Saskatoon Transit and students from the E.D. Feehan Newcomer Youth Engagement Program (NYEP) and the miyo mâcihowin program met with Métis Elder Nora Cummings, First Nations Elder Harry Lafond, and Newcomer Community Leader, Senos Timon to create and design a bus shelter on the north side of Rusholme Road, west of Avenue M by their school.  

“There are many ways we can respond as a city to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “This project built a partnership between Saskatoon Transit, E.D. Feehan students and staff, and Indigenous elders and newcomer community leaders in creating this beautiful new bus shelter for the Westmount Neighbourhood. Thank you to everyone involved for the extra effort you put in through COVID to get the project done, congratulations!”   

Following the success of the collaborations with students at Aden Bowman Collegiate on a Métis inspired bus shelter, and students at Nutana Collegiate on a First Nations inspired shelter, Saskatoon Transit wanted to work on another Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action, #93. This call-to-action calls to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada to reflect a more inclusive history of the diverse Aboriginal people of Canada.  

The students from the NYEP and miyo mâcihowin program reflected on Elder Cummings and Lafond’s teachings with inspiration from Newcomer Community Leader Senos Timon to create this piece of art. One of the themes that continued to pop up was the idea that we are all different and should be proud of that, and remember who we are and reach out to one another.  

“This shelter is yet another example of building bridges of cross-cultural awareness,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “It is and will remain a physical reminder of the commitment the City has made on answering the Calls to Action.”   

The student’s artwork, inspired by First Nations and Métis Elders and Newcomer Community Leader were put together by Muveddet Al-Katib, an immigrant artist working with the NYEP as an art educator and was then laser cut by Metal Shapes Manufacturing.  

“I want to congratulate these young people on this project. It is a legacy they will leave not only for themselves, but for generations to come.” Cummings says. “This project helped to unify our youth, showed them how to work together. They did a wonderful job and will look back on this experience and remember the friendships made working together.” 

“The Creator gives to each of us the creative spirit to create beauty through the lens of our cultures,” Lafond says.  “The bus stop at E.D. Feehan High School captures the spirit of many cultures to show the growing diversity of our beautiful city. I hope this helps us understand the importance of these projects to our identity as a community of many peoples.”   

“Arts bring people together; it inspires and unifies our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity, and it gives hope and reminds us that we are not alone,” says Senos Timon. “This project is a perfect example of how arts can be a vehicle to build bridges.” 

"Students really benefited from meeting with and talking to the elders,” says Mike Stone, NYEP teacher. “It reinforced for students the value of listening to and learning from the stories of those that came before us. The process also helped illustrate to the students that even across differing cultures, there are more similarities than differences that exist between us."  

The idea behind Saskatoon Transit’s Bus Shelter Art Project is to comply with the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #79; calling upon the government, Aboriginal organizations and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration, including integrating Indigenous history, heritage values and memory practices into Canada’s history.  

June 21st has been recognized annually as National Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly National Aboriginal Day) since 1996. For generations, many Indigenous communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the Summer Solstice as the longest day of the year.

This is a day to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding contributions of Indigenous people.

The City of Saskatoon, in its role as Co-Chair of Reconciliation Saskatoon, has helped organize the Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation. Participants answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action by promoting reconciliation, honouring Residential School Survivors, and working to make Saskatoon a more inclusive community.

How to participate:

• Visit beaconnectr.com/june21 to catch stories, entertainment, and messages from those walking.
• Plan a walk by yourself or with a few others and spend some time thinking Survivors and how you can engage in reconciliation.
• Showcase your support publicly and, during your walk, wear your cultural regalia or the reconciliation colours of yellow, red, and blue.
• Take a ‘walk selfie’ and share to social media with the hashtag #RockYourRoots.

The Rock Your Roots Walk has been an annual event in Saskatoon since 2016, attracting thousands of people for a walk along Saskatoon’s riverbank. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID and has been re-imagined this year to keep participants safe.

Today, Saskatoon Transit announces the launch of the first phase of its new fare payment system, in partnership with Masabi, the company bringing Fare Payments-as-a-Service (FPaaS) to public transit and the Transit app. Riders can now purchase mobile fares anytime, anywhere, using either the new TGo app or the Transit app.  

With Transit, Saskatoon Transit’s recommended trip planning app, Saskatoon riders now have access to an all-in-one experience that combines mobile ticketing using Masabi’s Justride SDK with trip planning, real-time tracking, service alerts and connections to first mile/last-mile services. 

Masabi has installed 140 validation units, running its Justride Inspect software, across the agency’s entire fixed-route bus network with another 30 handheld units at Access Transit. Passengers simply scan their phone or printed ticket, available online (SaskatoonTransit.ca/TGo) when boarding, which scans their pass and identifies the ticket as valid for use.  

“This launch means our fare collection system is now at the very cutting edge of what’s available globally and will continue to evolve adding new features as they are added to the platform” said Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “We’re delighted to be working with Masabi and Transit to make taking the bus quick and simple, while also making fare purchases more convenient.”  

“With this launch, Saskatoon Transit is leading the way for innovation while providing their riders with a contactless and safe way to pay. More and more cities globally are turning to Fare-Payments-as-a-Service as it delivers the best features, greatest passenger experience and increased efficiency for agencies and their staff,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “This level of functionality and convenience previously took years to develop and deploy and would have been out of reach to all, but the largest agencies. Today, we can deliver market-leading technology to forward-thinking cities by providing FPaaS in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost.” 

“We make riding public transit as simple and stress-free as possible,” said David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer at Transit. “Saskatoon passengers already rely on Transit to plan their next trip and track their ride in real time. By integrating TGo mobile ticketing into Transit, Saskatoon Transit is giving riders everything they need in one place.”  

The TGo and Transit apps are both available to download from Google Play and the App Store. Visit Saskatoon Transit’s website for more details.   

About Saskatoon Transit 

Saskatoon Transit is a division within the City’s Transportation & Construction Department and pre-pandemic served nearly a million rides each month. With 40 routes and over 1600 bus stops, Saskatoon Transit serves all corners of Saskatoon providing an eco-friendly and safe alternative transportation for residents. www.saskatoontransit.ca. 

About Masabi 

Masabi is bringing Fare Payments-as-a-Service — a better way of delivering fare payments — to public transit agencies and authorities of all sizes around the globe. This enables the delivery of the latest fare payment innovations quickly, using a platform which is constantly updating and adding new features. Not only does this improve the journey experience for passengers, but it helps agencies keep up with the pace of technology change, while reducing the total cost of fare collection. Justride, named Ticketing Technology of the Year 2019 and 2020, is used by more than 100 public transit agencies and operators of all sizes across 10 countries. Masabi has offices in New York, Denver, London, and Cluj, and investors include Mastercard, Shell, and Keolis. For more information, visit www.masabi.com. 

About Transit 

Transit solves the urban commute in more than 300 cities worldwide. Users can easily navigate public transit with accurate real-time predictions, simple trip planning, step-by-step navigation, and quick, easy payments. The app also integrates additional transport modes — bikesharing, scooters, carsharing and ridehail — so users can mix-and-match their options with public transit to determine the best way to get from A to B. The company is based in Montréal, QC. Learn more by visiting www.transitapp.com. 

Saskatoon Transit will expand the service area of the On-Demand Transit pilot effective May 31, 2021. This flexible transportation option will support ongoing efforts to help residents access convenient and reliable transit service. 

The expanded service will be available from any bus stop to any bus stop throughout Saskatoon. This is one of several service adjustments on the horizon for Transit riders. Saskatoon Transit will ensure customers have the information and trip planning tools they need to confidently prepare for the new service and adjustments.  

“On-Demand Transit adds another layer to our city’s public transit service,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “We’re following the roadmap of other successful transit agencies to deliver an integrated transit system to help people get to where they need to go.” 

Residents will be able to request on-demand service using a smartphone app (On-Demand Transit), landline (306.975.3100) or through the web (saskatoontransit.ca/ondemand). They will be picked up/dropped off at any bus stop within the city, from Monday to Friday, from 6:30a.m. to 6:00p.m. Customers will be transported in a Saskatoon Transit bus with a professionally trained operator. There is no additional charge to use the on-demand service beyond regular transit fare.  

As a result of the expanded service area for On-Demand Transit, riders can expect a range of benefits, including more and better connections to high frequency transit corridors, more direct routes, and more flexible options for when, where and how people travel. This along with the launch of mobile ticketing next month and the electric vehicle pilot, are some of the ways Saskatoon Transit is modernizing the transit system in preparation for Bus Rapid transit (BRT) in 2025.  

For more information about Saskatoon Transit, visit saskatoontransit.ca or follow @StoonTransit on Twitter. Plan your route in advance using the real-time mobile app Transit or using Google Maps Transit on your desktop computer. 

The City of Saskatoon will have a number of adjusted civic services and altered holiday hours over the holiday season. Wondering what’s open or closed. See full details on the City’s website.

Please visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19 for timely updates from the City of Saskatoon on everything you need to know to stay safe.

Our annual spring Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 21, which is now the final day of BYXE Week 2021! This year, the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Cycles are encouraging everyone to ride their bike anywhere and everywhere all week rather than just one day. 

Following public health orders in effect, we won’t be gathering at commuter stations as in past years, but we have fun ways for people any age, any ability and any skill level to participate. The goal is for people to try taking their bike to a regular activity or consider biking for new reasons, so they can experience the benefits. 

BYXE Week Prizes  
Bike to work, bike to enjoy nature, bike for exercise, bike for family time – and bike to win! Just snap a picture of your biking adventure and share it with the us on social media using the hashtag #BYXEWeek to enter to win a prize!!   

In addition to the personal benefits of riding a bike, cycling education and encouraging people to consider more active forms of transportation help build a city with a balanced transportation system that is accessible, cost-effective and efficient in terms of infrastructure investments. 

Take a tour of the decorated bikes parked at eight businesses around Saskatoon promoting BYXE Week: 

• Darkside Donuts (31 Ave H S) 
• Federated Co-operatives Limited (22nd St E & 4th Ave N) 
• D'Lish by Tish Cafe (702 14th St E)  
• 9 Mile Legacy Brewing’s Bike Patio (229 20th St W) 
• Saskatoon Community Clinic (455 2nd Ave N) 
• Affinity Credit Union Corporate Office (902 7th Ave N) 
• College of Kinesiology Physical Activity Complex (87 Campus Dr) 
• St. Thomas More College (1437 College Dr) 

Join our Facebook Event and visit saskatoon.ca/BYXEWeek to learn about the week-long activities planned. 

The City is busy with its unofficial “waste diversion season” underway, and residents are reminded of the following diversion opportunities and service changes happening in the coming days.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day

The City and GFL Environmental Inc. will host the second event of the season this Sunday, May 2 (9:00 am–3:30 pm) at the Civic Operations Centre (57 Valley Road).

Saskatoon residents are invited to drop off their HHW materials for recycling and safe disposal, including aerosols, automotive fluids, batteries, cleaners, cylinders, light bulbs, medications, yard chemicals, vaping products, and more. 
Event details, COVID-19 guidelines, and complete lists of accepted and unaccepted materials are available at saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste.

Green Cart Program

Yard & Food Waste (Green Cart) collection will begin Monday, May 3 for residents who have subscribed to the program. Collection schedules are available at saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar.

This is an optional subscription program that offers bi-weekly front-street collection from May 3 to November 5, available to single-family curbside households with blue and black carts.

Residents can still take advantage of the $65 Early Bird rate if they register by Friday, April 30. The City is currently processing a high volume of orders, so online registration at saskatoon.ca/greencart is encouraged. Residents should note that the timeframe for cart delivery is approximately 4 to 6 weeks from registration date.

Excess and oversized yard waste (no elm) can also be dropped off at a City Compost Depot.

Weekly Garbage Collection

The City will make its seasonal switch to weekly Garbage (Black Cart) collection on Monday, May 3 and will continue until Friday, September 30.

All garbage must be bagged before going in the cart to avoid potentially contaminated items from being wind-blown. Residents are also reminded to follow all cart placement guidelines to ensure a safe and efficient collection process.

Saskatoon Waste Wizard app

By downloading the Saskatoon Waste Wizard app, residents will have access to collections and event reminders, important service alerts, and the ability to search nearly any waste item for recycling and disposal information. The app is available on the App Store, Google Play, or at saskatoon.ca/wastewizard.

The City of Saskatoon has restored access to most of its online services and phone lines. The remaining services will be brought back online in the coming days. These services as well as in-person transactions, such as electronic payments and account balance inquiries, may see intermittent disruptions over the coming days. 

The civic facilities experiencing disruptions to booking services, electronic payments, and/or billing include – but are not limited to – City Hall, Transit Customer Service, Wildwood and Silverwood Golf Courses, and Gordon Howe Campground.   

Yesterday, an error associated with network communications between the City of Saskatoon’s data centres impacted electronic payment options as well as some phone lines and online functions.  

The City thanks residents for their patience while we work to bring affected services back as soon as possible.

An error associated with network communications between the City of Saskatoon’s data centres has temporarily impacted several services including electronic payment options and online booking systems.  

This is not a result of a cyber-attack. 

We are working to restore these services as quickly as possible but anticipate this issue will persist until tomorrow, potentially being resolved by the end of the day. Until full service is restored, residents are encouraged to follow @YXEServiceAlert on Twitter for service disruptions (Saskatoon Light & Power, Water, Transit, Roads). 

Please visit Saskatoon.ca for a full up-to-date listing of City services currently disrupted.