News Releases

The City of Saskatoon Parks Department has confirmed 11 positive cases of Dutch elm disease (DED) in various neighbourhoods throughout the city this summer.  

“It is discouraging to see this record number of positive Dutch elm disease cases in our city; DED can have devastating consequences for our urban forest,” says Thai Hoang, Director of Parks. “The most likely cause of DED is the storage and transportation of elm firewood. If you suspect you have elm firewood, please dispose of it immediately.” 

Here is what Spadina Crecent could look like if DED continues to affect the urban forest. 

If you suspect an unhealthy elm tree or are unsure of what type of firewood you have, take a photo and complete the online form or call Urban Forestry at 306-975-2890. 

Hoang reminds residents they can help prevent Dutch elm disease by:  

• Never storing elm wood or branches. Don’t buy or take elm wood from anyone and don’t burn it. 
• Not pruning elms during the provincial pruning ban (April 1 to August 31). 
• Disposing of elm wood only at the Saskatoon Landfill. 
• Do not take elm to the compost depot or put it in your green bin. Dispose of it immediately; disposal of residential elm wood at the Landfill is free of charge. 

The City has already initiated its DED Response Plan, which includes:  

• Immediate removal of the positive tree(s) and disposal at the City landfill  
• Increased surveillance of the surrounding area to search for stored elm wood  
• Sampling of symptomatic trees within one kilometre of the infected tree  
• Continuing regular elm surveillance and cyclical pruning of trees in parks and on boulevards  

What will happen in impacted areas? 

Parks staff will be conducting surveillance around impacted areas. Surveillance of these areas includes checking every property for elm firewood or brush and removing it when it is found. If residents are not home, staff will remove the elm wood and leave an Elm Infraction Notice with a note, indicating that the wood was removed. 

The Forest Resources Management Act, the Provincial Dutch Elm Disease Regulations, 2005 allows inspectors to enter private property to inspect for elm wood, remove elm wood and sample private elm trees. In accordance with the regulations, property owners will be asked to remove and dispose of infected elm. 

What is DED? 

DED is a serious disease caused by a fungus that clogs the elm tree’s water and nutrient conducting system, which eventually causes the tree to die. DED was introduced in North America in the 1930s and has since wiped out millions of elms across Canada and the United States. In Saskatoon, elms make up 25% of our urban forest. 

How is DED spread? 

In Saskatchewan, the disease is spread by several species of elm bark beetles. These beetles can fly farther than two kilometres in search of elm trees. The DED fungus has tiny spores that stick to the body of the beetle. Elm bark beetles can carry these spores and infect other elm trees. The fungus can also be spread by infected pruning tools. 

For more information on DED, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease. 

Avenue H will be closed between 30th and 31st streets on Friday, September 27, starting at 7:00 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.

City Council today approved 210 Pacific Avenue for a temporary 30 to 40 bed enhanced emergency residential shelter. The Government of Saskatchewan’s service provider, The Mustard Seed, is anticipated to open the temporary shelter in Winter 2024 – information on the opening and ongoing operations will come from the service provider.

City Council approved the duration of the shelter for a temporary operation for up to 18 months. Council also approved a request to lease the former Saskatchewan Transportation Company parcel service building at a below market rate. This is a permitted use under the City of Saskatoon Zoning Bylaw.

The property is owned by the City. With some renovation, it will be suitable for a shelter and meet most of the City Council-approved criteria:

• Room for approximately 30 beds each
• Beds in an open shelter-type hall (with movable wall systems or partitions)
• Some private rooms (accessed internally)
• An area suitable for office space for site staff
• Showers, bathrooms, kitchen
• Internal and external gathering spaces (amenity spaces) available on site be considered
• Proximity to other services should be considered
• Zoned appropriately if possible, or applicable for designation under the City’s Emergency Residential Shelter zoning provision
• At least 250 metres from an elementary school in the Saskatoon Public School or Greater Saskatoon Catholic School system

The City led the site-selection process, and the Government of Saskatchewan is funding up to $250,000 for renovations. The Province will also provide all operational funding for shelter services.

Additionally, after hearing feedback from the nearby residents and businesses, the City will be implementing changes to the site plan for the provincial government-funded shelter including:

• Fencing or screening to create a sense of space for those using the shelter, and delineation between the shelter and surrounding businesses. There will be no walk-in access off Pacific Avenue.
• Facility access only from Ontario Avenue.
• 7-day per week, extended hour security/support dedicated to the downtown with a proactive priority focus on the vicinity around the proposed shelter.

A coordinated, integrated operating plan between the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatoon Fire Department will provide essential safety and security for the shelter and downtown area.

City Administration continues to work with the Government of Saskatchewan to identify a longer-term site, or sites, for enhanced emergency shelter spaces. An update will be provided when available. Site options for a permanent location are undergoing the final stages of diligence processes and an update will be provided when available.

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

NEW

21ST ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM 3RD AVE S TO 4TH AVE S
(All in for Literacy)
Start: September 26, 6:00 a.m. End: September 26, 5:30 p.m.

TRAFFIC BRIDGE ROAD CLOSED FROM SPADINA CRES E TO 11TH ST E
(Canada's Ultimate Challenge)
Start: September 26, 6:00 a.m. End: September 28, 12:00 p.m.

SPADINA CRES E ROAD CLOSED FROM 3RD AVE S TO 20TH ST E
(Canada's Ultimate Challenge)
Start: September 26, 6:00 a.m. End: September 28, 12:00 p.m.

CUMBERLAND AVE S ROAD CLOSED FROM ADELAIDE ST E TO HILLIARD ST E
(Roadway patching)
Start: September 26, 7:00 a.m. End: September 26, 3:00 p.m.

CLARENCE AVE S SB CURB LANE CLOSED AT MELVILLE ST
(Construction)
Start: September 26, 8:00 a.m. End: September 26, 11:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR E SINGLE LANE MOBILE CLOSURES FROM 8TH ST E TO 14TH ST E
(Mowing)
Start: September 26, 9:00 a.m. End: September 26, 11:00 a.m.

ACADIA DR ROAD CLOSED FROM MCGILL ST TO CARLETON DR
(Crack sealing)
Start: September 26, 9:00 a.m. End: September 26, 3:00 p.m.

ACADIA DR ROAD CLOSED AT ACADIA CRT
(Crack sealing)
Start: September 26, 9:00 a.m. End: September 26, 3:00 p.m.

CLARENCE AVE S SB LANES CLOSED FROM MELVILLE ST TO CARTWRIGHT ST
(Deck repairs)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in NB lanes
Start: September 26, 9:00 a.m. End: September 26, 3:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR E EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE N TO VENTURE CRES
(Pole replacements)
Start: September 26, 9:00 a.m. End: September 26, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD WEST SIDE OF ROUND-A-BOUT CLOSED AT TASKAMANWA ST
(Service install)
Start: July 31, 7:00 a.m. End: September 26, 5:00 p.m.

20TH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE S TO 2ND AVE S
(Streetscaping)
Start: September 23, 7:00 a.m. End: September 26, 5:00 p.m.

STONEBRIDGE BLVD EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE S TO WELLMAN CRES
(Construction)
Start: September 16, 8:00 a.m. End: September 26, 5:00 p.m.

FEHEREGYHAZI BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM ORBAN WAY TO FORSEY AVE
(Housing development)
Start: September 25, 11:30 a.m. End: September 27, 5:00 p.m.

AVE H N ROAD CLOSED FROM 29TH ST W TO 30TH ST W
(Connection replacement)
Start: September 19, 7:00 a.m. End: September 27, 5:00 p.m.

8TH ST E WB CURB & CENTRE LANES CLOSED AT ARLINGTON AVE
(BRT platform installation)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: September 29, 5:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR WB LANES CLOSED FROM HOSPITAL DR TO BOTTOMLEY AVE N
(Water main maintenance)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in EB lanes
Start: September 16, 7:00 p.m. End: September 30, 7:00 a.m.

KENSINGTON GATE INTERSECTION CLOSED AT NEAULT RD
(Construction)
Start: September 9, 9:00 a.m. End: September 30, 4:00 p.m.

22ND ST W WB CURB AND CENTER LANES CLOSED FROM AVE P N TO AVE Q N
(BRT construction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: September 30, 5:00 p.m.

MCORMOND DR SB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM KENASCHUK CRES TO FEHEREGYHAZI BLVD
(Streetscaping)
Start: September 10, 7:00 a.m. End: October 1, 5:00 p.m.

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

33RD ST E WB LANES CLOSED FROM QUEBEC AVE TO ONTARIO AVE
(BRT platform construction)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in EB lanes
Start: September 23, 7:00 a.m. End: October 7, 5:00 p.m.

8TH ST E EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM MCKERCHER DR TO BOYCHUK DR
(Sidewalk work)
Start: September 10, 7:00 a.m. End: October 8, 4:30 p.m.

33RD ST E EB LANES CLOSED FROM QUEBEC AVE TO 1ST AVE N
(BRT installation)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in WB lanes
Start: September 25, 7:00 a.m. End: October 8, 4:30 p.m.

8TH ST E WB LANES CLOSED AT MCORMOND DR
(Intersection construction)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in EB lanes
Start: September 23, 7:00 a.m. End: October 13, 4:30 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.

24TH ST E WB LANES CLOSED FROM 6TH AVE N TO 5TH AVE N
(SL&P construction)
Start: August 7, 8:00 a.m. End: November 7, 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.

Melville Street will be closed between Jasper and Portage avenues starting Thursday, September 26, at 7:00 a.m. for paving. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take three 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.