News Releases

Looking for City of Saskatoon rates and fees effective January 1, 2024?

Check this master list - it details 2024 rates and fees for civic services, utilities, parking, Saskatoon Transit, business development, parks, recreation & attractions, and more.

Visit saskatoon.ca for more information on City of Saskatoon services and programs.

The City of Saskatoon will have several adjusted civic services and hours over the holidays, including Christmas Eve, December 24, Christmas Day, December 25, Boxing Day, December 26, and New Year’s Day, January 1. 

Check detailed information on holiday parking requirements, what's open or closed, hours of operation at all Leisure Facilities, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, Saskatoon Public Library and Remai Modern, Saskatoon Transit holiday service, information on waste collection over the holidays and much more here.

The City of Saskatoon wishes all residents a happy and safe holiday season, and a prosperous new year.

Visit saskatoon.ca for more information on civic services and programs.

To coincide with Sisters in Spirit Day on October 4, Saskatoon Transit partnered with talented Indigenous artist Vanessa Hyggen, to unveil a new bus shelter at Preston Avenue and Adelaide Street. This is Saskatoon Transit’s fifth bus shelter in commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #79 (PDF).  

This year’s bus shelter was created in collaboration with family and community members affected by the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), as well as Two-Spirit individuals. Vanessa skillfully integrated the shared thoughts and emotions of the group. Her aim was to pay tribute to and raise awareness of the issues faced, provide a healing space, and encourage community members to speak out. The bus shelter stands as a tribute to the lives affected by this tragic issue, a call for justice, and a symbol of hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Scan the QR code on the front of the bus shelter to be directed to a webpage page that includes the full story behind the artwork, information on the committee members that inspired the piece, and previous bus shelter art projects. 

For more information, visit: saskatoon.ca/trc-bus-shelter-art 

The other four Saskatoon Transit bus shelters displaying Indigenous artwork are located at the following locations:  

• Confederation Drive & Massey Drive  
• Rusholme Road at E.D. Feehan High School 
• Broadway Avenue & 12 Street  
• Clarence Avenue at Aden Bowman Collegiate  

Faith Bosse, artwork committee member says: "I'm so thankful to have worked alongside the talented artists & family members who helped piece together this beautiful artwork over the past few months. As the daughter of an MMIW, it means so much to me to have something representing all of the families & our loved ones we have lost.” 

Paul Trottier, artwork committee member says: “This bus shelter helps to lift the veil of silence, it expresses the voice of those who are missing, those who cannot be heard. Those who are missing are a part of someone, a life, a future, a human being.  We want our loved ones back.” 

Vanessa Hyggen, Indigenous artist says: “I've been honoured to work with the families who shared their stories with me. I carried their words and stories on my heart for about 3 weeks before I began to draw. Once I started to draw though, I felt like the direction of the piece all came together. I met with the committee a couple of times, received feedback, then worked to incorporate the feedback. This piece is a story, and a feeling, and I can only hope that it will help to elevate their voices, and raise the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and Two -Spirit People.” 

Charlie Clark, Mayor says: “Coinciding with the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, I am proud to be able to unveil this new shelter. The Bus Shelter Art projects placed around the city provide meaningful art displays that tie together learning, understanding, and steps towards reconciliation. I am very grateful for all of the community partners and city staff who helped make this happen. The willingness of community members to support our work in responding to the TRC Calls to Action continues to be invaluable.” 

Jim Puffalt, Director of Saskatoon Transit says: “We hope this bus shelter serves as an inclusive space where everyone, regardless of their background, feels valued and protected. With Vanessa and the committee members, we have crafted a beacon of awareness and a tribute to the strength of Indigenous cultures.” 

Attention all Saskatoon Transit users!  

Please be aware the Downtown Transit Terminal will undergo a short-term construction project from May 8-14, 2023. The rehabilitation work aims to fix the structural deficiencies of the road surface and missing sections of curb at the terminal. 

The project has been scheduled in May to minimize the impact on transit riders and residents. The terminal will be moved along 3rd Avenue from 23rd Street to 24th Street with minimal effects on transit service and schedules. Wayfinding will be available to help locate transfers and buses, and transit staff will be on hand to assist. 

Please note the sidewalks on both sides of the existing terminal will stay open, and the Transit Customer Service Centre will maintain regular hours of operation. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make improvements. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at transit.services@saskatoon.ca or 306.975.3100. Thank you for your cooperation and support. 

Some of Saskatoon’s most travelled roads are scheduled for major upgrades this summer. Construction projects will include resurfacing the west bound lanes of Circle Drive North between Millar Avenue and Alberta Avenue, and resurfacing sections of Preston Avenue between Preston Crossing and 8th Street.

“There are several areas of Preston Avenue that are in rough shape and in need of new asphalt,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “We’ll also get to Wanuskewin Road to resurface both sides between 71st Street and Penner Road.” 

Many roads will be completely resurfaced following water main replacements. Replacing the decades old water mains with durable PVC piping will continue in several areas of Saskatoon, including Downtown.

“Downtown water main replacement work will happen in phases throughout the summer and fall to avoid closing several blocks at the same time, starting with 22nd Street East between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue.” 

About $67.19 million is earmarked for road and bridge construction and maintenance in 2023. One of the most significant construction zones is already set up on the Circle Drive North Bridge where crews are now two months into a nine-month long rehabilitation project. Sidewalk repairs and annual street maintenance programs like street sweeping, pothole and utility cut repairs, and line painting are now underway or about to start.

Also, this month, the Saskatoon Transit Downtown Terminal will be undergoing road and sidewalk work. For approximately one week, the Terminal will temporarily move to 3rd Avenue North, in front of City Hall. Bus stop locations will be marked in advance.

Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P) is already working Downtown, upgrading the underground electrical vault on the west side of 2nd Avenue between 21st Street and 22nd Street. Work began in late April and is scheduled for completion by mid-June. This is a cornerstone project that will allow SL&P to proceed with additional electrical renewal projects to update Downtown power infrastructure.

Despite some street closures due to construction, Schmidt says Downtown businesses will remain open and accessible by sidewalk.

“There will be pedestrian and traffic detours Downtown and throughout the city all summer. We thank residents for their patience and are asking everyone to respect work zones.”

For more information on current and future construction, please visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Time to hop into spring, looks like warmer days are ahead!
Many fun Easter long weekend activities await! How about ...

• planning a spring walk to go see the animals at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo
• strolling through Remai Modern to enjoy newest collections
• diving in for a family swim or workout at one of the City's Leisure Centres
• visiting a Saskatoon Public Library location to borrow some new books

Check out all the details on what's open or closed, what's happening with parking, waste collection, transit service and more including adjustments to civic services and hours of operation on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, here.

The City has developed a comprehensive plan to establish a Downtown Event and Entertainment District to become a hub of commercial, cultural and community activity. City Council will discuss a report to approve the Downtown Event and Entertainment District vision statement and guiding principles at its meeting March 29, 2023. 

“This is a journey toward revitalizing downtown,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical services. “A new event centre is just one aspect of the larger vison of creating an animated public area of thriving business and entertainment in Saskatoon’s Downtown, which is accessible to everyone.” 

A key component of that accessibility is the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. In November 2018, City Council directed the Administration to plan for the future of Saskatoon’s Downtown and that the focus of the planning work includes an entertainment district fully integrated with the BRT, not just an event centre and a convention facility.  

The guiding principles incorporate priorities, policies and strategic initiatives from referencing several previously approved documents, including the City’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, City Centre Plan, Imagine Idylwyld and the Official Community Plan. 

“With these plans in mind, the area will be developed sustainably and with a focus on Indigenous placemaking,” Willems says. “By offering residents and visitors a gathering place for entertainment and events, with a variety of restaurants, venues, shopping and nightlife, Saskatoon’s Downtown will become an economic driver for the city and the province.” 

The vision and principles have been created and refined through discussion with many stakeholders, including Council Committees, to create a robust and inclusive document. 

“We have developed our vision statement and eight guiding principles that will be the bedrock for how we move forward,” says Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development. 

Vision Statement 

A safe and vibrant Downtown is a welcoming and inclusive place for all people to come together in cooperative spirit. The District supports a strong economy, strengthens our diverse community, and attracts people to live, work and play in the Downtown. 

Guiding Principles 

• Reconciliation by honouring Indigenous Peoples, histories, languages and culture
• A distinctive identity through placemaking/placekeeping 
• Architectural and public realm design excellence 
• Reliable and efficient transportation options 
• Downtown density with a focus on housing 
• Leadership in sustainability and resiliency 
• A robust and diverse economy 
• A healthy and safe community 

“There will be many opportunities for targeted and broad engagement for all residents and visitors to provide feedback on the project, as well as targeted engagement with stakeholders, rights holders and partners,” Anderson says. 

The vision and guiding principles are an important start towards planning for the District and there will be more to the journey, a continuation of working with the community and businesses, to ensure the Downtown District reflects the values, history and people of Saskatoon  

“Establishing a clear vision and guiding principles are foundational to creating a district that reflects and includes all of us,” says Councillor Cynthia Block who represents the downtown and is Council’s strategic lead for downtown development. “An event centre  and convention facility are tools, but evidence shows success comes from everything that builds up around them. A district roadmap gives us the best chance to succeed and makes it uniquely our own.” 

Block adds the City is developing a funding strategy that will have a minimal impact on taxes.  

“We are looking at funding tools that other cities have used successfully, as well as contributions from other orders of government,” she says. 

Once approved, the vision statement and guiding principles will be referenced in future reports related to the District Plan and how the guiding principles have influenced that work. 

Administration will continue to prepare District Plan-related reports to the Governance and Priorities Committee and City Council at major milestones throughout the District Plan process. 

The full report, including the full text of the vision statement and guiding principles, can be found on the meeting agenda.

Negative interactions where an operator was directly impacted by a member of the public have decreased, shows a report being presented to City Council’s Standing Policy on Transportation on March 7. The report summarizes incidents on buses and around Transit facilities.  

Negative interactions overall impacting operators are down by approximately 50% in 2022 when compared to the years prior; however, negative interactions between transit passengers and members of the public at transit stops and terminals trend up year over year.  

The most common negative attributes associated with interactions impacting operators are verbal altercations, intoxication, and acts of aggression. The most common negative attributes associated with passenger and public interactions are intoxication and verbal altercations. That said, Mike Moellenbeck, Operations Manager for Saskatoon Transit stresses, all such incidents remain rare. 

“While we take all negative interactions and assaults impacting operators very seriously, thankfully they remain very rare. There are about two operator assault incidents for every one million rides,” says Moellenbeck. 

Aside from physical force – including a push – assault also includes spitting or throwing items. Negative interactions include assault, intoxication, aggression, fare dispute, harassing behaviour or road rage against an operator. 

“We are all aware of greater mental health concerns and social distress in communities nation-wide; Saskatoon is no different,” he says.  “Saskatoon Transit will always support its Operators and riders and look at ways to enhance training and safety protocols to create a more positive workplace and ride experience.”  

Moellenbeck adds that the Plexiglas operator safety barriers Council approved in November 2020 are being installed with about one-third of the fleet complete. The remainder is expected to be installed this spring. 

Looking for some fun activities to take in over the Family Day long weekend?

• How about going for a swim and play at a Leisure Centre?
• Looks like mild weather, maybe skating indoors or outside?
• A relaxing museum visit to Remai Modern?
• Fun and fresh air at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo?

The City has you covered!  

Check out the City’s holiday hours of operation and adjusted civic services and also find information on what's happening on Family Day, Monday, February 20 with Saskatoon Transit services & the Transit Customer Service Center,  parking requirements, the Municipal Impound Lot, Waste Collection, Landfill hours, Woodlawn Cemetery & more.

Have a safe and happy long weekend Saskatoon!

Visit saskatoon.ca for more information on City programs and services.

City Council, at its Public Hearing meeting held on November 21, 2022, adopted amendments to Bylaw No. 9170, The Procedures and Committees Bylaw, 2014, that contained several updates to the 2023 Council and Committees meeting schedule as follows:

• New day and times for City Council Regular Business and Public Hearing Meetings: previously held Monday, these move to Wednesday; Regular Business will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Public Hearing will remain at 6 p.m. concluding at 9 p.m. 

• New day and times for City Council Budget deliberations: will move to begin on Tuesday, continuing Wednesday and Thursday if required, and these will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
   
• New days for Standing Policy Committees (9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and Governance and Priorities Committee (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.): these move to Tuesday and Wednesday. (Committee Meetings’ start and end times remain the same.) 

• New deadline for public submissions: The deadline for public submissions for items already on an agenda is moved to Monday at 5 p.m. the week of the meeting for all regular Committee/Council meetings.  Initial submissions to appear on the agenda when released remain Tuesday at noon the week before the meeting.  For Special Meetings, the deadline will be outlined with the Notice/Agenda posted on the City’s website.
  
  • The deadline for submissions to Committee/Council for items not on an agenda remains noon on the Tuesday before the meeting.

• No change: Agendas will continue to be posted at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the week before the meeting. 

Residents are encouraged to follow your City Council’s decision-making. The 2023 Council meeting calendar, meeting agendas, minutes, and video can be found at saskatooon.ca/meetings. Through the City's website, you can also contact your Ward Councillor or request to submit a letter, or make a five-minute presentation at a council/committee meeting. 

A reminder for members of the public attending City Council Chambers, there is a Visitor Screening protocol in place.

Please email city.clerks@saskatoon.ca or call 306-975-3240 for any meeting-related questions.