News Releases

The City is reminding everyone that it wants to hear ideas on how to improve our lives through innovation, data, and technology; it is all part of the Smart Cities Challenge.

The Smart Cities Challenge asks communities to share their best ideas for using technology and data to improve livability and opportunities for the city and its residents.

The first step in the application process is to develop a Challenge Statement that defines the outcomes a community aims to achieve.

For Saskatoon, the focus is on improving community safety and well-being.  We need residents to weigh in with feedback, so the City has begun a process of reaching out to individuals, families, community organizations, institutions, and the technology sector.

Saskatoon residents are being asked for their ideas on how to address the challenges our city faces as they relate to community safety and well-being.

Everyone can get involved by visiting saskatoon.ca/engage on or before Monday, April 2, 2018, and answering four questions to participate in a community-wide brainstorm to narrow down key themes for the Challenge Statement.

The City is partnering with the Central Urban Métis Federation, Saskatoon Health Authority, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Tribal Council, United Way, and University of Saskatchewan in the development of the Smart Cities Challenge Application.

Challenge Details
Recently launched by the Government of Canada, the Challenge has three rounds of competition.  Saskatoon has until Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to submit a Challenge Statement application in the first round.  The Government of Canada will announce round one finalists in Summer 2018, and each finalist will receive $250,000 to further develop their ideas into a full proposal.  Winners will be announced in Spring 2019 and will have their ideas funded through a potential $10 million prize (Eligible Category:  Communities with Populations under 500,000).

Visit the Government of Canada's Challenge website to learn more about Smart Cities, and join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #smartcitiesCanada.

The newest members of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) family have quickly settled into their new digs at the Meerkat House and embraced their new life as Saskatonians.

“The new exhibit is quite amazing,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.  “It features a naturalistic habitat with desert sand dunes, termite mound replicas, nest boxes, and specially made tunnel systems.  We are also working on setting up nest box cameras that will provide an up-close look at the meerkat tunnels throughout the exhibit.”

Transforming the former Komodo Island exhibit to the new Meerkat House was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation who raises funds for capital projects and improvements within the Zoo.  Following up on the success of the Komodo Island exhibit, the Foundation provided the required funding to bring the Meerkat House exhibit to life.

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is very excited to play a role in bringing the meerkats to the Zoo,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.  “We embraced the opportunity to provide the funding to flip the exhibit space in order to bring a species that most of us never imagined coming to the Zoo.”

The new Meerkat House also features original artwork created by students from Georges Vanier Catholic Fine Arts School.  The school has been working with the Zoo to create cut-out displays highlighting various animals, with the latest installation featuring the meerkats.

Visitors to the Zoo will have their first opportunity to see the meerkats in their new permanent home when the exhibit officially opens to the public on Sunday, April 1, 2018.

Residents are encouraged to come and experience the cuteness for themselves. The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the end of April and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting in May.  Additional information can be found at saskatoon.ca/zoo.

The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create greater education, career development and training opportunities for Indigenous students and workers.

“SIIT is pleased to strengthen our relationship with the City of Saskatoon through the signing of this MOU,” says Chief Darcy Bear, SIIT Board of Governors Chairperson. “SIIT serves approximately 10,000 students and clients per year across the province,” Chief Bear says. “Partnerships, such as this one, help provide a better conduit for our students to find employment opportunities within all areas of the city’s workforce”.  

The formal agreement outlines a framework for collaboration between the two organizations, including strategic initiatives to improve the quality of life for SIIT students while living in Saskatoon.

“Strengthening our partnership with SIIT will not only help the City of Saskatoon have a more representative workforce, but it will create valuable learning opportunities for SIIT students, many who move to Saskatoon for their program and stay here after they graduate,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

“In working more closely with this academic institution we can ensure that the programming and courses of SIIT fit well with the needs and issues facing the city,” Mayor Clark says. “This will support students in a way that advances the needs and aspirations of everyone.”

Key initiatives include:

• Develop targeted strategies to recruit students to enter into and succeed in employment.
• Engage students to identify and address barriers to employment, such as transportation, child care and housing.

“As the Saskatoon Student Association President, I look forward to any partnerships that help to reduce barriers while students are at SIIT and assist them in securing employment after they complete their education. Pursuing an education can be a stressful experience with many obstacles, any time we reduce obstacles we improve student success,” says Violet Swan, SIIT Saskatoon Student Association President.

In 2014, SIIT and the City of Saskatoon signed an ongoing agreement that provides full time students with a Transit U-pass at a discounted rate, for the September to May academic year.

The MOU responds directly to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, specifically #92: “Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.”

Under the City of Saskatoon’s Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement, this agreement supports the long term strategy of offering an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse backgrounds. This agreement also supports the City’s long-term strategy of strengthening relations with local Aboriginal organizations, under the Strategic Goal of Quality of Life.

Construction milestones are about to be reached on two new interchanges currently under construction in Saskatoon. Both interchanges are ready for the installation of girders - concrete structures that support the bridge deck. 56 girders will first be placed over the eastbound and westbound lanes of College Drive at McOrmond Drive.

“Installation at this site will take approximately three weeks,” says Bryan Zerebeski, Project Manager, Saskatoon Interchange Project. “The girders were manufactured in Alberta. Once on site, a 250 tonne crane will immediately lift them into place.”

The girders range between 29 and 38 meters in length and are 1.2 meters wide by 1 meter high. Installation will begin at the McOrmond and College site on Monday, March 26 and traffic restrictions will be in place on Highway 5, east of the temporary intersection during girder installation. Work on the interchange at McOrmond Drive and College Drive began in April of 2017.

Construction of the new interchange at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 has also been underway since April of 2017. Girders will be installed at that site once installations are complete at McOrmond and College.  

The speed limit through both construction sites is 60 km/h. Drivers are reminded to expect delays.

Visit saskatoon.ca/interchanges for project updates, alternate route maps, and to see 3D renderings.

Around 8:20 a.m. this morning a westbound Saskatoon Transit Bus was involved in a collision with a truck at the intersection of Idylwyld Drive and 22^nd Street West. No injuries have been reported. The Transit bus sustained significant damage. Emergency services were called to scene.

As is the practice, Transit officials are conducting an internal review of the incident.

The Office of the Chief Coroner today concluded the September 11, 2017 drowning death of five-year-old Ahmedsadiq Elmmi was accidental and no inquest will be held.

“First of all – as we did at the time of the incident – the City extends its heartfelt condolences to Ahmed Elmmi’s family, friends, teachers, and classmates,” says Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation & Utilities. “As a parent myself I can’t imagine what this family has had to deal with.”

The Coroner made three recommendations for the City:

1. To assess the feasibility for water safety education within all Saskatoon communities, such as providing learning materials to residential areas with nearby water access.
2. During community planning and development, and to optimize safety, the City of Saskatoon and the school boards should consider future placement of ponds and municipal structures, so that such structures and ponds are located away from schools, playgrounds and areas where children are known to play.
3. Assess the need for additional barriers and modifications to ponds and their surrounding area where the location of such structures is within proximity to schools and areas known to be occupied by children.

To assess the feasibility for water safety education within all Saskatoon communities, such as providing learning materials to residential areas with nearby water access.

“We would agree with the Coroner’s recommendation here,” Gardiner says. “The Fire Department routinely offers public education on safety near the river or ponds, and has reached out to the School Divisions to offer such a program in schools.”

Gardiner says the City presented its proposed recommendations for storm water retention ponds to the community which include an educational component for schools and community associations as well as easy to understand signage around all storm water retention ponds.

During community planning and development, and to optimize safety, the City of Saskatoon and the school boards should consider future placement of ponds and municipal structures, so that such structures and ponds are located away from schools, playgrounds and areas where children are known to play.

Gardiner highlights this is already under discussion with the community and outlines the proposed recommendations:

1. In new neighbourhoods, storm ponds should be located a safe distance from schools, unless separated by a barrier or other risk mitigating factors are in place.   Barriers could be in the form of roads or residential/commercial developments. 
2. If safety risks cannot be mitigated through location and other design options, we would assess fencing as a barrier on a case-by-case basis.
3. Finally, for Dundonald Park, a partial 1.2 m high wrought-iron fence on the school side of the park pathway is recommended.

Assess the need for additional barriers and modifications to ponds and their surrounding area where the location of such structures is within proximity to schools and areas known to be occupied by children.

Gardiner says this is also being addressed with the proposed recommendations shared with the community.

"A partial fence to provide separation between school activities and the public’s activities in the park and the pond is being proposed”, she says. “However, no matter the infrastructure in place, School officials have pointed out in the past that one of the best educational strategies is for parents to be talking to their children about safety whether it be around any ponds, the river, roads, or even railroad tracks that run through the city.”

The City will have a closer look at the report from the Public School Division also being released today and work with all school officials on any recommendations

Gardiner says she’s also expecting a report from the Children’s Advocate which will be carefully considered by the City Administration.

The proposed recommendations under development will be presented first to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services April 16 then to City Council for approval.

• Winter Comfort and Access - Projects that improve comfort and accessibility. 
• Winter Design - Urban design installations which celebrate winter. 
• Winter Activities - Events, festivals and activities that build enthusiasm for winter by taking advantage of winter opportunities and celebrate the fun quality of life.   

The City is reaching out to residents for ideas on how to improve our lives through innovation, data, and technology as part of the Smart Cities Challenge.

“Our City is filled with talented people.  This is our chance to bring people and ideas together to help tackle some of the complex social issues that are affecting the health and safety of families and neighbourhoods,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

Recently launched by the Government of Canada, the Smart Cities Challenge asks communities to share their best ideas for improving the lives of their residents by becoming a smart city.  Simply explained, smart cities are those that use technology and data to improve livability and opportunities for the city and its residents.

“Saskatoon has a chance to lead the way on quality of life improvements for our residents,” says Lynne Lacroix, Director of Recreation and Community Development.  “We can do this by using technology in ways that support existing and new work in our community and beyond.”

The first step in the application process is to develop a Challenge Statement that defines the outcomes a community aims to achieve.

The focus for Saskatoon’s Challenge Statement is to enhance community safety and wellbeing.  The Challenge Statement must be developed based on the input of a city’s residents, so the City has begun a process of reaching out to individuals, families, community organizations, institutions, and the technology sector.

Saskatoon residents are being asked for their ideas on how to address the challenges our city faces as they relate to community safety and wellbeing.  Be bold, put on your thinking caps and rise to the challenge!

Everyone can get involved by visiting saskatoon.ca/engage on or before Monday, April 2, 2018, and answering four questions to participate in a community-wide brainstorm to narrow down key themes for the Challenge Statement.

“When residents can solve the problems they face, they are far more empowered and engaged in the community and have a strong sense of belonging and purpose,” Lacroix says.

The City is partnering with the Central Urban Métis Federation, Saskatoon Health Authority, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Tribal Council, United Way, and University of Saskatchewan in the development of the Smart Cities Challenge Application.

Challenge Details
​The Challenge has three rounds of competition.  Saskatoon has until Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to submit a Challenge Statement application in the first round.  The Government of Canada will announce round one finalists in Summer 2018, and each finalist will receive $250,000 to further develop their ideas into a full proposal.  Winners will be announced in Spring 2019 and will have their ideas funded through a potential $10 million prize (Eligible Category:  Communities with Populations under 500,000).

Visit the Government of Canada's Challenge website to learn more about Smart Cities, and join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #smartcitiesCanada.

The City is pleased to add “River and Sky,” a contemporary urban light sculpture by Tony Stallard, to the Placemaker Program’s temporary collection of public art.

The artwork was developed in collaboration with Cree artists, Joseph Naytowhow (performance artist) and Kenneth T. Williams (writer).  The light sculpture features Cree syllabics that can be translated to 'sîpiy mîna kîsik' meaning “River and Sky.”  It will be displayed on the north-facing wall of the Saskatchewan Craft Council on Broadway Avenue.  This is a sister work to “Land of Berries,” currently installed on the north-facing wall of the Persephone Theatre. 

“Saskatoon has one of the most vibrant arts and culture scenes in the country,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “Painters, sculptors, singers, playwrights, and many other artists contribute to the beauty, culture, and strength of our community.  The arts provoke thought and stimulate important conversations.  The “River and Sky” installation is a testament to the importance of the arts as it challenges us to reflect on the history of this land and the importance of the ongoing Treaty relationship in our province and community.”

The intention of “River and Sky” was to create a poetic site-specific artwork that reflects the sacred and ritualistic space of Treaty 6.  The artwork connects to the Treaty relationship referencing “as long as the river flows, the grass grows, and the sun shines.”  These words remind us that this is a permanent relationship and that the Treaty is meant to live for generations and generations.  The sculpture also embodies the historic importance of the Elders’ meeting place near the river, and as a contemporary location to gather, meet, and socialize.

“The reflection of “River and Sky” in Cree syllabics through public art helps to create a sense of inclusion and understanding in our community,” says Mary Culbertson, Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner.  “This is especially important as we journey together towards Reconciliation.”

The City, in collaboration with the Business Improvement Districts, manages the Placemaker Program to add significance to civic spaces through temporary public art.  These temporary exhibits transform public spaces and engage with audiences to promote an appreciation for contemporary art practices.  All artwork is considered annually and selected by the Public Art Advisory Committee.  Artists can submit any medium.  Preference is given to submissions by emerging artists and pieces that reflect Saskatoon's unique sense of place through its people, history, culture, or landscape.

For more information on the Placemaker Program, please visit saskatoon.ca/placemaker.

Tony Stallard’s Biography
Tony Stallard is an English artist, best known for his large scale public artworks in the United Kingdom and abroad, which utilize bronze, steel, and light sculptures.  Stallard has worked for 25 years with public realm artwork, and his work has been exhibited widely from Canada to Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Joseph Naytowhow’s Biography
Joseph Naytowhow is a gifted Plains/Woodland Cree (nehiyaw) singer/songwriter, storyteller, and voice, stage, and film actor from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation Band in Saskatchewan.  As a child, Joseph was influenced by his grandfather’s traditional and ceremonial chants, as well as the sounds of the fiddle and guitar.  Today he is renowned for his unique style of Cree/English storytelling, combined with original contemporary music and traditional First Nations drum and rattle songs.

Kenneth T. Williams Biography
Kenneth T. Williams is a Cree playwright from the George Gordon First Nation in the Treaty 4 territory.  His plays include Care, Café Daughter, Gordon Winter, Three Little Birds, Bannock Republic, and Thunderstick, and have been professionally produced across Canada.  He is one of ten co-writers for the Gabriel Dumont’s Wild West Show, which is currently on national tour.  He contributes regularly to the podcast, MEDIA INDIGENA, which examines current affairs from an Indigenous perspective.  He lives in Edmonton with his partner, Dr. Melissa Stoops, and is an assistant professor in the University of Alberta’s Department of Drama

The City of Saskatoon’s Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) today announced recipients of the 2018 Heritage Awards. The Committee presents Heritage Awards every second year to recognize contributions to heritage preservation within the City of Saskatoon in the areas of archaeology, history, museums, historic buildings and sites, genealogy, natural history, and folklore.

“The Heritage Awards represent an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the work of preservation, restoration and stewardship of buildings of heritage value and education in our community,” says Paula Lichtenwald, Committee Chair. “These awards recognize what is often an immense amount of vision, time, and a financial commitment that benefits the entire city.”

“We thank all the applicants as they demonstrate a vision on the part of Saskatoon residents and business in preserving, conserving and restoring our local heritage, and maintaining a sense of history as we build for the future of our city,” adds Ms. Lichtenwald.

Organizations were recognized in the following categories:

BUILDING SITES AND GROUNDS
Preservation, Restoration and Rehabilitation

Underhill Residence Restoration – Award of Honour
​Presented to:

• Jenny Underhill (Property Owner)
• Rocco Masons Corp (Stone Masons)
• Strata Development (General Contractor)

Sensitive Addition (2 awards)

St. Thomas Moore College North Building Renewal Project – Award of Merit
Presented to:

• Edwards Edwards McEwen Architects (Architects)
• St. Thomas More College (Property Owner)
• Allan Construction (Project Construction Manager)
• Robb-Kullman Engineering LLP (Prime Consultant, Structural Engineer)

​​303 Pacific Street Addition (Macleod’s Building) – Award of Honour
​Presented to:

• Greg Yuel, Tony Zuck and Ryan Lejbak (Property Owners)
• PCL Construction (Contractor)
• Strata Development Corporation (Contractor)
• KSA Group (Architects)

Rehabilitation

Broadway Theatre Lobby Renewal – Award of Honour
​Presented to:

• Friends of the Broadway Theatre (Property Owner)
• S2 Construction Ltd (General Contractor)
• Daniels Wingerak Engineering Ltd (Engineers)
• Odelay! Design (Designer)
• Kindrachuk Agrey (Architect)

Restoration

Obasa Building Revitalization – Award of Honour 
 Presented to:

• Heney Klypak Architect Ltd (Architect and Designer)
• Obasa Group of Companies(Property Owner)

HERITAGE SPACE

Rehabilitation

Hyde Park - Certificate of Recognition
Presented to:

• Associated Engineering (Project Engineer)
• City of Saskatoon – (Property Owner)
• Gord Forsyth and Associates (Sub-Consultant)
• Stantec - Cam Patterson (Project Manager / Landscape Architect)

VOLUNTEER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD – Award of Honour

Alan Morton – Mr. Morton made a significant contribution to the history of both Saskatoon’s heritage through research, article writing, lectures and by sitting as a board member for the Saskatoon Heritage Festival and the Saskatoon Heritage Society. Alan's body of work is highly creative and the breadth and depth of his work are inspiring.

YOUTH VOLUNTEER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD – Award of Honour

Lauren Konok – Lauren has delivered program and historical interpretation at the Marr Residence for the past five years. Her years of service are impressive since she started when she was nine years old!  This is the first year the Youth Award is being presented, and Lauren is a very worthy candidate.

EDUCATION AWARD – Award of Honour

Rob MacDonald - Rob's thoughtful approach in the 113 episodes of Saskatoon Stories that aired on CTV from 2003- 2017 brought Saskatoon's heritage and a historical aspect to a broad audience.

The awards will be presented at Affinity Credit Union Campus (a Heritage Awards Winner in 2014) 902 7^th Avenue North, by Mayor Charlie Clark on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at 7:00 PM. Reception to follow.

Visit saskatoon.ca/heritageawards for detailed information on the Heritage Awards Program.