Message from City Councillor

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Best of the fall season to you.

At City Hall, we are still doing an overhaul of our growth plans with the Growing Forward Shaping Saskatoon process, including plans for a Bus Rapid Transit system and an Active Transportation Master Plan. These plans all have impacts on Varsity View as an area bounded by key transportation corridors that are central to these plans.

There will be meetings coming up in the fall with opportunities for on-line engagement that you can check out at www.growingfwd.ca. Now is a very good time to make your voice heard. We are also working to invite more citizens into the City Budgeting process earlier, which you can learn more about at www.saskatoon.ca/city-hall/budget-finances.

The Federal election campaign is now well underway. It has become very clear to me as a City Councillor that decisions made in Ottawa have a big impact on our ability to build a strong healthy community here. Out of every tax dollar collected in Canada, cities take about 8 cents. We are dependent on strong partnerships with other levels of government to deliver necessary infrastructure, programs and services that provide a good quali-ty of life to all citizens.

As we move ahead with plans for a Bus Rapid Transit plan it will be essential to have support from the Federal government to help pay for new buses, and better shelters and stations, just as we rely on support for bridges and overpasses. Solid commitments to infrastructure spending make a huge difference in our ability to ensure we can keep our roads, bridges, sewer and water lines in good condition.

Other important issues in our city also require a strong partnership with the Federal government to be successful, such as: tackling homelessness and affordable housing, building a path to reconciliation between First Nations, Metis and Non-Indigenous people, creating good jobs in a well-diversified economy, taking meaningful steps towards addressing climate change and building a stronger renewable energy sector, ensuring good policy and programs to support settlement and integration of new immigrants.

These are issues I will be talking to candidates about as the election unfolds, and I hope you will too. Our country continues to have tremendous potential even as we face tremendous challenges. Creating a healthy diverse nation for future generations depends on creating healthy and diverse communities!

Please sign up for my Civic e-newsletter for more information about the debates and decisions happening at City Hall.
Regards, Charlie Clark

City-Wide Curbside Swap

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September 12, 2015 is city-wide Curbside Swap day

Got free, useable stuff?
Want free, usable stuff?
Swap it!

At a Curbside Swap, unwanted items in good condition are placed on the curb and marked as free, for anyone to pick up. Giving these items a new home keeps them out of our landfill and reduces our community’s environmental footprint.

Join the city-wide Curbside Swap day on Saturday, September 12, by placing items on your curb that you want to give away and/or by searching for free treasures that others set-out. Make sure whatever you set-out or pick-up is clearly marked as “FREE.” The swap ends by 6:00 p.m., when it’s time to return your unclaimed items to your home along with your newfound treasures.

Guidelines
– Clearly mark all items that you wish to swap as “FREE” and remove any items you wish to keep from your lawn and curb.
– Do not block roads/sidewalks with items.
– Obey all traffic laws and watch for children.
– Do not drive/walk on other people’s lawns.
– Do not discard items on someone else’s lawn/curb.

Check out https://www.saskatoon.ca/services-residents/waste-recycling/recycling/saskatoon-curbside-swap for further information, including downloadable “FREE STUFF” signs

Fall 2015 Registration Night

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FALL Registration Night – SEPTEMBER 3 & 8, 2015

Registration is Thursday, September 3 AND Tuesday, September 8, 2015, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Brunskill School (Multi-Purpose Room), 101 Wiggins Avenue North.

Welcome back to REALITY!!!! We hope everyone had a happy, healthy, and relaxing summer where ever your travels took you!
There are a couple of new programs:
1. Engineering for Kids
2. Stargazing (not new but with the low participant sign up thought we would offer it when the weather was a bit nicer!)
Looking for things to keep you occupied or just want to try something new, see our fall line up!

BASKETBALL AND ALL SOCCER REGISTRATION IS ON-LINE REGISTRATION ONLY! THERE WILL NOT BE ANY REGISTERING FOR THESE AT THE REGISTRATION NIGHTS! WATCH FOR FURTHER DETAILS!

Big Plans for a Little Park – Albert Rec. Unit

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Albert Recreational Unit, at the corner of Clarence Avenue and 13th Street, has been a little park in the Nutana and Varsity View neighbourhoods for over 70 years – starting as a paddling pool and then expanding with a surrounding park and playground.

While the park has served us well over these years – both as a neighbourhood destination on hot summer days and as a fun playground area – the park is beginning to show its age, especially in the style and condition of its playground.

A small ambitious neighbourhood group wants to change this. We want to update the park and playground equipment to give a boost to the park’s usage and its longevity.

These may be big plans for our little park, but we believe that the neighbourhood deserves and will support a great little park like this. Ideas and concepts are still being discussed, but in broad strokes the committee is focused on these goals:
– maintain the paddling pool and building
– increase the green space
– modernize some (or all) of the playground equipment
– make the park a safe and welcoming place for all in the neighbourhood

Our energetic group is meeting regularly and we look forward to sharing our ideas with the neighbourhood, both for community feedback and also to begin fundraising.

We welcome your comments and suggestions as we begin making our big plans, and trust you will help support our little park.

Help us make our little park a big success!

The Albert Rec. Unit Committee:
Rahul Mainra (chair), Tanya Bell, Anu Bhargava, Barb Giles, Trevor Morog, Beth Wall, Sarah Williams, Roger Williamson
Contact us by email: bigplans@nutana.ca

Terry Fox Marathon of Hope

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September 20, 2015 marks the 35th anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope. 35 years ago, Terry achieved his goal to raise $1 for every Canadian. On the 35th Anniversary of The Marathon of Hope, and with 35 million people in Canada, it is possible to raise $35 million for cancer research. Help us raise $1 for every person in your community.

Saskatchewan has tremendous supporters across the province and is expecting to have around 60 communities and 570 schools participating in the Terry Fox run in 2015. Our supporters make us proud in their selfless dedication by sharing the gift of hope year after year.

Learn to Camp!

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The Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport has an exciting new opportunity for those who are new to camping! The Provincial Parks have partnered with Coleman and Canadian Tire to launch a new Learn to Camp program aimed at teaching first time users the basics of camping.

Between June 27 and August 16 we are running Learn to Camp programs in three of our provincial parks. In this program participants will have a chance at a hands on approach; they will be lead through how to use different camping equipment such as a camp stove as well as some basic camping skills such as firing building, all of which is helping prepare then to go out on their own!

We are also offering a community outreach in which the participants will learn some of the basics of planning a camping, including what gear they will need, helping prepare them for the best experience possible. This part of the program is offered for free and we would love to come out to as many places as possible!

Learn to Camp website.

Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners Public Consultation

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“Creating a Culture of Community Safety”
Tuesday June 16th 7-9pm at the Farmer’s Market (inside)

This is the first time that the Police Commission has hosted a public forum for a long time. This as a very timely opportunity to have a dialogue with the community about community safety, to hear directly from residents about their experiences and ideas.

The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners is holding a public consultation to hear directly from Saskatoon residents about these issues:
– Does our community feel safe to you, to your friends and to your neighbours?
– What tells you whether our community feels safe or not?
– Who has the responsibility for creating a safe community?
– What do you believe should be the areas of greatest focus going forward by the police service and other agencies?

This is an opportunity to speak directly to the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners on “Creating a culture of community safety,” an issue that affects every one of us.

More information can be found here

City Hall Open House on the 2016 Budget

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Monday June 15th 6-9pm at City Hall

This will be a meeting hosted by City Council directly to discuss the pressure points and priorities for the 2016 City Budget. This is a new and important step in the budgeting process – to invite residents into the discussion months before the City Budget is debated at City Council.

From 6-7pm there will be a “Councillor Conversation Corner” where you can meet with Councillors and the Mayor and talk about your thoughts on the budget. From 7-9pm there will be a special Executive Committee of Mayor and Council to discuss the Budget. The Public is invited to make submissions to this meeting – you are required to submit a request to present by 8am on Monday morning through this site: https://www.saskatoon.ca/write-letter-council

We hope this will be an opportunity for residents to better understand what makes up the City Budget and how budget decisions are made, and also to hear from residents about what you want to see reflected in the next City budget. Please come if you can. You can find more information about the Open House here.

Art Trek

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Art Trek is a self-guided tour of eight Saskatoon artist studios featuring 60 painters, printmakers, weavers, glass artists and sculptors who aim to promote art within Saskatoon.

In 2012, five artist groups collaborated to promote an urban art tour in the heart of Saskatoon. Now in its fourth year, Art Trek 2015 will feature nine artist studios and collectives.

2015 DATES/TIMES:
Friday, June 12th, 5 – 10 pm & Saturday, June 13th, 10 – 5 pm

LOCATIONS:
The Mix Artist Collective Artists (212 20th St West): Debbie Rumpel, Bridget Aitken, Ann Donald, Muveddet Al-Katib, Brenda Kennedy, Paul Denham, Brent McGovern. Jacqueline Miller, Elizabeth Yonza, Christine Devrome, Rick Pollock, Elisabeth Miller, Robert Miller, Paula Cooley

Studio on 20th (236A 20th St W): Jane Harington, Miranda Jones, Carol Wylie, Amira Wasfy, Bridget Aitken, Jan Corcoran, Nicki Ault, Karen Maquire, Kathy Bradshaw, Brenda Kennedy, Ann Donald

Artists’ Workshop (Grace-Westminster United Church, 505 10th St. East): Virginia Beaubier, Valerie Borycki, Margaret Bremner, Lou Chrones, Kathryn Green, Lorraine Khachatourians, Karen Maguire, Val Miles, Valerie Munch, Eva Peters-Kooy, Gail Prpick, Kathleen Slavin, Marilyn Weiss

330 Design Group (330 Avenue G South): M. Craig Campbell, Daryl Richardson, Paula Cooley, James Korpan, Dale Hicks, Ken Wilkinson

TAG -Textile Artist Group (Grace -Westminster United Church, lower level): Gwen Klypak, June Jacobs, Alison Phillips, Annie Wall

Studio Five (5th floor Charter House Building, 331 1st Ave. N.): Nora Jacek, Tyson Atkings, Jinzhe Cui, Alana Unruh, Ania Slusarczyk, Audra Balion, Jeff Chief, Valerie Poulin

Lauriston Street Studios (510 Lauriston St.): Paul Denham, Louisa Ferguson, Gerogia Horsley, Sandy Lendingham, Louise Struder

The Artist’s Loft (617 Main Street East)

BAM (229 20th Street W)

This is going to be THE weekend in Saskatoon for art lovers! Take the studio tour at your own pace to discover some of Saskatoon’s finest artists.

Website

Proposed Rezoning Meeting – 418 Cumberland Ave. N.

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PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

Proposed Rezoning by Agreement
418 Cumberland Avenue North
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Starting at 7:00 PM
Brunskill School – Library (101 Wiggins Avenue)

You are invited to review a proposed rezoning of 418 Cumberland Avenue North.

The applicant, Slade Desrochers, has applied to rezone the land through a Rezoning Agreement in order to redevelop the property.

A 3-storey building, with a main floor restaurant and 6 residential units on two floors above, is proposed to replace the building currently located on the property.
The purpose of the meeting is to provide neighbouring residents and property owners the opportunity to learn details of the proposed rezoning, obtain public input on the matter, and to provide details on the rezoning process.

For more information, please contact:
Brent McAdam, Planner
Planning and Development Division, Community Services Department, City of Saskatoon
222-3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, S7K 0J5
Email: brent.mcadam@saskatoon.ca
PH: (306) 986-0902 Fax: (306) 975-7712

Sum Theatre in the Park: July 3 – 24 in City parks

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July 3 – 24, 2015 in over 20 different parks around Saskatoon!

Theatre in the Park is Saskatchewan’s first FREE live professional outdoor theatre. Suitable for all ages. Everyone welcome. FREE of charge.

This year: Hercules

Dates and Parks Locations:
July 3 – A.H. Browne Park at 7:00pm
July 5 – Rotary Park at 2:00pm
July 5 – Wildwood Park at 7:00pm
July 6 – GD Archilbald Park West at 7:00pm
July 7 – Sid Buckwold Park at 7:00pm
July 8 – Parc Canada at 7:00pm
July 9 – W.J.L. Harvey North Park at 7:00pm
July 10 – Albert Park at 7:00pm
July 12 – Victoria Park at 2:00pm
July 12 – Churchill Park at 7:00pm
July 13 – Pleasant Hill Park at 7:00pm
July 14 – Les Kerr Park at 7:00pm
July 15 – James Anderson Park at 7:00pm
July 16 – Anita Langford Park at 7:00pm
July 17 – Wilson Park at 7:00pm
July 19 – Robert Hunter Park West at 2:00pm
July 19 – Buena Vista Park at 7:00pm
July 20 – H.S. Sears Park at 7:00pm
July 21 – Ashworth Holmes Park at 7:00pm
July 22 – Alexander MacGillvray Park at 7:00pm
July 23 – Surprise Park at 7:00pm
July 24 – Surprise Park at 7:00pm

Sum Theatre link.

Karma Project: Support the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op

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For the last 6 months Darlene Blanch has been doing a karma project with One Yoga Saskatoon to support the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op. They have held 5 Karma yoga classes, collected non-perishables at Christmas, replaced their broken down stove, purchased a new vacuum, received a large donation of toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste, and we hope to have a new washer and dryer installed within the month. Karma classes along with other outside donations have raised around $2000, and they also received a $5000 donation from ConnectEnergy. Thank you to everyone who have supported the initiative!

The Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op is a skills building and alternative education program for youth in Saskatoon. Youth are able to earn academic credits and learn life and employment skills in a compassionate and supportive environment. CNYC work with youth between the ages of 15 and 21 with the majority of the youth in our program ages 15-19.

For the month of June, Darlene has a beautiful armoire to donate to the Co-op and it is her intention to fill it with clean, neatly folded, gently used clothing. Part of the work that they do at the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op is training the youth in skills and job preparation. Many do not have work safe clothing or clothing appropriate for a job interview. She will be collecting good quality clothing for the next few weeks – they do not want garbage bags of old, ratty clothing, or anything that is not clean. Collared shirts for men, chinos or dress pants, and any sort of casual dress wear for ladies is appreciated. She will also be collecting a small amount of casual wear (Jeans, t-shirts, everyday wear) as sometimes students need to wash their clothes and need a change of fresh clothing to wear. (Donations of newly purchased socks and underwear would be appreciated)

Please help make this an easy project!!!. If you have good clothes that are clean and neatly folded, please use the email below and she will arrange a time for you to drop them off or for her to come pick them up.

The other things that Darlene is collecting is any sort of personal hygiene items. She is planning on putting together gift/hygiene packs for the end of the month for each student (for about 30 students). Items such as: deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair ties, new socks, toothpaste, dental floss, hair brushes, or any other items that young adults would like. She would like to be able to do up the treat packs so that the students feel excited and honoured when they open them. The hygiene items are necessary, but it would be so awesome to have some cool stuff in there too. Please email if you have any donations. Monetary donations will also be accepted to purchase items for the hygiene packs.

“The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small.” Mother Theresa

Let’s draw the circle of our family and communtity a little bigger!!

Email: web@vvcasaskatoon.com

Doors Open Saskatoon – Volunteers Needed!

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Doors Open Saskatoon – Join us! Get involved and volunteer!

Have some fun and volunteer on Sunday, June 7 from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM or 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM. Help us help the people of Saskatoon to appreciate our built heritage!

If you or any of your friends, family, coworkers are interested in getting involved in this event – please direct them to register online here http://surveymonkey.com/s/DOSYXEvolunteer or have them email Megan, the Doors Open Saskatoon 2015 Coordinator, at morr@onpurpose.ca for more information.

Anyone who registers by this Friday, May 29 will be entered to win a draw prize!

Chief Darcy Bear Park – Naming of the Park Celebration

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Chief Darcy Bear Park (beside Nutana Collegiate) Naming of the Park Celebration – Wednesday June 3rd 11am.

The City has taken responsibility of the old Nutana Collegiate school field (and once the Saskatoon Exhibition grounds), and re-landscaped it with a Community Garden and play structure. The park has been named after Chief Darcy Bear in recognition of his accomplishments, the longstanding relationship between the Whitecap Dakota First Nation the City, and the School Board (and the fact that Chief Darcy Bear is a Nutana Collegiate Graduate himself).

Come out to this historic event, there will be a Naming Ceremony and a BBQ as part of the celebration.