| Coordinates | 41°43′56″N77°38′41″N |
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| Official name | Saskatoon |
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| Native name | |
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| Nickname | S'toon, The City of Bridges, The Hub City, Toontown, POW City, Paris of the Prairies |
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| Settlement type | City |
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| Motto | "Commerce Industry Education" |
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| Dot x | |dot_y = |
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| Pushpin map | Canada Saskatchewan |
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| Pushpin label position | |
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| Coordinates region | CA-SK |
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| Subdivision type | Country |
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| Subdivision name | |
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| Subdivision type1 | Province |
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| Subdivision name1 | |
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| Subdivision name4 | |government_footnotes = |
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| Leader title | Mayor |
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| Leader name | Don Atchison |
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| Leader title1 | Governing body |
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| Leader name1 | Saskatoon City Council |
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| Leader title2 | MP |
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| Leader name2 | |
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| Leader title3 | MLAs |
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| Leader name3 | |
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| Established title | Establishment |
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| Established date | 1883 |
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| Established title2 | Incorporation |
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| Established date2 | 1906 |
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| Established title3 | |
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| Unit pref | |
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| Area footnotes | |
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| Area total km2 | 144 |
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| Population as of | 2010 |
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| Population total | 223,200 (23rd)1 |
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| Population density km2 | 1550.0 |
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| Population metro | 257,300 (17th) |
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| Population demonym | Saskatonian |
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| Timezone | CST |
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| Utc offset | -6 |
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| Elevation footnotes | |
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Saskatoon is a city located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344.
Saskatoon is the most populous city in the province of Saskatchewan, and has been since the mid-1980s when it surpassed the provincial capital of Regina. The city had a population of 202,340 in the Canada 2006 Census, with a civic estimate of 223,200 in 2010. The city's census metropolitan area had a population of 233,923 in the 2006 Census. Statistics Canada estimated Saskatoon's CMA population as 257,300 in 2009.
The name Saskatoon [in Cree: sâskwatôn, "Saskatoon" or the locatives: misâskwatôminihk, lit: "at the saskatoon berry", misâskwatôminiskâhk, "at the place of many saskatoon berries", mînisihk "at the berry"] comes from the Cree inanimate noun misâskwatômina "saskatoon berries", which refers to the sweet, violet-coloured berry that grows in the area. It is also popularly described as the "Bridge City," for its seven river crossings.
History
In 1882, the
Toronto-based Temperance Colonization Society was granted 21
sections of land straddling the South Saskatchewan River, between what is now
Warman and
Dundurn. The aim of the group was to escape the liquor trade in that city and set up a "dry" community in the
Prairie region.
Demographics
{| cellpadding="1" style="float:right; margin:0 1em 1em 0; border:1px #bbb solid; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" style="text-align:center;"
!Census
!Population
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1901
|113
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1911
|12,004
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1921
|25,739
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1931
|43,291
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1941
|42,320
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1951
|53,268
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1961
|95,526
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1971
|126,449
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1981
|154,210
|- style="text-align:right;"
|1991
|186,058
|- style="text-align:right;"
|2001
|196,811
|- style="text-align:right;"
|2006
|202,340
|- style="text-align:right;"
|Est. 2008
|209,400
|- style="text-align:right;"
|Est. 2009
|218,900
|- style="text-align:right;"
|Est. 2010
|223,200
|- style="text-align:right;"
|}
The 2006 census listed Saskatoon as the largest city of Saskatchewan with a residential population of 202,340, which grew 2.8 per cent from 2001. A study released in July 2008 found that Saskatoon's population fell by approximately 2,000 people during the previous sixteen months, as more people move out of the city proper and into "bedroom communities" and adjacent Alberta. At the end of 2008, the City of Saskatoon claimed a population of 209,400. 190,120 or 85.39% of the city's population were white Canadians, 19,900 or 8.93% were Aboriginals, with less than five percent belonging to other visible minorities such as Han Chinese, South Asians, etc. combined.
Some 78.5% of Saskatoon's inhabitants profess to be Christian, mostly Protestant (40.1%) and Roman Catholic (32.5%). Another 19.6% of Saskatoon's inhabitants do not profess a religious faith at all. however, a portion of this increase, possibly as much as half, is believed to be due to more people identifying themselves as Aboriginal in the census rather than migration or birth rate. Saskatoon has a higher percentage of First Nations population than any other major Canadian city at nearly 9%, although Winnipeg and Regina both exceed 8%; in certain neighbourhoods such as Pleasant Hill, this percentage exceeds 40%. Most First Nations residents are of Cree or Dakota cultural background although to a lesser extent Saulteaux, Assiniboine, and Dene communities also exist.
Saskatoon also has a substantial Métis population and is close to the historically significant Southbranch Settlements to the north, as well as the Prairie Ronde settlement near Dundurn, Saskatchewan.
Health
The
Saskatoon Health Region is responsible for health care delivery in the region. The health region operates three hospitals within the city boundaries, these include
Royal University Hospital,
Saskatoon City Hospital, and
St. Paul's Hospital (Saskatoon). Royal University Hospital is a teaching and research hospital that operates in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan. The health region also operates hospitals in smaller neighboring communities. In addition to hospitals the health region operates long-term care facilities, clinics and other health care services.
Recent data suggests that Saskatchewan has the highest rate of new HIV cases in Canada and that 1/4 cases of HIV infected babies are from Saskatchewan. This increase in HIV cases has been in part attributed to growing IV drug use, a gang problem, poverty and prostitution in the city of Saskatoon, which has a higher rate of HIV than other areas.
Economy
The
economy of Saskatoon has been associated with
potash,
oil and
agriculture resulting in the moniker POW. The world's largest publicly traded
uranium company,
Cameco, and the world's largest
potash producer,
PotashCorp, have corporate headquarters in Saskatoon. Nearly two-thirds of the world's recoverable potash reserves are located in the Saskatoon region.
Saskatoon's other nickname, Hub city refers its ideal central location for distribution and logistics. Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport with 105,620 aircraft movements in 2008 was listed as the 19th busiest airport in Canada.
Saskatoon is developing the South Central Business District, or block 146, which is called the River Landing Project. Long range planning is underway for an expected population of 270,000 by 2025 (2000 estimate).
Saskatoon is expected to see a 1.7 percent growth in gross domestic product for the year 2009. The city saw a 3.4% growth in 2004, 5.1% increase in 2005 and a 2.8% increase in 2006. Saskatoon held Canada's No. 1 economic growth spot for Canada in 2005 according to the Conference Board of Canada. The Conference Board again predicted the city would rate first for economic increase in 2008, showing a growth rate of 5.2%. The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) has also been ranked amongst Canada's top ten economic growth groups by Site Selection magazine.
Recent provincial government forecasts are calling for a $1.05 Billion deficit for 2009, the second largest deficit of all time, and the Conference Board of Canada is predicting a "near term" employment drop for Saskatoon and area, while near by Regina is predicted to post the best employment growth in Western Canada.
Pike Lake and Blackstrap Provincial Parks are south of the city. Blackstrap Park is often used for school field trips. Batoche is located north of the city.
Geography
Saskatoon lies on a long belt of rich, potassic chernozem in middle-southern Saskatchewan and is found in the Aspen parkland biome. The lack of surrounding mountainous topography gives the city a relatively flat grid, though the city does sprawl over a few hills and into a few valleys. The lowest point in the city is the river, while the highest point is disputed between the suburb of Sutherland in the east side and the Silverwood-River Heights areas in the city's north end. Saskatoon, on a cross-section from west to east, has a general decline in elevation above sea level heading towards the river, and on the east bank of the river, the terrain is mostly level until outside the city, where it begins to decrease in elevation again.
Saskatoon is divided into east and west sides by the South Saskatchewan River. It is then divided into Suburban Development Areas (SDA) which are composed of neighbourhoods.
Climate
Saskatoon is in the
aspen parkland biome and experiences warm summers and very cold winters. Its climatic zone is
humid continental (
Koppen climate classification ).
The city has four distinct seasons. Average temperatures range from -17°C in January to 18°C in July. Saskatoon is fairly dry, with the summer being the wettest season. A positive aspect of the low precipitation is that Saskatoon is sunnier than average in Canada as a result, averaging 2,380.8 hours of bright sunshine annually. The extreme temperatures are also more tolerable on account of the typically low humidity. The summer months can reach up to 41°C but generally stay at 24°C. Thunderstorms are common in the summer months and can be severe with torrential rain, hail, high winds, intense lightning and, on rare occasion, tornados. The frost-free growing season generally lasts from mid-May to mid-September, but due to Saskatoon's northerly location, damaging frosts have occurred as late as June 14 and again as early as August.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Saskatoon was -50°C in 1893. The lowest wind chill ever recorded was -60.9. The highest temperature ever recorded in Saskatoon was 40.6°C on 5 June 1988.
The "Blizzard of 2007" was described by many residents as the worst they had seen and paralyzed the city with its low visibility, extreme cold and large volume of snow. Winds rose to over 90 kilometres per hour and an estimated 25 centimetres (9.8 inches) of snow fell throughout the day. Many area residents took refuge overnight at area work places, shopping centres, hospitals and the university.
Crime
The 2006 census crime data, released July 18, 2007, showed Saskatoon leading Canada in
violent crime, with 1,606 violent crimes per 100,000 residents annually. Saskatoon leads the country in
sexual assaults as well.
The Meewasin Valley Trail follows the South Saskatchewan River through Saskatoon. Summer activities include cycling, jogging and walking through parks and natural areas. Cross-country skiing is popular during the winter months, along with skating in Kiwanis Memorial Park. Access points are found throughout the city with interpretive signage and washrooms located along the route. There are parks throughout the Meewasin Valley, with washrooms, picnic facilities, and lookout points along the river bank.
In the winter the Meewasin Skating Rink is open free to the public; it is located in Kiwanis Memorial Park beside the Delta Bessborough hotel. The outdoor rink has been open since 1980.
For years, a parcel of land west of the Victoria Bridge, south of 19th Street, and east of Avenue C has been the subject of on-again, off-again redevelopment plans. The site formerly held the Saskatoon Arena, a power plant, a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, and the head offices of the Saskatoon Public School Division; all these structures have been demolished to make way for redevelopment, with plans for same dating back to the 1980s. The most recent version of the plan called River Landing is ongoing. Calgary developer Lake Placid has proposed a 200 million dollar mega hotel/condo project to be built on the site although Lake Placid had difficulty securing financing and missed an October 30, 2009 deadline to submit a 4.5 million dollar payment for the parcel of land which seemingly killed the deal. On November 16, 2009 it was revealed by Lake Placid that the financing should be secure within a week. In April 2010, Saskatoon City Council voted in favour of entering new negotiations with Lake Placid over the site.
As of May 2010, landscaping and the development of a new performance venue for Persephone Theatre had been completed on River Landing, joining a senior citizens residence that had been built in River Landing in the 1990s. A farmer's market facility and some commercial sites have also been developed. Future plans separate from Lake Placid include the development of a new art gallery to replace the Mendel Art Gallery by 2014.
Transportation
Saskatoon is located on the
Yellowhead Highway spur of the
Trans-Canada Highway system, also known as
Highway 16, which connects Saskatchewan,
Manitoba,
Alberta, and
British Columbia. Highways
5,
7,
11,
12,
14,
41,
219,
684, and
762 all meet at Saskatoon, with highway
60 terminating just west of the city limits.
The following bridges cross the
South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon (in order from upstream):
Grand Trunk Bridge (rail)
Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge
Traffic Bridge (closed indefinitely as of August 24, 2010)
Broadway Bridge
University Bridge
CPR Bridge (rail)
Circle Drive Bridge
station, front entrance.]]
Construction of Saskatoon's ring road, Circle Drive, began in the mid-1960s, and is yet to be completed as of mid-2010. Its remaining missing link is in the southwest; on June 20, 2008, the mayor announced that funding for the $300 million project from the federal, provincial and city governments is now in place to build a six-lane bridge and 7 km of freeway to complete the south portion of the road. Construction of the project, which will include a new river crossing and several interchanges, commenced in 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2012.
The Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway have connections to Saskatoon. Both railways operate intermodal facilities and trans-load centers; while Canadian National Railway also operates an automotive transfer facility. Saskatoon is a stop on The Canadian passenger transcontinental rail route operated by VIA Rail. The Saskatoon railway station is located in the west end of the city; it was opened in the late 1960s as a replacement for Saskatoon's original main station which was located on 1st Avenue downtown—the relocation of the station sparked a major redevelopment of the downtown that included the construction of the Midtown Plaza, TCU Place (aka Centennial Auditorium) and other developments. The many provincial transportation connections and geographic location of Saskatoon give it one of its nicknames The Hub City. The Saskatchewan Railway Museum is located just outside the city. Recent debates about moving all the railways out of the city are raising questions about a future LRT system, but the city's Mayor says the population is too small.
Saskatoon/John G. Diefenbaker International Airport provides scheduled and charter airline service for the city, and is a significant hub for mining and remote locations in Northern Saskatchewan. Non-stop scheduled destinations include Calgary, Chicago, Denver, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Ottawa, Prince Albert, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. Seasonal and Charter service is provided to Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Churchill, MB. Air Canada, Westjet and Purolator Courier all have cargo facilities at the airport. Saskatoon/Corman Air Park is a general aviation airport located 15 km south-east of Saskatoon.
Transit services in Saskatoon are provided by Saskatoon Transit. The route system was revamped on July 2, 2006, creating increased access to most parts of the city. An up to date schedule is posted at Saskatoon Transit Route & Schedule Adjustments
The Saskatchewan Transportation Company connects Saskatoon via bus service to nearly 200 towns and villages in the province. The Saskatoon bus terminal is also served by Greyhound Canada inter-provincial service between Manitoba and Alberta.
Education
.
Central Industrial Area]]
Saskatoon has a number of
higher education institutions:
University of Saskatchewan
St. Thomas More College is a Catholic federated college of the University of Saskatchewan. Affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan are the Lutheran Theological Seminary, College of Emmanuel and St. Chad (Anglican Church of Canada), and St. Andrew's College (United Church of Canada). All three are located on the university campus.
The First Nations University of Canada Saskatoon campus is located at the corner of 7th Ave. N. & Duke St., with the main campus in Regina.
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology
Gabriel Dumont Institute
*
Saskatoon Broadcasting School
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
Saskatoon has 78 elementary schools and 14 high schools, serving about 37,000 students. Saskatoon has three main school boards, The Saskatoon Public School Division, the Saskatoon Catholic School Division and the Conseil des Ecoles Fransaskois.
Saskatoon is home to five units of the Canadian Cadet Movement:
45 Sea Cadet Corps
107 Air Cadet Squadron
328 Medical Cadet Corps - Homepage
702 Air Cadet Squadron
2293 The North Saskatchewan Regiment Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps - Homepage
The western annexation of what is now called the Blairmore SDA also brought the Yarrow Youth Farm within the city limits; operated by the Province of Saskatchewan, this is a correction facility for at-risk youth. The City's current Projected Growth Map indicates that the farm is expected to be incorporated within planned development of the region.
Arts and culture
Galleries and museums
and Civic Conservatory ]]
The
Mendel Art Gallery is situated on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River. Its permanent collection exceeds 5,000 works of art. In 2005, it began a major renovation project that will expand the size of the gallery by seventy per cent. In September 2005, however, the City of Saskatoon announced that it had entered discussions with the Mendel to the end of having the Mendel abandon its renovation/expansion project in favor of instead relocating the facility to a new arts and culture centre that is planned for the south downtown area.
The Art Gallery of Saskatchewan was announced in April, 2009 as the replacement for the Mendal Art Gallery, which will be constructed at River Landing, around the previously constructed Remai Arts Centre, which houses the Persephone Theatre company. The Art Gallery will be built matching contributions of $13 million from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan. The City of Saskatoon and other key partners have also committed funding in support of this project. The total estimated costs for the Gallery, which will serve as the destination centre for the River Landing project, will be approximately $51 million.
Currently, the City of Saskatoon is waiting for design proposals on the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan. According to the Mendal Art Gallery website, the new Gallery will be a multi-storey building, adjacent to Persephone Theatre, in the range of . The facility will allow up to three times the present available gallery space and will include studio and classroom space for education programs including an adaptive community studio and lecture theatre, meeting rooms and space for administrative functions. Emphasis will be placed on meeting functional requirements while also providing an appropriate signature architectural presence in the city’s south downtown. The atrium that is visualized for the front of the Gallery will provide not only adequate space for Gallery functions and activities and special public events but will also be a gathering place at River landing and will include visitor services and a gift shop. There will also be a bistro, restaurant and catering support and the site will incorporate 250-stall underground parking. The decision to drop the Mendel name has been controversial.
The Ukrainian Museum of Canada is also located on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. The foremost attraction for Ukrainian culture in Saskatoon, it houses various artifacts such as textiles, tools, musical instruments and clothing, and displays them for public viewing. It has branches in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto.
The Meewasin Valley Centre, in Friendship Park, has information on Saskatoon's history, the South Saskatchewan River, and the future of the Meewasin Valley.
Saskatoon is also home of the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum. This museum, one of four throughout the province, documents early pioneer life in Saskatchewan. It is noted for its interior recreation of a "Boom Town" main street, including one original building relocated from its original site. The Saskatchewan Railway Museum is located just outside the city and includes displays of rolling stock and historic railway buildings from various parts of the province.
The Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is a National Historic Site situated in the north east region of the city. The Forestry Farm was a historic nursery (dating from 1913) responsible for growing many of the trees planted within the prairie provinces. In 1966 the nursery operations were discontinued and part of the region turned into a municipal park. The city zoo is also housed within the park and features over 80 species of animals.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is a National Historic Site situated five km to the north of Saskatoon. It is an Aboriginal archaeological site and features displays, special events, and activities, recent renovations are on hold due to a lack of funds during the renovations.
.]]
Events and festivals
Saskatoon's major arts venue is
TCU Place, which is located adjacent to Midtown Plaza downtown. Since opening in 1967, it has hosted scores of concerts, theatrical performances, live events such as the Telemiracle
telethon, high school graduation and university
convocation ceremonies, and conventions. It is also home to the
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. It recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation to its main theatre (named in honor of former mayor and senator
Sidney Buckwold).
For rock concerts and major shows, Credit Union Centre is the main venue. It is Saskatchewan's largest arena, with a capacity of 15,000 for sporting events and 14,000 for concerts. Musical acts from Saskatoon include Joni Mitchell, Kyle Riabko, Wide Mouth Mason, The Northern Pikes, and The Deep Dark Woods, as well as countless others popular at both local and regional levels.
Saskatoon hosts many festivals and events in the summer, including the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival, the Jazz Festival, the Saskatchewan Children's Festival, the Saskatoon Fringe Theatre Festival (a showcase of alternative theatre), Saskatoon Folkfest (a cultural festival), and the Canada Remembers Airshow.
For over 25 years, Saskatoon has hosted a gathering of antique automobiles, (mainly from the 1960s) that has grown into an event called "Cruise Weekend". The event is usually held on the last weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) in August. Activities include a poker derby, dances, and a show 'N' shine with over 800 cars from all over western Canada. No admission is charged and everyone is free to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
The city's annual exhibition (now called the Saskatoon Exhibition but also known in previous years as Pioneer Days and "The Ex") is held every August at Prairieland Park. In the late 1990s, the Saskatoon Exhibition was rescheduled to August so that it no longer was in direct competition with the Calgary Stampede, which frequently overlapped the event.
Saskatoon was the 2007 host city for the Juno Awards, Canada's foremost music industry honours.
Live theatre
2009]]Live theatre is a central, vibrant part of Saskatoon's culture. Saskatoon is host to a number of live theatre venues such as the Persephone Theatre, which is located in the Remai Arts Centre at River Landing in downtown Saskatoon, The Refinery and the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. Saskatoon is also home to performance groups such as, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Live Five, Troup du Jour, Saskatoon Gateway Players, Saskatoon Summer Players. Local improv groups such as
The No-No's and Saskatoon Soaps have weekly and monthly performances respectively at various venues around the city.
Saskatoon also boasts the only burlesque group in the Prairies, the Rosebud Burlesque.
Movie theatres
Galaxy Theatre]]
Saskatoon, given its size, has few movie theatres. There is only one single-screen theatre in the city - the Broadway Theatre, which primarily shows arthouse films - while the two-screen Roxy Theatre is an "atmospheric-style" second-run theatre that reopened in 2005 after sitting unused for over a decade. The remainder of the city's theatres are multiplexes. The only movie theatre in the downtown core is the Galaxy Cinemas; the Capitol 4 shut down on April 3, 2008. The city's other movie theatres are the Rainbow Cinemas (a second-run cinema) and the Centre Cinemas, located adjacent to each other in The Centre mall on the city's east side. Located just east of Saskatoon is one of Western Canada's last remaining operational drive-in movie theatres, the Sundown Drive-In on Highway 5, which is still in operation today.
Royal presence
Saskatoon has welcomed members of Canada's Royal Family since 1919. Queen Elizabeth most recently visited for the a gala concert at Credit Union Centre, before a live audience of 12,000 and television viewers nationwide in 2005. The Queen was presented with the key to the city on the same visit, after touring the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron and greeting thousands of well-wishers on a walkabout at the University of Saskatchewan. Sovereigns and consorts who have visited include Edward VIII as Prince of Wales in 1919, King George Vl and Queen Elizabeth in 1939, and Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, as Princess Elizabeth in 1951 and afterwards as Queen in 1959, 1978, 1987 and 2005. Other members of the Royal Family who have visited include Princess Margaret in 1980, the Prince of Wales (Charles) in 2001, the Princess Royal (Anne) in 1982 and 2004, the Duke and Duchess of York (Andrew and Sarah) in 1989, and the Earl of Wessex as Prince Edward in 1978. Governors General and Lieutenant Governors also pay regular visits to Saskatoon. Saskatonian Ramon John Hnatyshyn is credited with popularising his office as Governor General from 1990 to 1995. Lieutenant Governors Barnhart, Fedoruk, McNab, Monroe, Porteous and Worobetz were all former residents of Saskatoon.
Connections to the crown include the royal namesakes of about one hundred neighbourhoods, parks, streets, schools and other places. These include King George, Queen Elizabeth and Massey Place neighbourhoods, and Victoria, Coronation and Princess Diana parks. It was at one time considered that Saskatoon's Broadway Bridge would be renamed George V Bridge. Landmarks and institutions also have connections and these include the Royal University Hospital, one of four royal designations in Saskatchewan. Grade schools named for royals include Ecole Victoria School, King George School, Queen Elizabeth School, Prince Philip School and Princess Alexandra School. Existing and historic hotels with royal namesakes include the King George Hotel, the King Edward Hotel, the Queen's Hotel and the Patricia Hotel. The Hotel Bessborough was named for a Canadian Governor General who visited the landmark under construction in the 1930s. The Queen Elizabeth Power Station is located within the city and named after Queen Elizabeth. The Prince of Wales Promenade along the South Saskatchewan River is a focal point on the riverfront trails. In 2002, 378 Saskatoon residents were presented with Canada's Golden Jubilee Medal by vice-regals to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
Sports and recreation
Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in Saskatoon and is home to many strong amateur teams such as the
Saskatoon Blades of the
WHL, who host their games in
Credit Union Centre (formerly known as Saskatchewan Place). As well Saskatoon is home to many amateur teams at the Junior B and Midget AAA levels, as well as several youth teams. Saskatoon was a major league hockey city from 1921 to 1926 when the
WCHL/WHL Sheiks/Crescents played. They made it as far as the league semi-finals twice, not far enough to challenge for the Stanley Cup. The biggest chance for a return of major professional hockey came in 1982.
Bill Hunter, a local sports promoter, attempted to purchase the
St. Louis Blues of the
NHL and move it to Saskatoon, but the move was prevented by the league. This was due to Saskatchewan's and especially Saskatoon's small size in relation to both
St. Louis and the other cities in the
NHL at the time. However, it did cause the building of the
Credit Union Centre, on the city's northern edge.
Credit Union Centre Recent renovations will increase seating capacity to over 15,000 for hockey games in time for the facililty to host the 2010 World Junior Hockey tournament,as well as several new box suites to be added. A proposal by Ice Edge Holdings, who are the front runners to buy the
Phoenix Coyotes, would move some of the Coyotes' home games to Saskatoon. Also in 2004 with Edmonton looking for a new WHL team, Oilers President and CEO Patrick Laforge offered the
Edmonton Roadrunners franchise of the
American Hockey League to the city of Saskatoon in exchange for the Saskatoon Blades franchise. However the deal never worked out, with the Roadrunners suspending operations and remaining dormant until 2010 when the team moved to Oklahoma City.
As for women's hockey, there is a strong youth female hockey presence in Saskatoon with a Midget AAA team and several youth teams in the city.
Canadian football is one of the most successful on field sports in Saskatoon. The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are one of the top University football programs in Canada, with three Vanier Cup national championships and 19 Hardy Trophy Canada West championships. The Huskies have made nine Vanier Cup appearances since 1990, and were the first team from outside of Ontario to host the Vanier Cup, hosting the game in 2006. As well, the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League host their games at Gordie Howe Bowl. The Hilltops have won 12 national junior championships throughout their history. As well, many Saskatonians support the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.
The Saskatoon Yellow Jackets college summer league baseball team is a member of the Western Major Baseball League and play their games at Cairns Field. They are not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team nor do they carry any professional players. In the past other teams have attempted to grace Saskatoon's professional sports landscape including the Saskatoon Riot, Saskatoon Smokin' Guns, Saskatoon Stallions and the latest being the Saskatoon Legends. However, there is hope that the Golden Baseball League will find an owner for its proposed Saskatoon franchise and begin play in 2010 or 2011 at Cairns Field.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies play Canadian Interuniversity Sport league games at the University Campus. Their facilities include 4,997 seat Griffiths Stadium, 700 seat Rutherford Arena, and the state-of-the-art Physical Activity Complex, which is completely new with the exception of a small swimming pool which was not updated, that opened in August 2003 with the opening of the new College of Kinesiology Building. The Huskies participate in twelve sports at the CIS level and have been most successful in men's hockey and football.
In 2007, two new sports teams came into being in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan SWAT of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League and the Saskatoon Accelerators in the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League. The Accelerators play at Credit Union Centre, while the SWAT split their games between Credit Union Centre and Kinsmen Arena in their first season, eventually moving to Archibald Arena in 2009.
Motor racing is a popular sport in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan International Raceway has been in operation for over 40 years; SIR is home to 1/4 mile NHRA drag racing and holds racing events from May to September. As well, just north of the city lies Auto Clearing Motor Speedway; the track is home to local stock car racing, as well as races for several different Western Canadian series. 2009 saw the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series make its inaugural stop at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway, signaling a move to a larger profile track in Saskatoon.
For horse racing fans, Marquis Downs at Prairieland Park offers live horse racing from May to October.
Saskatoon is also home to two full size soccer facilities. Saskatoon Soccer Centre controls both buildings. Henk Ruys has four hardcourt indoor fields while the Sasktel Soccer Centre has two outdoor full size fields and one indoor full sized field as well as two tiled fields.
On the recreation side, Lions Skatepark was built in the Riversdale area in 2003. As well Saskatoon is home to several golf courses and various parks which include tennis courts, ball diamonds and soccer pitches for spring, summer and fall use and outdoor rinks for winter use. Blackstrap Ski Hill is also located 30 minutes south of the city, however, has been closed for both 2006 and 2007 seasons due to financial difficulty.
See: List of Sports Franchises in Saskatoon
Facilities and services
Local media
Shopping centres
Midtown Plaza
Market Mall
The Centre
The Mall at Lawson Heights
Confederation Mall
Preston Crossing
College Park Mall
Mount Royal Mall
Antique Mall
Stonegate Shopping Center
Scotia Centre Mall
River City Mall
Law and order
Saskatoon Police Service
Saskatoon Correctional Centre
Hospitals
Royal University Hospital
Saskatoon City Hospital
St. Paul's Hospital
Sister cities
Umeå (
Västerbotten,
Sweden)
Shijiazhuang (
Hebei,
China)
Tampere (
Pirkanmaa,
Finland)
Chernivtsi, (
Ukraine)
Kitahiroshima (
Japan)
Notable people
See
List of people from Saskatoon.
Saskatoon in popular culture
Farley Mowat's 1961
novella,
Owls in the Family is set in Saskatoon and includes references to several area landmarks, including
The Railroad Bridge. His 1957 book
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be concerns his childhood in Saskatoon in the 1920's and 1930's.
"Runnin' Back to Saskatoon" is a 1972 song by The Guess Who. Saskatoon is also mentioned in the City and Colour song "Comin' Home".
Bear Hugger is a character in the 1994 Super Nintendo game Super Punch Out whose place of origin is Saskatoon.
The character Shelly Tambo (played by Cynthia Geary) on the TV series "Northern Exposure" was from Saskatoon, and was a former "Miss Saskatoon".
The Marvel Comics character Puck of the Alpha Flight comic book was born in Saskatoon.
Among the music in the Paul Newman movie Slap Shot is the Sonny James song "Little Bit South Of Saskatoon".
Surrounding communities
Saskatoon is surrounded by several smaller communities, a number of which make up the larger Saskatoon
census metropolitan area.
Footnotes
External links
City of Saskatoon Official Website
Tourism Saskatoon
City of Saskatoon - Official Community Plan - Bylaw No. 8769
Narratives of Saskatoon 1882-1912
Saskatoon on Google Maps
Pike Lake Provincial Park
Black Strap Provincial Park
Map of Saskatoon at Statcan
Category:Populated places established in 1883
![Skrillex and Sofi - Devil Inside me [720p HD] (Part 1) [Live In Saskatoon SK]](http://web.archive.org./web/20110830190844im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Duu-gbD1tzs/0.jpg "Skrillex and Sofi - Devil Inside me [720p HD] (Part 1) [Live In Saskatoon SK]")
![Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110830190844im_/http://cdn5.wn.com/pd/6c/0f/d391805e2d536d4ddbd2b7e26292_grande.jpg "Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.")
![Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110830190844im_/http://cdn5.wn.com/pd/cc/cf/2cc21b27b04a1325835f0277af1f_grande.jpg "Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.")
![Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110830190844im_/http://cdn4.wn.com/pd/6c/0f/d391805e2d536d4ddbd2b7e26292_thumb.jpg "Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.")
![Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110830190844im_/http://cdn4.wn.com/pd/cc/cf/2cc21b27b04a1325835f0277af1f_thumb.jpg "Pleasant Hill School Saskatoon Light and Power provides electrical utilities to all Saskatoon neighborhoods which existed prior to 1958.[12] Water is treated and supplied by the City of Saskatoon Water and Wastewater Treatment Branch.[13] St. Paul's Hospital is located in Pleasant Hill, Royal University Hospital is located in the University of Saskatchewan Land Management area, and Saskatoon City Hospital is located in City Park.")
