Following the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) on September 30, 2021, the Saskatoon Tribal Council has initiated a campaign called #ActOnReconciliation. It’s intended to harness the momentum of NDTR and Orange Shirt Day (also September 30) and keep Reconciliation top of mind all year long. The campaign calls for action and awareness on the last Friday of each month in 2022.

The campaign coincides with a time when the devastating discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential schools keep coming. Last week, another 54 potential unmarked residential school gravesites were located 350 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon on Keeseekoose First Nation outside Kamsack, Saskatchewan. The gravesites were at the former location of the Fort Pelly and St. Philip’s residential schools.

The City is supporting the #ActOnReconciliation campaign by suggesting a specific Reconciliation action for each month. As well, to further heighten awareness, the City will apply an orange filter to their social media accounts and light the following civic facilities in orange: City Hall, SaskTel Centre, and the Prairie Wind art installation outside the Remai Modern.

#ActOnReconciliation – February Action

On Friday, February 25th, demonstrate your commitment to Reconciliation by:

1. Wearing your EveryChildMatters shirt or any other orange shirt.
2. Taking a step towards becoming an Indigenous A-L-L-Y by posting this Indigenous Ally Poster in spaces where discussions take place about work and community. Alternately, choose another Reconciliation action.
3. Using the hashtag #ActOnReconciliation, share the action you’re taking on social media.

In order to establish and maintain a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) found that “there has to be awareness of the past, an acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.”

The City has been actively engaged – as a municipality, co-chair of Reconciliation Saskatoon, and through other community partnerships – in efforts to help raise awareness about Reconciliation and in providing opportunities to participate. Learn more at saskatoon.ca/Indigenous.

This Pink Shirt Day, the City of Saskatoon renews its commitment to working together and creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all and highlighted the importance of being kind and respectful of one another. By wearing a pink shirt on this day, we stand together against bullying and advocate for kindness, respect, and inclusivity,” says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation & Construction.

The City of Saskatoon will be showing their support on the day by encouraging staff to wear pink to raise awareness and providing staff with education and tools on workplace bullying and how to report it.

Watch for Saskatoon Transit vehicles who can be spotted around the city sporting pink t-shirt decals. Roadways, Fleet & Support have also added pink shirt decals to their trucks and graders to raise awareness of the day.

About Pink Shirt Day
Inspired by an act of kindness in small-town Nova Scotia, Pink Shirt Day acts to raise awareness of bullying in schools, workplaces, homes and online, as well as raise funds to support programs that foster children’s healthy self-esteem. To learn more, visit www.pinkshirtday.ca.

Get Social
If you see our fleet vehicles out with pink shirts, snap a picture and tag @cityofsaskatoon @stoontransit with #PinkShirtDay on Twitter.

On February 23, 2022, we encourage everyone to be kind and wear pink to take a stand against bullying.

City Council continues to guide the City of Saskatoon’s response to COVID-19 in the community to protect the health and safety of residents, customers and employees following the lifting of the Provincial Public Health Orders.

At the Governance and Priorities Committee this morning, Council directed that a report be submitted to City Council recommending continuing the current approach on mask enforcement on Saskatoon Transit. In addition, a request was made to City Administration to provide weekly reporting on mask-related compliance and any negative interactions. City Council previously decided masks will still be required to ride on Saskatoon Transit once the Provincial Public Health Order is lifted at the end of February.

Currently, Saskatoon Transit focuses on mask education with riders through signage and with interior and exterior audible announcements on each bus. Free masks will continue to be made available to Transit customers. 

Important Reminders – Previous Council Decisions

• When the Provincial Public Health Order on masks is lifted as of February 28 at 12:01 a.m., masks will continue to be required to access indoor City-operated facilities and services and when travelling on Saskatoon Transit. Facilities include City Hall, Leisure Centres, indoor arenas, golf course buildings, indoor spaces at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo and the downtown Saskatoon Transit Customer Service Centre. City Council approved the action at its special meeting on February 8, 2022 to ensure the safety of staff and the public who are accessing City services. This will be continually reassessed.
• Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or Negative Test is no longer required when attending City-operated facilities.

For the latest updates, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19.

The City of Saskatoon will have a number of adjusted civic services and hours of operation on Family Day. Wondering what’s open or closed? See full details on the City’s website.

City Council is seeking five public members for appointment to the Downtown Event and Entertainment District Advisory Group.

This new Advisory Group’s role is to foster connections between business and community partners, and the City Administration and City Council to support the successful implementation of a new event and entertainment district in Downtown Saskatoon.

The development of an animated Downtown event and entertainment district, anchored by a new Downtown arena and convention centre, will stimulate the economy and bring renewed energy and life to Saskatoon’s Downtown. Together, these two projects will provide public benefit to all residents of Saskatoon by creating a vibrant Downtown that is open, inviting, safe and accessible for all. Advancing Downtown development is one of City Council's priorities over the next four years as detailed in the City's newly adopted 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.

While the City of Saskatoon (City) will retain overall ownership of these new facilities and infrastructure once constructed, numerous key stakeholders, project partners, and sponsors will be integral in driving the successful development and delivery of the project.

The formation of the Advisory Group will reflect the diversity of the community and possess the preferred qualifications, attributes, and experience as a whole.

• Advisory Group meetings will be held quarterly, or at the call of the Chair.
• The duration of each meeting is subject to the contents of the agenda and ensuing discussion.
• Advisory Group members shall serve without receiving remuneration.
   

Interested applicants are asked to submit an application and résumé with two letters of reference by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2022, using the Committee Application Form found online at saskatoon.ca/boards. All applications will be kept on file and reviewed throughout the year should further vacancies occur.

Note: Upon applying to this Board, your application/résumé/reference letters may be shared with current Board members as part of the review process.

Additional information on the Advisory Group is available on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/boards. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 306-975-3240 or city.clerks@saskatoon.ca if you have any questions regarding the application process.

Bike riding is cost-effective, fun, healthy, and great for the environment no matter what time of year, even winter! Winter BYXE Week 2022 is underway (February 14-21), and the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Cycles are challenging residents to experience the city in a new way while capturing their sense of adventure for a chance to win prizes.

There’s a full slate of week-long activities planned, including great winter riding, a #BYXE scavenger hunt, and an online winter cycling workshop.  

Visit Saskatoon.ca/BYXEWeek to register and join our Facebook Event to learn about these activities. 

Winter BYXE Week 2022 Prizes  

Prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded through a draw at the end of the week. 

1. Earn an entry just for registering  
2. Earn extra entries by posting a photo of your ride on social media with #BYXE and bonus entries if you include one of the decorated bikes in the shot or a scavenger hunt find! 

The City and Saskatoon Cycles hope Winter BYXE Week 2022 inspires more people to think of cycling as a regular means of transportation at any time of year, while experiencing the benefits of arriving at a destination feeling refreshed, energized and alert.  

Register and learn more at Saskatoon.ca/BYXEWeek. 

At a Special Meeting of City Council this morning, Council approved a number of resolutions to guide the City’s response to COVID-19 in the community and continue to protect the health and safety of residents, customers and employees once provincial Public Health Orders are lifted later this month.  

Council approved the removal of Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or Negative Test Requirements for City of Saskatoon facilities when the Government of Saskatchewan rescinds the “Public Health Order Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or Negative Test”, effective Monday, February 14.

Council unanimously recommitted to keeping in place the requirement that all residents and visitors accessing all City facilities, including when travelling on Saskatoon Transit, wear a mask upon the rescission of the existing “Public Health Order Mandatory Isolation and Face Covering” by the provincial government, which is anticipated to occur at the end of February.

Council also directed that Administration continue to provide masks for patrons of Saskatoon Transit, and report back on ways to increase enforcement or conflict resolution support on Transit in regards to the use of masks before the end of the month.  

Further, Council has requested that the Administration provide a report to Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) on a monthly basis, starting in March 2022, providing a written COVID update that includes a recommendation on whether to continue the requirement of masking for all persons accessing all City facilities.

For the latest updates, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

Many people in our community do not have the same opportunities to access online services. To address growing barriers and risks for those residents, the City of Saskatoon is launching a pilot project to provide free public Wi-Fi internet service to residents in a segment of Saskatoon’s core neighborhood area. The project status is outlined in a report for the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services on Monday, February 7.

“This is an exciting project that can have immediate quality of life impacts for residents in the area,” says Celene Anger, Chief Officer of Strategy and Transformation. “Through the COVID pandemic, the City, other orders of government and community organizations, have moved services online. While this has improved service offerings for many, it has created a service gap for many people in Saskatoon.”

Commonly referred to as the ‘digital divide,’ the pilot project aims to help people currently without or with limited Internet access gain better access to online services and participate in today’s growing digital society. In December 2016, the federal government declared Internet access a basic right of all Canadian citizens. Cities across Canada are moving forward with initiatives to address this situation.

The pilot project explores a cost-effective City-delivered solution for approximately 1500 residents to access the Internet from or near their homes and in public areas at no cost. This project will be launched in an area of Saskatoon with a high percentage of residents as measured across five population groups:

• youth
• seniors
• immigrants
• Indigenous peoples
• low-income

With access to the Internet, residents will be able to access key tools like telehealth and learning applications as well as important information about housing, food, pandemic restrictions, and government services.

Moving ahead with project implementation, the City will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) next week for a vendor to supply products to deliver wireless internet access points throughout the proposed area. The City will deliver high speed internet via fibre to the Saskatoon Fire Development Centre, a City-owned building located at 116 Avenue W South to serve as the connection point (hub) for these Wi-Fi devices. As the primary hub, a wireless signal will then be broadcast to the pilot area through the solution identified through the vendor’s RFP submission. The City is intending to install the wireless internet access points on City-owned streetlamps and power poles in the designated area.

“Through the RFP, we’re looking for a vendor to partner with us to determine the best tools to reach our goals of a strong Wi-Fi signal to the door of, and hopefully inside, the homes of residents in the pilot area,” says Anger. “We’re hoping to identify opportunities, problem-solve the challenges and evaluate the success of providing public Wi-Fi through this project.”

The pilot project valued at $250,000 is expected to become operational late summer/fall 2022 and run for one year. Financial support was made possible through City Council’s approval of a reallocation of funds as a result of Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) 2020 funding. The project will be evaluated throughout the pilot phase, and the results of the evaluation will be used to guide City Wi-Fi strategies and any plans for future continuation or expansion of the program.

Direct service from the Special Events Stop (outside the 2nd Avenue Lofts at 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue) to see the Saskatchewan Rush take on the Panther City Lacrosse Club at SaskTel Centre on Saturday, January 29, is available at the following times: 

• 5:45 p.m. 
• 6:05 p.m.  
• 6:25 p.m.  
• 6:45 p.m. 
• 7:05 p.m. 

Post event drop-off is the downtown terminal and regular fares apply ($3.00 per trip). Fare can be purchased on your mobile phone using either the TGo or transit app, transfers and passes are also accepted.  
 
Plan your trip to events at SaskTel Centre on Route 333 using the Transit  app up to two weeks in advance! Check out the Transit+ feature that helps make connections that combine Transit with ridehail providers like riide and Uber. Transit does the work so you can travel with ease! Download the Transit app from the Apple Store or Google Play.  
 
To protect the health and safety of residents, customers and employees, masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit and when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services as an added safety measure to address the increasing spread of COVID-19 in our community. 
 
Transit service times for special events at SaskTel Centre and other popular destinations can always be found at SaskatoonTransit.ca/plan-my-trip/popular-destinations. Experience the convenience of using Saskatoon Transit to attend all your favourite events.  

Saskatoon Transit continues to experience delays or cancellations because of cold temperatures affecting buses and lack of spare parts or delays in the shipment of parts due to the Omicron variant, which in turn causes bus shortages.  

Saskatoon Transit does all they can to make service and it’s difficult to know in advance which routes will be affected or cancelled. As soon as decisions are made, service alerts are issued to ensure riders have the information they need. On-Demand customers may also experience longer wait times than normal. Please expect delays in your booked ride and continue to check your pick-up time on your app.  

Before leaving to catch the bus check for service alerts and real-time bus information on the Transit app or Google Maps Transit on desktop or mobile device. Receive push notifications of these alerts when your routes are marked as “favourite” in the app. Service alerts can also be found at SaskatoonTransit.ca/service-alerts or on Twitter @stoontransit or by calling our Customer Service Centre at 306-975-3100.  

Winter reminders:

• At temperatures of -20C and below, buses do not kneel, however the ramp at the front can still be deployed. Ask for it to be deployed should it be required.  
• Stay up to date on weather conditions, weather conditions change quickly, and you need to be prepared. 
• Dress for the weather, wear comfortable, loose-fitting layers to trap body heat and allow you to add and remove layers depending on the weather conditions. 

Saskatoon Transit thanks riders for their patience and understanding as we work through this challenging time.