Saskatoon Minute: Funding Distribution, Transformative Projects, and a Temporary Shelter Location

Saskatoon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatoon politics

This Week In Saskatoon:

• There will be a Special Meeting of the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners this morning at 8:00 am. This is a closed meeting, with no public access allowed.
  
  
• The Governance and Priorities Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss Saskatoon’s City Centre and District Plan. The Plan includes a number of “transformative projects” such as several parks, the event centre, and an outdoor permanent festival site. On Thursday, at 12:00 pm, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee will meet. Committee members will receive a verbal update from Reconciliation Saskatoon, and an update on World Refugee Day, among other items.
  
  
• The Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Committee will meet on Friday at 12:00 pm. The agenda includes an update on accessible pedestrian signal volume. Also on Friday, at 2:30 pm, the Public Art Advisory Committee will meet. 

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• The City said it is considering converting the former Saskatchewan Transportation Company parcel depot on Pacific Avenue into a temporary emergency shelter. With some renovations, the building could accommodate 30 to 40 people and provide essential services like meals, health support, and help with finding long-term housing. The provincial government is ready to fund up to $250,000 for renovations and ongoing shelter services. City Council will vote on the proposal on September 25th, and if approved, the shelter could be operational by the end of the year for up to 18 months. The City is also continuing to search for a permanent shelter solution.
  
  
• The Planning and Development Committee has approved distributing over $13 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to 18 projects, which will create 492 new affordable housing units. The approval also includes property tax abatements, benefiting the projects financially. The City plans to monitor the progress of these projects, with incentive payments tied to key milestones. Mayor Charlie Clark said the units being built represent a roughly 10% increase in the City’s affordable housing inventory.
  
  
• Plans for a new Saskatoon Cancer Patient Lodge are advancing as the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and provincial government have moved to the design phase of the project. The new facility will be built on the existing site at 1036 College Drive, close to the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. It will feature 33 private patient rooms, 14 companion rooms, and amenities like a kitchen, lounges, and an exercise room to support patient comfort and care. The Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan is aiming to raise $10 million for the project. The current lodge, built in 1924, is outdated and in need of replacement.