Saskatoon Minute: Municipal Election, Thanksgiving Hours, and Bear Spray Incidents

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• The Development Appeals Board meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, is cancelled due to there being no appeals. But, the Property Maintenance Appeal Board hearing, scheduled for Wednesday at 3:30 pm, will go ahead.
  
  
• Saskatoon’s municipal election is set for November 13th, with candidate nominations now finalized. Saskatoon will see its first open mayoral race since 1988, following Mayor Charlie Clark’s decision not to run. At least four City Council seats will also be filled by new faces due to several incumbents not seeking re-election. Five candidates are running for Mayor, and there are 40 ward candidates. Stay tuned for Common Sense Saskatoon’s comprehensive election coverage!
  
  
• It’s Thanksgiving Monday! Several civic services will have adjusted hours today on account of the holiday. City Hall and all public libraries will be closed, and Saskatoon Transit will operate on holiday hours from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, with Access Transit available until 11:00 pm. Select leisure centres will be closed, though some facilities like the Lawson Civic Centre and Shaw Centre will remain open. The Material Recovery Centre, Landfill, and Compost Depot will maintain regular holiday hours, and golf courses will be open as usual. The City’s website has a full list of operating hours.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• Saskatoon police have reported 18 bear spray incidents in the past month, many occurring in public spaces like Midtown Mall, schools, and buses. The attacks, concentrated downtown and in neighborhoods such as Pleasant Hill, are part of a growing trend that police say could result in 285 bear spray incidents by the end of 2024. Only two arrests have been made so far, and police are investigating whether any of these incidents are connected or involved self-defense. New provincial legislation allows officers to ticket individuals carrying bear spray in public areas without wildlife connections.
  
  
• Two new projects aimed at addressing homelessness in Saskatoon have received significant funding from the estate of Robert Steane, a former COO of Cameco. The Saskatoon Community Foundation announced that $195,000 will go to the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan to support housing for women and their children, while $400,000 will assist the Salvation Army Crossroads Residential Services with its supportive housing program. The Elizabeth Fry Society's program will start in November, and the Salvation Army is planning to enhance its outreach as winter approaches.
  
  
• The Saskatoon Ex announced a return to an eight-day schedule in 2025, running from July 31st to August 7th. This is the first time in over two decades that the fair will span eight days, thanks to changes in scheduling and the availability of midway rides. The shift will also allow more food vendors to participate in Saskatoon before heading to larger cities like Toronto and Calgary. Organizers have partnered with North American Midway Entertainment to try and expand capacity, reduce wait times, and bring bigger thrill rides.