News Releases

An Ontario Superior Court Justice has today ordered the return of $335 thousand in City money fraudulently obtained in August.  This means the City will recover all $1.04 M that was directed to a fraudster’s bank account in August 2019 through a fraud scheme.

“This is exactly the outcome we have wanted for the past three months,” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson. “We are grateful to the Court and for the efforts made by many people and organizations to recover this stolen money.”

Mr. Justice Michael A. Penny reserved his decision on November 5. The remaining funds had been the subject of court hearings in Toronto, where three parties claimed they had been unwitting victims of the fraud scheme.

Justice Penny found none of the remaining defendants provided enough evidence to require a trial. He also awarded the City $25 thousand in Court costs.

Each defendant has 30 days to appeal.  Until then the money will be held in trust by the City’s lawyers.

Jorgenson says the City is currently finalizing the costs of the recovery and has already installed tighter accounting measures at City Hall.

“The finance team has worked closely with our internal auditors to implement appropriate controls that are now in place to help ensure that nothing like this happens again.”

Jorgenson anticipates an update report on the full cost of the recovery and findings of the root cause investigation will be provided to City Council before year-end.

View related news releases on this matter on saskatoon.ca.

Following a competitive request for proposal and negotiations process, the City has finalized a new eight-year agreement with Loraas Recycle for Curbside Recycling Services, effective January 1, 2020 through 2027.

“We are happy to continue our partnership with Loraas Recycle to deliver a successful recycling program and to offer the levels of service the City and its residents have come to expect,” says Russ Munro, Director of Water & Waste Operations.

The program will continue to have bi-weekly collection year-round and have the same collection routes and days in 2020. The City will also maintain its contract with Cosmopolitan Industries through 2023.

Because of increased pressures and shifts in the global recycling market, there are changes required to both residential recycling programs that will take effect January 1, 2020, including:

• Removal of black plastics (e.g. takeout containers and disposable coffee cup lids)
• Removal of polycoat* (e.g. paper coffee cups and beverage cups)
• Curbside Residential Recycling rate increase to $7.38 per household per month in 2020 and $7.47 in 2021 pending City Council approval
• Multi-Unit Residential Recycling rate increase to $3.71 per household per month in 2020 and $3.86 in 2021 pending City Council approval

Additional information on these changes can be found in this fact sheet.

As noted, these changes come after much deliberation and are a result of significant changes in global recycling markets, impacting municipal recycling programs across North America. Demand for high-quality material and a decrease in commodity values has lowered profits for the sale of those materials, resulting in lower revenues to offset processing costs. 

“An ideal scenario would have us accepting all recyclable material and maintaining the rates for our residents, but unfortunately the market is dictating otherwise,” says Munro. “That said, the changes we are implementing to our residential recycling programs will help stabilize us during this time of market uncertainty and put us in a better financial position than other prairie cities with similar recycling programs.

“We remain diligent in working with our recycling partners to run an efficient and cost-effective recycling program for the City and its residents.”

The administration will present a report, Additional Information for Curbside Residential Recycling for 2020 and Beyond, to the Standing Policy Committee of Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services on December 2, 2019.

*Tetra Pak containers (e.g. juice boxes, milk cartons, and soup broth containers) are still accepted in the program as they can be recycled through SARCAN Recycling.

City Council is set to deliberate Administration’s proposed 2020/2021 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget on November 25, 26,27, 2019.

The multi-year business plan, operating and capital budget will guide the investments, projects, and service levels the City wants to achieve over the next two years, with an eye to future planning.

To maintain and improve the high quality of life Saskatoon residents enjoy, a significant portion of the proposed 2020/2021 Budget is aimed at investing in core programs and services that reflect the top priorities of Saskatoon residents. Learn more about the proposed 2020/2021 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget.

City Council will make careful investment decisions to ensure:

• property taxes and fees are kept as low as possible for the next two years
• dedicated investments are made in the core services residents rely on every day and consider the most important
• the right investments are made for a sustainable future
• the City’s debt levels and assets are properly maintained

Watch the Your City Video on the City's first two-year budget planning approach. 

The budget deliberation sessions are open to the public and begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, in Council Chambers. 

Members of the public may email using the online form or write a letter to City Council relating to 2020/2021 Budget matters.  Emails/letters must be received before 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 25, 2019.

More details at saskatoon.ca/write-letter-councilcommittees.

A record of Saskatoon’s former residents who fell in military service during the Second World War and in the following years is on display at City Hall.

“We’re so pleased to have this volume and be able to have it where it can be seen by more people,” says City Archivist Jeff O’Brien.  “It joins the First World War Book of Remembrance we already have at the archives and together they form such a vital community historical resource.”

As was the first book, the second volume is a gift to the City from the Military Institute of Saskatoon.

The book contains the names of 345 residents of Saskatoon who died during the Second World War, three killed in the Korean War, seven during peacetime operations and five during the War in Afghanistan.

The latest book was presented to City Council in 2018 and is now part of the permanent collection of the City of Saskatoon Archives.

The Book of Remembrance will be available for viewing until Friday, November 15, 2019.

The City of Saskatoon is awaiting the decision of an Ontario Superior Court Justice on the return of City money fraudulently obtained in August.

The issue was considered in a Toronto courtroom Tuesday, November 5^th. 

“The matter has been heard by the Court and no further actions can be taken on recovery efforts until we know its decision,” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson. “So we can’t speculate on how long it will take or what the decision will be.”

The City has recovered just over two thirds or nearly $700 thousand of the City’s money that was directed to a fraudster’s bank account in August 2019 through a fraud scheme.

“As we’ve said from the outset, we’re extremely grateful for the efforts made by many people and organizations to recover the stolen money,” Jorgenson says.  “We remain optimistic that the remaining funds that are still frozen in several bank accounts will be returned to the City.”

Jorgenson anticipates an update report on the findings of the root cause investigation will be provided to City Council before year-end.

A fraudster obtained $1.04 million in the scheme, and any money that has not been returned to the City has been identified, traced and locked down by the Court.

View related news releases on this matter on saskatoon.ca.

The following is a statement from Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction:

"At around 5 a.m. today there was a report of erratic driving involving a City of Saskatoon one ton sanding truck. At this point, there have been no reports of injuries, property damage or theft.

The driver, a City of Saskatoon employee, was detained by Police.

Separate investigations by the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Police Service are underway."

Saskatoon has one of the safest water supplies in North America.  The vast majority of Saskatoon neighbourhoods do not have lead line connections.

However, a goal to replace lead pipes that link older homes and businesses to Saskatoon’s main water supply is progressing as planned. In 2017, the City committed to removing all underground pipes containing lead and install lead-free ones within 10 years. The work is being done in conjunction with necessary water main and road upgrades.

“Most recently, water main replacement projects have been underway in Saskatoon’s most established neighbourhoods, such as City Park and Riversdale, where the pipes are more than 100 years old in many cases,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Utilities and Environment.  “Replacements also occur when a water main breaks. The connections from the main water lines into homes and businesses are replaced at the same time.”

Of the 4,900 lead water service connections identified in 2017, over 2500 have already been replaced. The City expects to have all connections replaced by 2026, completing nearly 500 every year.

The City began replacing lead connections in established neighbourhoods in 2010. City Council accelerated the program in 2017.

“When it comes to overall quality, Saskatoon has one of the safest water supplies in the world. Regular test results show lead level content in our drinking water supply is 100 times lower than the Health Canada limit when it enters the water distribution system.”

However, properties within city neighbourhoods built before 1950 may still have lead water service pipes.  In these older neighbourhoods where lead connections remain present in someone’s home, there is a greater possibility that lead can be present in water left stagnant for six hours or more.

Because of this, and every year, the City makes sure every household with a lead connection is made aware of it and ensures owners or residents receive a pamphlet containing information about the accelerated rehabilitation program, how connection replacements are coordinated and what they can do to reduce their exposure to lead. The information is also available online at Saskatoon.ca/lead.

“The most important thing someone can do is flush the water for all least five minutes if it is going to be consumed.  It’s also safe for other uses like washing dishes or watering plants – so it doesn’t have to be wasted,” Gardiner says.

Without the aggressive program now in place, the timeline would have been 90 years.

Focusing on investing in infrastructure, maintaining service levels and supporting future growth, the City today released the 2020/2021 Preliminary Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget.

“We’ve put forward careful investments in high-quality civic services and programs that stretch taxpayer dollars and add value for residents,” says Clae Hack, Interim Chief Financial Officer.  “Citizen input shared with us through our civic services surveys was considered in our proposed budget planning.  Citizen feedback on service priorities helps inform City Council when it makes investment decisions in November.”

While the 2020/2021 Preliminary Budget invests in those civic services most important to residents, it is also guided by the vision and goals outlined in City Council’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan and its 10 Strategic Priority areas of focus.

The 2020/2021 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget deliberations are scheduled for November 25, 26 and 27 in City Council Chambers.

This is the City’s first multi-year budget approach. It will provide greater certainty for residents about future property taxes, give better alignment with the City’s longer-term goals, and improve transparency, financial stability and accountability.

The multi-year budget is built from this foundation, and a four-step process that started with:

• Determining costs to maintain current service levels for the next two years - the original estimate required a 3.94% and 4.17% property tax increase;
• City Council providing a property tax target goal for 2020 and 2021; City Council then directed Administration to bring back options to reduce the proposed property tax increase estimate;​
• Administration providing various options and plans to help achieve City Council’s strategic and property tax goals, effectively lowering the proposed property tax increases to 3.23% for 2020, and 3.54% for 2021; and​ 
• ​Incorporating corporate business plans into the proposed 2020 and 2021 multi-year budget document, including six property tax-reducing options.

“City Council will consider additional operating budget options aimed at helping to accelerate its top priority areas of focus in November,” Hack says.

With the above considerations, the 2020 and 2021 Operating Budget proposes total expenditures of $530.0 million and $548.3 million respectively.  This is an investment increase of $19.6 million, or 3.84%, in 2020; and $18.4 million, or 3.47%, in 2021.

With a commitment to improving safety in Saskatoon, Policing represents the largest portion of the City’s operating expenditures at approximately 21%, or $109.6 million, in 2020; and $114.0 million in 2021.  All other civic operations make up the rest of the operating budget, with $420.4 million in 2020 and $434.4 million in 2021.

The proposed 2020/2021 Capital Budget aims to prepare Saskatoon for future growth, improve mobility, enhance public safety and quality of life, and protect the environment. Investments of $390.8 million in 2020 and $293.5 million in 2021 will provide a continued focus on road and infrastructure enhancements, transit improvements, and expanded water and wastewater distribution systems.

The proposed municipal property tax increase is 3.23% in 2020, and 3.54% for 2021.  These increases would generate an additional $7.9 million in 2020 and $8.7 million in 2021.  In 2020, 1.0% of property tax is equivalent to $2.4 million, and $2.5 million in 2021.

For a homeowner who owns a single-family detached home with an average assessed value of $371,000, this amounts to $60.95 for 2020, or $5.08 a month, and $66.83 for 2021, or an additional $5.57 month.

Learn more about the investments the City proposes in services, programs and projects valued by citizens, and those that will ensure Saskatoon stays a great place to live, work, learn and play through the detailed 2020/2021 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget at saskatoon.ca/budget

For the safety and protection of residents and homeowners on the east riverbank, new regulations are being proposed to support continued development of riverbank areas.  The City has identified two zones on the east bank with existing ground conditions that may experience slope instability to be regulated on a go-forward basis.  

“The regulations provide options for owners to continue development within the area while maintaining, to the extent possible, the integrity of the riverbank,” says Kara Fagnou, Director of Building Standards.  “Meanwhile the City continues to monitor the east and west riverbank slopes for slope instability.”  

Fagnou says historical studies, recent geological assessments and a review of slope management practices from across Canada have been used to develop the proposed regulations. The regulations she says are intended to provide consistency and a clear process to support development in the two zones. 

The proposed regulations are outlined in an Administration report to the Municipal Planning Commission which meets today, Tuesday, October 29.  The regulations provide a clear process for the development of new structures, changes to existing structures and site work.  Examples of development are minor projects such as decks and garages, and major projects including houses, retaining walls, and swimming pools.   

Owners will be required to hire a geotechnical engineer to prepare a geotechnical report to support their building and development permit application. Geotechnical reports are already required for subdividing and rezoning property on the east riverbank and the proposed regulations will help to make requirements consistent throughout the area.

Owners will need to review the recommendations with their geotechnical expert, including costs of development, to understand the impacts of developing their property both for themselves and for the surrounding area.  

Following the Municipal Planning Commission meeting the regulations are expected to proceed to the Public Hearing meeting of City Council on November 18.

A map of the Riverbank Slope Overlay District can be viewed here.

The City and Kahkewistahaw [kak-uh-WISH’-tuh-how] First Nation have cleared a path to designate the First Nation’s land at 1215 Claypool Drive as an urban reserve.

Mayor Charlie Clark and Chief Evan Taypotat, along with the Council of Kahkewistahaw First Nation, and Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners Chair, Darlene Brander, today signed urban reserve agreements during a special signing ceremony.

“Creating a new urban reserve in Saskatoon is a sign of strength for our city,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “We can be proud as a community that the Kahkewistahaw First Nation saw opportunity in Saskatoon for a partnership and committed to work with the City to spur investment and opportunity. Urban reserves forge new relationships and stimulate growth, and I would like to thank the Chief and Council for advancing this in Saskatoon.”

At its regularly scheduled meeting on September 30, 2019, City Council approved the Municipal Services and Compatibility Agreement negotiated with Kahkewistahaw First Nation. The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners also approved the Police Services Agreement at their regularly scheduled meeting on October 17, 2019. These agreements fulfill the municipal requirements for urban reserve designation.

The agreements address:

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

“Chief and Council of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation represent approximately 2,100 Cree band members. We are pleased to come to an agreement with the City of Saskatoon on a proposed Municipal Service Agreement (MSA). We are appreciative that this MSA was approved unanimously by the Saskatoon City Council. This demonstrates that they are in favor of Kahkewistahaw’s proposed land development in the Hampton Village Business Park. We intend to name this property Kahkewistahaw Eagles Landing,” says Kahkewistahaw First Nation Chief Evan B.G. Taypotat.  

“We firmly believe that economic development is where Kahkewistahaw’s sovereignty lies. If we can make jobs, we employ our people. If we employ our people, they make money. If a person has money for their family, they have opportunity. If they have opportunity, then we leave the affect of residential school in the past. That is the vision and direction we will proceed with Kahkewistahaw Eagles Landing. We are excited that there will be numerous possibilities for all the people who call Saskatoon home. Together, we will make Saskatoon the greatest city in Canada to live in.”

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

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

About Kahkewistahaw First Nation
Kahkewistahaw First Nation is a member of the Yorkton Tribal Council whose home reserve is located approximately 15 kilometres north of Broadview, Saskatchewan. A signatory of Treaty No. 4, Kahkewistahaw First Nation has 2,020 members. Approximately 670 members reside on the home reserve and 1,350 members live in other communities throughout the province. 

The City of Saskatoon has now recovered just over two thirds or nearly $700 thousand of the City’s money that was directed to a fraudster’s bank account in August 2019 through a fraud scheme – that’s roughly $300 thousand more than last month’s update.

“We recognize and are thankful for the efforts expended by multiple parties in order to recover these funds and look forward to further recovery in the coming weeks,” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson.

Jorgenson says the next court hearing on this matter is scheduled for November 5, 2019, in Toronto.

“As we continue our work with investigators, banks and our legal team in Ontario, we’re optimistic that the remaining funds that are still frozen in several bank accounts will soon be returned to the City.”

Jorgenson anticipates an update report on the findings of the internal investigation will be provided to City Council and the public likely in November or December of 2019. 

A fraudster obtained $1.04 million in the scheme, and any money that has not been returned to the City has been identified, traced and locked down by the Court.

View related news releases on this matter on saskatoon.ca.

Over 800 leading experts, community leaders, elders and youth are coming together in Saskatoon today for the Wîcihitowin (wee-chee-HEE’-toe-win) Indigenous Engagement Conference.

Reaching its highest attendance yet, the conference focuses on responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and how to address Indigenous engagement and inclusion issues. The conference also aims to build allies in the community and honour Indian residential school survivors, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, sixties scoop and day schools.

This year’s conference theme - Be a good person, try to lead a good life - honours the late Walter Linklater, a well-known and respected knowledge keeper who shared many universal teachings that continue to help guide people on a path to reconciliation.

“Our late father Walter Linklater often spoke about education as a way to bring people together and build bridges of understanding,” says son Lyndon Linklater, Traditional Knowledge Keeper. “To use our traditions and ceremonies to meet the challenges and crises we will encounter in our lives. Above all, to respect each other, to be kind to one another, and to try to live a good life.”

The conference welcomes an impressive and diverse line-up of 50 keynote speakers and panelists from across Canada, including Dr. James Makokis and Anthony Johnson, better known as Team Ahkameyimok, winners of The Amazing Race Canada, Season 7.
This year, attendees will learn from core teachings, gather key takeaways, and gain practical resources to incorporate reconciliation in both their personal and professional lives.

“Moving towards reconciliation takes courage and commitment from leading organizations within our communities, and a recognized responsibility from each of us as individuals to listen and learn the truth,” says Lisa Mooney, Global Lead, Sustainability & Strategic Inclusion, Nutrien.  “Nutrien is proud to support Wîcihitowin in cultivating an environment of openness, acceptance and healing through sharing the stories of Indian residential school survivors and encouraging safe conversations that plant the seeds of understanding.”

Conference topics include Indigenous health transformation, the impact of colonialism on Indigenous values, traditions, languages and customs, and restoring the rights of Indigenous women and girls to citizenship and safety.

“As a residential school survivor, to see this conference evolve to where it is today, is a testament of our Elders who prayed for us while we were at these schools and to our courageous youth who listened to those prayers and by letting others know that we were not forgotten. My healing journey continues with Wîcihitowin in my heart,” says Gilbert Kewistep, Knowledge Keeper, Indian residential school survivor and Wîcihitowin Conference Organizer.

This conference is made possible because of the financial support of community investors such as Nutrien, the Saskatoon Community Foundation, Affinity Credit Union and 15 other organizations representing businesses and organizations from across the province.  

The Wîcihitowin Organizing Committee is already looking ahead to next year’s conference to be held on October 6 - 8, 2020.

Following a request from the City of Winnipeg, twenty workers from Saskatoon Light & Power and the Parks Division will travel tomorrow to help clean-up efforts in the Manitoba capital.

“We are all very proud of our staff for volunteering to leave their friends and families,” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson.

“When the call went out asking for anyone interested to go to Winnipeg, there were more volunteers than spots available. This speaks to the dedication of City workers willing to help our neighbours during a time of need.”

On Saturday October 12, Winnipeg EMO asked its Emergency Management counterparts in Saskatoon for assistance after a severe winter storm hit the province Wednesday, October 9.

The storm badly damaged Winnipeg’s urban forest, with estimates in the tens of thousands of City-owned trees damaged. The storm’s effects prompted that city to declare a Local State of Emergency on Sunday. 

A safe clean-up requires trained and skilled staff with the proper equipment, so City of Saskatoon staff worked over the weekend to gather resources to deploy to Winnipeg. To help clear downed trees, limbs and debris in Winnipeg, the 20 workers will respond with:

• 4 aerial lift trucks with chippers
• 2 ground trucks with chippers
• 1 log truck
• 2 half ton trucks

The City of Winnipeg will cover all costs. The Saskatoon team is expected to leave at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow and scheduled to be in Winnipeg for five days.

The City and Kahkewistahaw First Nation have cleared a path to designate the First Nation’s land at 1215 Claypool Drive as an urban reserve.

The City will host a special signing ceremony on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers for the Kahkewistahaw First Nation Chief and Council, the Mayor and the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners to come together to formally sign the Agreements and honour the relationship between Kahkewistahaw First Nation and the City. 

At its regularly scheduled meeting on September 30, 2019, City Council approved the Municipal Services and Compatibility Agreement negotiated with Kahkewistahaw First Nation to fulfill the requirement needed for urban reserve designation. 

The agreements address:

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

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

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

About Kahkewistahaw First Nation
Kahkewistahaw First Nation is a member of the Yorkton Tribal Council whose home reserve is located approximately 15 kilometres north of Broadview, Saskatchewan. A signatory of Treaty No. 4, Kahkewistahaw First Nation has 2,020 members.  Approximately 670 members reside on the home reserve and 1,350 members live in other communities throughout the province. 

City Council, at its regular business meeting held on September 30, 2019 opted to maintain the list of acceptable items, minus black plastics and polycoat (e.g. disposable coffee cups), as recommend by the Administration. This decision comes during a wave of uncertainty in the global recycling markets, driven by restrictions imposed by the Chinese Government, falling oil prices, and weak market prices in the plastics market.

“An ideal scenario would have us accepting all recyclable material, but unfortunately that is out of our control,” says Russ Munro, Director of Water & Waste Operations. “Changing markets and higher processing costs are the reality we are facing, but we will continue to be diligent in working with our recycling partners to run an efficient and cost effective recycling program for Saskatoon residents. We believe the decision made by Council to enter into this long term contract will help stabilize us during this time of uncertainty in the recycling market and put us in a more favourable financial position than other prairie cities with similar recycling programs.”

City Council also opted to continue the Glass Recycling Partnership with SARCAN Recycling which would see a greater number of glass bottles being diverted for recycling. Glass will still be collected through the Curbside Program but this additional drop-off option results in less breakage and a greater potential to recycle glass containers.

The current contract for curbside residential recycling services expires on December 31, 2019, and a new contract is required for 2020 and beyond. After a competitive RFP process, the City has entered into negotiations with the highest ranked proponent to finalize an agreement. Details of the 2020 recycling program will be shared when negotiations are complete, including information on service levels, accepted materials, and rates.

The detailed report and all of its attachments can be found here.

A Queen’s Bench judge has allowed the owner of a Briarwood home – already slated for demolition – more time to file information and evidence to support the property owner’s request for an interim injunction or delay on the home’s demolition.

An injunction has not been granted.

Rather, Mr. Justice R.W. Elson today, ordered the owner of 166 Beechdale Crescent to bring back a proper application on Friday, October 11, 2019.

While this matter is pending, the City of Saskatoon has been directed not to demolish the property at 166 Beechdale. The City’s demolition is on hold.

The construction equipment, along with perimeter fencing, was already mobilized at 166 Beechdale Crescent; the construction equipment will be removed until the judge makes a decision.

Key Points:

• The owner of 166 Beechdale lives out of Canada and despite the City’s many efforts has not had any contact with the City until now 
• The property has become a serious health and safety hazard to neighbours
• Since March 2019, the City has followed the proper legal process for derelict or deficient properties
• The building may look fine on the outside, but inside it is uninhabitable and beyond a cost-effective repair 
• The property has been abandoned since 2016; as a result, the property suffered a water-filled basement from burst frozen pipes
• Because of the excessive water and moisture, severe mould damage developed throughout the entire home; the entire interior of the home is structurally unsound, again, a safety hazard.
• The demolition does not cost City taxpayers – the demolition cost is added to the property’s taxes or is the owner’s responsibility.

The City of Saskatoon has recovered roughly $400 thousand in funds that in August were directed to a fraudster’s bank account through a fraud scheme. 

City Manager Jeff Jorgenson says the City continues to actively work with law enforcement,  banks, and its legal team to recover the remainder of the stolen money.

“There is an important court hearing taking place this week in Toronto,” Jorgenson says.  “It’s expected there will be further movement on the return of more funds following that hearing. For now, the funds still remain frozen in various bank accounts.”

Jorgenson adds the internal investigation has been completed. An update report will be provided to City Council and the public in October or November 2019.

After discovering the fraud August 12, 2019, the City took quick action and on August 16, 2019, an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered the City funds to be frozen.

The vast majority of the $1.04 million obtained in the fraud scheme that has not been returned to the City has been identified, traced and locked down by the Court.

View related news releases on this matter on saskatoon.ca.

Next week, Saskatoon will host the 2019 Creative City Summit (Summit). From October 1 to 3, municipalities, arts organizations and government agencies will meet in Saskatoon to share ideas, connect and work together to build vital infrastructure for arts and cultural development in Canada. 

The Summit is the annual gathering of the Creative City Network of Canada (CCNC), an organization of municipal staff, organizations and individuals working in communities across Canada on arts, cultural and heritage policy, planning, development and support.  The CCNC exists to connect and educate the people who do this work so they can be more effective in cultural development in their communities. 

“The Creative City Network of Canada has named Saskatoon this year’s ‘Creative City.’ The Summit we will be gathering on First Nation Traditional Land of Treaty 6 and the Homeland of the Métis, and we look forward to learning more about the Indigenous culture of the region,” says Kelly Jerrott, President, Creative City Network of Canada.  “Cultural colleagues from across Canada will be sharing, learning and celebrating the significant role culture has in creating vibrant and healthy communities.”

2019 is the first time the Summit will be hosted in Saskatoon. Hosting a Summit puts the host municipality in the spotlight and raises the profile of the community across Canada by encouraging people to visit and experience the community’s cultural resources. The Summit can also strengthen the support for culture within the community and highlight local achievements.    

“The theme of this year’s Summit, ‘Growing the Creative Cultural Economy for 21st Century Cities,’ is intended to challenge delegates to view cultural assets and resources as powerful municipal economic drivers,” says Kevin Kitchen, the City’s Community Development Manager. “We look forward to learning from other cities and from creative industries on how we can further develop our own creative cultural economy in Saskatoon.” 

For more information on the Summit, visit saskatoon.ca/artsandculture and creativecity.ca. 

The City of Saskatoon, together with Reconciliation Saskatoon is proud to support Orange Shirt Day on September 30. The day aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact of the Indian residential school system on Indigenous people, their families and the social fabric of the community, and supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action #80.

“Our roots got shaken up, pulled up and cut off from our families but we are slowly re-rooting ourselves by reclaiming and re-learning our languages, our ceremonies – these are our sacred sites of resistance,” says Linda Young, a residential school survivor from Onion Lake Cree Nation.

“Speaking our ancestral language, practicing our ceremonies, protecting the Land and Water, is slowly but surely unclogging the blocked arteries to our hearts, giving us new life,” adds Young.

The public is invited to attend any of the following events to mark this day and learn more about the historical legacy of Indian Residential Schools:

Speaker Event – September 26

As a residential school survivor, Linda Young will share her personal story of time spent at St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Indian Residential School. The event is free and takes place at Cosmo Civic Centre Theatre from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Please register in advance.

Free Community Pancake Breakfast – September 30

Hosted by CUMFI, this event aims to honour Indian residential school survivors, Sixties Scoop survivors, Day School, MMIWG and Two-Spirited peoples. It will take place at the Central Urban Metis Federation (CUMFI) Office from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Traditional Ceremonies & Mini Round Dance – September 30

Hosted by survivors and old people circle, the theme for the day is "Every Child Matters". This event will celebrate the children and families at three traditional ceremonies. Events are taking place at White Buffalo Youth Lodge from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“CUMFI is working with Reconciliation Saskatoon to educate the grass roots community on the impacts of Indian Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop by honouring the Survivors. We invite you all to wear orange on September 30 and to attend our community pancake breakfast,” says Central Urban Metis Federation Inc. President Shirley Isbister, President.

Orange Shirt Day grew out of the story of six-year old Phyllis Webstad who wore an orange shirt on her first day of residential school. It was forcefully removed from her and her story is now a powerful reminder of the inter-generational trauma that has resulted from decades of cultural loss.

Reconciliation Saskatoon is a 98-member initiative of community organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses and partners who have come together to initiate a citywide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Calls to Action.

The City of Saskatoon’s commitment to the TRC Calls to Action supports the City’s strategic goal of Quality of Life by identifying actions for enhancing Indigenous residents’ well-being and participation in our community.

Orange Shirt Day events are made possible through the support of community investors Nutrien, Affinity, Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporate, SIGA, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Community Foundation and the National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund.

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) and the City of Saskatoon are partnering on a new program to help solve challenging urban issues through the power of research collaboration.

The new $100,000 cost-shared program—Research Junction—will involve research teams of at least one USask researcher and one City of Saskatoon staff member working together to address community needs around issues that include urban planning, reconciliation, transit, environmental sustainability, and youth issues.

Research Junction is a major initiative under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last year between the City of Saskatoon and USask to explore wide-ranging collaborations.   

“As the City of Saskatoon and the university work together towards a healthy, strong and sustainable future, Research Junction will provide the opportunity for our staff to join with researchers to problem solve and create unique solutions to the issues facing our city,” said Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark. “The result of this collaboration will have tremendous and positive outcomes for our community.” 

The funding—$50,000 from USask and $50,000 from the City of Saskatoon (committed in last year’s city budget)—will be allocated through a grant competition, with a Nov. 1 deadline. It is anticipated that this initial “seed funding” will attract external funding longer term.

“This exciting flagship initiative of our university-city partnership draws on the wealth of knowledge and expertise of our research community to help find locally tailored solutions to pressing City of Saskatoon research needs,” said USask President Peter Stoicheff. “It’s one way that we can give back to our community and be the university the world needs – starting with addressing complex challenges right here in our city.”    

The research questions and projects will be co-developed and each project will either create a new collaborative partnership or broaden the scope of an existing partnership.

Half a dozen grants of $10,000 to $30,000 each will be awarded to projects that support the city’s strategic goals and contribute to making Saskatoon a great place to live, work, learn and play. Projects must be completed within 18 months.

“This program will enable university researchers and city staff to connect on research needs and opportunities in a more co-ordinated way,” said Dan Willems, the city’s Interim Chief of Strategy and Transformation Officer. “We’ve had collaborations for a long time within areas such as engineering research and other issues, but this initiative will enable us to broaden the topics and issues that we work together to help solve. These types of collaborations often unlock creative innovation.” 

Research Junction will provide researchers with access to the city’s resources, data and expertise for research projects, and provide city staff with access to analyses and data to inform decision-making. 

The initiative will also create co-developed experiential learning and research opportunities for USask students and post-doctoral fellows, which could help prepare them for future careers.    

USask donor provides another $98,000 to augment community impact  

In addition, thanks to a $98,000 anonymous donation, USask has launched a related initiative to focus research on community well-being through collaborative community-based research proposals with the City of Saskatoon and other partners. This year, up to $50,000 of this fund will be allocated for collaborative projects related to homelessness.  The deadline for proposals for this Pathways initiative is Nov. 1.

“It is inspiring when donors come forward to help drive social change in our community through the power of research,” said Laura Zink, director of USask Strategic Research Initiatives. “Collaborations between our researchers and city personnel through the Pathways initiative will help find solutions to the many dimensions of homelessness.”

The research collaborations and success stories from Research Junction and the Pathways initiative will be shared on a website: research.usask.ca/research-junction.

To streamline administrative processes, the City of Saskatoon and USask are creating a master research agreement and data licensing agreement.

The Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is pleased to announce the following key note speakers at this year’s conference: The Honourable Dr. Lillian Dyck, award-winning physician Dr. Alika Lafontaine, Season 7 Amazing Race Winners Dr. James Makokis and Anthony Johnson, University of Alberta Associate Professor Dr. Sean Lessard and University of Winnipeg Assistant Professor Dr. Marc Kuly.

“We are honoured to have such a wonderfully diverse range of speakers at this year’s conference. Our theme this year is particularly meaningful – it is inspired by the late Elder Walter Linklater whose world view teaching of “being a good person and trying to live a good life” continues to guide people on a path to reconciliation,” said Elder Gilbert Kewistep and Indian residential school survivor.

Held on October 16 and 17, the Wîcihitowin (wee-chee-HEE’-toe-win) conference brings together leading experts, community and business leaders, elders and youth to discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and address Indigenous engagement and inclusion issues. 

Early bird tickets are available from wicihitowin.ca until September 15 and include breakfast and lunch on both days. Groups of 10 are available at the early bird pricing.

The 2019 theme for the conference revolves around the number five because of its significant meaning in the lives of thousands of Indigenous people across Canada. It was at this age that many children were removed from their families and sent to live in Indian residential schools, as a way to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.

Now in its fifth year, the Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is commemorating these children and is demonstrating respect to the survivors of Indian residential schools, Indian day schools, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and the sixties scoop by recognizing that they were, and continue to be, seeds for change.

This conference is presented in partnership with the United Way of Saskatoon, Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Johnson Shoyama Institute of Public Policy and the City of Saskatoon, and supported by community investors Nutrien, Saskatoon Community Foundation and Affinity Credit Union.

Wîcihitowin is Cree/Saulteaux for “helping each other” or “working together”, which is an important component of delivering enhanced programs and services.

The City of Saskatoon has recovered roughly $380 thousand in funds that earlier this month were directed to a fraudster’s bank account through a fraud scheme. The vast majority of the remainder of the stolen money remains frozen by court order.

“Recovery of these funds continues to be a top priority and we’re encouraged to have over a third of the stolen money returned this early in the process,” says Interim Chief Financial Officer Clae Hack.

City Manager Jeff Jorgenson has committed to keep the public updated on recovery progress and to provide a formal public report once recovery efforts come to a close.

The City continues to actively work on the recovery of funds with banking institutions, the Saskatoon Police Service and the legal team based in Toronto where most Canadian banks are headquartered.

On August 16, 2019, an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered the City funds to be frozen. The vast majority of the $1.04 million obtained in the fraud scheme has been identified, traced and locked down by the Court.

View related news releases on this matter on saskatoon.ca.

Today, the City, along with more than a dozen community partners made up of First Nation, Métis and non-Indigenous employers, employment, education and training institutions, business associations and community organizations, launched the Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook. A resource for small and medium sized businesses, the Handbook aims to provide guidance and practical options for employers seeking to improve their Indigenous workforce recruitment and retention outcomes.

“Indigenous people are the fastest growing labour resource in our province. It only makes sense that we make the effort to engage in a meaningful way to ensure that we connect opportunities with Indigenous communities and people,” says Lisa Mooney, Nutrien Global Lead, Sustainability and Strategic Inclusion. “Nutrien has led the way in Indigenous engagement by going a step further in offering the Aboriginal Content Playbook. Tools like this, and the Indigenous Engagement Handbook offer resources and connections that remove barriers and support the successful outcomes of these valuable connections.”

The result of a series of workshops and consultations held in early 2019, the Handbook will serve as a valuable tool for companies looking to foster resiliency, enhance competitiveness and become an employer of choice for Saskatchewan’s Indigenous workforce.

“Businesses are at different stages in their Indigenous engagement process and will need distinct strategies and capacities to reach their goals,” says Gilles Dorval, Director of Indigenous Initiatives, City of Saskatoon. “While not every suggestion in this handbook will be relevant for every organization, we hope that many of the suggestions will resonate with most employers.”

“SREDA’s goal is to promote effective Indigenous economic development strategies to encourage and support economic inclusion and growth in the Saskatoon Region,” added Alex Fallon, CEO of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority. “This handbook will serve as an important tool to help employers better engage with Indigenous employees and partners, to the benefit of the entire community.”

As new ideas and technologies change the way people do business, Indigenous people are connecting with these changes and looking for opportunities to participate and lead.

“Starting with Affinity was a life-changing, amazing experience. They helped me try to find what I needed to do. I went in there with no experience, I didn’t even know what type of behaviour I needed to get through. The HR Advisor at the time asked, ‘what types of resources do you need to help you’,” says Chantel Buffalo, Affinity Credit Union. “She was open and honest with me and talked with me lots. It was very helpful to have a support system to get me through training.”

The Handbook is made possible through the support of community investors Nutrien, Affinity Credit Union and the Saskatoon Community Foundation. For more information and to download a digital copy of the Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook, visit www.sacap.ca.

The Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook responds to Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action #92 calling on the corporate sector to engage in meaningful consultation and develop respectful relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses as well as provide equitable access to jobs, training and educational opportunities to Indigenous peoples.

The City of Saskatoon’s commitment to the TRC’s Calls to Action supports the City’s Corporate Strategic Goal of Quality of Life by identifying actions for supporting a diverse, resilient, and growing economy and enhancing well-being and participation of Indigenous peoples in our community.

The City of Saskatoon again received a positive endorsement from S&P Global Rating Services, which today reconfirmed the City’s ‘AAA’ credit rating.

“Of course we’re very encouraged with this rating,” says Clae Hack, Interim Chief Financial Officer. “The rating agency points to a ‘strong and diversified’ economy in our city, the fact we’ve kept debt ‘minimal’ and are able to pass budgets before the start of the fiscal year as benefits.”

Highlighting “sound financial management,” S&P today affirmed ‘AAA’ long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on the City with a “stable” outlook.

Key points within the August 26, 2019, S&P report are:

• Saskatoon is expected to “maintain a strong budgetary position over the next two years”
• Saskatoon’s creditworthiness reflects strong financial management
• Saskatoon’s “…management accountability is strong and financial policies are prudent.”

“As is always the case, the 'AAA' rating is important,” Hack says.  “It provides that certainty for anyone looking to invest and create jobs in Saskatoon and it allows us at City Hall to plan for the growth that happens as a result.”

The City’s mid-year ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating affirmation comes as a result of S&P publishing updated methodology on July 15, 2019, for assigning ratings to local and regional governments outside of the United States. The intent of the changes is to:

• Better capture country and entity-specific nuances while continuing to reflect global calibration and comparisons;
• Streamline and simplify the criteria while maintaining its analytical robustness; and
• Allow analysts to tell a better credit story through the application of more flexible criteria while ensuring a consistent criteria application.

The mid-year ‘AAA’/Stable rating for the City report was reissued based on a cursory review using the new criteria as well as the most current information as of the date of the reissued report. 

For more information, the report entitled “City of Saskatoon Ratings Affirmed at ‘AAA’; Outlook Remains Stable” is available on the City’s website saskatoon.ca.

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Following an extensive veterinary examination, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo has made a difficult decision to next week say goodbye to Ma the Capuchin Monkey.

“We don’t take a decision like this lightly,” says Zoo manager Tim Sinclair-Smith. “We know announcing this makes many of us uncomfortable about the animals we love and care for however Ma’s health and quality of life continues to decline and we have made the medical and humane decision to let her go.”

Ma has been in palliative care at the Zoo and has needed prescribed pain and anti-inflammatory medication.

“We have been managing Ma’s pain associated with aging for over a year but despite our best attempts, her quality of life has diminished and we are no longer able to control her pain,” says Dr. Dennilyn Parker an expert in Zoo, Exotic and Wildlife Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

A Capuchin Monkey’s average life expectancy can be as much as 25 years in the wild and up to 40 years in captivity.

Ma arrived at the Zoo in 1974 from the U of S when she was about two-years-old – which makes her about 47 or older.

“With dedicated support, love and care here at the Zoo, Ma well surpassed the typical lifespan of her species,” Sinclair-Smith says.

“We are going to miss her and while we know this will have a deep effect on our staff and anyone who’s come to see her since the mid-1970s, it’s the compassionate thing to do.”

In a given year, the City cleans out between 3,000 and 4,000 service lines connecting residential properties to the City’s sanitary sewer system. The sanitary sewer system is like a giant funnel with over 75,000 connections all directed to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. When individuals put harmful things down the drain it can quickly become a significant problem in the sewer system.

To shift behaviors, the City has developed an education campaign that is targeted towards residential users of the sanitary sewer. The goal behind Prevent Irritable Sewer Syndrome is to build awareness of what is and is not to be flushed down toilets and rinsed down sinks, and to reduce the number of blockages experienced throughout the community.

“Most drain clogs occur when materials do not dissolve or break apart in water. The common culprit for clogged drains in our community is grease and flushable wipes”, says Russ Munro, Director of Water & Waste Operations. “Increased understanding of how certain materials impact the sewer system and how to properly dispose of these items will help decrease the amount of sewer backups residents experience, which can be extremely costly and very inconvenient.”

What can residents do to help?

• Wipe fats, oils and grease off dishes before washing.
• Compost organic waste (food scraps, coffee grounds and paper towel).
• Return pharmaceuticals to pharmacy.
• Dispose of wipes, diapers, personal hygiene products, and family planning products in the garbage.
• Unload hazardous products at the household hazardous waste drop-off site.

To learn more on how to protect your pipes and Prevent Irritable Sewer Syndrome, visit: saskatoon.ca/irritable-sewer-syndrome.

The City of Saskatoon continues to make progress on recovering $1.04 million in funds that earlier this month were directed to a fraudster’s bank account through a fraud scheme.

“While it is early in the investigation, we’re pleased to say most of the funds have been identified or traced and have been locked-down by Court order,” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson.

Jorgenson says the City is chasing down every lead and working with banking institutions and the Saskatoon Police Service.

“Recovery of the remaining funds, further fortifying our controls, and gathering all of the facts continues to be the City’s number-one priority,” he says. “This is a very good start and we are cautiously optimistic about recovering more funds.”

A fraudster electronically impersonated the Chief Financial Officer of Allan Construction, asking for a change of banking information. The City complied, and as a result, the next contract payment intended to go to that company, was directed to the fraudster’s bank account. The fraud was identified on August 12, 2019.

“It’s very disconcerting that the perpetrator used my name and our company name to commit this crime,” says Allan Construction’s CFO Blaine Dubreuil. “We have done a security assessment and are confident that our systems were not hacked or compromised. We’ll be working closely with the City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Police Service as the investigation continues.”

The City has issued a claim with its insurer. To protect the integrity of the police investigation the City and Allan Construction are not at liberty to disclose further details.

Clarence Avenue and 14th Street now has an illuminated crossing that accommodates both pedestrians and cyclists, thanks to a grant from the provincial Traffic Safety Fund, derived from photo speed enforcement fine revenue. Earlier this year, the City received a $45,000 grant to install signage, special illumination and amber flashing beacons at the intersection. It is the first pedestrian-cyclist actuated signal in Saskatoon.

“Initially, only a pedestrian signal was to be installed,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. “However, it made sense to add the cyclist signal as well because 14th Street is a shared-use on-road cycling lane.”

The crossing operates as any other illuminated crossing in the city, but includes a cyclist push button that is easily accessible to those who simply ride up next to it. Tips on how to use the new pedestrian and cyclist crossing are available at Saskatoon.ca/bike.

Residents of Nutana and Varsity View had identified Clarence Avenue and 14th Street as a necessary location for pedestrian safety improvements through the City’s neighbourhood traffic review process. In choosing recipients, the Photo Speed Enforcement committee looked at criteria focused on priority areas including intersection safety, aggressive driving, speeding and vulnerable road users.  

Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants will be awarded twice annually. The City plans to continue submitting funding applications to improve safety at other intersections and school zones throughout Saskatoon.

The City of Saskatoon has been affected by a fraud scheme, where a fraudster electronically impersonated the CFO of a construction company and asked for a change of banking information.  The City complied, and as a result, the next contract payment intended to go to that company, $1.04 million, was directed to the fraudster’s bank account.  The fraud was identified on August 12, 2019.

Upon discovering the fraudulent activity, the City notified its internal auditor, the Saskatoon Police Service and other authorities including banking institutions.

“Our focus at this time is on recovery of the funds.  We have experts engaged from our internal auditor, the banks affected, and the Saskatoon Police Service.  Additionally we have external and internal experts pouring over financial transactions and processes to do everything reasonably possible to protect the City from any further attacks”, City Manager, Jeff Jorgenson says.

“This incident is a serious criminal matter, and the City is working hard to recover these funds, minimize the opportunities for this to occur in the future, and to cooperate with the police in this investigation,” says Mayor Charlie Clark

“As this is an ongoing investigation, the City cannot disclose further details about the fraud at this time.  The City is now notifying the media and the public in an effort to be transparent and also to warn other corporations.  The City will continue to work with and fully cooperate with law enforcement”, says Jorgenson.

From major infrastructure rehabilitation to general road maintenance, the 2019 construction season is progressing as planned and on schedule in Saskatoon. City Council invested over $61 million in 2019 to make more of Saskatoon’s streets, bridges and sidewalks, smoother, safer and longer-lasting.

“With so many active projects underway, we know navigating around Saskatoon can be inconvenient,” says Matt Jurkiewicz, Interim Director, Construction & Design. “We plan our short construction season to lessen these impacts as much as possible, but of course it’s not possible to avoid traffic delays altogether. We’re asking everyone to remember the work is necessary and will be worth it in the long run.”

• The interchanges at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 and McOrmond Drive and College Drive are complete and open.
   
• Phase 1 of the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation project has reached the mid-way point and remains on track for completion in October. In 2020, Phase 2 will require the lanes heading into downtown to be closed.
   
• Water main/connection replacements will improve water service for 387 properties in City Park (2018-2020) and Riversdale (2019-2020). City Park remains on schedule and Riversdale is ahead of schedule. Completion of the current phases is anticipated in early fall.  
   
• Other water main replacement locations include 14^th Street East and Bates Crescent, Acadia Drive between Leddy Crescent and Harrington Street, and 12^th Street East between Broadway Avenue and Eastlake Avenue.
   
• Completed road improvements: resurfacing of Circle Drive from Millar Avenue to the Circle Drive North Bridge; and sections of Taylor Street, Boychuk Drive and Kenderdine Road. The twinning of Wanuskewin Road north of 71^st Street is scheduled for completion in October.

• Upcoming road construction: resurfacing the westbound lanes on College Drive from the city limits to the Canadian Pacific Rail overpass, resurfacing Idylwyld Drive northbound lanes from 25^th Street to 31^st Street, and resurfacing Preston Avenue northbound lanes from Taylor Street to 8^th Street.
   
• Road and sidewalk maintenance: spring street sweeping was completed through all neighbourhoods in 7 weeks, back lane grading started in July and runs through to October, and sidewalk, pothole and utility cut repairs occur daily across the entire city.

Along with better project coordination, such as sidewalk and roadway overhauls being done at the same time and continuing construction overnight when possible, the City has also adopted a new purchasing policy that allows for the hiring of the best company for the job based on experience, qualifications and construction plan, not just the lowest bid.

We thank you for your pave-tience during construction. We know it can be a real ‘pain in the asphalt.’

The City, along with collaborating partners Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre (SICC) and Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC), is pleased to share the second edition of “ayisiyiniwak [a/yi/see/ni/wak, Cree for ‘the people’]: A Communications Guide” (ayisiyiniwak). 

Originally developed in 2017 as an educational resource for City employees to enhance their understanding of Indigenous culture and practices, copies of the guide have since been requested by organizations across Canada including government agencies, other municipalities, educational institutions and community groups. 

“The creation of ayisiyiniwak has helped us to build understanding and forge a path of partnership with the Indigenous community,” said Mayor Charlie Clark.  “The leadership shown from our staff in partnership with the OTC and SICC is something to be truly proud of.  Now I have civic leaders from across the country asking me for these guides.”

The second edition of ayisiyiniwak has been updated with:

• a chapter devoted to Métis culture and local history;
• a new Inuit chapter; 
• revised Cree translations (including the title) as reviewed by nêhiyawak or Cree speaking linguists;
• new sections within the First Nations chapter including 60s Scoop, Elder’s Helper, Syllabics, Flag Etiquette, Anthems/Honour Songs, The Grand Entry, Blanketing and Two-Spirit People; 
• several new terms and suggested resources.

“The Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre is pleased to be part of this handbook. On behalf of the Board of Governors, the Elders Council, and the staff we would like to commend the City of Saskatoon and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner for their commitment and dedication to developing this second edition. Education comes in many forms and this handbook provides a platform for, not only City employees, but for everyone to enjoy and begin to learn a little about Indigenous culture. Reconciliation begins with understanding. Understanding begins with openness, respectfulness, compassion, and willingness. Understanding isn’t always easy or beautiful, it takes time and is very personal. Be patient and open to learn and become more mindful and respectful of Indigenous ways of being,” said Wanda Wilson, President, Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.      

ayisiyiniwak is part of the City’s commitment to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada’s Call to Action #57, which specifically calls upon governments to: “provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations.” 

“The Office of the Treaty Commissioner is committed to engaging in public information and awareness to advance the Treaty goal of good relations. The ayisiyiniwak communications guide continues to grow and support the work of reconciliation,” said Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan, Mary Culbertson. “Being able to understand each other results in building positive, trusting relationships.”

During the development of the second edition, the project team was privileged to have the guidance of a Cree linguist, several First Nation and Métis Elders, as well as the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami [ITK]. 

The project team also wishes to acknowledge the support of Gabriel Dumont Institute and the Saskatoon Tribal Council, who through a summer employment partnership opportunity helped make the second edition of ayisiyiniwak possible. 

The first edition of the guide recently won a National Planning Excellence Award of Merit from the Canadian Institute of Planners in the category of Planning for Reconciliation. 

For more information and to download and digital copy of ayisiyiniwak, visit saskatoon.ca/ayisiyiniwak.

Hard copies of ayisiyiniwak can be purchased from SICC’s Online Store at https://store.sicc.sk.ca/ or by emailing Tiffany.Carrier@sicc.sk.ca. 

Saskatoon’s new interchange at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 is now officially complete.

The interchange opened to vehicles in late 2018. Surrounding work was just finished earlier this week to finalize the infrastructure project, which was funded by the Government of Canada, Government of Saskatchewan, and City of Saskatoon.

“This important traffic improvement project for Saskatoon is a great example of how the Government of Canada is making smart investments that contribute to economic growth and improve quality of life in order to foster a thriving middle class,” said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “This new interchange is making daily commutes easier and safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians and keeping commercial traffic flowing across the region.”

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to play a key role by contributing more than $10.9 million toward the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 Interchange Project. Investments in key infrastructure like this contributes to more efficient travel for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who live, work and play in Saskatoon,” said the Honourable Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations.

“This new interchange is a sign of a growing Saskatoon and it is an important step in creating a more connected community,” said His Worship Charlie Clark, Mayor of the City of Saskatoon. “It is already having a significant impact for those travelling in and through the south-east part of our city by improving safety, traffic flow, and the quality of life in our community. I would like to thank our federal and provincial partners for investing in this project.”

Construction began in April of 2017 on the project, which eliminated the eastbound left turn lane on Highway 16 at Boychuk Drive to resolve safety and traffic flow issues.

“There has been a substantial improvement in traffic flow, which had become heavier and backed up as Rosewood and other east side neighbourhoods developed and became populated,” said Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation & Construction with the City of Saskatoon.

Through the New Building Canada Fund – Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan each contributed $10,960,885 toward the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 Interchange Project. The City was responsible for the remaining investment.

Another new interchange at McOrmond Drive and College Drive officially opened earlier this year. Adjacent developers paid 100 per cent of its cost.

The two interchanges were simultaneously built by PCL Construction Management Inc., and both also include walkways and paths to make the areas safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Both interchanges were constructed for a total investment of $56,694,600.

The intersection at Idylwyld and 22^nd Street is expected to be closed until tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday July 31^st to allow for an emergency natural gas line repair.

In the meantime, drivers are advised to avoid 22^nd Street and consider east-west travel along 19^th Street, 20^th Street or 33^rd Street. Expect delays, plan ahead and re-route your commute.

This emergency work is necessary because on Monday evening July 29^th, firefighters closed the intersection after discovering a noticeable odour and high concentration of natural gas in the area.  SaskEnergy arrived and determined the gas was leaking from an underground valve.  The gas line workers were able to seal the leak but it now needs a more permanent fix.

Once the gas line is repaired the excavation site will be paved and the intersection will re-open. The paving work cannot be scheduled until the morning of Wednesday, July 31^st.  

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this necessary emergency work is completed.

Transit riders can follow Transit service alerts, real-time bus locations, and arrivals are available on third party apps like Transit and Google Transit on desktop.

For updates on construction projects anytime, refer to the Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Road users are reminded to reduce speeds, stay alert and mind posted signage and barriers when encountering a construction zone.

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After reviewing nine budget options brought forward by Administration, City Council at its regular meeting on July 29, 2019, selected six options to help achieve lower municipal property tax target increases of 3.94% for 2020 and 4.17% for 2021, as earlier directed by the City’s Governance and Priorities Committee.

“The options City Council approved result in lower property tax targets of 3.23% for 2020 and 3.54% for 2021,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer. “It’s important to emphasize these targets serve as a starting point. This early direction from City Council is not final, as they’ll have an opportunity for further debate through the City’s preliminary budget release this October.”

Administration was asked to report back on a list of prioritized projects with result to Gas Tax funding, options to reduce the number of print publications the City produces, and options for reducing the frequency of black cart pick-up in summer months.

City Council approved the following budget options: 

• Option 3 – a one-time Gas Tax allocation to the organics program (reduction to property tax phase-in from reduced debt by 0.13% in each of the years 2020 and 2021);
• Option 4 – utilize Multi-Material Stewardship Western funding towards the Waste deficit (reduction of 0.19% in each of the years 2020 and 2021);
• Option 5 – defer all bylaw/policy required inflationary allocations (reduction of 0.15% in 2020 and 0.17% in 2021);
• Option 6 – phase-in the Remai Civic Buildings Comprehensive Maintenance Reserve requirement over a longer period (reduction of 0.08% in 2020 and 0.04% in 2021);
• Option 7 – defer the Recovery Park funding phase-in until 2023 (reduction of 0.10% in 2021); and
• Option 8 – adjust the Major Transportation Funding/Bus Rapid Transit funding plan (reduction of 0.10% in each of the years 2020 and 2021).

The following budget option was defeated:

• Option 9 – changes to the Waste program deficit and city-wide organics phase-in (reduction of 0.21% in each of the years 2020 and 2021).

The following budget options did not have enough movers to move forward, thus they were received as information.

• Option 1 – reduce the inflation and growth increase allocated to the Building Better Roads Program (reduction of 0.8% in each of the years 2020 and 2021); and
• Option 2 – provision for civic services subsidized fee for service (reduction of 0.03% in 2020)

“In the months to come as we lead up to the release of our first preliminary Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, City Council will consider other information they’ve requested, along with additional options on capital projects, Asset Management Plans, service level changes and options to help accelerate achieving City Council’s strategic priorities,” adds Tarasoff.

The Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget will provide greater certainty for residents about the future direction of property taxes, better alignment of the City’s longer-term goals, and improved financial stability, transparency and accountability.

City Council will set the final budget and associated municipal property tax rate through the 2020/2021 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget Deliberations at the end of November 2019.

For more information on the City’s Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, visit saskatoon.ca/budget.

The Low Emissions Community (LEC) Plan is a thirty-year roadmap to help Saskatoon reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The LEC Plan – prepared by national consultants, Sustainability Solutions Group, and City Administration – identifies possible actions to mitigate community and corporate emissions as a way to slow the effects of climate change, leading to a decreased need for adaptive actions. The plan will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services, on August 6.

“Climate change is an extremely complex global issue that is facing Saskatoon and Canada” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The Low Emissions Community Plan is a roadmap of 40 actions which models how Saskatoon can achieve established greenhouse gas reduction targets over the next thirty years, through investments in policy changes, partnerships, programs and projects.”

As Saskatoon prepares for growth, the 40 actions to reduce emissions established in the LEC Plan will result in social and economic benefits for the community. Improved health; additional jobs; reduced expenses for residents, businesses and the municipality; and improved quality of life, are ways the Low Emissions Community Plan incentivizes a more diverse and resilient economy.

In 2015, Saskatoon signed the Covenant of Mayors, which highlighted the importance of early climate actions, instead of postponing action for future generations. Saskatoon committed to 80% GHG emissions reduction. From our 2014 baseline, that means drawing down from 3.85 million tonnes CO₂e per year to 780,000 tonnes CO₂e per year by 2050.

The Low Emissions Community Plan is the companion piece to the Local Actions Adaptation Strategy, which focuses on how the City can respond to climate change through infrastructure improvement projects and emergency response programs and was presented to Council earlier this year.

To learn more about Saskatoon’s Climate Action Plan visit saskatoon.ca/climatechange.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) has reached an agreement with the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) for the relocation of Fire Station No. 5 to the northeast corner of Preston Avenue and 108th Street. The move comes as a result of a review of SFD operations leading to the development of a new service model to make response times even better for the entire city. A report seeking approval for the execution of a long-term land lease agreement with the U of S goes to City Council on Monday, July 29.

“By using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, we’d previously identified that moving Station No. 5 to Preston Avenue north will provide a more optimal response model for the U of S and Varsity View, and at the same time, maintain responsive coverage to Sutherland,” says Morgan Hackl, Fire Chief.

The first phase of the new service model was the relocation of Fire Station No. 3. The second phase, the relocation of Fire Station No. 5, continues the establishment of an effective baseline for the delivery of emergency service to the community while keeping safety of the citizens and response personnel in the forefront. The model aims to ensure the delivery of services to citizens is done in the most effective and efficient way possible as the City looks to the future and how to provide emergency response service to a city of 500,000 residents.

Upon final approval by City Council and the Ministry of Advanced Education, a tender will be issued for the design of the new facility, followed by a construction tender and a contract award.  The anticipated start of construction is in the spring of 2020 with completion in spring of 2021. 

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/NewServiceModel.

Saskatoon Fire Department’s new service model furthers the City’s Strategic Goal of Quality of Life for Citizens in prioritizing the safety of the entire community.

The Governance & Priorities Committee (GPC), at its June 17, 2019 meeting, resolved that the Administration bring back options for a municipal property tax target of less than the 3.94% for 2020 and 4.17% for 2021. The property tax targets presented at the June meeting would maintain existing services, correct the Waste Service budget shortfall, and begin the funding phase-in for a city-wide organics program.

The City’s Administration is proposing several options to reduce the municipal property tax targets for 2020 and 2021, based on:

• the ability to implement;
• having a positive impact on the mill rate; and
• not having a significant long term negative impact to service levels.

“At the July 29 City Council meeting, the Administration will present a number of options to help reduce the property tax in 2020 and 2021. These options will include opportunities to phase-in funding over a longer period, defer certain initiatives or take on slightly increased risk within the budget,” says Jeff Jorgenson, City Manager. “Setting these early property tax targets gives City Council an opportunity to start to plan for the priorities it wants to invest in at our first Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget Deliberation this November.”

City Council will be presented with nine options to consider, each aimed at reducing the property tax target increases earlier directed by GPC.

It is important to note that there have been some changes to the Administration’s original assumptions, including new SaskPower electricity rate information which negatively impacts taxes, which is partially offset by a lower budget estimate from the Saskatoon Police Service.  The net result of these changes is a negative impact of $455,600 to the City’s previously presented forecast equivalent to a 0.19% property tax increase.  However, as the Administration continues to work through finalizing the 2020/ 2021 Business Plan and Budget, every effort will be made to offset this impact.

“There will likely be other minor adjustments to the property tax estimates for 2020 and 2021 as more information becomes available, for example, as the Boards of the City’s Controlled Corporations and the Board of Police Commissioners finalize their budgets, and as more becomes known about federal pollution rebates,” adds Jorgenson. “The Administration will release its preliminary Multi-Year Budget in October 2019.”

Administration is recommending the following options to City Council, which provide a starting point for consideration: 

• Option 2 – implement a subsidized fee for civic services associated with special events;
• Option 4 – utilize Multi-Material Stewardship Western funding towards the Waste deficit;
• Option 6 – phase-in the Remai Civic Buildings Comprehensive Maintenance Reserve requirement over a longer period;
• Option 7 – defer the Recovery Park funding phase-in until 2023; and
• Option 8 – adjust the Major Transportation Funding/Bus Rapid Transit funding plan.

The Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget will provide greater certainty for residents about the future direction of property taxes, better alignment of the City’s longer-term goals, and improved financial stability, transparency and accountability.

City Council will set the final budget and associated municipal property tax rate through the 2020/2021 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget Deliberations at the end of November 2019.

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

The City of Saskatoon's 2018 Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2018, is now available online.

The 2018 Annual Report provides an overview of:

• The City’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements;
• Financial Discussion & Analysis of the City’s financial performance and forecasts;
• Updates on Major Projects and Initiatives by Business Line;
• Financial and statistical information about the City and related entities; and
• Updated Performance Measures.

Visit saskatoon.ca.

After travelling over 14,000 kilometers from Australia, the newest members of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) have arrived and are getting ready to settle into their new permanent home.

“The addition of the dingoes provides a great opportunity for us to bring some exciting new animals to Saskatoon, allowing visitors of all ages to meet dingoes, most likely for the first time.  This is a great way to enhance our conservation, research and education opportunities at the Zoo,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.

The Zoo has teamed up with the Australian Dingo Foundation and the Oakvale Wildlife Park in Australia to bring these animals to Saskatoon for the first time.

“The Dingo has kept the fragile balance of biodiversity unseen and unsung for around 16,000 years,” says Lyn Watson, Founder of the Australian Dingo Foundation.  “We are so heartened after a lifetime of work with them, to know that Canadians will now be able to observe Canis dingo in live form at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.”

The dingoes will be taking over the previous wolf enclosure at the Zoo once they complete a 30-day Canadian Food and Inspection Agency (CFIA) quarantine.  The new exhibit is set to officially open to the public on Friday, August 9, 2019.

The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until August 18, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting August 19.  Additional information regarding the Zoo can be found at saskatoon.ca/zoo.

The City of Saskatoon is resurfacing several high traffic roadways this summer. Resurfacing helps the roads last longer, improves drainage, and makes surfaces look brand new.

“Resurfacing is a road restoration technique in which a new layer of asphalt is laid over the existing road surface,” says Tim Bushman, Engineering Manager, Construction & Design. “Roads are preserved without having to do a full replacement.”

2019 resurfacing locations include:

• Circle Drive and Millar Avenue intersection
• Circle Drive east bound lanes from Millar Avenue to the Circle Drive North Bridge
• College Drive west bound lanes from Highway 41 to the CP Rail overpass
• Idylwyld Drive north bound lanes from 25^th Street to 31^st Street
• Preston Avenue north bound lanes from Taylor Street to 8^th Street
• 33^rd Street from Confederation Drive to Junor Avenue
• Taylor Street from Boychuk Drive to Brudell Road

Crews will work at night at locations where the noise won’t be disruptive to residents.

“We understand construction and the delays and detours that sometimes occur can be an inconvenience, but we do our best to avoid a lot of work in one area at the same time,” says Bushman. “To see where significant 2019 road construction projects are happening and when, residents can keep an eye on the Daily Road Report at Saskatoon.ca.”

City Council has invested over $61 million in 2019 for rehabilitation, maintenance and operations to make more Saskatoon streets, bridges and sidewalks, smoother, safer and longer-lasting.  

We appreciate everyone’s patience during construction. We know it can be a real ‘pain in the asphalt.’ 

The City has lowered flags in civic facilities in honour of Saskatchewan’s 22^nd Lieutenant-Governor, W. Thomas Molloy, who passed away on July 2 following a battle with cancer.

“I had the real privilege of sharing many meals and stages with Lieutenant-Governor Tom Molloy over the last several months,” said Mayor Clark. “He used every speech as a chance to enlighten, to challenge, and to bring us together, to be stronger as a province. He did this throughout his career, right across the country. I thank him for always working to bring out the best in us.”

Flags in civic facilities will fly at half-mast until sunset on the day of Lieutenant-Governor Molloy’s funeral. For members of the public who wish to express their condolences, a condolence book will be available in the lobby of City Hall during regular business hours.

The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Police Service remind drivers to slow down when passing work zones and obey posted signs. To reduce speeding in work zones, City crews will start using temporary speed signs slowing people to 30 km/hr within the work zone on some roads where the speed limit is normally 50 km/hr.

“Even with bright clothing, barricades and signs, drivers continue to risk the lives of our road workers when they drive into equipment, between signs, and speed past without care and attention,” said General Manager Angela Gardiner. “By identifying and posting a temporary speed, it makes the expectation to slow down pretty clear.”

Hundreds of men and women work hard every day to provide Saskatoon residents with services that matter: from drinking water and sewer services, to smooth roads, clean and maintained parks and utility services. But at what cost? Too many drivers continue to ignore work zone signs and put lives at risk.

“It’s not only the law, but the responsibility of every driver to obey work zone signs,” said Saskatoon Police Service Traffic Unit Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar. “The Traffic Unit will be patrolling work zones, reminding people to slow down, and charging drivers who insist on putting lives in danger by speeding.”

The new 30 km/hr construction zone signs will be rolled out over the next few months for City crews working on local streets. Regardless of whether a temporary speed sign is posted, drivers can be fined by Police for speeding or entering a work zone. Police have asked City workers to report these incidents.

The City’s annual Respect Work Zones public awareness campaign started today, in partnership with the Saskatoon Police Service, stressing that drivers must slow down in a work zone and obey signs. Advertisements include testimonials from real workers talking about their close calls s with drivers in City work zones.

Learn more at saskatoon.ca/respectworkzones.ca.

City Council has directed the Administration not to accelerate the Solair Neighbourhood project into the Holmwood Suburban Development Area.

Currently the proposed development lands are mostly outside Saskatoon City Limits and not in the development stream for any immediate city development.

Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Transportation and Construction, says the Civic Administration works hard to support developers and to create a business-friendly community.

“We completely respect and appreciate the goals of such a business and these companies need to make money on their developments; however, that cannot be done on the backs of taxpayers, or at the expense of other developers,” Gardiner says.  “We have an obligation to ensure Saskatoon develops in a fair and predictable manner for all developers.

“We also need to make sure the multi-million-dollar underground services – water, sewer, storm water, power, and communications – work properly and are constructed in a cost-effective way.”

Arbutus Properties has proposed a development of lands that are outside city limits southeast of Saskatoon that it says could be a future neighborhood.

The proposal has concepts that support many of the City’s environmental and development goals, but the civic Administration suggests the developer try a different approach.

“We would be very interested to see Arbutus implement some of the eco-friendly concepts it has proposed within the extensive undeveloped lands they own in Rosewood.”

Gardiner says there are multiple billion-dollar private developments already underway in Saskatoon.

“Adding another development will not attract additional housing demand in the City: it will simply take away demand from areas where City Council has already made significant investments.”

Council has also asked the Administration to report back on any possible ways to expand oversight or regulation around environmental features of new neighbourhood development.

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