News Releases

One more way to take Reconciliation action in conjunction with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Registration has opened for the 8th Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference. After two years of meeting virtually, this year’s conference will be held in person at TCU Place on November 28-29. There is also an option to attend virtually.

The Wîcihitowin Conference has been an annual event since 2014 when a group of organizations in Saskatchewan came together to imagine and deliver the first event. “Wîcihitowin” is a Cree/Saulteaux term meaning “to help each other/to work together”. 

“I attended a residential school from 1958 to 1969,” says Residential School Survivor and conference advisor, Eugene Arcand. “This conference is to honour and learn from Residential School Survivors and those that have survived with resilience from the Sixties Scoop. I want to thank everyone who chooses to participate because showing up matters and these conversations matter.”

The conference provides a platform for those with acquired or lived experience to share their teachings. It also provides a forum to share resources and tools to support culturally respectful organizations. The event is for anyone working towards respectful Indigenous engagement and inclusion.

“The City of Saskatoon has been a proud partner of this event since its inception,” says the City’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives, Melissa Cote. “The program is always exceptional and the perspective of speakers so vast and varied. We feel humbled to be a part of this important event that so many people look forward to each year.”

Between 2007 and 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada travelled to all parts of Canada to bear witness to residential school experiences; to create a permanent historical record; and to engage and educate the public about Survivor experiences and intergenerational impacts. The theme of the 2022 Wîcihitowin Conference will be Bearing Witness in acknowledgement of this critical aspect of Reconciliation. 

This year’s speaker line-up includes the Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: The Honourable Murray Sinclair, Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild, and Dr. Marie Wilson. Conference attendees will also hear from Chief Cadmus Delorme, Chief of the Cowessess First Nation, and others who are demonstrating leadership in the area of Reconciliation.

Executive-in-Residence at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and conference emcee, Neal Kewistep, says: “Bearing Witness is something that didn’t end with the completion of the TRC’s work. In keeping with the oral traditions of Indigenous Peoples, witnesses are called upon to be the keepers of history when a significant event happens. Bearing Witness is a way to acknowledge, validate, and legitimize the Truth.”

Registration is available at wicihitowin.ca. For conference updates, you can also follow Wîcihitowin YXE on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

The Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is made possible through contributions by the City of Saskatoon, United Way Saskatoon & Area, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, Saskatchewan Health Authority, and Saskatoon Public Library. The organizing committee would also like to thank its many investors including Nutrien, the Saskatoon Community Foundation, Saskatchewan Health Quality Council, Discover Saskatoon, and many more.

On National Day for Truth & Reconciliation the City of Saskatoon will show support and honour residential school survivors and their families by hosting free Indigenous activities including hoop dancing, Metis jigging, art and storytelling at Cosmo Civic Centre (3130 Laurier Drive) on Friday, September 30 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  All residents are welcome to attend.
 
This event is part of the City’s commitment to advance its learning journey through creative programming and by responding to TRC Calls to Action #66 on youth programming and #89 on creating health and well-being opportunities by reducing barriers to sports participation.  

The online survey to provide feedback on the two potential locations for a Downtown event centre/arena is open to the public until end of day Monday, October 3. Intercept surveys to hear from residents across Saskatoon are also taking place during this time.  

The City is looking for the public’s views on the opportunities and challenges of the two potential sites under consideration -- Midtown Shopping Centre North Parking Lot (Site A) and the North Downtown/City Yards (Site B).

The online survey can be found at saskatoon.ca/engage and takes less than 8 minutes to complete. Full background information on the project, including artistic illustrations, technical information, and historical context, can be found at saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict. 

A representative sample survey, including a telephone and online panel survey, was completed on September 5. The information gathered from all surveys will be compiled and presented to City Council in November to be considered as part of the final decision on the location for the future event centre/arena site.

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

NEW

FAITHFULL AVE SB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 47TH ST E TO 46TH ST E
(Curb work)
Start: September 27, 8:00 a.m. End: October 17, 4:30 p.m.

CIRCLE DR E NB & SB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED FROM 108TH ST W TO ATTRIDGE DR
(Street light replacement)
Start: September 27, 9:00 a.m. End: September 27, 3:00 p.m.

22ND ST E EB & WB CURB LANES CLOSED FROM IDYLWYLD DR N TO AUDITORIUM AVE
(Tree planting)
Start: September 27, 9:30 a.m. End: September 27, 1:30 p.m.

ONGOING

COLLEGE DR EB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM HOSPITAL DR TO MUNROE AVE N
(Tree stump removal)
Start: September 26, 9:00 a.m. End: September 27, 3:00 p.m.

SPADINA CRES E SB LANES CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 3RD AVE S
(Construction)
Start: September 26, 7:00 a.m. End: September 28, 5:00 p.m.

20TH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 4TH AVE S
(Road resurfacing)
Start: September 26, 7:00 a.m. End: September 29, 4:30 p.m.

WARMAN RD NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 33RD ST E TO EMPRESS ST
(Road construction)
Start: September 26, 7:00 a.m. End: September 29, 5:00 p.m.

MCORMOND DR ROAD CLOSED AT BRIGHTON BLVD
(New road construction)
Start: June 6, 7:00 a.m. End: September 30, 5:00 p.m.

NELSON RD EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM HEATH AVE TO HEAL AVE
(Material laydown)
Start: September 1, 7:00 a.m. End: September 30, 5:00 p.m.

1ST AVE N ROAD CLOSED FROM 3RD AVE N TO PRINCESS ST
(Water main replacement)
Start: September 1, 7:30 a.m. End: October 6, 4:30 p.m.

SPADINA CRES E ROAD CLOSED FROM WINDSOR ST TO PRINCE OF WALES AVE
(Road excavation)
Start: September 6, 7:00 a.m. End: October 6, 4:30 p.m.

MCORMOND DR NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM MANEK RD TO MCORMOND DR
(Parking lot)
Start: September 26, 7:00 a.m. End: October 22, 5:00 p.m.

4TH AVE S NB PARKING LANE CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 21ST ST E
(Vault roof replacement)
Start: September 23, 7:00 a.m. End: December 31, 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.