News Releases

On September 1, City crews began the annual winterization of the 480 irrigation systems in Saskatoon parks and along roadway streetscapes. Winterization is an important maintenance procedure to help ensure the longevity of the City’s irrigation infrastructure. 

Irrigation winterization involves the use of large compressors that force air through the irrigation system, removing any residual water so it will not freeze within the underground pipes. The force of compressed air exiting through sprinkler heads may pick up and propel debris within the work zone. 

To ensure public safety, residents are asked to follow all signage at work sites, and to stay clear of all sprinkler heads, compressor units and related winterization equipment in the parks during maintenance. 

The winterization process is expected to take seven weeks. For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/parkmaintenance.   

The City’s second cart swap request intake is nearly over. Residents who would like to request a smaller black garbage cart are reminded that cart swap requests are open until end of day Monday, September 9.

Cart swaps will begin September 16 corresponding with collection schedules. More details will be available on saskatoon.ca/cartswap.  

To request a smaller cart, visit saskatoon.ca/utilityaccount and sign up or login to your Utility Account. Residents can also request a cart swap by calling a Corporate Revenue Customer Service Representative at 306-975-2400.

Clarence Avenue will be closed between Bute and Cascade streets on Thursday, September 5, starting at 8:00 a.m. for a connection replacement. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take one day to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

LORNE AVE SB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM JASPER AVE TO CIRCLE DR S
(Sidewalk repair)
Start: September 4, 7:00 a.m. End: September 4, 5:00 p.m.

NEAULT RD NB LANES CLOSED FROM KENSINGTON GATE W TO 33RD ST W
(Construction)
Start: September 4, 7:00 a.m. End: September 5, 5:00 p.m.

7TH AVE N ROAD CLOSED FROM EMPRESS ST TO WINDSOR ST
(Water main maintenance)
Start: September 4, 7:00 a.m. End: October 4, 4:00 p.m.

TAYLOR ST E WB LANES CLOSED FROM HERITAGE CRES TO MCKERCHER DR
(Crack sealing)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in EB lanes
Start: September 4, 9:00 a.m. End: September 4, 12:00 p.m.

8TH ST E WB CURB & CENTRE LANES CLOSED FROM BOYCHUK DR TO MCKERCHER DR
(Catch basin repair)
Start: September 4, 9:00 a.m. End: September 4, 12:00 p.m.

LAURIER DR WB LANES CLOSED FROM CONFEDERATION DR TO DIEFENBAKER DR
(Electrical work)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in EB lanes
Start: September 4, 9:00 a.m. End: September 4, 3:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N NB & SB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED FROM 46TH ST E TO 51ST ST E
(Fence removal)
Start: September 4, 9:00 a.m. End: September 5, 3:00 p.m.

MILLAR AVE ROAD CLOSED FROM CIRCLE DR E TO 43RD ST E
(Pavement markings)
Start: September 4, 7:00 p.m. End: September 5, 5:00 a.m.

ONGOING

MELVILLE ST INTERSECTION CLOSED AT PORTAGE AVE
(Construction)
Start: July 31, 7:00 a.m. End: September 5, 5:00 p.m.

11TH ST W EB LANES CLOSED FROM CRESCENT BLVD TO FAIRLIGHT DR
(Infrastructure improvements)
Start: July 31, 7:00 a.m. End: September 6, 4:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD WEST SIDE OF ROUND-A-BOUT CLOSED AT TASKAMANWA ST
(Service install)
Start: July 31, 7:00 a.m. End: September 6, 5:00 p.m.

PRESTON AVE S NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO MAIN ST
(Gas main repair)
Start: September 3, 7:00 a.m. End: September 7, 4:30 p.m.

20TH ST E WB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 1ST AVE S
(Streetscaping)
Start: September 3, 7:00 a.m. End: September 7, 5:00 p.m.

7TH AVE N ROAD CLOSED FROM OSBORNE ST TO WINDSOR ST
(Water main maintenance)
Start: August 8, 7:00 a.m. End: September 8, 5:00 p.m.

MCORMOND DR NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM FEHEREGYHAZI BLVD TO HENRY DAYDAY RD
(Streetscaping)
Start: August 21, 7:00 a.m. End: September 10, 4:30 p.m.

COLLEGE DR EB LANES CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE N TO WIGGINS AVE N
(Water main maintenance)
Start: August 19, 7:00 a.m. End: September 16, 5:00 p.m.

8TH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM MCORMOND DR TO ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road construction)
No access to Zimmerman Rd from 8th St
Start: June 10, 7:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 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.

Open House 

Attend a short presentation on available grants followed by an open house. An opportunity for Saskatoon residents to meet staff from the City of Saskatoon and learn and ask questions about the grant programs.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 
Cosmo Civic Centre, Theatre 

In-person Grant Writing Workshop  

Hands-on grant writing workshop led by staff from City of Saskatoon. Participants will learn how to create solid project plans, develop a project statement, and build a project budget.  

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm 
Cosmo Civic Centre, Theatre 

Please register in advance and indicate which sessions (Open House and/or Workshop) you will attend: grants@saskatoon.ca 

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/grants. 

Millar Avenue will be closed between Circle Drive and 43rd Street starting Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m. for pavement markings. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take one night to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

7th Avenue will be closed between Empress and Windsor streets starting Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 a.m. for water main maintenance. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take one month to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Faithfull Avenue will be closed between 43rd and 44th streets starting on Tuesday, September 3, at 12:00 p.m. for water main maintenance. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take four days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

PRESTON AVE S NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO MAIN ST
(Gas main repair)
Start: September 3, 7:00 a.m. End: September 7, 4:30 p.m.

20TH ST E WB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 1ST AVE S
(Streetscaping)
Start: September 3, 7:00 a.m. End: September 7, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

20TH ST W EB CURB LANE CLOSED AT AVE E S
(Water main maintenance)
Start: August 7, 7:00 a.m. End: September 3, 4:30 p.m.

MELVILLE ST INTERSECTION CLOSED AT PORTAGE AVE
(Construction)
Start: July 31, 7:00 a.m. End: September 5, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD WEST SIDE OF ROUND-A-BOUT CLOSED AT TASKAMANWA ST
(Service install)
Start: July 31, 7:00 a.m. End: September 6, 5:00 p.m.

FAITHFULL AVE INTERSECTION CLOSED AT 44TH ST E
(Pipe installation)
Start: August 3, 7:00 a.m. End: September 6, 6:00 p.m.

7TH AVE N ROAD CLOSED FROM OSBORNE ST TO WINDSOR ST
(Water main maintenance)
Start: August 8, 7:00 a.m. End: September 8, 5:00 p.m.

MCORMOND DR NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM FEHEREGYHAZI BLVD TO HENRY DAYDAY RD
(Streetscaping)
Start: August 21, 7:00 a.m. End: September 10, 4:30 p.m.

COLLEGE DR EB LANES CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE N TO WIGGINS AVE N
(Water main maintenance)
Start: August 19, 7:00 a.m. End: September 16, 5:00 p.m.

8TH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM MCORMOND DR TO ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road construction)
No access to Zimmerman Rd from 8th St
Start: June 10, 7:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 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.

In the fall of 2024, Saskatoon will take part in a coordinated effort to measure homelessness across Canada.

The City of Saskatoon, in partnership with the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), the Reaching Home Community Entity in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and the Community-University Institute for Social Research (CUISR) from the University of Saskatchewan, community organizations and volunteers will participate in the fourth nationally coordinated Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count in Canada.

From October 1^st to November 30^th, 2024, individuals experiencing homelessness will be counted in 58 communities across the country. The coordinated effort will help to create a picture of homelessness in communities across Canada.

A Point-in-Time Count, or PiT Count as it is commonly described, is a measure of the number of people experiencing homelessness in a community, counted on a specific day and during a specified period of time. It is meant to be a “snapshot,” painting a picture of what homelessness looks like in that particular time and place. It will indicate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness in our community.

During a specified period of time over the course of one day, trained volunteers will enumerate and survey individuals staying in shelters, short-term or transitional housing, public systems (detox), those sleeping rough (in unsheltered spaces) and survey hidden homelessness (living temporarily with others or accessing temporary accommodations).

Our PiT Count will improve our understanding of the needs and circumstances of the people affected by homelessness in our community. The survey will provide key data on gender, age, ethnicity and more, to help continue the conversation about homelessness in our community.

The PiT Count will inform crucial interventions and highlight the need for increased investment and coordination between all orders of government, including non-profit and private sectors.

Results from the 2024 PiT Count will be made publicly available and will be used to improve our response to homelessness. In the future, successive counts will assist in measuring progress towards our ultimate goal: ending homelessness in Saskatoon.

The Saskatoon PiT Count is receiving support from the Government of Canada through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

For more information, visit:

• Everyone Counts – The Nationally Coordinated Point-in-Time Counts of Homelessness in Canada
• Homelessness Learning Hub: Point-in-Time Counts
• CUISR 2022 Saskatoon Point-in-Time Homelessness Count

Further details will be made available in the near future.

Quotes

“The federal government recognizes the importance of reducing and preventing homelessness across the country. To address these issues, we must first understand their scope, which is why the PiT count is so vital. We’re working with partners to enhance resources and help address the issues facing people experiencing homelessness.” – The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation’ (Henry David Thoreau). The number of people on the street is growing and they all have their stories of how and why they are homeless, and every story is legitimate. Homelessness is fast becoming a societal crisis, that has enormous cost in services and human suffering. We need to find creative solutions, looking up from their vantage point to provide in many cases, families, friends, and neighbors opportunities to change their circumstance and we need to embed prevention into the work that we do.” – J Robert LaFontaine, Executive Director Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership

"The dynamics of homelessness have been rapidly changing in our community, with more and more people surviving in desperate conditions on our streets each month. The PiT count is a very important exercise in understanding the human stories behind the headlines, and to understand the factors that are driving this crisis. I'm very grateful to all of the organizers, partners, and volunteers for making sure Saskatoon is part of this national count once again this year." – Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon