News Releases

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 “The replacement projects include upgrading the pipes and also replacing the lead connections to homes that are also outdated.”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.

The City of Saskatoon’s Emergency Management Organization (EMO) reports that yesterday’s city-wide notifynow test message sent to Saskatoon residents was successful.

The purpose of all emergency drills, tests, and full scale-exercises is to identify any issues that could impact an emergency response.  During last night’s exercise, an issue was identified that impacted the timing of the notifynow test message; the test was sent at 7:41 p.m.  The test successfully identified an issue in the data source that has been addressed.  Testing of the notifynow emergency messaging system ensures that in a real event, this issue will not impact this essential communication with citizens.

“Saskatoon’s population is now over 270,000 and growing. So far, we’ve had just over 24,000 residents customize their notifynow profile,” says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Planning. “We are pleased that this number continues to grow, but we would really like to see more residents customize their profile. It’s important to remember that notifynow can’t reach you and your family if you have incomplete or out-of-date contact information in the notifynow system.”   

Did you receive your notifynow test message last evening? Have you taken steps to be prepared, connected and informed in the event of a citywide emergency or one affecting only your neighbourhood? Trusted notifynow messages can help you feel less vulnerable.

“If you have a phone number that is publicly available, you may be in the notifynow system,” adds Goulden-McLeod. “However, we encourage residents to visit the City’s website to indicate how they want to receive their notifynow emergency notification messages. Many residents now prefer cell phone, text or email, or maybe all of these options, and you can also register for up to other five addresses.”

It’s easy to customize your notifynow profile and your communication preferences. Help notifynow reach you - and more Saskatoon residents with timely, trusted and targeted emergency notification messages.

“Notifynow messages should play an important part in your family’s emergency preparedness plan,” adds Goulden-McLeod. “These emergency safety messages can tell you what to do, what to expect, or even where to go in an emergency situation, and this greatly helps to reduce stress for you and those you care about.”

Visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow today to customize your communication preferences or call 306-975-3210 for more information.

The City is joining thousands of North American employers to celebrate a commitment to building a safe and healthy workplace during Safety and Health Week May 5-11. Safety is a core value at the City of Saskatoon and its part of who we are.

“Throughout the week work groups will gather to recognize our accomplishments and reinforce our commitment to employee health, safety and wellness,” says Sarah Cameron, Chief Human Resource Officer. “Occupational Health & Safety committees across the corporation are planning events and information sessions to promote a safe and health workplace and home life.”

The goal during Safety and Health Week is to focus employers, employees, partners and the public on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community. NAOSH Week was renamed Safety and Health Week in January 2019.

City Council proclaimed May 5-11 as NAOSH Week, as requested by the local Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, and a flag is flying in Civic Square.