News Releases

The City of Saskatoon (City), in partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) and Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI), wishes to meet with Aboriginal residents and governments, First Nation land holders, and other interested citizens to provide an overview of the Aboriginal programs and services currently offered, and to seek input to ensure they best meet the needs of the community as Saskatoon is home to an increasing Aboriginal population. Topics will include areas such as affordable housing, economic development, urban reserves, recreation, Aboriginal employment, and future city development.  Key staff will be at the meeting to introduce themselves, answer questions, and gather feedback.

Urban Aboriginal Community Gathering
Thursday, June 12, 2014
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saskatoon Inn
2002 Airport Drive, Saskatoon

Please R.S.V.P. to urbanaboriginalcommunity@saskatoon.ca or call 306-975-8066.  Meeting information is also available at www.shapingsaskatoon.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

- 30 -

For Immediate Release: June 17, 2014

Everyone is invited to the 40^th Annual Civic Pancake Breakfast on Thursday, June 19 between 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in Civic Square (23^rd Street between 3^rd and 4^th Avenues). The cost is $5.00 per plate (includes pancakes, sausage, coffee or juice) with proceeds going to the United Way.

The Civic Pancake Breakfast is a zero waste event with compostable, recyclable or reusable supplies.  This is the sixth year in a row that the breakfast will be a zero waste event.

Local celebrities will be serving breakfast.  This year we are excited to once again have the Obstacle Water Relay race!  Free live entertainment will be provided throughout the morning.

Save the date!  Come out this Thursday morning and enjoy this fun annual event rain or shine – under the tent!

For more information on the 40^th Annual Civic Pancake Breakfast, visit www.saskatoon.ca and click on “P” for Pancake Breakfast.

 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.

SPADINA CRESCENT BETWEEN 20TH STREET & 3RD AVENUE, MAY 31-JUNE 5

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, Spadina Crescent will be closed between 20th Street and 3rd Avenue to accommodate the Children’s Festival. 

The restrictions will be in place until Thursday, June 5, when the road is expected to reopen by 9:00 a.m.

The City thanks everyone for their patience.

51ST STREET EASTBOUND INTERSECTIONS AT FAITHFULL AVENUE & MILLAR AVENUE, JUNE 1

Beginning at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 1, the intersections of 51st Street and Faithfull Avenue and 51st Street and Millar Avenue will have the following restrictions while crews work on catch basins and man holes:

- 51st Street eastbound curb (outside) lane will be closed approaching Faithfull Avenue
- 51st Street eastbound right turn lane to Faithfull Avenue southbound will be closed
- 51st Street eastbound  curb and median lane will be closed approaching Millar Avenue
- 51st Street eastbound right turn lane to Millar Avenue southbound will be closed
- Millar Avenue southbound curb lane and northbound right turn lane to 51st Street eastbound will be closed

The restrictions are expected to be lifted by 10:00 a.m. the same day.

25TH STREET EASTBOUND CLOSED AT 3RD AVENUE INTERSECTION, JUNE 1

Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 1, the following lane restrictions will be in place at the intersection of 25th Street and 3rd Avenue while Sasktel works at a manhole.

- 25th Street eastbound lanes closed at the intersection of 3rd Avenue
- 3rd Avenue southbound reduced to one lane approaching 25th Street. Turning from 3rd Avenue to 25th Street eastbound and westbound will be maintained.
- 3rd Avenue northbound and 25th Street westbound traffic will not be effected

The road is expected to reopen by 3:00 p.m. the same day.

VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS NEAR SHAW CENTRE FOR TRIATHLON, JUNE 1

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 1, the following road restrictions will be in place to accommodate a triathlon event.

- 22nd Street West eastbound curb (outside) lane will be closed between Betts Avenue and Hart Road
- 22nd Street West westbound left turn lanes onto Hart Road southbound will be closed
- 22nd Street West eastbound right turn bay onto Hart Road southbound will be closed
- Hart Road eastbound will be closed at Bowlt Crescent
- Shillington Crescent westbound curb (outside) lane will be closed between Shillington Crescent and Betts Avenue
- Betts Avenue northbound curb (outside) lane will be closed between Shillington Crescent and 22nd Street West

Access to local traffic will be maintained. The restrictions will be lifted by 12:00 Noon, the same day.

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! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The current power outage, today, May 30, that is affecting approximately 100 households in the Avalon neighbourhood is expected to continue for six to eight hours (until 10 pm to midnight) as crews work to repair damage to four power poles in the area caused by a vehicle accident.

Hourly updates on the repair will be provided through Power Outage Service Alerts on the City of Saskatoon website (Saskatoon.ca).

Residents can also phone Saskatoon Light & Power at 306-975-2621.

The City of Saskatoon thanks residents for their patience as we work as quickly as possible to restore your power.

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.

Residents are invited to cool off this summer at any of the 17 spray pads located around the city!  Summer spray pads will open for the season on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 10 a.m. and will be operational daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through to Monday, September 1, 2014.

The opening of Silverwood Heights Spray Pad, located in WJL Harvey Park (290 Russell Road), will be delayed due to maintenance repairs.  For updates on the scheduled opening, please refer to the interactive map at www.saskatoon.ca/go/playgrounds.

Please note, spray pad sites located on or near school grounds have timers and are set to turn spray features off during recess and lunch breaks.  Shut-off times will vary according to individual school schedules.

To find a spray pad location near you, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/playgrounds or call 306-975-3378.

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.

 - 30 -

IDYLWYLD DRIVE TO 25TH STREET EASTBOUND, JUNE 2-23

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2, the right turn lane from Idylwyld Drive northbound to 25th Street eastbound will be closed to traffic as crews begin Phase 1 of streetscaping for the 25th Street Extension. Eastbound traffic will be detoured to 24th Street.

The work is expected to take three weeks.

33RD STREET EASTBOUND FROM STEEVES AVENUE TO HUGHES DRIVE, JUNE 2-4

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2, the new 33rd Street eastbound lanes from Steeves Avenue to the merging point approaching Hughes Drive will be closed while crews work on street lighting on the new road.

The old 33rd Street eastbound median (inside) lane will also be closed from the merging point to Hughes Drive.

A detour will be in place. The work is expected to last 3 days. 

SPADINA CRESCENT FROM BALMORAL STREET TO WINDSOR STREET, JUNE 2

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2, Spadina crescent will be closed in both directions between Balmoral Street and Windsor Street to accommodate a house move. The road is expected to reopen by 11:00 a.m. the same day. A detour will be in place.

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! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Great things are happening through the improved Street Sweeping program this spring! Enhancements were added this year to the spring blitz, with funding through the dedicated road levy, based on learning from similar programs in the fall and winter.

“With the city growing so quickly, the way we operate our street maintenance programs is changing to provide the best service possible,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “We want to thank residents for their patience and feedback, resulting in some great programs and a clean city.”

New this year are the yellow No Parking signs used to notify drivers of scheduled sweeping dates. Compliance from residents moving their vehicles to accommodate street sweeping allows the City to focus on cleaning the entire roadway quickly and efficiently. To date, parking compliance has been increasing as people become familiar with the signage. 

A new process for cleaning Circle Drive involving up to 18 vehicles at a time was introduced this spring. Additional pilot vehicles and signage allow the City to focus on safety of the workers and drivers. “The work is only done at night to minimize interference with traffic and we’re pleased to report that the program is 26 per cent complete,” says Hyde.

Also new this year is evening sweeping in the school zones.  This program begins June 2 and residents will be notified in advance with yellow No Parking signs.  The area between the School Zone signs is not swept during the daytime accelerated residential street sweeping for the safety of the students and visitors to the schools. 

The street sweeping schedule, Frequently Asked Questions and map of neighbourhoods is available at saskatoon.ca under the Building Better Roads icon. 

If wet or windy weather delays sweeping, the scheduled neighbourhood will be rescheduled and new No Parking signs will be posted in advance to notify residents and the schedule will be updated on the website.

Drivers are reminded to be patient and to drive carefully when they encounter slow moving street-sweeping vehicles.  You may also contact the 24-hour Street Sweeping Hotline at 306-975-2476 or streetsweep@saskatoon.ca.

The Saskatoon Field House experienced some flooding in the track area following the overnight rain storm.  The main field and track will be closed for the rest of the day and as a result, all programs scheduled on the track must be cancelled.

The weight room, childcare, fitness dance studio, multi-purpose room and meeting room #2 will remain open to the public.  All programs on the second floor will proceed as scheduled.

The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Field House thank patrons for their cooperation.

The Lakewood Civic Centre, Shaw Centre, Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre, Lawson Civic Centre, Cosmo Civic Centre and the Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track will maintain regular hours during this time.

For information on the programming and services affected, please contact the Saskatoon Field House at 306-975-3354 or visit drop-in online at www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.

For programming information, please refer to www.saskatoon.ca and look under “L” for Leisure Centre Drop-In Schedules.

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.

For Release: May 29, 2014

The City of Saskatoon will launch new.saskatoon.ca to kick off public engagement activities for the new Saskatoon website redesign.  This site will be used as the hub to communicate about the progress of the project and to gather input from residents.

“Public involvement is key to a successful redesign of the City of Saskatoon website,” says the City’s Website Project Manager, Rob Gilhuly.  “We wanted to create an online space that provides users with the information they need to quickly get involved and participate in the website development process,” Gilhuly says.

To help build a better website, the City will be asking for feedback at multiple stages throughout the website development process. Residents will be able to participate in decisions relating to navigation, design, usability and online services.  In addition to gathering input, new.saskatoon.ca will also be revealing the new website as it’s being built.

Saskatoon.ca will be designed to provide better online service to residents.  Ensuring that residents’ needs and expectations are reflected in the final result is critical to the project’s success.

The City encourages all residents to visit the project engagement site, new.saskatoon.ca for project updates and to get involved.

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 following restrictions will be in place overnight Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30 while crews inspect underground utilities. The restrictions will be lifted immediately following the completion of the utility inspections and may not be required for the entire timeframe listed.

- 8th Street eastbound closed from Broadway Avenue to Landsdowne Avenue. Two-way traffic will be accommodated in the westbound lanes

- Broadway Avenue northbound curb (outside) lane will be closed approaching 8th Street

To minimize disruption to traffic the work is scheduled to take place from 11:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., 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! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.