News Releases

The 108th Annual Decoration Day and Memorial Service will be celebrated at the Soldiers’ Cairn located at the Woodlawn Cemetery on Sunday, June 2, 2024. The annual event provides citizens with an opportunity to pay tribute to those brave individuals who lost their lives in the service of our country. 

The day will begin with a parade at 1:45 p.m. that includes Legion members, ANAVET members, and members of the Armed Forces, starting from the Woodlawn Cemetery Office gate (north end of Memorial Avenue) and proceeding into the cemetery to the Memorial Cairn. Members of the public are welcome to join in the parade. The service will start at 2:00 p.m. 

Cool off at any of the 22 City of Saskatoon spray pads located around the city. Spray pads will open for the season on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 10 a.m., and will be operational daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Please note, in June (Monday to Friday), spray pads located near school grounds are set to turn off 5 minutes before recess and lunch breaks and will resume 5 minutes after the breaks are over. Shut-off times will vary according to individual school schedules. All spray pads are activated by push buttons located near the spray features. The bell schedules are listed on the Where to Play Google Map posted at saskatoon.ca/spraypads.

As part of the City’s Water Conservation Strategy, the City is implementing actions to reduce water usage and costs related to the operation of spray pads. In year two of the spray pad water conservation project, three spray pads will be updated with a combination of misters and lower-flow nozzles, which will save water without compromising the spray pad experience. The three spray pads that will be updated are in Briarwood, Stonebridge, and River Heights. These upgrades are expected to reduce water use by 20-60% while maintaining 100% of the fun. Water conservation work at the spray pads began in 2023 and helped save 6.4 million litres of water – the same amount of water used by 33 households in a year. Trials from the 2023 pilot are now being incorporated to test newer nozzle combinations in 2024.

To find a spray pad location near you, check out the Where to Play Google Map at saskatoon.ca/spraypads or call 306-975-3378.

The City of Saskatoon is implementing 30 km/h speed limits on select neighbourhood bikeways this summer, as part of an ongoing commitment to improving road safety and comfort for all users. 

A new policy pertaining to reduced speed limits for neighbourhood bikeways was approved by City Council in December 2023. 

“This change aims to enhance safety and create a more comfortable environment for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. “Neighbourhood bikeways are designed for streets with lower vehicle volumes and speeds, promoting safer shared road use."  

Two neighbourhood bikeways will have reduced speed limits implemented this summer: 23rd Street West between Vancouver Avenue North and Avenue C North, Avenue I between the north and south legs of 23rd Street West, and 14th Street East between Saskatchewan Crescent East and Cumberland Avenue.  

The traffic bylaw was amended in February of 2024 for these two neighbourhood bikeways. 

The 14th Street Neighbourhood Bikeway was identified in the Active Transportation Plan and connects the Meewasin Trail to several residential neighbourhoods, as far east as College Park. The 23rd Street Neighbourhood Bikeway, established as a priority cycling route in 2011, offers a connection for cyclists traveling between downtown and Blairmore.  

Signage for these two neighbourhood bikeways is being installed and the reduced posted speed limit of 30 km/h will be in effect on July 5, 2024. Signage for future neighbourhood bikeways will be installed after traffic calming measures are constructed. 

The City understands that these changes can be challenging, but they are part of the broader efforts to enhance safety and make Saskatoon more livable for everyone. For more information on neighbourhood bikeways visit saskatoon.ca/bikewayspeedlimits.

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is ready for summer with the Prairie Butterfly House and Kinsmen Express II set to open on Saturday, June 1.

The Prairie Butterfly House will be open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. starting Saturday, June 1 and access is free with your Zoo admission.

Butterflies fly freely around the Prairie Butterfly House allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in nature and experience the beauty and tranquility that the space offers. The Zoo reminds guests to maintain a safe space for the butterflies by not handling or removing butterflies or plants from the habitat.

The Kinsmen Express II trackless train is also resuming operations offering guided train tours of the Zoo beginning June 1. The train is free to ride with your Zoo admission and is equipped with a ramp and wheelchair accessible car. Train tours will be available daily from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until September 2^nd. Visit saskatoon.ca/zootrain for more information.

The Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the Forestry Farm Park gates are open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The public is reminded that the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is a pet-free park.

Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to learn more about the benefits of a Zoo Season Pass and to plan your next visit.

The City of Saskatoon celebrated its partnerships with eight First Nations at a special meeting and Flag Ceremony this morning. There are 10 Urban Reserves within Saskatoon’s boundaries. The first Urban Reserve and Municipal Servicing Agreement was signed in 1988 with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, and the most recent one was signed in 2023 with Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Other First Nations with Urban Reserves in Saskatoon are: Kahkewistahaw First Nation; One Arrow First Nation; Red Pheasant Cree Nation; Thunderchild First Nation; Yellow Quill First Nation; and Pelican Lake First Nation.

Urban Reserves benefit both First Nations and the City in creating opportunities in economic growth, offering employment opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and fulfilling Treaty Land Entitlements. These investments help create prosperity for everyone and are a model of good partnership and cooperation.

The Flag installation ceremony occurred at the start of this month’s City Council meeting to recognize the distinct order of First Nations and Métis governments through the Treaty 6 Flag and the Métis Flag. First Nations with urban reserves, additional First Nations represented by the Saskatoon Tribal Council, and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Western Region 2A along with Locals in Saskatoon participated in the Flag ceremony. 

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Western Region 2A Locals in Saskatoon are Central Urban Métis Federation Local #165, Victoria Racette Local IIA, Saskatoon Métis Local # 126, and Gabriel Dumont Local #11. The additional First Nations represented by the Saskatoon Tribal Council recognized at the Flag ceremony are: Kinistin Saulteaux Nation; Mistawasis Nêhiyawak ; Muskoday First Nation; and Whitecap Dakota First Nation.

About Urban Reserves and Treaty Land Entitlement

Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) is a process used by the Federal and Provincial governments to resolve outstanding obligations to First Nations who did not receive all of the Reserve land to which they were entitled under Treaty. TLE has enabled First Nations to purchase land and transfer it to Reserve status. The City of Saskatoon welcomes these investments in the city and the region, which support the economic, environmental, social, and cultural well-being of the entire community. Before an urban Reserve is created, the City of Saskatoon and the First Nation sign agreements that cover commitments to work together, municipal services, fees for services, and compatible standards for development.

For more information on the First Nations who have land holdings or reserves within the City of Saskatoon and region, go to www.saskatoon.ca/business-development/planning/programs-projects/urban-reserves-treaty-land-entitlement