Saskatoon Minute: Urgent Care, Downtown Shelter, and the Prairie Lily Riverboat

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• The License Appeal Board will meet on Tuesday at 9:00 am to discuss a taxi license. A Municipal Planning Commission meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, is cancelled due to a lack of agenda items. The next meeting of the Commission will be on November 26th.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Regular Business Meeting of City Council. On the agenda is an update regarding the partnership with OVG for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District - the update notes that while this extended time frame was not anticipated for solidifying the agreement, OVG has expressed their commitment to continue. Once again, however, OVG will not be attending the Council meeting. Council will also discuss the emergency shelter - Administration is recommending that Council grant a development permit for 210 Pacific Avenue to establish a temporary Emergency Residential Shelter for up to 18 months and enter into a lease agreement with the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation for this purpose, with the Mustard Seed Operating the shelter. (See below for more on this!).
  
  
• Also on Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing Meeting of Council. The agenda includes a Discretionary Use Application for a day care at 300 109th Street West, and several zoning amendments.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• Ground has officially been broken for a new urgent care center in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, located at the former site of Pleasant Hill School. The facility, developed by Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments in partnership with the provincial government, aims to alleviate emergency room pressures at nearby St. Paul’s Hospital. Scheduled to open 24/7, the center will offer mental health support and care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Construction is set to start this fall, with substantial completion targeted for spring 2026.
  
  
• The owners of Saskatoon's iconic Prairie Lily riverboat have announced that the 2025 season will be their last, after 13 years of providing unique river cruises. Captain Mike and Joan Steckhan expressed their deep gratitude for the community's support over the years and hope to find a new owner to continue operating the beloved vessel. They highlighted the joy of offering both locals and tourists a distinct perspective of Saskatoon from the water. They expressed a desire for the riverboat to remain a part of the community.
  
  
• Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand has expressed concerns regarding the proposed downtown shelter to be operated by The Mustard Seed. During a recent media conference, he criticized the lack of transparency about funding and the organization's experience working with First Nations communities. Arcand highlighted the insufficient staffing ratio, advocating for a better staff-to-client ratio to ensure effective support. He also raised alarms about the shelter's proximity to a clinic for children with serious psychological issues. Community residents said that local input has been largely ignored in the planning process. The City maintains that it is working on securing facilities amid rising homelessness but acknowledges the challenges ahead.