Saskatoon Minute: Zoning Amendments, Library Construction, and Canada Day Festivities

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• It’s Canada Day! There are a variety of events taking place around the city - click here for full details. Celebrations will culminate with fireworks starting at 10:30 pm, launched from the Broadway Bridge. Prime viewing locations include the Traffic Bridge, River Landing, Rotary Park, and various hotels, parks, and sidewalks nearby. To facilitate the festivities, various road closures and no-parking zones will be implemented. You can read more about those closures online.
  
  
• It’s a quiet week at City Hall, on account of the Canada Day long weekend. There are no Council or Committee meetings scheduled.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan and federal governments are jointly funding $327 million for infrastructure projects across the province, part of which will go toward supporting the expansion of Saskatoon's Bus Rapid Transit system. The funding, allocated for the Red and Blue BRT lines, combined with last year's commitment to the Green BRT line, enables Saskatoon to proceed with the project, fully funded.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• After two days of deliberations, Council approved zoning amendments to qualify for $41 million from Ottawa's Housing Accelerator Fund. These changes allow fourplexes in residential areas and four-storey developments along transit corridors. Mayor Charlie Clark highlighted the urgency, noting the challenges of housing supply, affordability, and homelessness. The federal funds will support incentive programs for diverse housing types, especially in downtown and corridor growth areas. Some Councillors opposed the timing, citing the need for more public consultation, while others criticized the federal government's stringent funding criteria.
  
  
• After years of planning and delays, construction for Saskatoon's new central library has officially begun at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 25th Street. Mayor Charlie Clark expressed his excitement, emphasizing the library's importance to the community and noting that 52% of residents are library members. The project faced numerous challenges, including budget issues and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The redesigned library will be smaller than initially planned but will retain key features such as the tipi-inspired exterior. The new library is expected to open in 2027.
  
  
• Council approved a budget increase of approximately $6 million for the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre in Saskatoon's core, bringing the total project budget to around $30 million. The nearly 50-year-old facility, closed since April 2023, will undergo essential repairs instead of a complete overhaul. These include energy efficiency upgrades, pool basin repairs, mechanical updates, and safety enhancements, with renovations set to begin next week. Despite scaling back initial plans for a new 50-metre pool and expanded fitness facilities, the Centre is expected to reopen by late spring 2026.