News Releases

Saskatoon Transit is proposing a series of Route Adjustments for 2014, and we would like your feedback before a final proposal is presented to council.

The proposed 2014 Route Adjustments were designed based on comments and ideas previously gathered from you, our customers. Each event will include a brief presentation, followed by a Q&A session and an opportunity for attendees to visit information stations. Transit staff will also be available to answer questions and hear what you have to say about the proposed route adjustments. 

Plans are to incorporate your feedback into the proposed adjustments and present a final report to Council for their approval.

The open house events will be held:

Tuesday, March 11, 2014
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Mount Royal Collegiate Cafeteria (2220 Rusholme Road)

Wednesday March 12, 2014
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Alice Turner Library (110 Nelson Road)

Free shuttles will be provided every 15 minutes from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. between the open house locations and the nearest mall terminal.

For more information, visit www.saskatoon.ca and click on “T” for transit or call the Transit Customer Service Centre at 306-975-3100.

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.

Today and tomorrow the following lane restrictions are in place while crews access manholes: 

- Avenue C northbound curb lane from Circle Drive to Cynthia Street,
- Cynthia Street eastbound lanes from Hanselman Avenue to Speers Avenue. 

The restrictions are expected to be lifted by late afternoon on March 6, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Starting at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, Spadina Crescent East will be closed to traffic between 21st and 22nd Streets while a contractor works to assess the condition of an underground pipe. Motorists are advised to use 4th Avenue as an alternate route.

The roadway should reopen later that same evening, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon will be hosting ParaSport Day on Friday, March 14, 2014, at Cosmo Civic Centre (3130 Laurier Drive).  ParaSport Day is a free, one day event for youth ages 8 to 16.

Parasport is sport for people with a disability. It is "para"llel to sport for able-bodied athletes, with adapted equipment or rules to make the game fun and accessible for everyone.

Youth of all abilities are invited to come and try featured sports and the adapted equipment supplied by parasport organizations in the community.  Coaches and athletes from the parasport organizations will be there to lead skill development and teach youth wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey, goalball, and cross-country skiing. There will also be an opportunity to learn how to get involved in parasport, and the roles necessary for the different adaptive sports.

The morning will kickoff with inspirational presentations from first-class parasport athletes; Amy Alsop a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in goalball, and Miranda Biletski a RBC Paralympian and Paralympic hopeful for the 2016 Summer Games in wheelchair rugby.

This free event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and snacks and lunch will be provided to all registrants. To register, please call 306-975-3378 by Monday, March 10, 2014.

ParaSport Day is being hosted by the City of Saskatoon Community Development in partnership with Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports, Canadian Sport Centre – Saskatchewan, SaskSport, Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Saskatchewan Blind Sports Association. 

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 affected by recent water main breaks are invited to use shower facilities at their nearest Leisure Centre.  The service will be provided at no cost until necessary repairs have been made to the affected areas, during the centre’s regular hours of operation.  Residents will need proof of address, for example, in the form of a driver’s license or utility bill, to gain entry to the facility.

Leisure Centres are conveniently located throughout the city.  Please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/leisurecentres for hours of operation and phone numbers:

• Cosmo Civic Centre:  3130 Laurier Drive
• Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre:  1110 Idylwyld Drive
• Lakewood Civic Centre:  1635 McKercher Drive
• Lawson Civic Centre:  225 Primrose Drive 
• Saskatoon Field House:  2020 College Drive
• Shaw Centre:  122 Bowlt Crescent

Residents and businesses in affected areas can access drinking water from an emergency water supply trailer located nearby until the service is restored.  Instructions for use are located near the spout.  The City operates four water trailers; once the water is restored to an area, the trailer is relocated as required.  The City makes every effort to have a water trailer available within eight hours of the water being shut off.  However, with the number of water main breaks we are currently experiencing, this time will be extended.

The City wants to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding.  Crews will do their best to restore water service within 48 hours of turning it off, but cold weather can affect equipment and the amount of time that workers can be outside. 

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 Neighbourhood Level Infill Development Strategy recommended new forms of residential infill be permitted, such as the development of garden and garage suites.  Garden and garage suites are small residences built as part of a detached garage or as an accessory structure.
Residents are invited to attend a “come and go” open house to learn more about the proposed regulations for garden and garage suites, including development standards, design guidelines, building code regulations, and the approval process.  Staff will be in attendance to answer questions and gather feedback.  Details are as follows:
Proposed Garden and Garage Suite Regulations Open House
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Frances Morrison Library (Room 3 – Lower Level)

For more information and project updates on the Neighbourhood Level Infill Development Strategy, including garden and garage suites, visit www.saskatoon.ca and look under “I” for Infill Development Strategy.  Materials and information presented at the open house will be posted on the website following the public meeting, along with opportunity for residents to submit comments online.

The Neighbourhood Level Infill Development Strategy is one component of the overall “Growing Forward!  Shaping Saskatoon” project to help guide investments to accommodate Saskatoon’s growth to half a million people.
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 Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval, which was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, March 2, 2014, will be extending its season for an additional week.  The unusually cold weather has helped to maintain quality ice conditions and allowed the City of Saskatoon to offer bonus public skating times to citizens. 

The Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval will be open from Tuesday, March 4, 2014 to Sunday, March 9, 2014 during the following times: 

• Tuesday to Thursday:  2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday:  10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

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.

This weekend, temperatures dropped to minus 50 degrees Celsius with the wind chill overnight, causing the ground frost to move even deeper.  The ground frost level is deeper than normal, and the colder the temperature is, the more pressure it puts on the underground pipes, causing them to shift.  If there is already a weak spot in the pipe, caused by age, corrosion or previous work, it can break.

A high number of water main breaks occurred this past weekend, keeping staff extremely busy.  From Friday evening at 9:00 p.m. until Sunday evening at 9:00 p.m., 15 water main breaks occurred.  In addition, a break occurred on the connection pipe at Brevoort Park School, requiring a private contractor for the repair.  This activity is well above the average of one-two per day for this time of year. 

Be prepared
This elevated rate of water main breaks is anticipated to level off this week, but will still remain higher than normal for this time of year.  Residents in areas where water main breaks have occurred in the past few years, including neighbourhoods adjacent to current water main breaks, are encouraged to be prepared by having extra drinking water stored as a precaution.  The recommended supply of water to have on hand for a 72-hour period is 3.8 litres (one gallon) per person or pet per day.

Frozen water connections
Home owners are also reporting frozen water connections, where there is a blockage on the water connection from the City’s water main to the private home.  If your water does not turn on, it may be an issue with the private portion of your water connection.  If there is an issue on the City portion, we will come out and use specialized equipment to defrost the line from your home.  To help prevent this, we recommend making sure the pipes are well-insulated, including the portion at the outside walls of your home.

Current water main breaks
All available staff and contractors are focussed on isolating the location of the breaks, preparing the sites for excavation (identifying any underground utilities or hazards), and repairing the pipes.  Different expertise is required at each stage of repairing a water main break, so even if no workers are present, each location is scheduled and will be repaired as quickly as possible. 

Water service is currently off at the following locations:
•  74 Phillips Crescent (water trailer on-site)
•  2421 Ewart Avenue (water trailer on-site)
•  500 block of 6th Street East (water trailer on-site)
•  1300 7th Avenue North (water trailer on-site)
•  2903 Ferguson Avenue
•  Diefenbaker Drive between Fairlight Drive and 22nd Street West
•  300 Bate Crescent
•  1326 Ave Y North
•  3225 11th Street West
•  141 Pacific Avenue
•  21 Bow Court

Residents and businesses in affected areas can access drinking water from an emergency water supply trailer located nearby until the service is restored.  Instructions for use are located near the spout.  The City operates four water trailers; once the water is restored to an area, the trailer is relocated as required.  We make every effort to make a water trailer available within eight hours of the water being shut off.  However, with the number of water main breaks we are currently experiencing, this time will be extended.

We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding.  We will do our best to restore water service within 48 hours of turning it off, but the extreme cold can affect equipment and the amount of time that workers can be outside.  If you are affected by a water outage and have any questions, or to report a water main break, please call the Public Works customer service call centre 24/7 at 306-975-2476.  For information about the Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory that is in effect when the water is turned back on, visit saskatoon.ca and select W for Water Advisory.

Emergency preparedness information is available on the Government of Canada’s public safety website getprepared.gc.ca, including further recommendations for an emergency water supply.

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 from the links at saskatoon.ca.

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Based on information released by Statistics Canada in late February, the City of Saskatoon’s Planning and Development Division has calculated that Saskatoon’s population has topped 250,000 people.
By using Statistics Canada’s 248,293 population figures for the city of Saskatoon at July 1, 2013, and applying their suggested 3 percent annual growth rate, City Planners estimate that the city’s population has reached approximately 253,000 people as of March 1, 2014.
“This is an exciting milestone for Saskatoon.  Based on the information from Statistics Canada, we have increased by a rate of 40.4 per thousand, which hasn’t been achieved by any other census metropolitan in more than 15 years,” Planning and Development Director Alan Wallace says.
“This new estimate confirms that Saskatoon is ‘the place to be’.  Our growing, thriving, economy and high quality of life make the city an attractive place for new residents and recent Canadians to call home.  And through the City’s Growing Forward, Shaping Saskatoon public consultations and other important growth strategies that are currently underway, we will ensure that plans are in place to accommodate this growth so Saskatoon continues to be a great place to live.”
Using the same calculation for the Saskatoon Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which includes surrounding rural communities, it is estimated that the CMA population has reached 298,000 people.
Planning and Development regularly calculates population estimates using information from Statistics Canada, factoring in recent trends in growth.  These projections assist City Council and the Administration in developing its policy framework, long-range plans, and forecasting future municipal servicing needs and land consumption.
For more information, visit www.saskatoon.ca and look under “P” for Population.

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.

This weekend, eleven water main breaks occurred in a 26-hour period, breaking a record set last weekend with seven in the same time period.  So far this weekend, thirteen water main breaks occurred between Friday evening and the time of this announcement.  This is well above the average of one-two per day for this time of year. 

This rate of water main breaks is anticipated to slow down as the temperatures increase this week.  Still, residents in areas where water main breaks have occurred in the past few years, including neighbourhoods adjacent to current water main breaks, are encouraged to be prepared by having extra drinking water stored as a precaution.  The recommended supply of water to have on hand for a 72-hour period is 3.8 litres (one gallon) per person or pet per day.

All available staff and contractors are focussed on isolating the location of the breaks, preparing the sites for excavation (identifying any underground utilities or hazards), and repairing the pipes.  Different expertise is required at each stage of repairing a water main break, so even if no workers are present, each location is scheduled and will be repaired as quickly as possible.  In this extreme cold, workers must take frequent breaks to warm up and prevent injuries caused from exposure to the elements. 

Water service is currently off at the following locations:
•  74 Phillips Crescent (water trailer on-site)
•  2421 Ewart Avenue (water trailer on-site)
•  500 block of 6th Street East (water trailer on-site)
•  1300 7th Avenue North (water trailer on-site)
•  2903 Ferguson Avenue
•  Diefenbaker Drive between Fairlight Drive and 22nd Street West
•  300 Bate Crescent
•  1326 Ave Y North
•  3225 11th Street West
•  141 Pacific Avenue

Residents and businesses in affected areas can access drinking water from an emergency water supply trailer located nearby until the service is restored.  Instructions for use are located near the spout.  The City operates four water trailers; once the water is restored to a location, it is relocated as required. We make every effort to make a water trailer available within eight hours of the water being shut off.  However, with the number of water main breaks we are currently experiencing, this time will be extended.

We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding.  We will do our best to restore water service within 48 hours of turning it off, but the extreme cold can affect equipment and the amount of time that workers can be outside.  If you are affected by a water outage and have any questions, or to report a water main break, please call the Public Works customer service call centre 24/7 at 306-975-2476.  For information about the Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory that is in effect when the water is turned back on, visit saskatoon.ca and select W for Water Advisory.

Emergency preparedness information is available on the Canadian Red Cross website, including further recommendations for an emergency water supply.

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 from the links at saskatoon.ca.

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