are preparing for their annual deep sleep and dingoes Maple and Euci will be heading inside for warmer temperatures.

“Native areas for dingoes typically do not see temperatures below minus 5 degrees Celsius,” says Zoo Manager Jeff Mitchell. “Since Maple and Euci have not adapted to our cold weather in Saskatoon, we will be providing them access to one of our indoor facilities.”

Mitchell notes, while the dingoes will still have access to outside, they will likely stay indoors once colder temperatures set in.

As for the grizzlies, it is business as usual for Mistaya and Koda as the bears prepare for their annual deep sleep called torpor.

“The bears have been steadily building up their fat reserves during hyperphagia – a time when they eat over 10,000 calories a day and drink up to five gallons of water,” says Jeff Mitchell. “Once their deep sleep begins, we expect to see their heart rate and breathing rates decrease along with their body temperature.”

During torpor, bears can sleep for more than 100 days without eating, drinking or passing waste. It is expected that Mistaya and Koda will begin their deep sleep in the coming weeks.

Cameras will once again be live in the bear dens so that the Zoo can closely monitor behavior, activity levels, and breathing patterns. The Zoo will be working closely with Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums Nutrition Advisory and Research Group to carefully monitor the bears throughout the winter.

The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is by donation until March 31. For more information on the Zoo, please visit saskatoon.ca/zoo.

• Red: 16% reduction in gathering size but no decrease in proportion of people mixing in the community.
• Olive: 43% reduction in gathering sizes but no decrease in proportion of people mixing in the community.
• Green: modest reduction in people mixing in community.
• Blue: greater reduction in people mixing in community (half of pre-pandemic mixing).
• Magenta: greater reduction in people mixing in community (half of pre-pandemic mixing).

• Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative test within 72 hours are mandatory for ages 12 and over within all Leisure Centre areas and indoor arenas as per a Public Health Order and subsequent Council direction.
• A Public Health Order requires masks to be worn in all indoor public spaces including all City facilities. 

Like the pandemic and its uncertainty, the response for mail-in ballots has been unprecedented. Thousands of Saskatoon residents have chosen the option to vote by mail for the 2020 Civic Election and are taking part in the important democratic process of electing their mayor, city councillors and public or Catholic school board trustees. To date, the Civic Elections Office has received over 14,000 mail-in ballot applications through the online form.

The Civic Elections Office acknowledges some voters have not had a smooth online application experience. This is the first election the online application has been offered and it’s been a slower than anticipated process in replying to residents that their mail-in ballot application has been received.

We recognize there are improvements to make in future elections. More immediately the Election Office is addressing the concern and has added additional staff and work hours to support the process of reviewing, approving, creating the ballot package specific to the ward for which the voter has applied, and mailing the ballot packages out.

The civic election mail-in ballot application review process takes longer to verify for each voter. Municipal elections in Saskatchewan do not rely on an established voter’s list. It is a different process than the provincial election and it requires more checks because there are three races – mayor, councillor and public or Catholic school board trustee.  

After careful review, mail-in ballot applications may be rejected due to incomplete information, the form only partially filled out, or in some instances, identification not supplied.

If your application for a mail-in ballot has been rejected, there are other options for you to cast your ballot. With COVID safety protocols in place at all voting locations, we invite residents to consider in-person voting options such as the advance polls October 30 to November 5, or on Election Day, November 9. The 2020 Voter’s Guide on saskatoon.ca/vote2020 has the dates, times and details on safety at the polls.

The provincial law for municipal elections states that mail-in ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on election day (Monday, November 9) by the 2020 Civic Election Office officials in order to be counted.

Mail-in Ballot process update for voters:

• For voters who do receive their mail-in ballot package before November 2, mark your candidates and promptly send your ballot back in the mail using the postage-paid envelope provided.

• For voters who receive their mail-in ballot package on or after November 2, given the uncertainty of mailing times, plan to drop your mail-in ballot off in-person or have a designate drop it off for you at the election office (226 Cardinal Crescent) before 8 p.m. November 9.

• Due to the high volume of mail-in applications received and awaiting verification, in the coming days, we will identify additional city facilities where voters can drop off their mail-in ballots before election day.

The election team wishes to thank all Saskatoon residents for their patience as we are working with full force to process the unprecedented and amazing demand for mail-in ballots. 

Visit saskatoon.ca/vote2020

The City is seeking public input on its draft Strategic Plan for 2022-2025. The current Strategic Plan for 2018-2021 will be retired at year’s end.

The City has been working to develop the new strategic plan over the course of the past year. The document is intended to capture the priorities and direction for the City over the next four years. The draft plan includes three pillars that underline how the City will achieve the goals set out in its plan:

• Advance City Council's Priorities
• Deliver Excellence in Core Services and Operational Priorities
• Drive Corporate Transformational Change

Why do we need a Strategic Plan?

The Strategic Plan is a guiding document that sets out the City’s big picture. It outlines the specific outcomes that City Council and Administration will work together to achieve over the next four years. Strategy does not cover all the important work a City does. Strategy speaks specifically to the changes and improvements that are planned over a period to ensure Saskatoon remains a city that residents are proud to call home.

Public Input

The City is gathering feedback on the draft plan and content of the three pillars. This feedback will be presented alongside the plan at the Nov. 22nd meeting of City Council. The Strategic Plan presentation and the discussion that follows will be available via livestream at saskatoon.ca and residents are welcome to tune in.

The 2022-2025 draft Strategic Plan and the accompanying survey are available now at saskatoon.ca/engage. If you or someone you know cannot complete the online survey, please contact the City's Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476 to request a paper copy. The survey is open until 5 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2021.

• Self-monitor for symptoms
• Stay home if you’re experiencing any symptoms 
• Seek testing
• Stay 2 metres apart
• Wear a mask in public: it’s an extra safety measure to protect those around you
• Download the free COVID-19 Alert App; it informs people of possible exposures without sharing any personal information

The City of Saskatoon is asking eligible voters, who can do so, to make a plan to take advantage of early voting opportunities for the upcoming 2020 Civic Election on Monday, November 9.

Planning Saskatoon’s 2020 Civic Election during the pandemic is unprecedented. The City has undergone detailed pre-planning and added staff and systems to manage the election demand.

Due to the larger than expected response, days before the mail-in ballot application deadline, the Election Office is asking the public to consider all the options available to them.  These options include voting at any advance poll October 30 – November 5 or voting on Election Day, November 9.

“This request is to allow processing of the mail-in ballot applications we’ve received to date and continue to manage applications yet to be received,” Returning Officer Scott Bastian says.

“We have seen an exponential increase in applications.  As the weather gets cooler and COVID case numbers change, we expect the requests to fluctuate,” Bastian says. “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Election Office planned for an increase in mail-in ballot applications and expanded its program. “However, we have seen a three-fold increase in applications.”

Bastian reminds voters that voting safely is a priority. The Election Office has followed the lead of Elections Saskatchewan and the Public Health Orders .

Already submitted your mail-in ballot application? What you need to know:

• The status of your mail-in ballot application will be sent once your application has been reviewed.
• Voters who receive their mail-in ballot on or after November 2, 2020 should plan to return their ballot in person at the Election Office. 
• If voting on Election Day, November 9, confirm your ward and voting location at saskatoon.ca/mypoll before heading to the poll.

Make a plan to vote early, take advantage of off-peak times:

Advance polls:

• With seven days and 10 different locations across the city, voters can conveniently cast their ballot at any advance poll location no matter which ward they belong to.
  • Friday, October 30 to Thursday, November 5 (dates and times vary, visit Saskatoon.ca/vote2020 for details):
    • Lawson Heights Mall
    • Confederation Mall
    • Market Mall
    • The Centre Mall*
    • City Hall, Committee Room “E”
    • Ebenezer Baptist Church
    • Prairieland Park
    • Station 20 West
    • Lakewood Civic Centre
    • Drive-thru poll* 422 46th Street East 

*The Centre Mall and Drive-thru voting do not have voter assist terminals.

Election Day, Monday, November 9:

• Consider scheduling to mark your ballot during the mid-morning or mid-afternoon on election day, when polls may have less traffic. Polls open 8:00 am – 8:00 pm.

For more information on your early voting options, and the COVID-19 precautions in place at all voting locations, visit saskatoon.ca/vote2020.

Wrapping up the Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation project and replacing aging water mains topped the list of construction priorities for the City this year. However, just as work was about to begin, the primary focus shifted to one that had not been anticipated by anyone.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we revised our 2020 construction plan to place the safety of our crews and residents at the forefront,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “That meant postponing projects that required workers to enter homes to replace lead water service connections as we strictly followed all guidelines and public health orders.”

Dependent on provincial guidelines and public health orders, the City plans to proceed with water main and lead water service connection replacements in Caswell Hill, Riversdale and Nutana in 2021.

All other planned water main replacements continued, most notably on 8^th Street, Clarence Avenue and Avenue C. Schmidt says approximately 19 kilometers of water mains and sanitary sewer mains were replaced or rehabilitated – about the distance from Saskatoon to Martensville.

“Additionally, we continued to make significant progress toward improving the condition, safety and longevity of Saskatoon’s road and sidewalk network. Millions of dollars have been invested into Saskatoon’s most aggressive construction program since the establishment of a $61 million annual levy in 2014.”

To help reduce the impact to residents and to save on costs and improve efficiency, the City coordinated much of the road and sidewalk work at the same time as underground utility work.

“As for safety in our construction work zones, we are pleased to report that we’ve had zero life-threatening incidents this year,” says Schmidt. “There has been less traffic on our roadways due to the pandemic, but we also believe drivers are getting the message through our annual marketing campaign.”

Significant progress has been made on Saskatoon roads, sidewalks and water mains in recent years and the City of Saskatoon thanks residents for their patience and cooperation.

For more 2020 construction highlights, please see the attached infographics or visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

On Monday, October 18, the Administration will present a decision report to the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) detailing two options for the implementation of a utility for curbside residential garbage and the upcoming curbside residential organics program. The decision to rescind the November 19, 2018 resolution to fund both with property taxes came during the August 30, 2021 GPC meeting, where the Administration was asked to re-evaluate the funding model and present options on timing, phase-in options, and affordability options.

The two options are as follows:

• Option 1: January 2023 implementation of fixed monthly rates for both black cart garbage and curbside organics utilities.
• Option 2 (Recommendation): January 2023 implementation of fixed monthly rate for curbside organics utility and January 2024 implementation of variable rates for the black cart garbage.

This illustration provides a detailed comparison of both options, including the estimated financial impact on single-family households, condominiums, and non-residential properties.

“Funding these services through a utility is a step in the right direction, as it provides additional transparency of program costs and accountability to customers through a fair and justifiable rate.” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager, Utilities and Environment. “We have done a thorough comparison of both options and we feel that the variable aspect of Option 2 is most favourable as it increases the customer’s control over their costs and encourages lower usage of residential garbage services by providing financial incentives for waste diversion.”

The full report and attachments can be found here.

Progress updates and a decision history can be found at saskatoon.ca/curbsideorganics.

A Special Budget Review Meeting will be held tomorrow, Friday, October 15, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. The City’s Standing Policy Committee on Finance will consider four information reports.

At the Standing Policy Committee on Finance last Special Meeting on August 31, 2021, when considering the 2022 and 2023 Indicative Budget, it resolved that the Administration provide additional reports on:

1. Strategic Options to Reduce Expenditures 2022/2023 - information on strategic options to reduce expenditures for 2022 and 2023 to bring expenditures more in line with current revenue increases. This report provides service level reports that have been previously presented to City Council for consideration on whether there are service levels that could be adjusted to reduce expenditures in 2022 and 2023.
2. User Fee Guidelines and Cost Recovery - information on user fees policies and cost recovery for optimal revenue budget to address this question: is the City of Saskatoon’s user fees and cost recoveries set at an appropriate level to reduce the mill-rate impact of programs and services as much as possible?
3. 2021 Previously Approved Budgetary Items - throughout the year, City Council approved various initiatives that may have budgetary financial implications that extend into 2022 or later years. What is the effect on future budgets from the decisions City Council has made to date in 2021?
4. Comparative Analysis of Recent Budget Adjustments in Selected Canadian Cities - comparative data for 2020, 2021, 2022 for tax increases and/or forecast tax increases in Edmonton, Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg with comment on significant initiatives in each municipality to reduce or hold tax increases.

Budget Process Timeline – Next Steps

• October 18, 2021: A list of prioritized Business Plan Options will be presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC).
• November 2021: The 2022/2023 Multi-Year Business Plan & Budget document will be released. 
• November 29, 30 & December 1, 2021: City Council 2022/2023 Multi-Year Business Plan & Budget Review (deliberations) will take place.

Any decisions made at the October 18 meeting or the November GPC meeting that impact the property tax rate will be forwarded to the Business Plan and Budget Review meeting in November to be debated but will not be reflected in the preliminary 2022/2023 Multi-Year Business Plan & Budget document.

For more information on the City’s multi-year budget process visit saskatoon.ca/budget.

Saskatoon residents report high levels of satisfaction with City services and their quality of life, two separate public surveys show.

“We’re glad to see that even in light of the pandemic, a healthy majority of those surveyed told us they continue to enjoy a good quality of life and are satisfied with the services the City provides for the community,” says Carla Blumers, Director of Communications and Public Engagement. 

Results of the 2021 Citizen Satisfaction & Performance Survey and the 2021 Performance, Priorities & Preferences Survey will be presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee at its meeting Monday, October 18. The surveys were conducted by Forum Research Inc. this past spring and summer, respectively, and each included a telephone survey, an online panel and an open survey link available to the public on the city website. The results of the telephone and online panel for both surveys are reliable and representative of the population due to the random selection process. When compared to the 2016 Canadian Census, this sample is reflective of the Saskatoon population, based on age and gender.

“After all that we’ve been through in the last few years, it’s encouraging to see that while we know that there are still areas to improve upon, overall, Saskatoon citizens continue to be satisfied with their quality of life, services, and the handling of and communications throughout the pandemic,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “This speaks not only to City of Saskatoon staff, but to the community as a whole for their contributions in making Saskatoon a great place to live. The results of these surveys are a testament to the ability of our staff and City to adapt in an increasingly changing world.”

Results

Citizen Satisfaction & Performance

Telephone and online panel respondents of the Citizen Satisfaction & Performance Survey identify COVID-19 as the single most important issue facing the City of Saskatoon. This is followed by public safety/crime/policing, road maintenance, and taxes. Of note over the last several years, the mention of road construction has steadily diminished as a most important issue.

While half of respondents indicate COVID-19 has affected satisfaction with the quality of services the City of Saskatoon offers, 88% of telephone and 87% of online panel respondents express overall satisfaction with the quality of services provided by the City of Saskatoon.

City communications receive a strong endorsement with 85% of telephone and 71% of online panel respondents reporting the City provides timely and helpful information on impacts to civic services during the pandemic. And three-quarters of respondents (78% telephone and 73% online panel respondents) indicate the City provides a safe environment to access City facilities and services as the pandemic has allowed. When asked about the quality of City communications, 80% of telephone and 87% of online respondents indicate they are satisfied with them.

Turning to public engagement, 76% of telephone and 77% of online panel respondents say the City provides meaningful opportunities to participate in public engagement opportunities. Evaluations related to five areas of customer service improved significantly from 2018, particularly when it comes to providing consistent and reliable information.

Respondents overwhelmingly agree (91% telephone and 90% online panel) the City is effectively providing online services. Approximately one in three respondents (36% of telephone respondents and 32% of online panel respondents) feel that a combination of property tax and user fee increases is the best approach to balancing the budget.

Civic Services, Priorities & Preferences

Overall satisfaction remains the same or higher since 2018 for many of the 29 civic services included in the survey. Survey participants note their highest level of satisfaction with the City’s performance in each of the below areas of service as follows:

Transportation & Utilities:

1. reliability of electrical services
2. quality of drinking water
3. speed of water main break repairs

Community & Public Services:

1. fire protection
2. maintenance of city parks
3. police services

Waste Management:

1. garbage collection
2. recycling collection
3. landfill services

Recreation & Culture:

1. indoor leisure centres
2. outdoor sports fields
3. paddling pools & spray parks

Telephone and online panel respondents note they would like to see the City’s existing performance improve in the areas of:

• snow & ice road maintenance
• major road and freeway maintenance
• traffic management
• neighbourhood street maintenance
• accessibility of infrastructure for people with disabilities
• planning for growth and development

The top three areas that telephone and online panel respondents indicate they would like to see the City provide more services for are:

• affordable housing
• road maintenance
• snow and ice management

“City of Saskatoon employees deserve great credit for the increased approval in communications and customer service,” Mayor Clark says. “We’ve seen employees become more adaptable than ever imagined in the last two years. This has allowed them to engage with residents in new ways as well as create more efficient ways to provide services. Participation from residents in these surveys is critical to highlight areas of strength, but also areas where improvement is still needed to deliver the results our residents come to expect. The lessons learned will allow the City of Saskatoon to better meet the expectations of residents now and in the years to come.”

The City of Saskatoon will use the results to inform decisions related to strategic priorities, budgeting, and service delivery, as well as to highlight opportunities for continuous improvement.

Previously scheduled to be conducted in 2020, both surveys were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving forward, each survey will be conducted separately every year on a rotating basis. In 2022, the Civic Satisfaction & Performance survey will be conducted. In 2023, the Civic Services Service: Performance, Priorities & Preferences will be conducted.

Full summaries and the detailed results of both the Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey and the Civic Services Performance, Priorities & Preferences Survey can be found on the City of Saskatoon website at https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/2021-civic-surveys.

• Wallet cards received at time of immunization
• A printed copy of your MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate (with or without a QR code) or a ‘screenshot’ of your vaccine certificate (with or without a QR code) saved to your device
• A COVID-19 vaccine printout from Saskatchewan Health Authority Public Health
• A QR code/MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate uploaded to SK Vax Wallet app which will is available free from Google Play or Apple App stores
• Official proof of vaccine documents from other governments

The Saskatchewan Health Authority and the City of Saskatoon would like make you aware that we are seeing increased COVID-19 activity in the City of Saskatoon, in addition to the rest of Saskatchewan.

We are asking everyone to be extra vigilant. Protect yourself and your family at all times during the pandemic by following all public health recommendations and ensuring you do your part to stop the spread.

As we approach the upcoming long weekend, we also ask that you keep your festivities small and defer all interactions with others if you feel any symptoms compatible with COVID-19.

When making travel plans with your family, we remind you to consider whether or not your travel is truly essential. This includes travel within or outside of our province or outside of Canada. We are seeing a number of outbreaks declared throughout our province, and in other jurisdictions, putting everyone at increased risk of potential exposure to COVID with non-essential travel playing a role.

As the public health situation across Saskatchewan continues to evolve, the one constant is the need to maintain a united effort to keep our communities safe. We are all doing our part, and it is truly remarkable to see the work that can be accomplished when we work together to prevent COVID-19 infections within our daily bubbles at school, home, work and other recreation and social activities.

With that, we are asking that you keep a close eye on how big your bubble has actually become as you have increased your activities. As the risk of local transmission increases, now is the time to reset your household and reduce the risk to those who matter most to you.

We are all now part of other cohorts: in the workplace, at school, and at extracurricular and social activities. Observing the necessary public health guidance in each of these settings and keeping our close contact list short is a vital step in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Please remember the following:

• Your extended household is the people you can hug and touch, or those who can become part of your daily and weekly routines. This should be 15 people or less. Ideally, it is only members of your direct household.
• Assess your extended household. Does it include children in school settings, school staff, essential employees, or vulnerable populations like seniors or those with underlying health conditions? Consider that all of your contacts are now their contacts, too.
• In the event that you are required to provide your activities and contacts as part of a public health contact investigation, can you name all those individuals you have come into close contact with over the last two weeks? If you cannot, adjust your routines and close contacts.
• Stay home from all activities and workplaces even if you are experiencing even mild symptoms.

Symptoms include: fever, cough, headache, muscle and/or joint aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, dizziness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite (difficulty feeding for children), loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. An online self-assessment is available at www.Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 

It is also important to continue self-screening; enhanced hand hygiene; masking when physical distancing cannot be maintained; and cohorting (or grouping).

The Health Canada COVID Alert app is available to all Saskatchewan residents at no cost in the Apple and Google Play app store. The app is another tool available to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by letting people know of possible exposures without sharing any personal information.

From the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, every action we have taken has been based on the principle of keeping our community safe. Clearly, we all have an important role to play.

Please keep yourself personally informed by regularly visiting the Government of Saskatchewan’s website for the latest information on COVID, including safety guidelines at www.Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.

Thank-you for all you are doing to keep Saskatoon safe. Please visit Saskatoon.ca/covid-19 for updates on changes to City programs and services. 

Since the announcement on September 15, 2020, of a confirmed case of Dutch elm disease (DED) in a tree near Saskatoon’s Montgomery neighbourhood, the City has been actively implementing the DED Response Plan which has included:

• Immediate removal of the positive tree
• ​Disposal of the infected tree at the City landfill
• Sampling of adjacent trees
• Surveillance and testing of private and public trees in the surrounding area including Montgomery, Fairhaven, Meadowgreen and South Industrial areas, with an intensive search for elm material and other sources of infection 

During their search, inspectors have issued 71 infraction notices (46 of which contained elm firewood), removed over 13,000 kilograms of elm wood from private property, and sampled an additional 20 trees with so far no additional positive test results from the lab. Inspectors have also found several instances where wood was moved from elsewhere with elm bark beetle activity in the wood.

“We would like to remind residents that the most effective management strategy for DED is to not transport or store elm wood,” says Jeff Boone, City Entomologist. “Infected firewood is the most likely way that DED would be brought into Saskatoon.”

Residents can help prevent DED by:

• Not pruning elms during the provincial pruning ban (April 1 to August 31)
• ​Not storing or transporting any elm firewood – provincial regulations prohibit the storing or transporting of elm firewood
• Always dispose of any elm wood at the City Landfill

The DED Response Plan will continue in the spring and summer of 2021 and will focus on searching for symptomatic trees to confirm that the disease has not spread.

For more information on DED, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease.

The Spadina Lift Station, on the west shore of the South Saskatchewan River, is nearing the end of its service life. Construction on a new lift station is now underway on the same site.

“We rely on the existing Spadina Lift Station to transport about sixty per-cent of Saskatoon’s wastewater from the sanitary sewer system to the Wastewater Treatment Plant,” says Russ Munro, Director of Saskatoon Water. “The lift station is more than seventy years old and has reached a point where major modifications would ne necessary for it to keep up with growing capacity. It is more cost effective to build a new one.”

The City is grateful for its funding partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan to help make this project a reality. Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the Government of Canada will fund up to $7.2 million toward the Spadina Lift Station project and the Government of Saskatchewan will contribute up to $5,999,400. The remainder of the $18 million project will be funded by the City of Saskatoon, along with any additional costs.

A second building on the same site was completed in 2016 and serves as a bypass lift station. It operates whenever the primary lift station can not meet the flow demand. Unlike the existing lift station, it will not be demolished and will remain in use following completion of the new lift station.

Beginning on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, the Meewasin Trail next to the lift station site will be closed and trail users will be detoured onto a temporary trail (see map). The original trail will reopen once construction is complete in 2023.  

For more information about the project and to see a map of the construction site and temporary trail detour, visit saskatoon.ca/liftstation.

Close to 1,000 people from across Canada and around the world are coming together virtually for the first-ever online, land-based Wîcihitowin (wee-chee-HEE’-toe-win) Indigenous Engagement Conference. Today marks day one of the two-day conference.

“Like fire through a forest, COVID-19 is causing havoc on communities far and wide. It has made us rethink how we interact while continuing to support those in our communities who want to listen, learn, grow and support reconciliation efforts,” says Neal Kewistep, conference co-emcee and member of the organizing committee. “This year’s virtual conference provides us with an opportunity to share the teachings of Indigenous peoples across our nation and further to continue building an inclusive community.”

Under Indigenous teachings of natural law, fire is believed to be the giver of new life where balance of Mother Earth is restored. From destruction comes rejuvenation and replenishment.

This year’s virtual conference theme—Through the Fire—will explore Indigenous worldviews and natural law, such as the Cree word wahkohtowin, which refers to kinship or the interconnectedness nature of relationships, communities, and natural systems. Within the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, wahkohtowin is also about working together towards respectful Indigenous engagement and inclusion.

The new format features a condensed lineup of five keynote presentations that will challenge the audience’s ways of knowing, thinking and acting to get “through the fire” of COVID-19 and guide them on their journey of reconciliation. Speakers include:

• Niigaanwewidam (Niigaan) James Sinclair, Associate Professor, University of Manitoba & Columnist, The Winnipeg Free Press;  
• Ira Horse, Knowledge Keeper and Cree Language Advocate;  
• Davis Swindler, Cree Language Advocate;  
• Shayla Stonechild, TV Host, Yoga Instructor, Founder of Matriarch Movement;  
• Marilyn Poitras, Director, Native Law Centre, University of Saskatchewan; and  
• members and children of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle, including Eugene Arcand, Maria Linklater, A.J. Felix, Patsy Felix, Rick Daniels, Donna Pelly, and Elsie Ballantyne. 

This Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is possible because of the financial support of community investors such as Nutrien and the Saskatoon Community Foundation.   

“Nutrien is tied to the land and the interconnected natural systems, relying on ancient mineral deposits in order for farmers to grow enough food to feed the world in a sustainable manner.  Part of feeding the world in a sustainable manner includes our relationships with Indigenous communities.  Our partnerships with Indigenous communities are mutually beneficial based on trust and respect,” says Lisa Mooney, Global Lead, Sustainability and Strategic Inclusion at Nutrien. “For Nutrien investing in the Wîcihitowin conference results in exponential impact by developing a shared understanding and building capacity for us to create a future where we are all included and valued.”

The Wîcihitowin Organizing Committee is already looking ahead to next year’s conference, which will held on October 5 - 7, 2021. 

For more information on the speakers and performers, visit wichitowin.ca. 

It’s time to get ready for winter at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo). Preparations for winter vary for many animals at the Zoo. For some like the bison, mountain goats and pronghorns, now is the time to start developing heavier coats in anticipation for cooler temperatures. Many animals have also been increasing their food consumption including grizzly bears Mistaya and Koda who are gearing up for their long winter sleep.

“It is always great to see the animals exhibiting their natural adaptations for the upcoming winter season,” says Zoo Manager, Jeff Mitchell. “We have already seen our grizzly bears showing familiar signs of preparing for torpor, many of our elk and caribou are already displaying full antlers and soon our arctic fox’s fur will begin to change from grey to white. These are just some of the amazing transformations that we can expect to see as we move into the fall and winter seasons.”

Mitchell notes, the grizzly bears will likely be spending more time in their dens as they begin to settle in for their long winter slumber.

Dingoes Maple and Euci will also be adjusting their daily routine soon. Once the temperature falls below minus five degrees Celsius, the dingoes will start to spend more time indoors in favour of warmer temperatures.

Kazi (KAH-zee) the snow leopard is settling into his new home at the Nutrien Ark and is ready for the cooler temperatures.

“You will not see many big changes from Kazi, as he is so well adapted for winter,” says Mitchell. “One thing you may notice is his tail may get a little fluffier, that is because snow leopards will often use their tail as a scarf or a blanket during the winter months.”

The Zoo would like to remind residents that a non-medical mask is required when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services including the Meerkat House and washroom facilities at the Zoo. Although masks are not required in outdoor spaces, the City recommends wearing a mask throughout your visit, even while enjoying the outdoor exhibits.

The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visit saskatoon.ca/zoo for more information or to plan your next visit.

The City of Saskatoon (City) and University of Saskatchewan (USask) recently collaborated on a study to see if chemicals that leach from rubber tires are entering the stormwater system. Water that enters storm drains, through snowmelt or rain runoff, flows into the South Saskatchewan River.

“Chemicals from rubber tire leachate have been associated with mortalities in Coho salmon in Washington State,” says Markus Brinkmann, USask Assistant Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability. “However, we currently don’t know the effects on wildlife in our region. The results, in what we believe is the first study of its kind in a Canadian municipality, show high readings of the tire rubber related compounds in Saskatoon’s runoff.”

The findings are a result of samples taken from snow facilities, snowmelt puddles, and about a dozen outfall sites along the South Saskatchewan River within the city in 2019 and 2020. The study indicates the high concentrations may relate to occasional but intense rainstorms in the summer and snowmelt in the winter. Both types of events can lead to significant accumulation followed by sudden flushing of tire rubber chemicals from roads into the stormwater system.

Russ Munro, Director of Saskatoon Water, says further research is required to better understand the factors driving the findings.

“This is a great example of why continued research and partnerships with institutions like the University of Saskatchewan are so important. Saskatoon Water operates within the guidelines set out by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency and we’ll work with them to determine what next steps should be.”

Munro points to positive City initiatives already in place that are designed to protect the environment from contents within stormwater. Initiatives include the annual street sweeping program, numerous storm ponds that help reduce contaminants and manage water runoff, and the new Snow Management Facility. Melt water from the Snow Management Facility runs through an oil and grit separator into a meltwater/stormwater pond. The meltwater then enters a series of specially designed barriers before being discharged in a controlled fashion into the stormwater system. The City also participates in the Yellow Fish Road Program to educate residents about the impact communities can have on water runoff.

The study has been supported through an Engage Grant of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Because the risks to species of fishes and aquatic organisms in the South Saskatchewan River are unknown, the USask team has submitted a grant application to dig deeper into the mechanisms of toxicity. Another joint application from USask and the City that focuses on detection of the compounds is being prepared.

The study has been published in the peer-reviewed Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

On Monday, October 4, the Administration will present an information report to the Standing Policy Committee of Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services outlining the proposed service level and budget requirements to support the new waste diversion regulations for the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) Sector.

The proposal aligns and expands on a January 2020 report to City Council. The program includes administration, education, and support to improve compliance and reduce the administrative burden on businesses. The annual operating cost of $284,000 for the program services would be considered in the City’s 2022-2023 budget process later this year.

“This is a good step forward in achieving our waste reduction and diversion target,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Utilities and Environment. “By implementing the necessary service levels to support these programs, we expect to divert approximately 5,400 tonnes of recyclable and organic waste from the City’s landfill every year, extending its life by approximately 5%.”

At its meeting on August 30, 2021, City Council passed Bylaw No. 9775, The Waste Amendment Bylaw, 2021. With a phased-in approach beginning in 2022, all businesses and organizations will be required to have a separate container for recycling, and those that generate food or yard waste as part of their operations will be required to have a separate organics waste container.

The full report and attachments can be found here.

Progress updates and a decision history can be found at saskatoon.ca/iciwastediversion.

• Wallet cards received at time of immunization
• A printed copy of your MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate (with or without a QR code) or a ‘screenshot’ of your vaccine certificate (with or without a QR code) saved to your device
• An earlier version of your MySaskHealthRecord COVID-19 vaccine certificate
• A COVID-19 vaccine printout from Saskatchewan Health Authority Public Health
• To come - A QR code/MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate uploaded to SK Vax Wallet app which will be available free from Google Play or Apple App stores
• Official proof of vaccine documents from other provinces may be considered

September 30th marks the first annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in our country’s history. Previously, Sept. 30th has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day and wearing an orange shirt continues to be one way to acknowledge the day.

The federal government created this federal statutory holiday in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80: “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”

The City of Saskatoon will be observing the stat to demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation and so that employees may participate in events that promote healing and awareness and reflect on the residential school legacy.

Saskatoon City Mayor, Charlie Clark says: “This is a day for all Saskatonians and Canadians to take time to honour the strength and resilience of Survivors of residential schools. We acknowledge the pain that they, and their families, have carried for generations. And we recognize that this pain was brought on by government policy and the churches that ran the residential schools.”  

He continues: “In naming these truths on this day, we must recommit to building a future that overcomes the colonial thinking that allowed residential schools and policies to be established. Instead, we must create relationships and systems based on mutual respect where every person is valued to be who they were meant to be.”

In order to establish and maintain a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) found that “there has to be awareness of the past, an acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.”

Melissa Cote, the City’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives says: “The impacts of residential schools are felt by generations of Indigenous families. This day is a day to honour all the children who went to residential school. We need to acknowledge that it's going to take generations to heal from the trauma and effects of residential schools. It will be hard work, but important and meaningful work that we all have the responsibility to carry out.” 

The City has been actively engaged – as a municipality, Co-Chair of Reconciliation Saskatoon, and through other community partnerships – in efforts to help raise awareness about the day and in providing opportunities to participate. This Community Calendar of Events hosted on the City website contains dozens of activities and initiatives that the City and other organizations have organized. Through its work with Reconciliation Saskatoon (City as Co-Chair), new reconciliation resources are being shared such as this Personal Commitment to Reconciliation and this Pathway for Moving Forward.

Saskatoon Transit buses and other City vehicles will be displaying orange t-shirt stencils this week. The City social media channels and website are being “painted orange”. City Hall, the Prairie Wind art installation and SaskTel Centre will light up orange Sept. 29-30. The flags on City-owned facilities will be lowered to half-mast to honour Survivors, those that never made it home, and the families impacted by residential schools.

Residential school Survivor John Merasty says this about Sept. 30th: “Don’t stay at home. We need to go out to the street on Orange Shirt Day. Maybe someone will be asking, why are you wearing this shirt and you can tell them why. The students should learn about Indian people and the struggles that they lived and they are continuing living today.”

The City is urging Saskatoon residents to wear an orange shirt on Wednesday, September 30^th to acknowledge the harm that was done to children in Indian Residential Schools and to honour the survivors, their families, and those in unmarked graves who did not make it home. Wearing orange is a way to acknowledge the legacy of residential schools and a commitment to the process of reconciliation.

“Wearing orange is a message to the world that you believe Every Child Matters,” says Melissa Cote, the City’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “Your orange shirt might spark interest from colleagues, family and friends – this presents the perfect opportunity to share your reasons for wearing orange. Everyone can help to raise public awareness in this way.”

“Thank you to all who use this day to educate themselves on how residential schools as a social engineering project changed the relationships with Indigenous Peoples in this country,” says Eugene Arcand, Chair of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle. “In this time of purification, we can all do better.”

The City has joined together with other organizations to offer the Orange Shirt Day ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge. The Reconciliation Challenge is a commitment to start or continue a journey of reconciliation by using the BeAConnectR.com website to learn more about Indigenous peoples' past and present experiences. You can choose to join the ConnectR Challenge Facebook Group if you want to share the experience and access guidance and support.

The City of Saskatoon co-chairs Reconciliation Saskatoon. Reconciliation Saskatoon is a community of over 115 organizations, non-profits, businesses and partners who have come together towards one mission: to initiate a citywide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

The Orange Shirt Day ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge was made possible through the support of Nutrien and the Saskatoon Community Foundation and a partnership between Reconciliation Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Survivors Circle—a group of Elders that are residential school survivors who ensure that residential schools and their legacy are never forgotten.

The City’s winter roads emergency response plan was approved by City Council on Monday, September 27. With this response plan in place, extra staffing and contractor resources would be activated to restore mobility after a blizzard with an accumulated snow fall of at least 25 centimetres and reduced mobility to the point that light vehicles cannot travel on city streets. This plan was developed by the Administration after 30-40 centimetres of snow fell in November 2020, which required day and night city-wide snow grading and removal to restore mobility and safety in the city.

“We have a fine-tuned response plan for snowstorms that we scale up for the handful of times each year when more than 5 centimetres of snow accumulates,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet & Support. “And now, this plan is a more robust, multi-agency strategy for a future extreme event like we saw in November, allowing us to respond faster and more efficiently city-wide.”

The response plan was developed using lessons learned from the November 2020 blizzard and examples from other winter cities, with input from other agencies and stakeholders to ensure it follows an approach that works for the whole community.

Residents should have an emergency plan too. “Residents should always have a 72-hour emergency plan for any emergency event.  You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours (about 3 days),” says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Planning. “It could take that long for emergency services to reach you in a city-wide emergency at any time of year.”

The City’s previous extreme blizzard was in 2007 when 36 centimetres of snow fell in one day. Projections using 30 years of historical data for Saskatoon estimate this type of blizzard may occur again in 10 to 14 years. As the frequency and severity of inclement weather is predicted to increase with climate change, the frequency of future extreme snow events may be higher (e.g., 1 occurrence every 7 years).

More information and education about the response plan will be available this winter. For more information about the City’s regular winter operations, visit saskatoon.ca/snow. 

• green – minimal risk
• yellow - caution
• orange – high risk
• red – critical risk

• review of current Public Health Orders
• review of current COVID-19 situation
• consultation with local MHO and other key stakeholders
• review by City Council
• any approved measures would be activated on the first day of the next month and would remain in place until a review at the next Council meeting

Over 2,500 participants have registered for the virtual 2021 Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference on October 5-7. The event will provide registrants with important teachings to assist them on their paths to reconciliation.

“With registration closing tonight at 11:59 p.m., we can announce that this year will be our largest group of attendees to date,” says Brad Bird, Co-Chair of the Wîcihitowin Organizing Committee and Director of Reconciliation, Saskatoon Public Library. “We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of people virtually to learn from our speakers—including Residential School Survivors and Knowledge Keepers—about the Seven Sacred Teachings that guide Indigenous Peoples’ ways of knowing.”

Established in 2014, the Wîcihitowin Conference was created to provide Residential School Survivors and Sixties Scoop Survivors with a platform to share their voices and teachings, to inspire respectful engagement and meaningful inclusion of Indigenous peoples within the community, and to share resources and tools to form and maintain culturally respectful organizations. “Wîcihitowin”, a Cree/Saulteaux term meaning “to help each other/to work together”, is the driving force for the now annual event.

“The Wîcihitowin conference provides an opportunity for community members to learn from survivors and for survivors to share their experiences, resilience and strength,” says Gilbert Kewistep, a Residential School Survivor and advisor to the conference organizing committee. “I want to thank everyone who chooses to virtually attend the conference, because fully committing your time and attention to learning matters. And, these conversations matter.”

“The City makes a point to contribute financial and human resource support to this conference every year,” says Melissa Cote, Director of Indigenous Initiatives for the City of Saskatoon. “The feedback we get from this event is always incredible – how it influenced individuals and organizations to change their thinking as well as their practices. Past participants feel that this conference has contributed to progress on Indigenous engagement and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.”

The theme of this year’s conference is The Seven Sacred Teachings: love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. These inherent beliefs and values guide Indigenous Peoples’ ways of knowing and are shared by generations through oral traditions of storytelling and ceremony. The conference presentations will demonstrate how the Seven Sacred Teachings can guide people through their personal journeys; help community members, organizations, governments, and businesses respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action; and ensure respectful Indigenous engagement and inclusion within communities.

2021 conference presenters include:

• Chief Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation
• Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
• Dr. Dave Courchene - Nii Gaani Aki Innini (Leading Earth Man), Elder and Knowledge Keeper, Anishinaabe Nation
• Richard Van Camp, Storyteller and Author, Dene Nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories
• Stephanie Harpe, Residential School Survivor, International Advocate for Murdered, Missing and Exploited Indigenous Peoples, Singer/Songwriter
• Representatives from the Saskatoon Survivors Circle

“It’s important that we acknowledge there are so many different ways of learning,” says Bird. “This conference provides many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people with a connection to traditional teachings—I promise that the content will be eye-opening and thought-provoking whether you’re attending for the first time or the seventh.”

Registration is available free of charge at wicihitowin.ca, closing on September 27 at 11:59 p.m. (CST). For conference updates, you can also follow Wîcihitowin YXE on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

The Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is made possible through contributions from the City of Saskatoon, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon Public Library, United Way & Area, Saskatoon Community Foundation, and Nutrien (premier investor).

The City is aware of a positive COVID-19 case impacting the City of Regina’s transit service. At this time, Saskatoon Transit is not impacted by this recent news.

The situation in Regina is an important reminder about the required steps in place to protect the health and safety of bus riders, residents and employees.

Non-medical face masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit as an added safety measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community. As students return to class and other activities resume this Fall, the mask requirement allows Saskatoon Transit to safely operate full-seated loads and meet demand on all fixed route and Access Transit buses.

Even if you have no symptoms, wearing a cloth or disposable mask is an extra measure we can all take to protect others around us, particularly in situations where two metres physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Visit Saskatoon.ca/covid-19 for information on mask requirements and other precautions.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) will lead a new pilot project and Task Force to help support people who are homeless and improve safety in downtown Saskatoon. The pilot will be called Sawêyihtotân (suh-WAY-EE’-tote-tahn) which means let us bless each other through our show of respect for each other.

STC will lead the new community outreach team, which will be based in Saskatoon’s White Buffalo Youth Lodge. The team will include members from STC, the City/Saskatoon Police Service and the organizations that are part of the Saskatoon Inter-Agency Response to Safety and Well-Being group. Two staff members from the Ministry of Social Services and one staff member from the Saskatoon Housing Authority will join the team, with support from the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

The City of Saskatoon is providing $100,000 in funding towards this initiative, while the Ministry of Social Services and Ministry of Justice are providing another $50,000 each, bringing the total funding to $200,000.00. Including staff resources, Social Services will be providing over $117,000.00 in funding towards this important work to increase community safety and well-being in Saskatoon.   

“I am confident that this collaboration will add to the services we have in place to support those in need and help to better serve people in the downtown area who have no supports and nowhere to go,” Social Services Minister Paul Merriman said. “I also believe this community-driven initiative can inform a longer-term approach to serving people in need in Saskatoon and am very proud to support it.”

“We are committed to providing people with the supports they need to live safe and healthy lives,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Don Morgan. “Saskatoon Tribal Council has a strong track record of providing important supports in the Saskatoon community, and Government is proud to partner with them as part of our mutual goal of creating healthy communities.”

“This initiative complements the great work already underway to improve community safety and gives us an opportunity to develop a model that encompasses holistic, culturally relevant ways to meet the needs of the population,” said Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to build on the lessons we learned and the relationships we created from our recent collaboration responding to COVID-19 and the closure of the City Centre Inn - to provide better outcomes for those on the streets and contribute to the safety of all Saskatoon people.”

“The Sawêyihtotân initiative is a turning point in responding to the on-going health and safety of people on the streets and downtown,” said Mayor Charlie Clark.  “This is the first step.  The Wahkohtowin (wuh-COH’-toe-win) Task Force is the important second phase of this work to develop new models for shelter services and supportive housing over the months ahead. 

“It has taken a lot of commitment and working together in new ways, by many partners, to address the gaps that have existed for too long.  The fact that we have Minister Merriman and the participation of the Provincial Government directly in the development of solutions is crucial to these efforts, and I thank them for their participation.  This is also a turning point in moving the words of Reconciliation into action. The leadership of the Saskatoon Tribal Council brings an Indigenous-based approach to help us all learn how to build more holistic approaches in meeting the needs of people who are hurting. This feels like a historic moment for our community.”

The Downtown Safety Response Plan is split into two phases – a comprehensive community-based case management strategy, and a long-term transitional supportive housing model.

The immediate priority of this initiative will see the street outreach team begin its work this fall, starting with people in the most urgent need in downtown Saskatoon. The team will work with individuals to develop case plans, establish supports and help them secure and maintain stable housing. 

The initial phase, which will carry through over the next several months, will provide valuable feedback into a longer-term plan for serving Saskatoon’s homeless population and others in need of housing and supports.

The second phase will be supported by the work performed in Phase One. It will explore a collaborative approach than perhaps a traditional model of a single agency providing supports for vulnerable community members.

The groundwork for the City’s response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice is outlined in a report to the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council. The report to be presented at the Committee meeting Monday, September 21, provides an overview of current City initiatives relating to the National Inquiry and the approach for the development of a long-term strategy.

“Municipalities can play an important role in supporting and implementing programs and policies that answer the Calls for Justice,” says Melissa Cote, Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “Locally, by working together across the organization and with our community partners, we can make changes and act to address these issues.”

The report outlines current City initiatives that align with the Calls for Justice, such as the City’s “Little Sisters in Action Program,” working with community partners in their efforts to create safe spaces for Two-Spirit youth in ceremony and cultural spaces, “Safe Bus” basic training for City of Saskatoon staff, and contributing to the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership.

The long-term strategy will involve a wide range of community voices and organizations as well as involve a cross-functional team within the City’s various divisions and departments. The goal is to create a coordinated and holistic approach to address reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion as well as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA* people.

The outlined approach will include engaging with Indigenous matriarchs, individuals and families with lived experience, community-based organizations and leaders, academics and service delivery organizations.

Initial discussions have highlighted the importance of several principles and approach to the strategy, including:

• A community-driven and citizen-centred approach that is flexible, responsive and respectful to the Indigenous community, organizations, families and individuals.
• That responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, the MMIWG2S Calls to Justice and work on Anti-Racism -- although linked -- remain distinct and separate.
• The issues are complex and require a long-term strategy, while demonstrating short-term progress and outcomes.
• It is important to support and not duplicate the work of other organizations.
• The long-term strategy and actions should inform the provincial and national action plans.

A report will be provided in the future to City Council outlining the actions and projects included for implementation in the long-term strategy.

To view agendas, minutes and video for meetings of City Council, Boards & Committees, visit saskatoon.ca/agendas.

*Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Asexual

In response to the new provincial public health measures, the City wishes to remind residents that masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit and when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services. City Council approved the action at its meeting on Monday, August 30 as an added safety measure to address the increasing spread of COVID-19 in our community and it is now required and enforceable under the public health order.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan public health order, youth athletes under age 18 are exempt from the masking order for indoor youth athletics and while they are actively engaged in athletic activity. Masking in venues hosting youth athletics will remain required for general entry and exit into the facility, for athletes and spectators. 

The Government of Saskatchewan also introduced a mandatory vaccination or COVID testing requirement for all Government of Saskatchewan ministry, crown and agency employees. These employees will be required to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine by October 1. Employees that do not provide proof of vaccination will be required to provide proof of a negative test result on a consistent basis. 

The City has been planning the launch of regular mandatory COVID-19 rapid tests for all staff who report to the workplace, with adjustments for fully vaccinated staff who choose to share their vaccination status. The program will launch October 4 for City staff.

At the earlier request of City Council and in response to the Government of Saskatchewan’s October 1 requirement to show proof of vaccination or negative test for public access to certain establishments, businesses and event venues that bring groups of people together, the City will explore the impact to civic facilities, programs and services once full details of the proof of vaccination system and technology are shared by the province.

More details on the Government of Saskatchewan’s announcement are available on their website. For the latest updates, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

One case of Dutch elm disease (DED) has been confirmed in Saskatoon. An elm sample sent to the provincial lab by the City’s Urban Biological Services staff has come back positive for DED.

In accordance with the City’s DED Response Plan, which requires immediate removal of all positive trees, crews will begin tomorrow removing the infected tree located in the Montgomery neighbourhood. Also in accordance with the City’s DED Response Plan, inspectors will follow up and search for stored firewood in yards located in Montgomery, Fairhaven, Meadowgreen and the South Industrial area in an effort to pinpoint a source. Staff will respect all physical distancing protocols as they provide the necessary inspection services.

“This discovery of Dutch elm disease demonstrates that our screening procedures and inspection program works,” says Darren Crilly, Director of Parks. “We have had success in the past with our response plan and are now taking the same aggressive action to stop it from spreading to other neighbourhoods.”

Saskatoon’s DED Response Plan requires:

• Immediate removal of all positive trees
• Disposal of infected trees at the City landfill
• Sampling of adjacent trees
• Surveillance and testing of private and public trees in the surrounding area with an intensive search for elm material and other sources of infection

“Dutch elm disease is a serious disease of the American elm,” says Jeff Boone, Entomologist. “The disease was introduced into North America in the 1930s, and has wiped out millions of elms across Canada and the United States. Dutch elm disease has been present in Saskatchewan since the 1980s and Saskatoon has not had a tree test positive for the disease since summer of 2015.”

American elm trees with Dutch elm disease may start showing symptoms as early as the month of June. Typically, the leaves will start to wilt and turn yellow, then curl and turn brown. Residents who start to notice any of these symptoms, are encouraged to call Urban Biological Services at 306-975-2890.

The most effective management strategy for DED is to not transport or store elm wood. Infected firewood is the most likely way that DED would be brought into Saskatoon.

Residents can help prevent Dutch elm disease by:

• Not pruning elms during the provincial pruning ban (April 1 to August 31)
• Not storing or transporting any elm firewood – provincial regulations prohibit the storing or transporting of elm firewood
• Always dispose of any elm wood at the City Landfill

For more information on DED, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease.

The City is preparing for Orange Shirt Day (Sept. 30) by urging Saskatoon residents, businesses, and organizations to 1) wear an orange shirt on September 30^th and, 2) accept the ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge.

Orange Shirt Day is a day to mark the healing journey of residential school survivors and their families and to renew our commitment to the ongoing process of reconciliation. It’s a day for us to reaffirm that Every Child Matters. The date was chosen because it’s the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools.

“Wearing an orange shirt on September 30^th is an easy but important way to acknowledge the impact residential schools had and continue to have on Indigenous communities,” says Melissa Cote, the City’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “The ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge is an opportunity to go one step further and gain insights into the past and present realities of Indigenous people. We’re really excited to see people take up the challenge.”

Wear an Orange Shirt

Any orange shirt will do, however, there is the option to purchase an Every Child Matters t-shirt at orangeshirtday.net. Shirts are $15 apiece with discounts for bulk orders. (Note: you need to be registered and logged in to place an order.) Partial proceeds go to the Orange Shirt Society to support awareness activities.

Accept the ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge

The Reconciliation Challenge is a commitment to start or continue a journey of reconciliation by using the BeAConnectR.com website to learn more about Indigenous peoples' past and present experiences. Each week for 8 weeks, beginning this Sunday (Sept. 13^th), participants choose a new challenge. Things like:

• Read an Indigenous author
• Learn about the treaty territory you reside on
• Try an Indigenous recipe
• Watch residential school survivor videos
• Watch an Indigenous film

Organizations and individuals can also join the ConnectR Challenge Facebook Group to share experiences and receive updates to help guide and support their journey. The group will be a link to survivor videos and four online events where Indigenous Elders, survivors, educators, artists and youth inspire and educate this community of people learning and taking action. Those not on Facebook can email BeAConnectR@gmail.com to be added to an email list.

Orange Shirt Day ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge was made possible through investments by Nutrien and a partnership between Reconciliation Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Survivors Circle—a group of Elders that are residential school survivors who ensure that residential schools and their legacy are never forgotten. Reconciliation Saskatoon is a community of over 115 organizations, non-profits, businesses and partners who have come together towards one mission: to initiate a citywide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The City of Saskatoon co-chairs Reconciliation Saskatoon.

Saskatoon’s Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge is stronger with a smoother driving surface and a wider, more protected pedestrian walkway. The two-year, $20 million rehabilitation project on the 54-year-old structure is complete and the bridge will fully reopen on Sunday, September 6.

“Work progressed so well this summer that we are able to open the bridge approximately two months earlier than originally planned and within budget,” says Rob Frank, City of Saskatoon Engineering Manager of Asset Preservation. “We’ve improved the overall life span of the bridge by strengthening it and residents will notice a wider, safer walkway that better protects them from vehicular traffic.”

The City of Saskatoon utilized $15 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) allocations towards the Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation project. The GTF program in Saskatchewan is administered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations.

“It is great news that the rehabilitation of the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge has been completed early,” says the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “The improvements to the structure and walkway will keep traffic moving smoothly across this key Saskatoon crossing for years to come while also making it safer for pedestrians. Canada’s Infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across Canada, and builds stronger communities.”

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to play a role in administering the federal Gas Tax Fund program,” Government Relations Minister Lori Carr says. "This federal funding helps local governments advance important infrastructure projects, like the rehabilitation of Saskatoon's Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge and ramp structure. With the completion of each project, we help strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for Saskatchewan's residents."

The Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge Rehabilitation Project included:

• Resurfacing of the Idylwyld Drive ramp over 19^th Street to 1^st Avenue 
• Walkway widening with taller barriers for improved pedestrian protection 
• New drainage system to help better traction by reducing puddles and splashing
• Concrete deck repairs and asphalt replacement
• Strengthening of piers  
• Barrier replacement 

Crews will remain on site over the next couple of weeks to complete some minor work and clean-up following the bridge opening.

The bridge officially opened in 1966 and was renamed in 2001 in honour of Senator Sidney L. Buckwold, who was the Mayor of Saskatoon when the bridge was built. It is 183 metres (600 feet) long and spans over the narrowest point of the South Saskatchewan River within Saskatoon.

To protect the health and safety of bus riders, residents and employees, non-medical face masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit beginning September 1; as an added safety measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community, masks are recommended, but not required, when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services.

“Our community spirit is strong when we work as one community to keep our guard up,” says Anthony Tataryn, Assistant Fire Chief. “Even if you have no symptoms, wearing a cloth or disposable mask is an extra measure we can all take to protect others around us, particularly in situations where two metres physical distancing cannot be maintained.”

City Council approved the measure at its meeting Monday, August 31. The change will allow Saskatoon Transit to safely operate full-seated loads and meet demand on all fixed route and Access Transit buses.

“Fall means back to school and the resumption of some activities, so we’ve looked at how we can meet the increased demand for our services,” says James McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “With more people riding the bus, physical distancing is not always possible, so requiring the use of masks is the next step to protect the health and safety of our riders and our bus operators.”

“The City is in the process of reopening the remaining indoor leisure centres and revising the programs that are delivered in those facilities,” says Andrew Roberts, Director of Recreation and Community Development. “We have safety measures in place throughout our leisure centres to ensure the safety of both our employees and our customers and the use of masks is seen as an added precaution indoors where physical distancing may be difficult to keep at all times.”

If at any point in the future the Province provides direction related to mask use by the public the City would follow the Provincial lead. 

The City will focus on educating and informing the public of COVID-19 safety precautions and the use of non-medical face coverings as an additional safety precaution, rather than enforcement. 

For the latest updates on City services including a list of convenient online services, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

City Council yesterday approved amendments to Bylaw No. 8075, The Business License Bylaw, and Bylaw No. 8770, The Zoning Bylaw that update the regulations for short-term accommodations; hosts now must obtain a Commercial Business License, and abide by occupation limits among other regulations.

Short-term accommodations include vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts and AirBnBs. 

The amendments were proposed by the Administration following extensive engagement with the public, stakeholders and hotel industry. They establish development standards and licensing requirements for short-term accommodations to maintain the amenity and character of the areas they are located in, and minimize potential conflicts.

Highlights of the requirements include:

• Short-Term Rental Properties - rental property of the host:
  • Application requirements include obtaining a Commercial Business License, as well as submitting a Host Declaration Form, along with written permission of the property owner and/or condominium corporation (if applicable). Discretionary use approval (a form of public consultation) is required in low and medium density residential zoning districts.
  • Regulations include hosting a maximum of six guests in a dwelling and three guests in a secondary suite located within a dwelling. One hard surface parking space must be provided on-site for guests.
• Homestays - home of the host:
  • Application requirements include obtaining a Commercial Business License, as well as submitting a Host Declaration Form, along with written permission of the property owner and/or condominium corporation (if applicable).
  • Regulations include hosting a maximum of six guests in a one-unit dwelling, three guests in a secondary suite, and two guests in a duplex, townhouse, apartment or condominium. Two hard surface parking spaces must be provided on-site.

For more information on the bylaw amendments and the requirements for short-term accommodations, visit saskatoon.ca/shorttermstays.

Immigration is important to Canada’s economy and population growth. It is estimated that Canada needs 350,000 immigrants every year to meet its workforce needs. By 2035, 25 per cent of Canada’s population will be 65-years-old and above. In short, Canada will need more workers to support the economy. Our local and provincial economies plus the associated health of our communities in the years ahead depend on making Saskatoon and Saskatchewan a supportive and welcoming place for immigrant families.

To further this work, Immigration Partnership Saskatoon (IPS) is proud to be launching its “See Me As I Am/Be An Ally” campaign. The goals of the campaign are to increase awareness of how newcomers benefit Saskatoon, to build support and create understanding of newcomers as an integral part of an inclusive, diverse workforce and welcoming community.
  
Established in May 2017, IPS is a community collective that includes Saskatoon Settlement Sector agencies, the Government of Canada, Province of Saskatchewan, City of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan, United Way of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Public School Division, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce and others. The Partnership is developing a Newcomer Strategy and Action Plan to make Saskatoon more welcoming for newcomers and to improve accessibility to services.

“The “See Me As I Am/Be An Ally” campaign is a great example of what Saskatoon is all about - it’s a community-driven and community-focused project that builds connections and understanding. The messaging is powerful, and it serves as an important reminder to see beyond our differences and to reinforce the connections and ties that we share. When we are at our best as a city, we can serve as an example of what it means to be welcoming and inclusive,” says Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon.

“Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is proud to partner with Saskatoon’s  campaign. Now, more than ever, Canadians need to unite around our common values of “See Me As I Am/Be An Ally” diversity and inclusion. I am pleased that Saskatonians are having this important dialogue, and I look forward to seeing what fruit this brings,” says the Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC).

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to be a part of Immigration Saskatoon Partnership and welcomes this exciting new campaign,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Efforts like this to support newcomers in their transition and integration into Saskatoon and across our great province will help those individuals and our communities achieve social, cultural, and economic success.”

The campaign includes the “See Me As I Am” and the “Be An Ally” videos. To learn more about how you can be an ally and to see the videos, visit the IPS website at https://ipsk.ca/.

The City in partnership with Dream Development today, unveiled the installation of a large-scale art piece in the Brighton neighbourhood.  Entitled “Coming Home”, Dream Development worked with Heavy Industries, Fort Architecture and Saskatoon-born designer, Landon Anholt, to create the sculpture which is intended to complement the natural environment and specifically the nearby wetlands. The sculpture is the largest private donation of public art in the City’s history.

“Public art adds vibrancy to a neighbourhood and helps to create a sense of belonging and pride in our community,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “This piece, envisioned by a Saskatoon-born designer, reflects the natural beauty of the area and will become a centrepiece for the growing Brighton neighbourhood. My thanks to Dream Development for the unprecedented investment in public art and to all the City of Saskatoon staff and community partners for enriching the neighbourhood with this great project.”

According to Jayden Schmiess, Land Development Manager at Dream Development, the most unique feature of the piece is its perspective. 

“From most vantage points the piece will look like a cluster of bird houses suspended in the air or a neighborhood in the sky,” Schmiess says. “However, from the westbound lanes of Brighton Common, as you approach it, the individual elements come together to form the shape of a large bird in flight with outstretched wings.”

The Saskatoon Municipal Culture Plan includes specific strategies to facilitate cultural investments in Saskatoon neighbourhoods, with donations of public art facilitated through the City’s Policy No. C10-025, Public Art Policy. The commission and donation of “Coming Home” could potentially serve as a future model for the donation of public art by developers in new Saskatoon neighbourhoods.

The City thanks Dream Development for the generous donation of “Coming Home” to Saskatoon’s public art collection.