News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Weekend Road Report - November 20-21, 2021
November 19, 2021 - 2:30pm
*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.
NEW
25TH ST E EB LANES CLOSED FROM 6TH AVE N TO SPADINA CRES E
(Water main repair)
Start: November 20, 8:00 a.m. End: November 21, 5:00 p.m.
SPADINA CRES W ROAD CLOSED FROM 17TH ST W TO 19TH ST W
(Santa Claus Parade staging area)
Start: November 21, 7:00 a.m. End: November 21, 4:00 p.m.
4TH AVE S NB, SB & WB LANES CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Santa Claus Parade)
Broadway Bridge NB traffic diverted around closure on Spadina Cr
Start: November 21, 7:00 a.m. End: November 21, 4:00 p.m.
22ND ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM 4TH AVE N TO 1ST AVE N
(Santa Claus Parade)
Start: November 21, 7:00 a.m. End: November 21, 4:00 p.m.
1ST AVE S ROAD CLOSED FROM 22ND ST E TO 19TH ST E
(Santa Claus Parade)
No access to Idylwyld Dr SB ramp
Start: November 21, 7:00 a.m. End: November 21, 4:00 p.m.
ONGOING
No ongoing projects are scheduled on priority one streets at this time.
All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.
City warns public of potential Green Cart program rebate scam
November 19, 2021 - 3:45am
- The City never requests or collects credit card, bank account or any sort of personal information from customers via phone, text or email.
- The City typically uses application forms to collect for the green cart program.
- Never give out your personal or banking information, or credit card number over the phone, by text or email. It is a best practice to block suspicious phone numbers and delete after reporting.
- Do not to click on suspicious web links.
It appears the scammers are at it again, hoping to take advantage of unsuspecting Green Cart program subscribers.
The City wants to warn residents again about an identified scam involving phone calls to residents appearing to come from the City.
The caller indicates that they are from the City of Saskatoon and asks the resident if they received a rebate cheque from the City’s Green Cart program.
Helpful reminders for residents:
Scammers typically use the information they gather this way to get money or commit identity theft. Previous public service announcements from the City have warned residents about scams involving suspicious phone calls, fake text messages and emails, some even demanding payment from customers they said ‘owed money’.
Residents should contact their bank if they have become a victim of fraud, and also report these types of phone or online scams to Saskatoon Police Service at saskatoonpolice.ca/onlinereporting/fraud/ or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center, 1-888-495-8501.
Concerned residents may also call the City of Saskatoon to speak with a Customer Service Representative at 306-975-2400.
Winter Leisure Guide available Friday, November 19; Program registration begins Sunday, December 5
November 16, 2021 - 3:57am
- Registered and Drop-in programs available at the Leisure Centres this season;
- Youth activities such as the Winter Play Program, School Break Camp, Learn to Skate and a variety of Learn & Play sport programs;
- Parent & Tot and public skating at the indoor rinks;
- Free outdoor skating at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval and over 50 outdoor community rinks in neighbourhoods across the city; and
- Cross-country skiing at groomed trails around Saskatoon.
- Ensure you have an active Leisure Online registration account and know your username and password.
- Have a list of second and third program choices in case you do not get into your first choice.
- Join the wait list! Every full program has an online wait list and new classes may be created if there is enough demand.
- Consider other nearby Leisure Centres if your preferred location isn't available.
- Ensure your major web browser (Microsoft Edge, Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome) is up-to-date.
- Modifications to Red Cross swim lessons will remain in place for the winter season. This means water safety instructors will deliver swim lessons from the pool deck and Red Cross Swim Preschool and Swim Kids 1-4 programs will require a parent/guardian in the water to assist with swimmers.
- Current Provincial Health Orders and City Council direction require the following at Leisure Centres and indoor rinks:
- Masks are required inside leisure facilities with the following exceptions:
- Patrons that are 18 and older utilizing weight rooms, fitness classes, courts and the walking tracks are permitted to remove their masks.
- Youth athletes under the age of 18 are exempt from wearing a mask while they are participating in sports for the duration of the sport only.
- All patrons must remove their mask while in the water.
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours along with proof of identification is mandatory for ages 12 and over to access Leisure Centres and indoor rinks.
- All children turning 12 after July 15, 2021 will have three months from their birthday to get fully vaccinated. They will be allowed access to Leisure Centres and indoor rinks during the three-month period.
- Masks are required inside leisure facilities with the following exceptions:
The City of Saskatoon Leisure Guide is the community’s go-to source for sport, culture and recreation information in Saskatoon.
The Winter Leisure Guide will be available online at saskatoon.ca/leisureguide and on display at pick-up locations beginning Friday, November 19.
Highlights of the Winter Leisure Guide (January 1 to March 31, 2021) include information on:
At the time the Winter guide was sent to print, some programs were still in the process of being reviewed and finalized due to current COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Please visit the websites noted throughout the Guide for the most up-to-date details on programs and services. Information on registered programs including Red Cross Swim lessons, have been posted in advance of registration on leisureonline.saskatoon.ca.
Mark your calendars! Registration for Winter programs begins Sunday, December 5, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. by logging into to your account on leisureonline.saskatoon.ca, or by calling 306-975-2800.
Registered programs are very popular and fill up fast. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
Know before you go! The following COVID-19 protocols will be in place to ensure the safety of staff and participants:
For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/leisureguide.
Santa Claus Parade closes downtown roads on Sunday; Transit options available
November 19, 2021 - 9:00am
The downtown area will have various parking and lane restrictions in effect on Sunday, November 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the Santa Claus Parade. There will be no access to the parade route between: Spadina Crescent, Avenue A, 19th Street, 3rd Avenue, 20th Street, 4th Avenue, 22nd Street, and 1st Avenue.
Road users are encouraged to allow extra time to reach their downtown destination as there will be parking restrictions, and the area will be busy.
People attending the parade can avoid the traffic and parking by choosing to use Transit. Buses traveling through the city centre will navigate the detours for you. Purchase your pass and plan your bus route anytime, anywhere using the mobile app Transit.
Bus service to SaskTel Centre
November 19, 2021 - 6:00am
- Draws at 9:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.
- Draws at 11:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. and 10:25 a.m.
- Draws at 2:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. and 1:25 p.m.
- Draws at 7:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. and 6:25 p.m.
Direct service from the Special Events Stop (outside the 2nd Avenue Lofts at 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue) to experience the Tim Hortons Curling Trials at SaskTel Centre from November 20 to November 28 will be available at the following times each day:
Post event drop-off is the downtown terminal and regular fares apply ($3.00 per trip). Transfers, mobile tickets and physical passes are also accepted.
Plan your trip to events at SaskTel Centre on Route 333 using the Transit app up to two weeks in advance! Check out the Transit+ feature that helps you make connections that combine Transit with ridehail providers like riide and Uber. Transit does the work so you can travel with ease! Download the Transit app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
For your health and safety masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit and when accessing indoor City-operated facilities.
Transit service times for special events at SaskTel Centre and other popular destinations can always be found at SaskatoonTransit.ca/plan-my-trip/popular-destinations. Experience the convenience of using Saskatoon Transit to attend all your favourite events.
Daily Road Report - November 19, 2021
November 18, 2021 - 3:00pm
*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.
NEW
No new projects are scheduled to start on this date.
ONGOING
ATTRIDGE DR WB LANES CLOSED FROM CENTRAL AVE TO CIRCLE DR E
(Sign structure install)
Two-way traffic maintained in EB lanes
Start: November 18, 7:00 p.m. End: November 19, 7:00 a.m.
RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE S TO YORK AVE
(Water main repair)
Start: November 18, 8:00 a.m. End: November 19, 4:00 p.m.
MCORMOND DR SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN KENASCHUK LINK & KENASCHUK WAY
(Hydrant replacement)
Start: November 18, 7:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
CIRCLE DR S WB LANES SPEED REDUCTION FROM LORNE AVE TO DIEFENBAKER PARK RD
(Construction)
Start: November 15, 7:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM VICTORIA AVE TO ROYAL AVE
(Connection replacements)
Start: November 15, 9:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.
Conditions on Circle Drive expected to improve today as de-icing efforts progress
November 18, 2021 - 5:31am
Even with continuous plowing and de-icing operations, Circle Drive remains icy in some spots this morning. Conditions along the City’s main freeway are expected to improve today and into tomorrow, as crews make progress with salting and sanding. Milder weather in the forecast will also help.
The combination of rain on November 15 leaving a thick layer of ice on the street, followed by 10 centimetres of snow that fell and heavy winds creating drifts, made de-icing on Circle Drive more complex than in a typical snowstorm. First, all snow had to be removed once it stopped falling, as straight salt on top of hard packed snow doesn’t reach the ice to start softening it. Plows were out during the snow and steadily once it stopped, all the while applying the mixture of sand and salt for traction.
Today, now that the wind is down and snow has been plowed along all 252 lane kilometres of Circle Drive, including on and off ramps, the focus will continue to be on applying salt to break the bond between the ice and road, with 20 sanding/salting trucks moving around the city. City sanders spray a liquid de-icer on the potash salt as it's applied to help it stick in heavy traffic. The salt melts the ice and dries the roads where there is little or no snowpack.
Sidewalk crews will have City-managed sidewalks and pathways plowed within the 48-hour requirement under the Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw.
We thank Saskatoon road and sidewalk users for using caution and watching for our crews out there.
Repairs on Highway 16 overpass start Monday, November 22
November 18, 2021 - 11:00am
Highway 16 eastbound over Highway 11 will be closed starting Monday morning, November 22 for safety repairs to the bridge. This project is expected to take seven days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Eastbound traffic will be accommodated in the centre and median westbound lanes. Drivers can expect delays in this area while construction is underway and are asked to choose alternate routes if possible or plan for delays.
Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information is available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.
The City thanks everyone for their patience while this necessary work is carried out. For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.
City of Saskatoon is one of 95 global cities named as new generation of climate leaders on CDP 2021 A List
November 18, 2021 - 10:00am
Saskatoon has been recognized by CDP as one of 95 cities across the globe, and one of only 7 Canadian cities, that are taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency.
CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions. Designed to encourage and support cities to ramp up their climate action and ambition, CDP’s Cities A List is based on environmental data disclosed by cities to their unified reporting system.
To score an A, a city must disclose publicly and have a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target and a renewable energy target for the future, and have published a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. Many A List cities are also taking a variety of other leadership actions, including political commitment from a city’s Mayor to tackle climate change.
“We’re proud to be among the 7 Canadian cities leading the way on climate action,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The actions in our Climate Action Plan guide the City and the community over the next 30 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make Saskatoon more resilient against the changing climate.”
A List cities are taking twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A List cities, and also identify more than twice as many opportunities. Local examples include Saskatoon’s Home Energy Loan Program to help homeowners improve the energy performance of their homes, and the upcoming 2.2 MW Dundonald Avenue Solar Farm to enable Saskatoon Light & Power to generate renewable electricity for their customers.
“What gets measured, gets managed – Saskatoon is committed to managing its environmental risks and impact, and to building a safe and secure city for people to live and work in,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “Disclosing information is a critical step towards taking the right action, and towards cities and governments at all levels developing the right climate change policies.”
Saskatoon, and the other cities on this year’s A List, are also celebrated for showing that urgent and impactful climate action is achievable at a global level, and in cities with different climate realities and priorities. However, actions need to go further and faster to meet the new targets agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow earlier this month.
Visit cdp.net o view the full 2021 A List of cities and to find out more about this ambitious initiative.
Daily Road Report - November 18, 2021
November 17, 2021 - 3:00pm
*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.
NEW
MCORMOND DR SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN KENASCHUK LINK & KENASCHUK WAY
(Hydrant replacement)
Start: November 18, 7:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
1ST AVE S NB LANES CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Crane lift)
Two-way traffic maintained in SB lanes
Start: November 18, 8:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2:00 p.m.
RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE S TO YORK AVE
(Water main repair)
Start: November 18, 8:00 a.m. End: November 19, 4:00 p.m.
ATTRIDGE DR WB LANES CLOSED FROM CENTRAL AVE TO CIRCLE DR E
(Sign structure install)
Two-way traffic maintained in EB lanes
Start: November 18, 7:00 p.m. End: November 19, 7:00 a.m.
ONGOING
21ST ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 3RD AVE S
(Anode installation)
Start: November 9, 11:00 a.m. End: November 18, 5:00 p.m.
CIRCLE DR S WB SPEED REDUCTION FROM LORNE AVE TO DIEFENBAKER PARK RD
(Construction)
Start: November 15, 7:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM VICTORIA AVE TO ROYAL AVE
(Connection replacements)
Start: November 15, 9:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.