Tag Archives: neighbourhood

Out of Your Tree fruit sharing co-op

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Out of Your Tree in Saskatoon is an urban fruit sharing co-op.

GOAL: Keep edible produce from going to waste through cooperative harvesting before food ends up on the ground, in the compost or in the garbage

IDEA: Simple, a group of volunteers harvest the fruit. 1/3 is left with the home owner, 1/3 is donated and 1/3 is kept by the volunteers

ACTION: We need volunteers and we need produce. If you are interested in joining our harvesting team or if you have fruit bearing trees or other produce to share (rhubarb, apples, berries, vegetables, etc.) please register with us. Talk it up! The best way to get others involved is to ask them!

REWARDS: A great FLEXIBLE volunteer opportunity; get the kids involved. When a harvest opportunity comes in, we will contact the list of volunteers to see who is available. AND you get to take home fresh, locally grown produce. Excellent for the homeowner who gets their fruit harvested, contributes to the community and has less clean-up come fall.

Volunteers and tree owners can register online at http://outofyourtree.org and find us on Facebook.

Congregation Agudas Israel Family Day in the Park (WEATHER UPDATE)

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***Event moved to 715 McKinnon Ave gym due to rain**

family-bbq

Congregation Agudas Israel Family Day in the Park, Sunday, June 15, 11am-3pm, Raoul Wallenberg Park or in 715 McKinnon Ave gym of the weather is bad.

Free craft for kids, free cheek and hand painting and temporary tattoos, free belly dance fun, BBQ & pop sale, games in the park, free bounce house. Come one, come all.

NOTE: Garage sale portion of the event has been cancelled.

Hosted by Congregation Agudas Israel.

VVCA will be volunteering at the event selling sno-cones in support of the new park improvements, supporting major projects that proceeded through community consultation.

To volunteer contact lisashiffman@shaw.ca.

Events:

Free barbecue
bouncy castle (starting at 11:15)
Crafts
Games
Cheek painting
Temporary tattoos
Belly dance lessons for all ages
Fundraising sno-cone and pop sales
Hope you can stop by! Bring friends!

City Proposed Infill Regulations

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The Neighbourhood Level Infill Strategy (Strategy) made recommendations to address concerns regarding infill development that is currently occurring in established residential areas within Saskatoon. The Strategy recommended amending the development standards contained in the City of Saskatoon’s (City) Zoning Bylaw No. 8770 for primary dwellings (one-unit, two-unit, and semi-detached dwellings), and small multi-unit dwellings (up to four units) on corner lots. The Planning and Development Division is proposing changes to the Zoning Bylaw that will ensure that these types of infill development are more compatible with existing residential development.

Background and information materials will be available on www.saskatoon.ca, click “I” for Infill Development Strategy, along with the opportunity for residents to submit comments online.

The Strategy is one component of the overall Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon project to help guide investments to accommodate Saskatoon’s growth to half a million people.

Bike to Work Day

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The Bridge City Bicycle Co-op and In Motion are pleased to present Saskatoon’s second annual Bike To Work Day on June 4, 2014

About Bike To Work Day:

The mission of Bike To Work Day (BTWD) Saskatoon is to attract new cyclists to commuting while celebrating the efforts of those that already use their bikes to get to and from work.

We aim to have a network of Commuter Stations in locations around the city from 7 – 9am on the morning of Wednesday, June 4th, 2014. Local businesses and organizations in Saskatoon are invited to participate in BTWD by hosting a Commuter Station – a place for commuters to stop for grab-and-go refreshments, information, and a little fun on their way to work.

Benefits of Cycling to Work

Cycling is a healthy, convenient, low-cost and socially responsible form of everyday transportation that improves our community by decreasing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution. We hope this event inspires more people to use their bicycles for regular, active transportation and experience the benefits of increased mental and physical health upon arriving at work.

Host a Commuter Station:

If your business or organization is interested in hosting a Commuter Station, please read through the details on www.biketoworksaskatoon.com and submit a Commuter Station Request Form. Please note that filling out a form implies agreement to adhere to the commitments and responsibilities as outlined in the Station Manager’s Guide on the BTWD website.

NatureCity Festival

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The NatureCity Festival is a week of (mostly free) urban escapes and mini adventures. See Saskatoon shine more brightly than ever before. Go a little wild in the city!

Where: In parks, gardens and natural areas all over the city.

What: The Festival offers nature-related activities for all ages and all tastes.
~ Want to enjoy one of Canada’s most popular pastimes but don’t know how to begin? Enroll in the Learn to Birdwatch short course.
~ Yearning to get up close and personal with wildlife? Meet Franklin, the luckiest ground squirrel and commune with a Great Horned Owl.
~ Hungry for change? Take in the urban agriculture tour. Up for a challenge? ~ Enter the three-day Green Bird-a-thon.
~ Come out and enjoy art, music, wild birds, prairie plants, beautiful bugs and so much more!
~ There will be PRIZES!

Complete details at www.wildaboutsaskatoon.org

Who: The NatureCity Festival provides programming for people of all ages.
The Festival is produced by Wild about Saskatoon, an informal collective of nature lovers, in collaboration with a whole lot of other people. This year, more than 70 groups and businesses are involved in the fun.

Festival Warm-Up: Get into the Festival spirit at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market, Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m., with wildlife exhibits, information booths, music, skateboarding demonstrations, and more! Follow the brass band from the Market to the Roxy Theatre and arrive just in time for the first Gala Keynote event.

Exciting Speakers:
Saturday, May 24 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Why (Young) People Need Nature

Monday, May 26 7:30-9:30 p.m.
The International Urban Biodiversity Movement

Wednesday, May 28 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Be Kind to Your Friends in the Pond: The Value of Urban Wetlands

NatureCity Festival poster (pdf)

Cultural Heritage Mapping – Varsity View

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Discussions on Placing-making in Saskatoon and Varsity View

Join students from the University of Saskatchewan’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Culture and Creativity for conversations on heritage and the evolution of Varsity View, and Saskatoon’s history of urban forestry.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014, 7:30pm
Albert Community Centre Loft, 610 Clarence Avenue South

Varsity View Neighbourhood:
Ramon Zamora: “Varsity View: How It Came to Be”
Jeremy Dela Cruz: “The Early and Current Architectural Styles of Varsity View”
Brittney Beckie: “An Historical Inventory of the Commercial Development in Varsity View”
Megan Vandendriessche: “An Exploration of the Cultural Influences of the University of Saskatchewan on Varsity View”

Urban Forestry in Saskatoon:
Raquel Wenarchuk: “How Saskatoon Grew Green: The Nurseries and Organizations in volved with Beautifying the City”
Adriana Atcheson: “Urban Forestry in Saskatoon’s Parks”
Noelle Bouvier: “The Development of Boulevards in Saskatoon: 1906-1930”

Public welcome. For more information contact: andrew.dunlop@usask.ca or 306.966.6690

Cultural Heritage Mapping Poster

Humanity First Canada – Plant a Tree

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Humanity First Canada – Saskatoon branch and the youth association of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has planned to plant 1000 trees in our home province of Saskatchewan. This campaign is being launched to educate the community that trees are essential to our health and well-being, preserving our beautiful province, and also play an important role in mitigating climate change. We will be working in collaboration and direct supervision of Meewasin Valley Authority, Saskatoon in this project. This will help us to ensure that we plant trees properly and they thrive and survive.

Chief Guest: Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor, Govt. of Saskatchewan.
Date: June 1st, 2014.
Start Time: 4.00 p.m. (duration 45 minutes)
Venue: Room 1150, Health Science Building (E-Wing), 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK

FOOD DRIVE May 3

VVCA News & Events,

The Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre receives over 12,000 requests for food each month. Your nutritious food donation will make all the difference for thousands of families in our community.

The Annual City-Wide Food Drive takes place Saturday, May 3rd, 2014.

How can you help?

  • Watch your mailbox for your donation bag
  • Fill it with healthy non-perishable food
  • Set your bag on your doorstep by 10 am on Sat, May 3 for volunteers to collect

Visit saskatoonfoodbank.org or call 306-664-6565 for more information.

Special Projects Update

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Special Projects Update: Making Dreams a Reality in Varsity View and Grosvenor Park

Firstly, a big thank you to those of you who shared your views of our community the past few months. By consulting residents through dialogue, our website, and email, we built a clear picture of what residents would support in our community. Your feedback
put a strong emphasis on enriching public spaces, which is certainly a theme we will embrace.

Projects we are advancing through proposals, partnerships, and grant requests:

  • Functional art/seating area spaces in Raoul Wallenberg park (in partnership with Congregation Agudas Israel) and other parks.
  • Upgrades to Albert Recreational Park (in partnership with Nutana Community Association).
  • Playground upgrades to Brunskill School (in partnership with the school community).
  • A litter reduction project.
  • A heritage trail and signage.

As grants and partnerships are finalized in the coming months, we will tell residents more about these projects and will be asking for your financial support to enhance the beauty, uniqueness, and opportunity of our neighbourhood.

I encourage you to join us at our AGM April 16th to share your views on these ideas for our community (and also to discuss a slight change to our constitution, intended to bring the length of notice of our AGM in line with The Non-Profit Corporations Act).

Get involved in making a difference!

University student project: Varsity View & U of S

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My name is Megan Vandendriessche and I am a Regional and Urban Planning student at the University of Saskatchewan. For one of my classes, entitled INCC 310: Cultural Heritage Mapping, I am focusing on examining the cultural influences that the University of Saskatchewan has had on shaping the development of Varsity View from 1907 to present day. I am interested in any sources or stories that may help me determine these influences. I hope to share my findings with the Community of Varsity View when the project is finished.

If you, or know someone who would have some information to share, please do not hesitate to contact me at: mlv304@mail.usask.ca BEFORE April 1st, 2014.

University student project: Varsity View Commercial Area

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My name is Brittney Beckie and I am a Regional and Urban Planning student at the University of Saskatchewan. For one of my classes, entitled INCC 310: Cultural Heritage Mapping, I am focusing on developing an inventory of the commercial businesses that have been and are currently located within Varsity View.

I am aware that Varsity View was originally zoned Residential A (one or two family dwellings). However, some businesses did locate within Varsity View and I want to find out more information on the variances to the bylaw that would have had to occur too allow those businesses to locate within the community. Essentially, I am looking at the relationship between the commercial and residential aspects of the community throughout the years.

If you, or if anyone you know has valuable information on this topic, please do not hesitate to email me at bfb606@mail.usask.ca before APRIL 1, 2014.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you,