Saskatchewan Council on Aging Raffle

VVCA News & Events,

The pandemic prevents many older adults from seeing their loved ones, accessing social events, shopping, exercise and other facets of daily life. Social isolation is a serious risk to health and wellness. The Saskatoon Council on Aging helps connect seniors with friends and loved ones as well as the community where they live.  

Tickets on sale now for our “Get Connected” 50/50 raffle! 50 percent of the proceeds go to support programs and services for older adults impacted by the pandemic.

Visit scoa.ca for more information

The Saskatoon Council on Aging is a non-profit organization that works on behalf of the approximately 79,000 older adults 55 and over in Saskatoon and area. 

So you want to be President?

VVCA News & Events, ,

Interested in making your community a little better? The Varsity View Community Association is always looking for volunteers!

VVCA is run by friendly volunteers who organize and attend meetings, provide programs and activites for youth and adults, work with the City regarding development, parking, policing and other issues, keep the rink in good condition, publish a newsletter and website, raise money for community events and projects, and generally try to make the Varsity View and Grosvenor Park neighbourhoods a little nicer to live in.

Sounds fun, right? If something on that short list fills a need in you, or you have other ideas on how to improve your neighbourhood, join us on Zoom at a monthly VVCA board meeting and have your say. We’d love to hear your ideas and would be more than happy to find you a spot on our board if you are interested.

Right now, the VVCA is looking for a President – someone to act as a chair for our meetings, prepare agendas, meet with and represent the community, and inspire us all to improve the community and the City. Sounds like a big job, but it’s more than worth it and there are lots of other volunteers to help share the load.

Email info@vvcasaskatoon.com for more information, or check our About page or Facebook for information on the dates of our next board meeting.

Rink Raffle

VVCA News & Events, , ,

Please support our Varsity View Community Association Rink Renovation Project Raffle!

Our local Varsity View community skating rink brings together adults and children alike for fun with friends and family all winter long with skating and hockey. It feels like old fashioned place where friends and strangers meet, come and go, join an informal game of hockey or skate around and have a chat. From young kids, to college students, to grandparents, all play together and the natural harmony created is infectious.

This community rink is in dire need of a renovation, as the boards and fences are damaged and even dangerous. We are hoping to raise money to re-fence, re-board and regrade the rink, but we must raise money to make this dream a reality!

We created a raffle with the following fabulous prizes, some donated by businesses in our community:

Grand Prize: $1500 cash
2nd Prize: $200 cash plus Crew Rowhouse 12 class pass valued at $225

3rd Prize: $200 cash plus $175 All in the Wild Gallery gift certificate

4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Prize: $50 D’lish by Tish gift cards

3 tickets for $10 or 1 ticket for $5
Draw date: FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Covid-19 put a damper on our fundraising efforts, and the need for community members  to play outside all year-round is greater than ever!

We offer contactless ticket purchase by emailing angela.margaret.jones@gmail.com, and using e-transfer to that email. We will send you a picture of the tickets and ticket numbers, and if you desire the original tickets we will mail them to you.

This is a great local cause and every dollar raised is a dollar that goes straight to the renovation!

Fall 2020 Street Sweeping

City of Saskatoon, VVCA News & Events, ,

RE: Time for your beauty sweep!! 2020 fall street sweeping starts October 13

The annual Fall Street Sweeping program gets underway Tuesday, October 13!
Cleaning up leaves in the fall helps prevents them from collecting in gutters causing flooding in the spring.

Only the leafiest streets in the following 11 neighbourhoods will be swept: Buena Vista, Caswell Hill, City Park, Exhibition, Holiday Park, King George, Mayfair, Meadow Green, Nutana, Riversdale and Varsity View.

Check out the area maps at saskatoon.ca/sweep to see which streets are included. Remember, no neighbourhoods have every road swept.

Watch for the yellow “No Parking” signs and move vehicles off the street by 7 a.m. on your sweeping day. Tickets and towing will occur so we can access the full curb lane.

How to prepare:

  1. Clean up leaves that can blow onto the street. Please do not push or blow leaves onto the street. This is illegal and residents may receive a Bylaw Notice. Excess leaves can delay the cleaning schedule or even cause the entire street to be skipped.
  2. Place leaves and yard clippings in your City of Saskatoon green cart or consider taking them to one of the City’s compost depots for free. Learn more at saskatoon.ca/compost.

Find your area sweeping sweeping schedule at saskatoon.ca/sweep. Stay up to date with the City of Saskatoon Service Alerts for any unexpected changes that may affect the sweeping schedule.


Civic Election: mail-in ballots

City of Saskatoon, VVCA News & Events, ,

The 2020 Civic Election is November 9, 2020. Eligible voters in Saskatoon will cast their ballot for Mayor, City Councilors and School Board Trustees. This fall, vote your way, vote safely. Apply today https://bit.ly/2GEHlsF.

How to:

Apply in-person by appointment from August 5 to November 8, 2020. Apply online from August 5 to October 30, 2020.

To apply for your mail-in ballot package, you must:
– complete the voter registration and mail-in ballot application form
– have an eligible voter witness your signature when completing the application. Any eligible voter in the 2020 Saskatoon civic election can be a witness

Your mail-in voting package will arrive in the mail in mid-October, along with a ballot and self-addressed, stamped envelope. 
Once you receive your mail-in ballot package, follow these instructions. Return your ballot package back promptly.

Note: In order to be counted, mail-in ballots must be received at the 2020 Civic Election Office at 226 Cardinal Crescent before 8:00 pm on Election Day, November 9.

City Recreation Programs

City of Saskatoon, VVCA News & Events, , ,

FREE programs offered by the City of Saskatoon.

Taking to the Court
FREE one day event for boys ages 10 -14 to get active, learn and practice a mix of sports. Snacks and lunch provided.
Monday, October 26 (originally scheduled to run October 9) from 9:00am-4:00pm
Cosmo Civic Centre Gymnasium (3130 Laurier Drive)

Multi-Sport Sampler Tennis Session
FREE Ages 9-14 years.  A great opportunity for youth to engage in physical activity while developing new and improved skills in tennis.
Monday, November 9 (was originally scheduled for November 6) from 1:00pm-4;00pm
Lakewood Indoor Tennis Centre (1635 McKercher Drive)

Drop N Shop
FREE Ages 6-12 yrs. This holiday season entrust your children with certified leaders who will supervise a number of child-friendly activities including arts and crafts, giving opportunity to get away and get your shopping done!

Lakewood Civic Centre (1635 McKercher Drive)Saturday, November 28 from 1:00pm-4:00pm
Saturday, December 5 from 1:00pm-4:00pm

White Buffalo Youth Lodge (602 20th St. W)
Saturday, December 12 from 1:00pm-4:00pm


Programs/ Events Cancelled in Fall 2020 Due to COVID-19
Fall Freestyle, Fast & Female Champ Chat, Girls in Motion and Multisport Sampler Bowling Session

Run for the Cure 2020

VVCA, , ,

This year, since we can’t meet in person, the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind experience with both physical and virtual components.

On Run Day, Varsity View community residents will join the live-streamed online opening ceremonies at 9:30 am CST before heading out to walk or run in the neighbourhood. Several 1 KM and 5 KM routes are set up in the city for people to use on Run Day. The North Route and the Central Route are the routes closest to the Varsity View community but residents are welcome to use any route they would like to take.

Being physically apart won’t stop us from coming together to change the future of breast cancer. Join us and run or walk your way on October 4th. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Saskatoon CIBC Run for the Cure Committee through their facebook group “Saskatoon – Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run For the Cure”. Register today at cibcrunforthecure.com.

Outdoor Festival Site

City of Saskatoon, VVCA, ,

The Permanent Outdoor Festival Feasibility Team is working to identify, select, study and plan for the future development of a City of Saskatoon Permanent Outdoor Site.  Consultants from HTFC Planning & Design are leading the feasibility study on behalf of the City of Saskatoon.

Why a Permanent Outdoor Festival Site?

The riverbank parks near downtown were not designed or constructed to accommodate large outdoor events hosted over multiple days.  As a result, the riverbank parks are susceptible to mechanical and physical damages associated with staging large scale extended events.  Continued use of the riverbank parks by a number of large scale outdoor events has resulted in deteriorating turf and tree conditions.  

The Permanent Outdoor Festival Site Feasibility Study will identify both a location(s) and design plan for a permanent centrally-located festival site, which would take into consideration all the typical needs of outdoor events, including access to water, power, staging, parking, accessibility needs, etc.  The study will also take into account infrastructure requirements for such a festival site to ensure protection and long-term sustainability of any associated green infrastructure.

Online Survey

Our Team is looking to get your input on these three topics:

  • Which of the three sites do you prefer and why?
  • What should be the criteria for an ideal permanent outdoor festival site?
  • What program elements and features would you want to see?

The easiest way to provide your input on these topics is by completing this online survey.  The survey will be open for responses from 8:00am on Thursday, September 17th until 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 28th.

More information: https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/permanent-outdoor-festival-site

Work the Civic Election

City of Saskatoon, VVCA, ,

Work the election. Get paid.

Saskatoon’s Civic Election is on November 9, 2020.
We’re hiring election workers (age 16+) to assist with various voting opportunities this fall. Positions range from $16/hour to $20/hour plus paid training.

Do you speak a language other than English?
Our goal is to recruit workers who speak languages represented in Saskatoon’s diverse community.

There are great reasons to get involved:
• Earn cash
• Build your résumé
• Get involved in your community

Apply before September 20 at saskatoon.ca/electionjobs or call 306-657-VOTE (8683).

BRT Update – August 2020

City of Saskatoon, VVCA,

Thank you for your continued interest in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. These have been unusual and challenging times. The pandemic has more than ever emphasized how important public transit is to the functioning of a city, transporting essential workers to and from jobs and acting as a support for economic stability and social equity. BRT remains a crucial part of the City of Saskatoon’s growth plans and we are happy to provide you with an update on the progress of the project.

Project planning has continued according to projected timelines. The following developments have occurred, moving us ever closer to the launch of Bus Rapid Transit:

On March 29th, existing high frequency transit service (routes 8, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 86) was rerouted from the Sid Buckwold Bridge to Broadway Avenue. Routes 1 and 6 were rerouted from Broadway Avenue, to the Sid Buckwold Bridge, to maintain transit service along 8th Street west of Broadway Avenue.

Technical drawings have been received for each BRT station location, including design of the operational components.

Plans are being developed to build a pilot station to test the physical and technical requirements of each BRT station, to ensure they work well in all seasons. The testing phase will start upon installation and will be observed by a technical team including transit operators and staff.

Coordination between software companies continues to evolve to ensure the traffic signals and transit software systems will work together to provide Traffic Signal Priority (TSP).  Three intersections will be used as test sites.

We will continue to update you regularily as the project moves forward. Feel free to pass this newsletter along to anyone else you may feel would be interested.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Bus Rapid Transit project, please email us at brt@saskatoon.ca.

Saskatoon Transit Update

Saskatoon Transit has had major disruptions to normal business due to COVID-19; however, as many doors closed, Saskatoon Transit remained open providing an essential service. Modifications were made to keep customers and employees safe.

Due to the rapidly evolving changes to Saskatoon Transit service, please frequently visit SaskatoonTransit.ca or follow on Twitter at @stoontransit for current information.