News Releases

Saskatoon’s “Rock Your Roots” Walk for Reconciliation is back for its fourth year in Victoria Park on National Indigenous Peoples Day - Friday, June 21, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.

We invite people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities to come together and learn about reconciliation, honour survivors, and to celebrate the strength and vibrancy of our diverse community.

The theme for this year is Re-igniting the Fire - a reminder that we cannot delegate reconciliation. We must commit as individuals, businesses, and communities to listen, learn, show up and share. We must keep the fire burning to spark change in our lives and city.

WALK WITH US: Organize your friend’s, your family, your community! We invite individuals, businesses, non-profits, faith communities, school groups and more to join the walk as a group. Show your support! Here are some ideas we’ve seen from our incredible walkers over the years:
- Carry your company/organization banner
- Get t-shirts made
- Wear the traditional/cultural dress of your heritage to “Rock Your Roots”
- Create handheld signs to carry with you and/or your group

The Walk joins up with National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations hosted by the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre. Celebrations include free lunch, special guest speakers, live entertainment and fun for the whole family.

Everyone is encouraged (but not required) to “Rock Your Roots” by holding or wearing traditional symbols of your culture to show and share the diversity within our community.

FULL SCHEDULE:

7:00 a.m. Pipe Ceremony – open to all. *Information on Pipe Ceremony protocol can be found on page 24 of the ayisīnowak guide on Saskatoon.ca/ayisīnowak.

9:00 a.m. Grand Entry of dignitaries and special guests

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation. Gather at the start line for a group warm up exercise! Victoria Park (Avenue F south & Spadina Crescent)

11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations. Free lunch, cultural entertainment, special guest speakers and family fun as hosted by Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre.

Celebrations are free and open to all. Golf carts will be available for those unable to walk.

For more information, follow on Reconciliation Saskatoon on Facebook or visit saskatoon.ca/reconciliation or otc.ca.

The City continues to roll-out steps in planning for the first multi-year budget for 2020 and 2021. The multi-year budget will provide greater certainty for residents about the future direction of property taxes, better alignment of the City’s longer-term goals and objectives, and improved financial stability, transparency and accountability.

Setting the municipal indicative property tax rate is a guideline and an important early step in the development of a business plan and budget. Setting an indicative rate gives City Council an opportunity to discuss budget priorities it wants to invest in.

“Prior to budget deliberations this fall, we’re now presenting a number of options to the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) on setting an appropriate indicative rate for this 2020/2021 budget cycle,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer. “Not only will this provide increased transparency surrounding the City’s budget process to residents, but it will give Administration the direction we need to further refine the budget including service level changes and initiatives aimed at achieving City Council’s Strategic Priorities.”

While the Administration is tabling this information with GPC at its meeting on Monday, June 17, 2019, detailed work will continue to refine the budget right up until budget deliberations at the end of November. 

Administration has prepared three property tax options for consideration by Committee, each with benefits and risks for City programs and services. Administration is currently projecting a 2.94% and 3.17% property tax increase required in 2020 and 2021 in order to maintain current service levels.

Option 1:

• Target a property tax less than 3.94% and 4.17% for 2020 and 2021, which includes an additional 1.0% towards the city-wide organics program and the waste operations/landfill operating deficit and funding shortfall.
• This option would require the Administration to reproduce a budget less than the current estimated cost to maintain existing services and implement the city-wide organics program phase-in.

Option 2:

• The Administration is recommending a targeted property tax increase equal to 3.94% and 4.17% in 2020 and 2021 which includes an additional 1.0% towards the city-wide organics program and the waste operations/landfill operating deficit and funding shortfall.
• This option would require the Administration to proceed with the current estimated costs to maintain existing services as well as continued implementation of the city-wide organics program phase-in. 

Option 3:

• Target a property tax higher than 3.94% and 4.17% for 2020 and 2021, which includes an additional 1.0% towards the city-wide organics program and the waste operations/landfill operating deficit and funding shortfall.
• This option would provide sufficient funding to maintain existing service levels, continue the phase-in of the city-wide organics program and leave funding for the implementation of other initiatives to achieve other City Council Strategic Priorities.

“Balancing property taxes, service level changes, our Strategic Goals and City Council’s Strategic Priorities is always difficult, however, we believe we’ve provided Committee with a full picture of the City’s financial projections and their available options for 2020 and 2021,” Tarasoff says.

Report Highlights:

• Administration anticipates a total revenue increase of $22.66 million for 2020/2021, mainly comprised of user fees, internal and external revenues and property tax growth.
• The City’s 2020/2021 budget forecasts increased expenditures of approximately $28.70 million, or 7.08% over 2019.
• Saskatoon Police Service currently estimates a total of $8.86 million in growth and inflationary pressures for 2020/2021.
• For the purposes of the 2020/2021 Indicative Budget Report and associated options, a 1.00% property tax change has been estimated to be equivalent to $2.44 million.

The indicative rate decision is a guideline for the rest of the year. City Council has the opportunity to set the final budget and associated municipal property tax rate through the 2020/2021 multi-year budget deliberations at the end of November 2019.

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

The City continues to replace the water and sewer lines in two of Saskatoon’s oldest neighbourhoods. This year, the priority is the City Park and Riversdale neighbourhoods where work has been underway for a few weeks.

“The water and sewer lines in these neighbourhoods are about 100 years old,” says Matt Jurkiewicz (yurr-KEV’-ich), Interim Director, Construction and Design. “The replacement projects include upgrading the pipes and also replacing the lead connections to homes that are also outdated.”

Work began in the City Park neighbourhood during the 2018 construction season. In Riversdale, this is the first of a two-year water and sewer upgrade. Phasing the work over a few construction seasons ensures the work is not spread across the entire neighbourhood at once, containing most of the construction to one area at a time.

“We appreciate the cooperation and patience of residents affected by the work, which once complete, will have several benefits,” Jurkiewicz says “They’ll experience improved water pressure once the new lines are in and water main breaks will be less likely during the winter.”

Other benefits include the restoration of streets where work is taking place, resulting in new driving surfaces and in some locations, new or rehabilitated sidewalks.

Earlier this year, the City’s Construction and Design team held open houses in both neighbourhoods and regularly distributes project updates to affected residents to outline the latest project details and timelines. Information is also available online at Saskatoon.ca/watermain.

The 2019 portion of water and sewer infrastructure upgrades in City Park and Riversdale is expected to wrap up by the end of October or before the first significant snowfall.

At its meeting today, City Council approved Bylaw No. 9572, The Traffic Amendment Bylaw, 2019 that increases the city-wide on-street parking limit from 36 hours to 72 hours, except as otherwise indicated by a sign or provided for in the bylaw.

This Amendment does not change the requirements for recreational vehicles or parking restrictions for street maintenance.  Recreational vehicles will continue to have a 36-hour restriction and then must not park on a city street for at least 48 hours.

Parking restrictions for street maintenance will continue to be marked with signs posted 36 hours in advance of street sweeping, construction, snow clearing and other similar activities. 

For more information on Parking in Saskatoon, please visit saskatoon.ca/parking. 

Investing in local water and wastewater systems is key to improving people’s quality of life, protecting waterways and positioning communities for growth.

Today, Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Saskatoon Westview MLA David Buckingham on behalf of Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Warren Kaeding, announced funding for three new water and wastewater projects in the province.

In Saskatoon, drinking water storage capacity will be increased and a wastewater treatment plant will be upgraded.  In west-central Saskatchewan, a water distribution system will be created in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Snipe Lake and the RM of Newcombe, which includes upgrading the water treatment plant in Eston.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan are each contributing more than $30.4 million to the three projects through the New Building Canada Fund.  Recipients are responsible for remaining costs.

“Modern efficient water and wastewater infrastructure is essential to safeguarding the well-being of our families and building the Canada we want for tomorrow,” said Goodale.  “By investing in projects such as these in Saskatchewan, we are helping close the gaps in services and ensuring everyone has access to safe reliable drinking water for years to come.”

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to be investing more than $30.4 million toward these three projects in our province,” Buckingham said.  “These will help position these communities for growth, enhance their key infrastructure, and improve the quality of life.”

“We’re investing in critical infrastructure we need to serve new communities and continue to provide reliable and safe water and wastewater services,” City of Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said.  “Thank you to our federal and provincial partners for investing with us for a sustainable future.”

“We are very appreciative of the support this project has received from the federal and provincial governments,” RM of Snipe Lake Reeve and Chair of the Rural 44 Water Pipeline Utility Bill Owens said.  “Their contributions allow us to provide a safe, secure and sustainable water supply for rural and urban residents.”

Quick facts:

• Budget 2019, Investing in the middle class, is the Government of Canada’s plan to create more good well-paying jobs, put homeownership within reach of more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors, and lay the foundation for national pharmacare.
• Announcements in Budget 2019 build on the government’s Investing in Canada Plan, under which the government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years to build infrastructure in communities across the country.
• $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Since 2016, the Government of Canada has approved close to 180 new water and wastewater projects across Saskatchewan.
• With many municipalities across Canada facing serious infrastructure deficits, Budget 2019 proposes a one-time transfer of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund to address short-term priorities in municipalities and First Nations communities.

Associated links:

• Budget 2019: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/home-accueil-en.html 
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map 
• Federal infrastructure investments in Saskatchewan: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/sk-eng.html 
• Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

The City of Saskatoon, Métis Nation - Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Tribal Council, along with the 98 business and community organization members of Reconciliation Saskatoon gathered in Civic Square outside City Hall today to raise the Reconciliation flag. In honour of the warriors who endured the residential school era, the ceremony also remembers all those affected by the Sixties Scoop, Day Schools, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“This year’s theme is Re-Igniting the Fire. We celebrate diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation as we move towards the future,” said Glen McCallum, President, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan. “This is our opportunity, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, to come together, walk together and our commitment to making change and having a better quality of life for our children.”

The Reconciliation Saskatoon movement has grown to 98 member organizations since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada issued 94 Calls to Action in June 2015. The aim of the group is to support a community conversation about the process of Canadian reconciliation and to educate residents to engage in calls to action.

“I am willing to stand with anybody that wants to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Mark Arcand, Tribal Chief, Saskatoon Tribal Council. “As we are all Treaty people we must continue to work together to build partnerships and relationships to benefit all people of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and across the country so all people can have a quality of life.”

“With the guidance of Elders and Survivors and the commitment of a hundred different non-profits, businesses, and institutions, Saskatoon is charting a path forward toward reconciliation,” said Mayor Charlie Clark. “This is important work that we need to do in order to live up to the spirit of Treaty and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and it is remarkable to witness and be a part of the progress we are collectively making. Ultimately, we are a stronger community because of the relationships that are being built and the groundwork that is being laid for the future of our city.”

Upcoming reconciliation events in Saskatoon include The Two Twenty: Lunch 'n Learn on INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS, Wednesday, June 12 (Carrie: 306-241-6297 for more information) and the fourth annual “Rock Your Roots” Walk for Reconciliation along with National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations on Friday, June 21. Events are made possible through the generosity of community partners, including Saskatoon Community Foundation and Nutrien.

In 2015, Saskatoon committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action, with a proclamation by City Council on June 22, declaring 2015-16 the Year of Reconciliation. In addition, the City committed to working with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and other community groups, leaders and institutions in Saskatchewan, to promote reconciliation in our province.

For more information on events, or to have your reconciliation event added to the calendar, please visit OTC.ca.

The City of Saskatoon, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, has received a National Planning Excellence Award of Merit from the Canadian Institute of Planners in the category of Planning for Reconciliation for ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide.

The Awards for Planning Excellence Jury, comprised of planning professionals from across the country, states “ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide intends to provide City staff with a better understanding of the City’s relationship with Indigenous partners and aid in developing positive relationships with these partners. The jury commends the City as a non-Indigenous organization for this step on its path towards reconciliation. This user-friendly document may be useful as a starting point for other communities to develop their own communications guide.” 

Originally developed for City staff in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action #57, to provide education on the history of Indigenous people, ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide has also become a useful resource for other community organizations in Saskatoon and across Canada.  

“It’s an honour to receive this award from the Canadian Institute of Planners,” says Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development.  “On our path to reconciliation, we recognize the need to increase understanding of the City’s relationship with Indigenous partners.  This guide is a tool to help City staff, and hopefully many others, increase their understanding and apply it in their work and day to day lives.”

“The City of Saskatoon has long played a leading role in supporting and enhancing relationships with First Nations peoples in a wide range of areas,” says Wanda Wilson, President of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.  “Through this guide, the City of Saskatoon is furthering their leadership role by encouraging civic administration to develop a deeper understanding about the ancestral values that have filled this place called Saskatoon for countless generations.” 

“The Office of the Treaty Commissioner is committed to engaging in public information and awareness to educate and advance the Treaty goal of Good Relations,” says Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson.  “Learning about history and the treaty relationship, and sharing culture is where true reconciliation lies.  We hope this guide will be a tool which will assist in the journey of reconciliation.”

The project partners also wishes to acknowledge the support of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, who through a summer employment partnership opportunity helped make ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide possible. 

Recipients of the 2019 Awards for Planning Excellence will be formally recognized at the 2019 Canadian Institute of Planners National Conference in Ottawa, July 3-6, 2019.   The annual awards honour projects deemed as exemplary resources to the planning profession.  For more information on the awards, please visit the Canadian Institute of Planners website. 

A second edition of the guide is currently underway, with the launch expected in the coming weeks.      

For more information on ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide, please visit saskatoon.ca/ayisinowak.

The City of Saskatoon is getting provincial funding to create a more visible pedestrian crossing at Clarence Avenue and 14^th Street. The $45,000 grant, funded through photo speed enforcement proceeds, will go toward pavement markings, signage, special illumination and pedestrian-activated amber flashing beacons. 

“The illuminated crossing will significantly improve pedestrian safety at Clarence Avenue and 14^th Street,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. “Right now, this pedestrian crossing has pavement markings, but no special illumination or flashing beacons to alert drivers of pedestrians crossing at this intersection. Now, pedestrians will be a lot more visible to drivers.”

Residents of Nutana and Varsity View had identified Clarence Avenue and 14^th 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.

The improved pedestrian crossing is expected to be operational by this fall.

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.

There were fewer complaints about fire pits following last year’s bylaw change, a City report says.

“Overall, the past year has gone as expected with the rate of complaints dropping off slightly; we’re effectively using the tools available to us for enforcement action,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “Because of the increased enforcement, we have had a reduction in the number of repeated complaints to the same locations.”

The Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services will consider the report at its regular meeting Monday, May 13.

The report highlights the progress of the awareness campaign and bylaw enforcement in the first year of additional regulations. Council passed regulations in April 2018 prohibiting fires outside the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily.

Following the passing of the bylaw, an awareness campaign was launched to make residents aware of the requirements for the proper use and construction of open-air fires, including permitted hours of use.

In 2018, the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to 215 complaints compared to 236 in 2017 and 205 in 2016.  There were 127 enforcement actions taken; of those the majority of violations were for illegal containers (46%), followed by burning improper materials (33%), for burning outside of permitted hours (13%), and burning unattended (8%).

“With more discussion in the community, we’re hoping more people are aware of the rules so as not to be a nuisance for their neighbours,” Chief Hackl says. “As usual, we’ll continue to get the message out about the regulations and encourage residents to be good neighbours by enjoying fires responsibly and respectfully.”

Complaints related to open-air fires make up a small percentage (1.5%) of all incidents the Saskatoon Fire Department responds to each year.

To find out more, or to read Bylaw No. 9484 The Fire and Protective Services Amendment Bylaw, 2018, visit saskatoon.ca/bylaws.