News Releases

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is excited to introduce the newest members of the Zoo family – bobcats Sherlock and Watson! These two brothers were born in 2021 at the Zoo Sauvage de Saint Felicien and are just under one year old.

“We are very fortunate to have Sherlock and Watson join the Zoo family,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “The pair arrived safely at the Zoo this morning and will be introduced to their new temporary home in the vacant eagle exhibit before transferring to their permanent home later this summer.”

Bobcats get their name from their short, bobbed tail and are found mostly in North America in mountainous forest regions. They weigh anywhere from 6.5 to 18 kilograms and can jump over 3 metres high. Their diet consists mainly of rodents, birds and fish and are known as ambush predators that stalk and hunt their prey with an element of surprise.  

Preparations for the bobcats’ arrival started this spring with renovations to the previous lynx exhibit. The former lynx exhibit is being transformed into a new space for the bobcats that will feature a new house and dedicated play area for the bobcats to enjoy. For now, Sherlock and Watson will get to enjoy exploring the caves and terrain in the vacant eagle exhibit until the renovations to their permanent home are completed this summer.

Visitors to the Zoo will notice a perimeter buffer surrounding the temporary bobcat exhibit. This buffer helps to maintain physical distance between the public and the bobcats as cat species such as bobcats and lynx are susceptible to COVID-19. 

“Taking precautionary measures like maintaining a safe physical distance is an important part of keeping our animals safe,” says Jeff Mitchell. “The level of risk among species varies, and we take every necessary step to ensure the health and safety of the animals in our care.”

The Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit or learn more about the Zoo Season Pass.

Attridge Drive will be closed from Central Avenue to Circle Drive East on Sunday, April 24 starting at 5:00 a.m. as SaskPower continues upgrading transmission lines for the Preston Crossing Power Line Project. Circle Drive eastbound and northbound access ramps to Attridge Drive eastbound will also be closed while this work is underway. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This work is expected to take three hours 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 is 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

Repairs to a sinkhole that formed on Wednesday in the south bound lanes of Broadway Avenue near 8^th Street East continue. The City had been working on a water main repair at the location earlier in the week.

Drivers are advised to avoid the 8^th Street and Broadway Avenue intersection as it remains closed, with the exception of right turn movements for westbound to northbound, southbound to west bound and north bound to east bound. Detour signage is in place.

Water service disruptions to area residents and businesses are anticipated while repairs continue. Those impacted will receive notices.

The City will provide an update when road closures or detours are changed or lifted.

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

NEW

BROADWAY AVE SB & NB THRU LANES CLOSED AT 8TH ST INTERSECTION
(Water main repairs)
Start: April 20, 5:00 p.m. End: April 24, 5:00 p.m.

8TH ST EB & WB TURU LANES & SB TURN LANE CLOSED AT BROADWAY AVE INTERSECTION
(Water main repairs)
Start: April 20, 5:00 p.m. End: April 24, 5:00 p.m.

RUTH ST E EB PARKING LANE CLOSED FROM ROYAL AVE TO BROADWAY AVE
(Test hole drilling)
Start: April 22, 7:00 a.m. End: April 22, 5:00 p.m.

33RD ST W EB & WB TRAFFIC LANES REDUCED FROM NORTHUMBERLAND AVE TO JUNOR AVE
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Start: April 22, 9:00 a.m. End: April 22, 3:00 p.m.

33RD ST W EB & WB MEDAIN LANES CLOSED FROM AVE G N TO AVE J N
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Start: April 22, 9:00 a.m. End: April 22, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

MCORMOND DR ALL LANES ACCESS REDUCED FROM HENRY DAYDAY RD TO ASPEN RIDGE ST
(Street Sweeping)
Start: April 18, 9:00 a.m. End: May 6, 3:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE ALL LANES ACCESS REDUCED FROM MCORMOND DR TO ATTRIDGE DR
(Street Sweeping)
Start: April 18, 9:00 a.m. End: May 6, 3:00 p.m.

8TH ST E INTERSECTION CLOSED AT NEW MCORMOND DR
(Water main construction)
Start: April 20, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 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.

Over the next week, the City of Saskatoon will be mailing out Amended Assessment Notices to commercial property owners where an update to the assessed value of their property is required for a full year.

“We’ve had several longstanding commercial assessment appeal decisions ruled on by the Court of Appeal and these also affected the Board of Revision in 2021,” says Bryce Trew, City Assessor. “This has led to implications for retail, warehouse and office buildings greater than 5800 square feet.”

Property owners who receive an Amended Assessment Notice will have a 30-Day Assessment Review and Appeal period from the date an Amended or Supplementary Notice is mailed to them in which to file a formal appeal on their property's assessment. 

“It's important to note that not all commercial property assessments changed as a result of the recently finalized appeal decisions,” adds Trew. “If an assessment changed in 2022, it could be because of physical alterations to the property such as new builds, additions, renovations, or demolitions, changes in tax status or ownership, and/or a Board of Revision decision.”

Currently, there are Board of Revision appeals from 2021 that are with the Saskatchewan Municipal Board. Appeals filed in 2022 are with the Board of Revision. If decisions from these appeals require further changes to assessment models, property owners will be issued amended notices.

Following the provincially legislated reassessment year in 2021, property owners who since January 1, 2021, had a change in the assessment, tax status, or ownership of their property would have received a 2022 Assessment Notice earlier this year. The 2022 Assessment Roll was open until February 4, 2022, also the deadline to file a commercial or residential 2022 appeal with the Board of Revision. The Province is on a four-year assessment cycle with current property assessments in place from 2021 to 2024.

Visit saskatoon.ca/assessment for more information or contact 306-975-3227 for assessment-related questions. We’re here to help.

A sinkhole has formed in the South bound lanes of Broadway Avenue near 8^th Street East where City crews have been working on a water main repair this week.

Road closures are currently in place impacting the South bound lanes of Broadway Avenue and all East bound lanes of 8^th Street.

The City of Saskatoon’s Detours and Sign Shop have put in place signs and messaging for drivers to follow. Traffic is being detoured down Lorne Avenue and Victoria Avenue. These closures will be modified on Thursday, April 21, in the morning to allow for the contractor to address the sinkhole.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area of Broadway Avenue and 8^th Street, if possible, and to allow extra time if their commute takes them in this direction.

The City of Saskatoon will provide an update when road closures or detours are changed or lifted.

The City thanks citizens for their patience as the sinkhole is addressed and repaired.

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

NEW

No new projects are scheduled to start on Priority 1 streets on this date.

ONGOING

MCORMOND DR ALL LANES ACCESS REDUCED FROM HENRY DAYDAY RD TO ASPEN RIDGE ST
(Street Sweeping)
Start: April 18, 9:00 a.m. End: May 6, 3:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE ALL LANES ACCESS REDUCED FROM MCORMOND DR TO ATTRIDGE DR
(Street Sweeping)
Start: April 18, 9:00 a.m. End: May 6, 3:00 p.m.

8TH ST E INTERSECTION CLOSED AT NEW MCORMOND DR
(Water main construction)
Start: April 20, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 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.