Mayor Charlie Clark

Tune in to Facebook Live on Friday Dec 18 at 11:30am to watch a media announcement with Mayor Clark and community leaders talking about how to celebrate the holidays during COVID.

To anyone thinking about attending another anti-mask rally in Saskatoon this weekend give your head a shake. Do not join a rally that tells people to go out and endanger the lives of others. 11 people died from this virus on Saturday alone. 11 people who are now being mourned by their parents, children, grandchildren, friends and family members. 11 people who won’t be here in 2021.... It is time to rally our efforts to save lives, to work together, to support our health care workers who are fighting to keep us alive right now. Many people and businesses have made huge sacrifices to work within these public health orders and do their part to keep people safe. It is very frustrating to see people going out and undermining all of the efforts that the rest of us have taken. I expect that there to be enforcement of the public health orders that are in place, and that the organizers of these events are investigated and held to account.

As the weather gets colder, the needs of the people around us continue to grow. This past weekend the local Islamic Relief Canada team provided 200 kits of essential winter supplies, hygiene products, and PPE to support those in need right here in Saskatoon. This is just one of the many amazing examples of the work people and organizations in our community are doing to help others in a time of need. If you’re able, please consider supporting one of our great community-based organizations or local non-profits that will help make a difference in someone’s life this season.

These extremely cold winter days and nights can be very dangerous. It’s so important that we help take care of one another and make sure individuals and families have the supports they need to get through the extreme cold. Below is a list of warm up locations being offered by Saskatoon organizations who step forward every year to offer this support. One of the ways that you can help is by sharing Saskatoon’s Warm-Up Locations as part of the Cold Weather Strategy. You can also reach out to anyone who may need this information, to make sure they know this support is available. https://www.shipweb.ca/cold-weather-strategy-1#

This is absolutely delightful! Thank you Susan Kesler for this tribute to the late night dance of the titans on your street.

My son took this video on behalf of my incredible father-in-law Jake who was so fully involved in the campaign that they couldn’t clear the snow off the deck. This absolutely wouldn’t be possible without my amazing family.

Very sorry to learn of the passing of another community leader this weekend - Bob Korol after a tough battle with cancer. Bob served as the CEO of TCU place for the past decade after a career in pro hockey and facility management n Europe. Bob took the job of hosting the community and the world at TCU Place so seriously and was always there with a smile to greet everyone who came by. He was a Saskatoon boy who came home and his passion for the community was so evident. ... Deepest condolences to wife Dawn and to children Michael and Sophie and all of his friends and family, including the TCU and City family he worked with every day.

Here is my follow-up to yesterday’s post about how to celebrate the holiday season in a way that combines being safe with supporting our local community with spending quality time with our family. Below is my list of fun experiences our family is thinking about checking out: Visit Wanuskewin and take a trail tour on snowshoes.... Check out a Live virtual concert presented by the SSO: Dec 12th Candlelight Christmas and Dec 29th Home for the Holidays - Opera Head to Optimist Hill when it opens to do some tubing, skiing, or snowboarding. Watch the CP Holiday Train from Home on December 12th Set up a virtual movie or games night with family and friends who we can't gather with this year. Check out "An Evening of Story and Song" presented by Reconciliation Saskatoon on December 16th. Take a walk through the Enchanted Forest Festival of Lights at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm on January 4th or we can drive through any evening after that until the end of the month. This city is filled with so many quality offerings. You can check out this link to the Tourism Saskatoon Event Calendar for more examples: https://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/festival-events/ And I am also interested in what new activities you are doing, please share!

To all those in the Hindu community celebrating Diwali and all those in the Sikh community celebrating Bandi Chor, I wish you many blessings and safe celebrations with family and friends.

I’m very sorry to hear of the passing of local poet, historian, playwright, educator Don Kerr. Don’s life work was to capture and narrate the story of Saskatoon which he did in so many ways. His book (with Stan Hanson) Saskatoon the First Fifty Years has been a go to resource for me when I want to understand our origin story as a community. I loved running into Don at the Broadway Roastery, always with a pen and paper in hand and working. Or on his bicycle riding home from ...Broadway, as he never had a driver’s licence. He was full of opinions and passion about our community and that deep knowledge of how we got here that is so valuable to know where we are going. My deepest condolences to Mildred and to his family and friends. I hope we have a chance as a community to gather and celebrate Don and share stories when that becomes possible again. See more

We won! We ran a positive campaign focused on the strength of our community and focusing on hope, not on being divisive or tapping into the very real fears people are feeling right now. Because over and over again I have heard from you that this is the kind of leadership Saskatoon wants and knows is necessary to get through difficult times. People who know that here on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Metis we make progress through strengthening relationships and... building trust. Everyday, I have seen so many of you as leaders in our community, call on our best selves, bridge divides, build understanding, and choose collaboration to solve problems. I am so grateful that Saskatoon voted for me to carry on this mandate for another four years - to play my part, and move the city together towards a hopeful future. To my incredible campaign team led by my Campaign Manager Michelle Beveridge, you did an absolutely amazing job building a campaign in these totally unprecedented circumstances. Arcana Creative John Harstone Jay Ok You totally rocked it. We had a group of people come together, many meeting for the first time, who threw their hearts and souls into this campaign. I was so proud to be part of it. I am sad we can't have a party to celebrate this shared success. To all of the volunteers, donors, endorsers, advisers, boosters. People from all political stripes, from every corner of the city, from all walks of life, I can't tell you how much your support has meant through the ups and downs of this campaign. There were so many twists and turns and challenging moments along the way. Every time we were facing a tough situation we were lifted up by the determination and encouragement and positive messages of another volunteer, another message of support, another act of generosity. To everyone who has played a part, I truly wish I could look each of you in the eye and thank you personally for your support, it has been truly incredible and your efforts carried us along. We live in an amazing city. The future is in our hands. I look forward to working with you over the next four years toward a strong future for all of the children growing up here who are relying on us to be the leaders they need us to be.

Celebrating the holidays in this unusual season The holiday season is a time when so many of us make some of our biggest investments in each other with gifts and activities. This year, we also know that many small businesses are facing unprecedented challenges as they play their part to try to keep everyone safe. ... We can all play a role in helping these small businesses that are so important to the fabric of our community, survive. We can make our holiday investments also be investments in our community. Sarah and I have been coming up with our plans for the holidays. There are extra considerations this year and we have been trying to find a way that combines being safe with supporting our local community with spending quality time with our family. I thought I’d share some of my ideas and I’d also be interested in hearing about the ways that you are planning to do things differently this year. Below is my gift list and stay tuned for my experiences list: We have booked into a downtown hotel for a local staycation with plans for a family skate, and take-out for supper from a local restaurant. I’m going to pick up one of the hot new board games (what’s hot these days?) from a local game store as well for our family to play. We are going to rent some cross-country skis and take advantage of the incredible trails we have. Our son wants to build a computer so we are looking up the parts online, and finding local stores that can supply the parts. Sarah loves books, so I’ll be checking into our local bookstores to see what new Canadian fiction they have in stock for curbside pickup (don’t tell her). I have been purchasing gift certificates from a range of different restaurants and shops for friends and work colleagues. We’ve even found some great independent local designers with such innovative and beautiful gifts through the Local Love Holiday Gift Guide Facebook page for other family gifts. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1015107418961634 For great staycation ideas check out the Staycation Series packages found on the Tourism Saskatoon website) https://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/hotels/staycation-series/

Find the results as they roll in at https://electionresults.saskatoon.ca/

Happy and safe Hanukkah to all of you observing the first night of Hanukkah tonight, in Saskatoon and around the world. I know this will be a very different Hannukah for the Jewish community as you not to be able to gather with family and friends. I will miss not being part of the Menorah lighting this year, and sharing latkes and donuts. May this Festival of Light bring hope and courage as you celebrate this year, and as we work together towards a brighter future ahead.... #happyhanukkah #yxe

Dr. Jasmine Hasselback, a Medical Health Officer with the SHA, has asked that we help get the word out that they are looking for people to get involved in protecting the community against COVID19. You DON’T have to be a health professional to play a role. They are both hiring for positions and recruiting volunteers. ... For more information on what they are looking for and to see if there is a role for you, check out this link!

Free Saturday parking has started from now until March! In my campaign, I had made a commitment to propose this to Council, as one way we can make it easier for people to support our local businesses. I’m happy that Council supported this and we are able to get it started right away. And remember, the 3-hour limit still applies! ... More details below and at the link: City Council recently approved free parking on Saturdays in City-managed public pay parking areas throughout Saskatoon starting December 12, 2020, and ending March 27, 2021. Parking customers are reminded that all other parking requirements remain in effect, including parking time limits. Parking Enforcement staff will continue to monitor and ticket vehicles parked in: a parking space for longer than the posted time limit reserved or accessible parking spaces without the required permit No Stopping or No Parking zones alleys (unless actively loading or unloading) Pay parking remains in effect on lots operated by third party operators or commercial lots. For more information on Public Pay Parking, visit saskatoon.ca/payparking.

Since last Wednesday, the City has been removing snow from residential streets, improving our ability to safely navigate neighbourhoods. Piles of snow have been removed in five neighbourhoods. Snow crews have managed to stay true to the schedule and maintain progress as anticipated, removing snow on approximately one kilometre of streets, per crew, per day on average, says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation & Construction. Beginning today, we’re adding capac...Continue reading

The following route changes will take effect on January 2, 2021. Black Cart Garbage Brighton: Route 9 Friday (2020) changing to Route 2 Monday (2021) Holiday Park: Route 3 Tuesday (2020) changing to Route 4 Tuesday (2021) on a different week cycle ... Green Cart Organics Montgomery Place: Route 1 Monday (2020) changing to Route 9 Friday (2021) Blue Cart Recycling Brighton: Route 6 Monday (2020) changing to Route 8 Wednesday (2021) Confederation Urban Centre: Route 3 Wednesday (2020) changing to Route 10 Friday (2021) Holiday Collection Reminders Due to the December 25 and January 1 statutory holiday, the following collections will be rescheduled as follows: December 25 Black Cart Garbage: Route 10 Friday (2020) collection happening on Saturday, December 26 Blue Cart Recycling: Route 5 Friday (2020) collection happening on Saturday, December 26 January 1 Black Cart Garbage: Route 9 Friday (2021) collection happening on Saturday, January 2 Blue Cart Recycling: Route 10 Friday (2021) collection happening on Saturday, January 2 Letters are being sent to all affected households to ensure residents are aware of these changes, however, residents are encouraged to check their collection calendars to ensure they don’t miss pick-up day. Residents can sign up for reminders at saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar or through the Saskatoon Recycle & Waste app, available on the App Store or Google Play. A reminder that during the winter months, the City and its service providers make every effort to perform waste and recycling collections without disruption. However, accessibility is a determining factor on some streets and back lanes. Residents are asked to ensure that carts are placed in front of or 4 feet to the side of obstacles, including vehicles and snowbanks, to ensure that collection truck arms can access carts for effective collection.