Saskatoon

Saskatoon is the largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It sits along a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central part of the province. The city was founded in 1882 as a Temperance colony and has grown to become the cultural and economic center of central Saskatchewan.

As of the 2021 census, Saskatoon had a population of 266,141, making it the largest city in Saskatchewan and the 17th largest Census Metropolitan Area in Canada with 317,480 people.

The city is home to important places like the University of Saskatchewan, the Meewasin Valley Authority, which helps protect the river and its parks, and Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a National Historic Site of Canada that shows 6,000 years of First Nations history. Saskatoon is named after the saskatoon berry, a fruit native to the area, and has many bridges, earning it the nicknames "Paris of the Prairies" and "The City of Bridges".

Etymology

The name "Saskatoon" comes from the Cree word for a special kind of berry called the saskatoon berry. These berries grow in the area and are sweet and violet-colored. The city’s founder, John Neilson Lake, once said, "Arise Saskatoon, Queen of the North!" after tasting these berries. The name might also come from a Cree word meaning "the place where willows are cut," because people used to cut willow branches there for making things like arrow shafts.

History

Main article: History of Saskatoon

In 1882, a group from Toronto was given land near the South Saskatchewan River between what is now Warman and Dundurn. They wanted to create a community without alcohol, far from the busy city life. The next year, settlers led by John Neilson Lake arrived and set up the first permanent home. They traveled by train from Ontario to Moose Jaw and then finished the journey by horse-drawn cart.

In 1885, the small community felt the effects of a conflict known as the North-West Rebellion. Some people passed through the area on their way to join forces led by Louis Riel. After battles, some wounded soldiers recovered at the Marr Residence, which is now a historic site.

Saskatoon became an official town in 1903 and grew into a city by 1906, with a population of 4,500. Over time, nearby areas like Montgomery Place and Sutherland joined the city. Today, Saskatoon is an important center for central and northern Saskatchewan.

Geography

Main article: List of neighbourhoods in Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a city in the middle of Saskatchewan, Canada. It sits near a river and is surrounded by flat land with some small hills. The city is split into east and west sides by the South Saskatchewan River.

Saskatoon has four seasons, with warm summers and cold winters. The city gets about 352 millimetres of rain each year, and it is often sunny. Summer storms can bring heavy rain, hail, and strong winds. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −50.0 °C, and the hottest was 41.5 °C.

Demographics

See also: Saskatoon metropolitan area § Demographics

Canada census – Saskatoon community profile

References: 2021 2016 2011

In the 2021 Canadian census led by Statistics Canada, Saskatoon had a population of 266,141 people. This was a 7.7% increase from the 247,201 people living there in 2016. The city covers an area of 226.56 square kilometres (87.48 sq mi) and had a population density of 1,174.7 people per square kilometre in 2021.

The census metropolitan area around Saskatoon had a population of 317,480 in 2021. This area covers 5,864.48 square kilometres (2,264.29 sq mi) and had a population density of 54.1 people per square kilometre that year.

Ethnicity

The area around Saskatoon has been home to people for a very long time, as shown by archaeological work at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. Many people from Canada's First Nations now live in Saskatoon. The number of First Nations people in the city grew a lot between 1981 and 2001. Most of these people have Cree or Dakota backgrounds, with smaller groups from other groups like Saulteaux, Assiniboine, and Dene.

Saskatoon also has many Métis people and is near important historical areas such as the Southbranch Settlements and the Prairie Ronde settlement near Dundurn, Saskatchewan.

Religion

According to the 2021 census, the main religious groups in Saskatoon included:

• Christianity (134,900 people or 51.7%)
• Irreligion (98,575 people or 37.8%)
• Islam (12,985 people or 5.0%)
• Hinduism (5,125 people or 2.0%)
• Sikhism (3,155 people or 1.2%)
• Buddhism (1,935 people or 0.7%)
• Indigenous Spirituality (1,650 people or 0.6%)
• Judaism (565 people or 0.2%)
• Other (2,065 people or 0.8%)

Culture

Saskatoon has many places for the arts and fun events. TCU Place is a big venue for concerts, plays, and special events like school graduations. It also has the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and was recently updated. For big rock concerts, people go to the SaskTel Centre, which can hold thousands of people.

The city holds many festivals in the summer, such as the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival, the Jazz Festival, and the Saskatchewan Children's Festival. There’s also a weekend in August called “Cruise Weekend” where people show off old cars. The Saskatoon Exhibition, also called “The Ex,” happens every August at Prairieland Park.

Art lovers can visit the Remai Modern, a big museum with thousands of artworks. It opened in 2017 and is very popular. There are also smaller galleries like the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery and the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.

The city has many theatres, including the Persephone Theatre and the Broadway Theatre, which shows special kinds of movies. The Delta Bessborough Hotel is a famous landmark built by the Canadian National Railway.

The Meewasin Valley Trail is a lovely path along the river where people can walk, bike, or ski. In winter, there’s a free skating rink in Kiwanis Memorial Park.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Saskatoon

Saskatoon’s economy is closely tied to natural resources like potash, oil, and agriculture, especially wheat. This has earned the city the nickname “POW City.” Many important companies, including the world’s largest uranium company, Cameco, and the largest potash producer, Nutrien, have their main offices here.

The area holds a large portion of the world’s potash. A place called Innovation Place, started in 1980, connects many industries in technology and science. Saskatoon is also home to the Canadian Light Source, Canada’s national science research tool. The city’s central location makes it a good place for businesses to send and receive goods. Plans are in place for the city to grow to hold around 325,000 people by 2028.

Government and politics

See also: List of mayors of Saskatoon

Saskatoon is led by a City Council that includes ten councillors, each representing a different area of the city, and a mayor who is elected by everyone in the city. The council has used this system since 1994, and both mayors and councillors serve for four years. Elections happen in the fall.

Saskatoon has 15 representatives in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, which is part of the province. After the election in October 2024, most of these representatives are from the New Democratic Party, with a couple from the Saskatchewan Party.

At the national level, Saskatoon has three representatives in the Canadian House of Commons. After the 2025 election, all three are members of the Conservative Party.

Infrastructure

Health care

The Saskatchewan Health Authority manages health care in Saskatoon. It runs four hospitals in the city, including Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon City Hospital, and St. Paul's Hospital (Saskatoon). There is also Jim Pattison Children's Hospital, located inside Royal University Hospital. Royal University Hospital works with the University of Saskatchewan for teaching and research. The health authority also runs hospitals in nearby towns, along with long-term care homes, clinics, and other health services. Jim Pattison Children's Hospital started building in 2014 and opened in 2019.

Fire protection

The Saskatoon Fire Department protects the city from fires. As of 2025, it has 9 stations and more than 360 staff members. The department’s main office is at Fire Hall No. 1 on 125 Idylwyld Drive. It has 12 fire engines, two ladder trucks, one heavy rescue vehicle, two water tenders, two brush trucks, and three water craft, including two rigid-hull boats and one inflatable boat. The department has special teams for jobs like surface water rescue, rope rescue, hazardous material disposal, rescue diving, vehicle extrication, urban search and rescue, and emergency medical services.

Policing

The main police force in Saskatoon is the Saskatoon Police Service. Other police groups that work in the city include Corman Park Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian National Railway Police Service, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Police Service. As of December 31, 2012, the SPS had 442 sworn officers, 59 Special Constables, and 136 civilian staff.

Crime

Crime statistics from 2006 showed Saskatoon had high rates of certain types of crime, but more recent data from the Saskatoon Police Service shows that crime is decreasing. In 2010, crimes against people went up a little, but crimes against property went down. By 2014, Saskatoon was not as high on the list of cities with the most crime. In 2019, Saskatoon reported a record number of serious crimes, with a rate of about 6.5 such incidents per 100,000 people.

Transportation

Roads and bridges

Saskatoon is on the Yellowhead Highway, part of the Trans-Canada Highway, also called Highway 16. Many highways meet in Saskatoon, connecting it to places like Alberta and British Columbia. Several bridges cross the South Saskatchewan River, including the Gordie Howe Bridge, Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge, and Circle Drive Bridge. Construction of the city’s ring road, Circle Drive, finished in 2013 after starting in the 1960s.

Rail

Both the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway have stops in Saskatoon. The city is a stop on The Canadian passenger train run by Via Rail. The Saskatoon railway station opened in the late 1960s, replacing an older station downtown. This helped develop the downtown area. Saskatoon is sometimes called The Hub City because of its many transportation links. The Saskatchewan Railway Museum is near the city. In the early 2000s, there were ideas to move the railways out of the city and add a new train system, but the city’s mayor thought the population was too small. As of the 2021 Transportation Study, there have been no changes to the railway network around Saskatoon.

Air

Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport is in the northwest part of the city. It offers flights to places like Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver, and seasonal flights to places like Mexico and Cuba. Airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet operate from the airport, along with cargo services. There is also a smaller airport called Saskatoon/Corman Air Park for private planes, located southeast of the city.

Bus

Bus service in Saskatoon is run by Saskatoon Transit. In 2018, they changed their routes to focus on main streets like 22nd Street and 8th Street. Until 2017, STC provided bus service across Saskatchewan, and until 2018, Greyhound Canada offered trips between Manitoba and Alberta. In July 2025, FlixBus started daily trips between Saskatoon and cities like Regina, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Education

Saskatoon has many places for people to learn, including several big schools for university students. Some of these are the University of Saskatchewan, St. Thomas More College, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

The city also has 78 elementary schools and 14 high schools, where about 37,000 students go to learn each day. These schools are run by three main groups: Saskatoon Public Schools, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, and the Conseil des Écoles Fransaskoises.

Sports and recreation

Further information: List of sports teams in Saskatoon

Ice hockey is a favorite sport in Saskatoon. The city has many amateur teams, such as the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. In the past, Saskatoon had a professional team called the Saskatoon Sheiks.

Saskatoon also has professional teams like the Saskatchewan Rush and the Saskatchewan Mamba. The Rush joined the city in 2016 and won championships in 2016 and 2018. The Mamba won the first championship of the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2019. The city also has a team called the Saskatchewan Heat for a different sport.

Canadian football is also popular in Saskatoon. The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are a top team, with many championships. The Saskatoon Hilltops have won many junior football titles, and the Saskatoon Valkyries are successful in women’s football.

The Huskies play at Griffiths Stadium and other facilities on campus.

Baseball is enjoyed in Saskatoon too, with teams like the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets and the new Saskatoon Berries joining a league in 2024.

There are places for racing, like the Saskatchewan International Raceway and Wyant Group Raceway. Marquis Downs used to host horse racing.

Saskatoon has many places for sports and fun activities, including curling clubs, soccer centers, a skatepark, golf courses, and parks with many different courts and fields.

Major sports events hosted

The Canadian Crown in Saskatoon

Main article: The Canadian Crown in Saskatoon

Saskatoon has been a welcoming place for members of the Royal Family since 1919. The Queen visited most recently in 2005 for a big concert that many people attended. During her visit, she was given a special key to the city and saw important science tools at the University of Saskatchewan.

Many other important royal figures have also visited Saskatoon, including Edward VIII, King George VI, and Elizabeth II. Many places in the city are named after royalty, such as neighbourhoods, parks, schools, and even a hospital called the Royal University Hospital. These names help show how much the city values its connection to the Royal Family.

Sister cities

Saskatoon has formed friendly partnerships with three cities around the world. These partnerships began with Umeå in Sweden in 1975, followed by Shijiazhuang in China in 1985, and Chernivtsi in Ukraine in 1991. Since then, Saskatoon has not added any new partners, even though some cities, like Madison, Wisconsin, have expressed interest. The city is currently developing better ways to manage future partnership requests.

Media

Main article: Media in Saskatoon

Saskatoon has many ways for people to get news and entertainment, including television, radio, and newspapers. These media help share stories and information with everyone living in the city.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Saskatoon

Saskatoon has been home to many interesting and successful people over the years. Some of them have become well-known in different fields such as arts, sports, and science. You can learn more about these individuals by checking out the list of people from Saskatoon.