THE CITY OF SASKATOON MUNICIPAL MANUAL 2014 For additional information on the City of Saskatoon Visit us on-line: www.saskatoon.ca Call us: (306) 975-3240 Email us: [email protected] COMPILED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 1 Message from the City Clerk It is my pleasure to present the 2014 issue of the Municipal Manual. The Municipal Manual is published annually by the City Clerk’s Office and is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about the City’s municipal government. It contains information regarding the history of the City and its administrative and political structure, as well as information regarding other organizations that have a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of the citizens of Saskatoon. The statistical information contained in the manual is current to the end of 2013. The cooperation of all civic departments, and the material submitted from other sources for insertion in this manual is appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. Joanne Sproule City Clerk Saskatoon, Saskatchewan June, 2014 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION BOARDS Geography/History ................................... 4 Saskatoon Police Service ................... 134 Historical Summary ................................. 6 Credit Union Centre ............................ 136 Coat of Arms .......................................... 39 TCU Place – Saskatoon’s Arts and Convention Centre ....................... 137 Corporate Logo ...................................... 40 Saskatoon Regional Economic City Council ............................................ 41 Development Authority ................. 139 City of Saskatoon Ward Boundaries ..... 43 Saskatoon Public Library .................... 141 Chart of Organizational Structure .......... 44 The Mendel Art Gallery and Civic Conservatory ................................ 144 Strategic Plan ........................................ 45 EDUCATION Mayors of Saskatoon, past & present ... 50 Saskatoon Public School Councillors of Saskatoon, past & present ... 51 Division No. 13 ............................. 149 Civic Officials ......................................... 55 Saskatoon Catholic School Division No. 20 ............................. 155 Boards .................................................... 56 SIAST .................................................. 159 Boards, Commissions and Committees ..... 57 University of Saskatchewan ................ 167 ADMINISTRATION HEALTH City Manager’s Office ............................ 70 Saskatoon Health Region ................... 176 General Managers and Managers ............. 71 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Office of the City Clerk ........................... 73 Meewasin Valley Authority .................. 178 Elections, Historical Background .... 74 Prairieland Park ................................... 180 Election (Held) Statistics ................. 75 Greater Saskatoon Office of the City Solicitor ...................... 82 Chamber of Commerce ............... 182 Corporate Performance Department .... 83 Tourism Saskatoon ............................. 184 Community Services Department ......... 90 INDEX.................................................. 185 Miscellaneous Statistics ................... 100 Asset and Financial Management Department ......................................... 107 Transportation & Utilities Department ......................................... 112 Saskatoon Fire Department ................ 128 3 CITY OF SASKATOON Geography Saskatoon, a commercial and educational centre in the Province of Saskatchewan, is situated on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River in Townships 36 and 37, Ranges 4, 5 and 6, West of the Third Meridian. It lies 348 kilometers north of the boundary between the United States and Canada, 225 kilometers from the western boundary and 346 kilometers from the eastern boundary of the Province. It is the only large city between Winnipeg and Edmonton, being 708 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg and a little over 483 kilometers southeast of Edmonton. Seven bridges cross the river within the City limits. Four of these bridges are for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and the other two serve the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways. The Seventh Bridge – the 1907 Traffic Bridge – was closed in 2010 because of safety concerns and is scheduled to be replaced. The new Circle Drive South Bridge is being constructed and is expected to open in 2013. History The oldest evidence of habitation in the Saskatoon area is an 11,000 year old archaeological site in the city’s Woodlawn Cemetery. Other sites include buffalo kills, teepee rings and a medicine wheel, forming an important link with the past. In 1882, the Temperance Colonization Society (TCS) in Ontario was given a substantial grant of land along the South Saskatchewan River on which to establish an agricultural community based on the philosophies and ideals of the Temperance League, an organization opposed to the use of alcohol. In the summer of 1882, a party under John Lake surveyed the grant area and on the advice of Chief Whitecap chose what is now the Nutana area to be a town site and service centre for the new colony. Lake returned to survey the town site in 1883, and the first permanent settlers arrived that summer. They travelled by railway from Ontario to Moose Jaw and then travelled overland to Saskatoon. In 1890 the Qu’Appelle, Long Lake and Saskatchewan Railway was built through Saskatoon, crossing the river at the site of the present-day Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge and making the journey to Saskatoon significantly easier. The QLLS station house and facilities were built on the west side of the river, setting the stage for further development there. The precise origin of the name “Saskatoon” is not completely clear. Tradition has it that it was conferred by John Lake and is derived from the Cree word “misāskwatōmina”, which refers to the Saskatoon berries that grow in such profusion here. Some sources, however, have suggested that the name for this area predates the founding of the Temperance Colony, and was given by Cree people who stopped here to cut the Saskatoon willow wands to use for arrow shafts. The word “misāskwat” refers to the willows and “manimisāskwatān” to the place where they are cut. 4 By 1899, Saskatoon consisted of a few houses on the east side of the river (the original Temperance Colony settlement), while on the west side was the station house, the section foreman’s house, the Mounted Police barracks, a stone building, a hotel and about six other houses and shacks. In 1901, the west bank settlement was incorporated as the Village of Saskatoon. The settlement on the east bank renamed itself “Nutana”. In 1903, Saskatoon was incorporated as a town and Nutana was incorporated as a village. The same year the first settlement began on the west side of the railway tracks in what is now Riversdale. The Village of Riversdale was incorporated in 1905. When the Province of Saskatchewan was formed in 1905 there was some debate as to the location of the capital and of the University. It was felt by many that Saskatoon should be chosen as the capital, but eventually a compromise was reached whereby Regina became the seat of the government and the provincial University was placed at Saskatoon. Saskatoon grew very slowly during its first two decades. In the early 1900s, however, settlers began coming into the area in large numbers and in 1906 following a period of growth, the three communities of Saskatoon, Nutana and Riversdale amalgamated to form the City of Saskatoon with a population of about 4,500 people. Saskatoon’s aggressive business community persuaded other railway companies to locate here, allowing both people and goods to reach the City and surrounding district more easily. By 1911, the population had more than doubled and Saskatoon had become what is still today: a major distribution centre for the surrounding agricultural district. Municipal services expanded rapidly in this period, providing water and electrical services and, in 1913, a public transit system. With its dependence on agriculture, Saskatoon has experienced many “booms and busts” throughout its history. The expansion of the mining industry in the 1970s and 1980s diminished this to some extent, and the future promises continued diversification through the emergence of more advanced technology industries and an increase in manufacturing, primarily to service the resource sector. Saskatoon’s pioneers came mostly from Ontario or Great Britain, but the City is now home to people from around the world. This ethnic diversity is a dynamic component of the rich and diverse culture, which makes Saskatoon a unique and exciting place to live and work. 5 HISTORICAL SUMMARY 1882 John Lake and Company arrived. 1883 Town site was surveyed. 1884 First ferry was operated across river. Steam saw mill was set up. First school house was erected (frame structure). Mail service to Batoche was established. Nutana Cemetery was opened. 1885 Field Hospital was set up during Riel Rebellion. 1886 First Annual Agricultural Exhibition was held. 1888 Stone School was completed. (This is now on the campus of the University.) 1890 Saskatoon’s first bridge, the Qu’appelle, Long Lake and Saskatchewan Railway (later CNR) bridge was completed over the South Saskatchewan River where the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge is now. It was part of the rail line linking Regina and Prince Albert. 1901 November 16 - Saskatoon was incorporated as a village. Lord Minto, Governor-General of Canada, visited Saskatoon.