The City of Saskatoon and GFL Environmental will host the next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off Day this Sunday, October 4 (9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) 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. Complete lists of acceptable and unacceptable items are available at saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste.

Reminders:

• Avoid the line-up! As the demand for these events grows, unfortunately so do wait times. Residents should consider the following options:
  • Visit saskatoon.ca/wastewizard to find other means of recycling and safe disposal. Common items including batteries, light bulbs, paint, and used engine oil can be recycled by other means in the community
  • Bundle loads with family, friends, and neighbours to shorten the line-up.
• COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions will be in place to help reduce the spread of the virus. More info at saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste.
• Please ensure all containers are safely sealed and contents are clearly marked.
• Help reduce emissions from idling and protect the health of other residents by turning off vehicles during long wait times.
• Approximate wait times will be posted periodically on the day of the event on the Facebook event page.
• The program is open to SASKATOON RESIDENTS ONLY for hazardous materials from RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ONLY. Materials from agricultural, institutional, commercial, small business or industrial loads will NOT be accepted. For disposal/recycling of hazardous wastes from non-residential sources, please contact GFL Environmental at 306-244-9500.

Thank you for your patience and for helping us put waste in the right place!

The City is urging Saskatoon residents to wear an orange shirt on Wednesday, September 30^th to acknowledge the harm that was done to children in Indian Residential Schools and to honour the survivors, their families, and those in unmarked graves who did not make it home. Wearing orange is a way to acknowledge the legacy of residential schools and a commitment to the process of reconciliation.

“Wearing orange is a message to the world that you believe Every Child Matters,” says Melissa Cote, the City’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “Your orange shirt might spark interest from colleagues, family and friends – this presents the perfect opportunity to share your reasons for wearing orange. Everyone can help to raise public awareness in this way.”

“Thank you to all who use this day to educate themselves on how residential schools as a social engineering project changed the relationships with Indigenous Peoples in this country,” says Eugene Arcand, Chair of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle. “In this time of purification, we can all do better.”

The City has joined together with other organizations to offer the Orange Shirt Day ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge. The Reconciliation Challenge is a commitment to start or continue a journey of reconciliation by using the BeAConnectR.com website to learn more about Indigenous peoples' past and present experiences. You can choose to join the ConnectR Challenge Facebook Group if you want to share the experience and access guidance and support.

The City of Saskatoon co-chairs Reconciliation Saskatoon. Reconciliation Saskatoon is a community of over 115 organizations, non-profits, businesses and partners who have come together towards one mission: to initiate a citywide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

The Orange Shirt Day ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge was made possible through the support of Nutrien and the Saskatoon Community Foundation and a partnership between Reconciliation Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Survivors Circle—a group of Elders that are residential school survivors who ensure that residential schools and their legacy are never forgotten.

The City is aware of a positive COVID-19 case impacting the City of Regina’s transit service. At this time, Saskatoon Transit is not impacted by this recent news.

The situation in Regina is an important reminder about the required steps in place protect the health and safety of bus riders, residents and employees.

Non-medical face masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit as an added safety measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community. As students return to class and other activities resume this Fall, the mask requirement allows Saskatoon Transit to safely operate full-seated loads and meet demand on all fixed route and Access Transit buses.

Even if you have no symptoms, wearing a cloth or disposable mask is an extra measure we can all take to protect others around us, particularly in situations where two metres physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Visit Saskatoon.ca/covid-19 for information on mask requirements and other precautions.

The City of Saskatoon and GFL Environmental will host the next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off Day this Sunday, September 13.

• Location: Civic Operations Centre (57 Valley Road) 
• Date & Time: Sunday, September 13 (9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

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. Complete lists of acceptable and unacceptable items are available at saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste.

Reminders:

• In response to COVID-19, updated guidelines and restrictions will be in place to help reduce the spread of the virus. More info at saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste.
• Please ensure all containers are safely sealed and contents are clearly marked.
• To avoid potentially long line-ups and wait times, ask the Waste Wizard at  saskatoon.ca/wastewizard to find other means of recycling and safe disposal.
• Help reduce emissions from idling and protect the health of other residents by turning off vehicles during long wait times.
• Approximate wait times will be posted periodically on the day of the event on the Facebook event page.
• The program is open to SASKATOON RESIDENTS ONLY for hazardous materials from RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ONLY. Materials from agricultural, institutional, commercial, small business, or industrial loads will NOT be accepted. For disposal/recycling of hazardous wastes from non-residential sources, please contact GFL Environmental at 306-244-9500.

Thank you for helping us put waste in the right place!

To protect the health and safety of bus riders, residents and employees, non-medical face masks are required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit beginning September 1; as an added safety measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community, masks are recommended, but not required, when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services.

“Our community spirit is strong when we work as one community to keep our guard up,” says Anthony Tataryn, Assistant Fire Chief. “Even if you have no symptoms, wearing a cloth or disposable mask is an extra measure we can all take to protect others around us, particularly in situations where two metres physical distancing cannot be maintained.”

City Council approved the measure at its meeting Monday, August 31. The change will allow Saskatoon Transit to safely operate full-seated loads and meet demand on all fixed route and Access Transit buses.

“Fall means back to school and the resumption of some activities, so we’ve looked at how we can meet the increased demand for our services,” says James McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “With more people riding the bus, physical distancing is not always possible, so requiring the use of masks is the next step to protect the health and safety of our riders and our bus operators.”

“The City is in the process of reopening of the remaining indoor leisure centres and revising the programs that are delivered in those facilities,” says Andrew Roberts, Director of Recreation and Community Development. “We have safety measures in place throughout our leisure centres to ensure the safety of both our employees and our customers and the use of masks is seen as an added precaution indoors where physical distancing may be difficult to keep at all times.”

If at any point in the future the Province provides direction related to mask use by the public the City would follow the Provincial lead. 

The City will focus on educating and informing the public of COVID-19 safety precautions and the use of non-medical face coverings as an additional safety precaution, rather than enforcement. 

For the latest updates on City services including a list of convenient online services, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

On Monday, August 24, the Governance & Priorities Committee will consider a report that addresses the use of non-medical face coverings by the public.

“COVID-19 is still a public emergency and according to public health experts, it will continue to impact City services and the community for months to come,” says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Management Organization. “At a local level, we continue to follow recommendations from the Government of Canada and the Provincial Government to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission using the hierarchy of controls. The hierarchy suggests that non-medical face coverings should be used when other controls such as staying at home, physical distancing, installing barriers, and altering services cannot be achieved.”

City Administration is recommending to Council that non-medical face masks be required when traveling on Saskatoon Transit beginning September 1 to allow Saskatoon Transit to safely operate full-seated loads and meet demand on all fixed route and Access Transit buses. The Administration is also recommending to Council that non-medical face masks are recommended, but not required, when accessing indoor City-operated facilities and services to protect the health and safety of residents and employees. Additionally, the report outlines implications and considerations in respect to a community-wide non-medical face masks bylaw.

“The health and well-being of our employees and residents continues to be our priority in putting these recommendations forward,” adds Goulden-McLeod. “By following the recommended safety precautions, and wearing a non-medical face mask indoors, we can continue to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community and protect the health of our family, friends and neighbours.”

If at any point in the future the Province provides direction related to mask use by the public the City would follow the Provincial lead. 

If approved, the City will focus on educating and informing the public of COVID-19 safety precautions and the use of non-medical face coverings as an additional safety precaution, rather than enforcement. 

Residents can expect additional City facilities to open in the days and weeks ahead. For the latest updates on City services including a list of convenient online services, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

Starting Sunday, August 30, 2020, a number of significant adjustments will be made to Saskatoon Transit routes. As the University of Saskatchewan will not be having in-person classes this fall, Saskatoon Transit will have limited bus routes returning to Place Riel.

Transit customers are encouraged to learn about the route changes by going to the website or calling the Transit Customer Service Centre at 306-975-3100. An overview of the affected routes will also be available on postcards at the Customer Service Centre in the downtown terminal.

These changes are being made to better meet the needs of citizens by providing service that meets demand, and decreasing passenger travel times. By offering high-frequency service along main corridors, Saskatoon Transit can provide more convenient travel and a quicker commute, reducing wait times and improving reliability, while reducing total travel time. 

Customers can plan their trip for September with the updated schedules as of August 23 using the app Transit. Riders are encouraged to plan their trip in advance and review the updated schedules before travelling as well as mark routes they use the most as a favourite in the app to get push notifications of service alerts.

Overview of the changes effective August 30:

• All high-frequency corridors will have 10-minute service to Downtown/22nd Street, Broadway Avenue /8th Street and Preston Avenue/Attridge Drive/College Drive.
• Route 4 City Centre will stop at bus stop #5935 (north side of College Drive, west of Bottomley Road).
• Route 5 Confederation Terminal/City Centre will only travel between Confederation Terminal, the Downtown Terminal and 24th Street.
• Route 6 City Centre will not go to the University Terminal but will stop at bus stop #5935 (north side of College Drive, west of Bottomley Road),
• Route 13 Lawson Heights/Broadway, 17 Stonebridge/University & 26 Forest Grove/University will have 30-minute service. Additional trips may be added if necessary.
• Route 43 Evergreen, 44 Willowgrove & 45 Arbor Creek will not go to the University Terminal but will stop at bus stop #5932 (south side of College Drive, east of Cumberland Avenue).
• Route 60 Confederation/City Centre and 65 Kensington/City Centre will see some schedule changes to accommodate 10-minute service on 22nd Street.
• Route 64 McCormack/City Centre will travel between Confederation Terminal and the Downtown Terminal to accommodate 10-minute service on 22nd Street and provide service to the current McCormack loop from Route 5

Saskatoon and New York — Saskatoon Transit announced today that, following a competitive bidding process, it has chosen Masabi, the global leader in mobile ticketing to deliver its next generation fare payment system. Masabi provides Fare Payments-as-a-Service (FPaaS) to public transit. Saskatoon Transit plans to launch the new system in 2021 following a comprehensive fare review.  

“In today’s world, riders are keen to ensure that unnecessary interactions with cash, machines and infrastructure is kept to a minimum, and this is just one of the huge advantages of Masabi’s Justride platform,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “As we bring our city’s transit network into the 21st century, we are excited to be deploying a world-leading mobile and account-based ticketing system that will best serve our customers and allow us to grow and improve for years to come.”  

The ground-breaking new mobile ticketing and account-based ticketing solution will transform the passenger experience. Riders will control a single mobility account and ride across the city safely and seamlessly by tapping their mobile phones or smartcard to travel. Riders will be able to pre-purchase tickets and passes from their phones or add money to a new stored value account system, while the Justride platform automatically calculates and deducts the correct fare from riders’ accounts, applying best-fare policies where appropriate. 

“Now more than ever, the focus of transit agencies is on providing their customers with a simple, contactless and above all, safe system by which to travel, and by deploying Masabi’s fare payments as a service platform Justride, Saskatoon is doing just that,” says Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “In years gone by, this level of functionality and convenience 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 do this using a platform which is constantly updating with new features and functionality, helping agencies keep up with the pace of technology change. We are delighted to have been selected to provide this system and look forward to working with Saskatoon Transit in the years to come.”  

Using Masabi’s Justride Software Development Kit (SDK), mobile ticketing will also be integrated into the Transit app, enabling a Mobility-as-a-Service experience. This will allow riders to plan their journeys, get real-time updates, pay their fares, and connect Saskatoon Transit with complementary transportation options, all in a single app. Masabi will also be working with partner Trapeze who provide Intelligent Transportation Systems (CAD/AVL), Mobility Planning and Scheduling, Workforce Management, Business Intelligence, and Traveler Experience solutions for Saskatoon Transit.   

“Integrating Saskatoon Transit’s new fare payments solution into the Transit app is a key step in giving riders a top-notch experience when they ride public transit,” said David Block-Schachter, Transit’s Chief Business Officer. “With this new, flexible fare payment system seamlessly connected to real-time information and trip planning in the Transit app, Saskatoon Transit is pulling to the head of the pack among transit operators in North America.” 

Saskatoon Transit has been selected as a finalist for Canada’s Safest Public Transportation Employer in the 10th annual Canada’s Safest Employers Awards, presented by Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) magazine. 

Canada’s Safest Employers Awards celebrate companies across the nation for their exceptional safety culture and wellness practices. 

Finalists were selected following an open call for nominations to COS magazine’s nationwide readership of 14,000 safety professionals. 

Winners will be selected by an esteemed independent judging panel and revealed during a virtual awards gala on October 22. 

This has been an incredibly challenging year for safety professionals and for businesses everywhere. It’s an honour to be acknowledged among the other finalists.  

For the full list of finalists, visit: www.safestemployers.com.