News Releases

The City of Saskatoon advises residents that City Hall will close at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2015 to allow employees the statutory time to vote in the federal election.

The Canada Elections Act requires employers allow employees three consecutive hours to vote.  This year, Saskatchewan’s voting hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., which requires certain civic offices to close at 4:30 p.m.

The City’s seven Leisure Centres, three Municipal Golf Courses, Gordon Howe Campground, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, Saskatoon Transit, and Landfill operations will maintain their regular operating hours.

The City apologizes for any inconvenience, and will reopen for business at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.  Online services at www.saskatoon.ca remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon invites residents to participate in the closing round of public engagement for the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan).

Join the conversation, either in person or online, to provide feedback on the proposed long-term plans and implementation priorities for a new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); redevelopment along major corridors like 8^th Street, 22^nd Street, Preston Avenue, and College Drive; and a new river crossing connecting 33^rd Street to Preston Avenue, combined with dedicated BRT lanes on the University Bridge.

Detailed project information and an online survey will be available at www.growingfwd.ca until Sunday, November 8, 2015.

In addition to online engagement, two public open houses are being held for residents to learn more and provide feedback on the Growth Plan.

Growth Plan Come-and-Go Public Events
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Mayfair United Church, 902 33^rd Street West
4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 22, 2015
Saskatoon Field House, 2020 College Drive
4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Growth Plan Online Survey
October 14 to November 8, 2015
Review the final draft plan and provide feedback online at www.growingfwd.ca.

This will be the fourth and final round of public engagement for the Growth Plan.  Once complete, the Growth Plan will help guide future infrastructure investments and land-use decisions so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 to 40 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan or to sign up for project update notifications, visit www.growingfwd.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours, and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Woodlawn Cemetery is a landscaped, well-maintained, and mature 94-acre site that is always open for the public.  The City of Saskatoon (City) reminds visitors of the guidelines for gravesite memorials, which are intended to maintain a pleasant environment and respect the final resting place of loved ones.

Only approved monuments or memorials are considered permanent items and are permitted to remain in the cemetery year round.  All other items placed on a gravesite, flowerbed, monument, or concrete foundation are considered temporary and need to be removed weekly.  Flowers and other items are permitted on the gravesite the day of the burial and will be left for seven calendar days.  After this time period, items will be removed.  Please note, the City does not take responsibility for any removed, damaged, or missing items placed in the cemetery by the public.

From May 1 to October 15:
Families may establish a flowerbed at the gravesite (with the exception of Military burials in the “Field of Honour” and flat marker areas) upon approval from the Cemetery Office.  Annual flowers are allowed, provided they do not hang over the edge of the flowerbed or impede maintenance of adjacent gravesites.
Items not allowed within flowerbeds include shrubs, perennials, decorative fencing, rocks, stones, concrete, and breakable or fragile items.
The City assumes no responsibility for the appearance, maintenance, and fall cleanup of approved flowerbeds planted by the public.  If flowerbeds are neglected, they will be removed.

The Cemetery Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays.  All inquiries should be directed to the office at 306-975‑3308.

The City would also like to remind visitors about iCemetery, a free third-party app for mobile devices that can be used for locating loved ones buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.  Search by first and last name, view the burial plot detail, and be guided to the actual location of the plot within the cemetery using GPS data from your mobile phone.

iCemetery is free for download at the Apple App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/app) for iPhone, iPad, and iTouch devices and at Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps) for Android mobile devices.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon’s (City) three municipal golf courses (Holiday Park, Silverwood, and Wildwood Golf Courses) are in the process of closing for the season to ensure that maintenance requirements can be completed before winter, and that the courses are in good condition for 2016.  The City would like to thank all patrons for their support during 2015.

The final days of operation at each course are as follows:

Holiday Park Golf Course

• Executive Nine will close Monday, October 19
• Regular course back nine will close Tuesday, October 20
• Regular course front nine will close Monday, October 26

Silverwood Golf Course

• River Nine (formerly known as the back nine) will close Wednesday, October 14
• Lake Nine (formerly known as the front nine) will close Monday, October 19

Wildwood Golf Course

• Will remain open as the weather and course maintenance allows.

The dates above are tentative and dependent on weather conditions.  Golfers are advised to call the golf course to check playing conditions.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED
(Lighting repairs)
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 14, 12:00 p.m.

22ND ST W EB MEDIAN (INSIDE) & WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM AVE T N TO AVE T S
(Concrete work on median)
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 15, 4:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: 33RD ST E EB/WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM IDYLWYLD DR N TO QUEBEC AVE
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Start: October 14, 7:00 p.m. End: October 15, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

NIGHT WORK: IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING 1ST AVE
(Bridge maintenance)
Start: October 13, 7:00 p.m. End: October 16, 7:00 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: October 16, 6:00 p.m.

AIRPORT DR NB/SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CLAYPOOL DR
(Road construction)
Claypool Dr WB closed from Airport Dr to McClocklin Rd
Start: September 15, 7:00 a.m. End: October 27, 6:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE & BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB median lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon today launched a new online tool, ’Our Environment’, to report on the status of Saskatoon’s environment. Through this digital tool, citizens can monitor the status of 12 selected indicators reflecting the City’s corporate targets and representing key aspects of Saskatoon’s environment – air, land, water and waste.

“The online reporting tool builds on the baseline data from the City’s first ‘Our Environment’ report, released in 2014, and identifies trends of improving, stable or needs improvement,” stated Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives. “Additional indicators will be included in future online updates, and new data will be posted as it is made available.”

The next full ‘Our Environment’ report will be prepared in 2017.

Also released today is the Integrated Waste Management Annual Report for 2014. The Report will be received by the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services and provides more detailed analysis of specific indicators for Waste Diversion and Landfilled Waste from ‘Our Environment’.

Key findings from ‘Our Environment’ and the ‘2014 Integrated Waste Management Annual Report’ include:

Waste Diversion: Saskatoon’s waste diversion rate for 2014 is 22.5%.

• The compost program contributes 13% toward the waste diversion rate. The curbside recycling program contributes 7%, and the recycling depots contribute 2%.
• Installation of the ‘Efficient Waste System’ began in 2014, and will be launched in January 2016 with new collection routes and schedules to save fuel, operator time and improve overall service for residents.
• 1.1 million curbside recycling carts were emptied in 2014 and 10,724 tonnes of materials were recycled.
• The contamination rate (garbage placed in carts) for curbside recycling was 4% in 2014.
• The multi-unit recycling program launched in October 2014 and approximately 207 tonnes of material was collected.
• The Leaves and Grass Subscription Program (green cart) served 3,900 households in 2014, an increase of 30% over 2013, contributing to the diversion of organic waste to compost depots rather than the landfill.
• More than 51,000 vehicle visits were made to the two compost depots in 2014, including 40,000 visits made by residents. An estimated 22,000 tonnes of compostable material was managed at the depots.

Landfilled Waste: The amount of landfilled residential waste per capita is 249 kilograms in 2014.

• 2.8 million garbage carts are emptied each year by the City of Saskatoon with 99.9% collection reliability.
• More than 86,000 vehicles delivered loads to the Landfill.
• Approximately 168,300 tonnes of material was accepted at the Landfill.
• The amount of garbage collected is reducing every year.

Air Quality: Saskatoon’s air quality has been showing a slow downward trend over the past decade, with the average Air Quality Index ranking as Good over the past 5 years.

• A net reduction in greenhouse gas of 29,027 tonnes can be attributed to the curbside recycling program in 2014 (includes 387 tonnes from diesel fuel used in recycling trucks).
• A net reduction in greenhouse gas of 448 tonnes can be attributed to the multi-unit recycling program which launched in October 2014.
• Approximately 5,000 tonnes of CO2e was avoided through the approximately 22,000 tonnes of compostable material managed at the two compost depots.

Transportation Choices: The percentage of residents choosing to walk, cycle or take transit to work has been relatively stable between 11.5% and 14.4 % for the past two decades.

Water Quality: The Water Quality Index has consistently ranked water quality both upstream and downstream of Saskatoon as Good since 2005.

New Development Investment: The amount and distribution of new development investment has been added as a baseline indicator and illustrates that investment in development activities are balanced across the city.

The ‘Our Environment’ online reporting tool is available for viewing at www.saskatoon.ca/ourenvironment. The 2014 Integrated Waste Annual Report is available for viewing at www.saskatoon.ca/ourenvironment under “Waste”

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

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NEW

IDYLWYLD DR NB MEDIAN (INSIDE) & SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT GREY PL
(Brick work)
Start: October 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 13, 1:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING 1ST AVE
(Bridge maintenance)
Start: October 13, 7:00 p.m. End: October 14, 7:00 a.m.

ONGOING

AIRPORT DR NB/SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CLAYPOOL DR
(Road construction)
Claypool Dr WB closed from Airport Dr to McClocklin Rd
Start: September 15, 7:00 a.m. End: October 27, 6:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE & BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB median lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: November 6, 6:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 25TH ST
(Expansion joint repair)
25^th St EB curb lane closed approaching Spadina Cres.
Start: October 10, 9:00 a.m. End: October 10, 6:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM SPADINA CRES E TO CLARENCE AVE N
(Expansion joint repair)
Start: October 10, 9:00 a.m. End: October 10, 6:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 8TH ST
(Light pole repairs)
Start: October 11, 7:30 a.m. End: October 11, 11:30 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR S SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 4TH ST E TO 10TH ST E
(Light pole replacement)
Start: October 11, 7:30 a.m. End: October 11, 12:00 p.m.

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 25TH ST
(Expansion joint repair)
25^th St EB curb lane closed approaching Spadina Cres.
Start: October 11, 8:00 a.m. End: October 10, 6:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR EB/WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM SPADINA CRES E TO CLARENCE AVE N
(Expansion joint repair)
Start: October 11, 8:00 a.m. End: October 11, 6:00 p.m.

ONGOING

NIGHT WORK: 1ST AVE NB EXIT RAMP CLOSED AT SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Expansion joint repair)
Start: October 5, 7:00 p.m. End: October 10, 7:00 a.m.

AIRPORT DR NB/SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CLAYPOOL DR
(Road construction)
Claypool Dr WB closed from Airport Dr to McClocklin Rd
Start: September 15, 7:00 a.m. End: October 27, 6:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE & BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB median lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: November 6, 6:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon is asking for your opinion on Curbside Swaps to help us better understand the wants, needs and expectations of citizens. A short online survey is open until October 26 to interested residents. Visit Saskatoon.ca/curbsideswap for the survey link.  Survey results will help to plan for curbside swaps in 2016.

At a Curbside Swap, unwanted items in good condition are placed on the curb and marked as free for anyone to pick-up.  Curbside swaps build community and keep reusable items out of our landfill.  

For information on hosting a household or neighbourhood Curbside Swap, including an online host manual and downloadable material to help promote your event, visit Saskatoon.ca/curbsideswap.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

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NEW

NIGHT WORK: IDYLWYLD DR N NB ALL MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT 23RD ST E
(Underground cable work)
Start: October 9, 7:00 p.m. End: October 9, 9:00 p.m.

ONGOING

WANUSKEWIN RD SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MARQUIS DR
(Roadwork)
Start: October 7, 9:00 a.m. End: October 8, 6:00 p.m.

33RD ST E WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE N TO QUEBEC AVE
(Unloading)
Start: October 1, 9:00 a.m. End: October 9, 4:00 p.m.

33RD ST E CLOSED BETWEEN 5TH AVE N AND WARMAN RD
(Primary water main repair)
Start: September 8, 9:00 a.m. End: October 9, 5:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: 1ST AVE NB EXIT RAMP CLOSED AT SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Expansion joint repair)
Start: October 5, 7:00 p.m. End: October 10, 7:00 a.m.

AIRPORT DR NB/SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CLAYPOOL DR
(Road construction)
Claypool Dr WB closed from Airport Dr to McClocklin Rd
Start: September 15, 7:00 a.m. End: October 27, 6:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE & BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB median lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: November 6, 6:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.