News Releases

At the February 14^th meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC), the inspiration for a future, vibrant Downtown Event and Entertainment District (District) core was presented through information reports on the Conceptual Design Overview and the Interim District Plan. These reports both position the development of the District as integral to the revitalization of Saskatoon’s Downtown.

“The inspiration came from Saskatoon and its place in nature, in community and in the world,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services. “The intent is to showcase Saskatoon’s past, present and future identity through design, while also improving streets and existing public spaces. The District will honour, highlight and prioritize Indigenous and Saskatoon storytelling, and will be designed to create an ‘outdoor living room’, where people from all over the city and visitors can gather.”

The conceptual designs were created around four pillars, which capture different aspects of Saskatoon’s defining features:

• Urban with a Prairie Heart
• Where the Earth Meets the Sky
• Warmly Embrace the Winter
• Of the Earth

A number of important public spaces are included in the conceptual design, including an outdoor concert terrace and pavilion, a ‘gateway’ plaza at the entrance of the event centre/arena that can also be used for public programing, and a linear courtyard on the east side which will create an intimate, semi-enclosed space for people to walk through, wait for arriving friends, and enjoy food and drink on outdoor patios.

“The District’s public spaces will be designed to meet a variety of needs and demands,” says Willems. “By integrating a mix of supportive uses and a welcoming public realm into the District, both residents and visitors will find many reasons to linger and enjoy all that Downtown has to offer, encouraging earlier arrivals and later stays, diffusing trips across Downtown over many hours, and making trips by all modes of transportation easy and convenient.”

The renderings developed through the conceptual design process illustrate the potential activation of the Downtown area through the process of developing the District. These renderings can be viewed at saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict. The more technical District Plan will further develop a plan for the Downtown overall and looks at how the land can best be used to achieve a vibrant mix of residential, business, social and outdoor activity, while making Downtown more accessible for everyone to get to and around in. Both the Conceptual Design Overview and the District Plan draw on the feedback collected through the Phase 1 Engagement held in spring 2023 to better reflect what community members would like to see while integrating technical considerations.

Moving forward from GPC to the February 28^th Regular Meeting of City Council are a decision report on the Convention Centre options and an approval report on the acquisition of the Downtown YMCA property.

The City of Saskatoon will have several adjusted civic services and hours of operation on the Family Day Stat. Find all the details here.

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

NEW

AVE H N ROAD CLOSED FROM 30TH ST W TO 31ST ST W
(Connection replacement)
Start: February 15, 8:00 a.m. End: February 16, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR W NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM LAURIER DR TO 33RD ST W
(Pole replacement)
Start: February 15, 9:00 a.m. End: February 15, 3:00 p.m.

MCKERCHER DR NB & SB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED FROM ACADIA DR TO BOYCHUK DR
(Sanitary line repair)
Start: February 15, 9:00 a.m. End: February 15, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2024, 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.

The City of Saskatoon will have several adjusted civic services and hours of operation on the Family Day Stat, Monday, February 19, as follows:

CITY HALL

City Hall will be closed on Monday, February 19 and will reopen on Tuesday, February 20 at 8:00 a.m.

ROADWAY DETOURS & CLOSURES

Check here for detailed long weekend road restrictions for priority one roadways.

REMAI MODERN 

Remai Modern will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SASKATOON PUBLIC LIBRARY

All Saskatoon Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, February 19.

SASKATOON TRANSIT

• Fixed route transit will run holiday service on Monday, February 19 – 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (normal fares apply).
  • Please consult the mobile app transit to plan your trip.
  • Visit saskatoontransit.ca for details. 
• OnDemand service will not be available on Monday, February 19.
• Access Transit will operate holiday service on Monday, February 19 – 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.   
  • Trips must be booked in advance as per normal procedures (8:15 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.). 
  • Customers are reminded that subscriptions do not apply on Statutory Holidays. 
• Transit Customer Service Centre will be closed for walk-in customers on Monday, February 19, but phone lines (306-975-3100) will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

PAY PARKING

Parking payment is not required on Monday, February 19.

• Motorists are reminded that all parking requirements remain in effect, including parking time limits.

MUNICIPAL IMPOUND LOT 

• The Impound Lot will be closed to the public on Monday, February 19.  Vehicles will be released to the public as usual on Tuesday, February 20. Information on Vehicle Seizures

WASTE COLLECTIONS

Garbage, Recycling, and Organics have collections as scheduled.

MATERIAL RECOVERY CENTRE & LANDFILL

• The Material Recovery Centre and Landfill are open on Monday, February 19 from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Cash transactions are accepted, although Credit and Debit are recommended.
• More information at saskatoon.ca/mrc.

COMPOST DEPOTS

• The compost depots are now closed for the season.

WOODLAWN CEMETERY

• The Cemetery Administration Office is closed on Monday, February 19.
• Cemetery grounds are open to the public 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily as per usual.

SASKATOON FORESTRY FARM PARK & ZOO

Regular Hours of Operation

• Zoo – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Forestry Farm Park - 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LEISURE CENTRES

Search for drop-in program information including fitness and weight room hours, public swim sessions and fitness programs on Leisure Online at saskatoon.ca/leisureonline.

Cosmo Civic Centre – Facility Closed. Family Day Skating Event 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Lakewood Civic Centre – 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Lawson Civic Centre – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Saskatoon Field House – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Shaw Centre – 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Terry Fox Track - Closed

INDOOR RINKS

Search the public and parent and tot schedules on Leisure Online at saskatoon.ca/leisureonline.

ACT Arena (Public Skating) - 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Cosmo Arena (Family Day Skating Event) – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

OUTDOOR RINK

Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval – 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

NOTIFYNOW

Residents are encouraged to sign-up to notifynow for timely and targeted public safety messages. Notifynow is a free service. Tell us how to best reach you on your preferred communication device. Visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow for more information.

YXE SERVICE ALERTS

For information and updates on service disruptions such as power or water check saskatoon.ca/servicealerts or follow @yxeservicealert on Twitter. 

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

NEW

SPADINA CRES E SB LANES CLOSED FROM QUEEN ST TO DUKE ST
(Emergency manhole repair)
Start: February 17, 8:00 a.m. End: February 17, 1:00 p.m.

CONFEDERATION DR SB LANES CLOSED FROM LAURIER DR TO 22ND ST W
(Hydrant replacement)
2-way traffic in NB lanes
Start: February 17, 8:00 a.m. End: February 17, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2024, 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.