With winter slowly approaching, QEXCA is looking towards offering additional programming for the community for the upcoming year. To help with this task, we are asking you, the community members from the neighbourhoods of Queen Elizabeth, Exhibition, and West Haultain, to let us know what you would like to be offered. All upcoming winter programming is expected to run from January to March 2025.
If there are any programs that you would like to be offered in the community, please fill out the following form, or email us at programs@qexca.ca.
Congratulations to Karla Combres for being QEXCA’s Volunteer of the Month for October 2024!
Karla has called this neighbourhood home for over a decade, living here with her husband and three school-aged children. They love the area, especially its warm community spirit and proximity to everything Saskatoon has to offer. As the community association’s liaison with l’École canadienne française – Pavillon Monique Rousseau, Karla enjoys fostering connections between the local francophone school and its neighbours. As a Legacy Guide and Celebrant, she helps people and organizations uncover their core values and stories, and shape their ideal legacies. She does this through workshops, speaking engagements, one-on-one guidance, and custom ceremonies. A fan of potlucks and music jams with friends, she deeply appreciates the fantastic events and programs organized by the community association. Karla encourages everyone to find a way to get involved in our community, no matter how big or small!
The public library is, of course, an important resource to every city and community. Private little libraries add value by encouraging reading, making books more available and building community. Patrons may take a book and return it, keep and /or leave one in its place.
Over the past couple of years, I have found more little libraries popping up in Your Community. There are now at least seven, one or more in each neighbourhood. In Exhibition: on Lorne Ave., and on Hilliard St. E. In Queen Elizabeth: on Maple St., on Adelaide St. E., on William Ave. and on York Ave. In West Haultain: on 4th St. E.
The “Librarians” are retirees, working folk, professionals, all of whom are interested in reading and encouraging others to read. They are all involved in the community.
Their motivation to erect the libraries is as varied as the books in them: For Rick, it was a winter woodworking project. Natasha’s was a gift from a friend, who built it from an old cupboard. She had appreciated the ones she had used while living in Kenya. Adrian was inspired by one he had seen that was created by an artist. Andrew made a few additions, to a Christmas gift from a family member, to reflect the couple’s interests. Another librarian received hers as a Mother’s Day gift from her children.
The rewards for their efforts are, primarily, seeing folks reading; having books being re-read and not thrown into a recycling bin. It’s interesting to watch the comings and goings, interact with their neighbours and make new friends. Interesting conversations have been started beside the library. Sometimes there are tangible rewards like treats left for the dog.
Most don’t monitor what others add to the library but some don’t include religious books or eroticism. When there are children’s books, they go quickly. It’s not always books that are left: CDs, puzzles, a Meccano set, crayons, crochet cotton – even plants have been left under a box.
The patrons of the libraries are of all ages: adults, children, young adults, all interests and come from all walks of life.
The neighbours have provided good support and use of the library. There has been little graffiti and comments have been complimentary.
It’s not just libraries. Don’t forget the Free Little Art Gallery can be found on Hilliard St. E If you know of others, please, tell us where to look (info@qexca.ca).
If you search for “little libraries” online, you will find the “Little Free Library” organisation. Currently in Your Community, only the one on Hilliard St. is registered with the organisation.
Know your responsibilities and risks. Provided that the library box does not include a permanent structure, there are no issues with erecting your library on City property, including the easement. The City of Saskatoon and utility providers sometimes need access to public land, for example, to maintain underground utilities or build or repair sidewalks. This means that your library could be removed or damaged. The City and utility providers are not liable for damage to or removal of materials or structures on public land. The same guidelines apply as for Boulevard Gardens.
Can you match the photos to the locations? Do you know of any others Library Boxes in Your Community? Share a photo by email, Facebook or Instagram.
The City of Saskatoon wants the residents of the city to experience all that cities’ parks have to offer; to help do this, the city has created a contest! Until August 18, 2024 you can take a selfie or video at a park in the city then tag the city at @CityofSaskatoon on Facebook, Instagram or X with the hashtag #ExploreYXEParks, only if you are a Saskatoon resident aged 18 or older. If you are lucky, you will win 1 of 14 prize packs, which include a $100 Leisure Gift Card!
Not all parks in the city are included in this contest. Please visit the City of Saskatoon contest page for more information on which parks are included, the official contest rules and suggestions of transit and active transportation methods for getting to your park of choice.
The City of Saskatoon is asking for feedback to help improve the connectivity and accessibility for walking and cycling traffic on Victoria Avenue from Taylor Street to Ruth Street. There are two ways for you to provide input for this project, as you may have seen from the flyer delivered to your door.
On Tuesday, July 23rd, there will be an open house at Avalon Alliance Church (413 Cascade Street) from 6:00 to 8:00 pm that you can ask questions and provide input for this project.
From now until Tuesday, August 20th there is an online survey that you can fill out to share your ideas.
For more information about this project, like the current timeline, please visit the City of Saskatoon website. Your feedback on this project will help shape the future of our community.
If you are looking for a way to keep your kids active this summer, Kids in the Park maybe for you (and your kids)! This year, Kids in the Park will have their drop in soccer program in the Exhibition and Queen Elizabeth neighbourhoods. Starting on Wednesday July 3rd, this program will be held weekly until Wednesday August 21st, as both neighbourhoods have their programs on the same day make sure to double-check the times for which location before attending.
For any questions, or for more information, please visit the Saskatoon Youth Soccer website.
The public is invited to attend two information sessions about the Housing Accelerator Fund and proposed bylaw changes. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn how the Housing Accelerator Fund aims to support the development of more housing in Saskatoon. The sessions are designed as come and go events, allowing residents to attend at their convenience.
Session 1
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saskatchewan Polytechnic 1130 Idylwyld Drive North In the cafeteria
Session 2
Thursday, June 6, 2024 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saskatoon Fieldhouse 2020 College Drive In the lobby
The sessions will include information about:
Permitting up to four dwelling units on all residential sites
Permitting multiple-unit residential development within 800m of the bus rapid transit stations
Streamlining approvals for residential care homes
Removing minimum parking requirements city wide
All proposed amendments will be brought forward to a Public Hearing for Council’s consideration in June, with the exception of parking which will be brought forward in July.
Visit saskatoon.ca/HAF to learn more about the information sessions and the Housing Accelerator Fund.
Your community association is looking for additional help to continue to improve our community. Do you want to make a difference in your neighborhood? If so, then we invite you to join the QEXCA!
Currently, we are looking for volunteers for the following positions:
The City of Saskatoon sent out a flyer to residents surrounding Weaver Park to remind them that the dry storm pond and the multi-purpose field are still closed at this time to allow the landscaping to be completed. At this time, it has not been decided when the storm pond and accompanying field will be available to be used by the community.
Many residents and businesses in low lying, older areas have been devastated multiple times by flooding where the storm water system does not have the capacity to adequately manage flash flooding. Streets in these higher-risk flood areas were not designed to convey storm water like they are now in newer neighbourhoods.
The City of Saskatoon’s Flood Control Strategy (FCS) is underway with the completion of the dry storm pond in W.W. Ashley District Park and the nearly completed construction in Churchill Park. The dry ponds are designed to hold storm water that would otherwise cause flooding during intense rainfalls. They are designed to drain within 24 hours, so the area can continue to be utilized as park or recreational space outside of rainfall events.
Plans by Saskatoon Water are on track for the third FCS project: construction of a dry storm pond on the north side of Weaver Park this year. The project, which was approved by City Council on April 25, 2022, will help mitigate flooding near the intersections at Dufferin Ave. and Cascade St. and at Dufferin Ave. and Bute St.
This project update has the latest information about the Weaver Park Project. The next project update is scheduled for 2024.
Related to the Weaver Park Dry Storm Pond Project, the City will be removing and replacing old watermains. If you have been notified of a watermain and service connection replacement project on your street, this short informational video explains the process and what to expect.
As well, this summer, the City will expand the scope of the project to include irrigation upgrades on the south side of the park, which will be fenced off and closed for construction beginning in late-July. During the dry storm pond project engagement process, the City had committed to keeping the playground open, however this recent change in scope means construction will now be taking place on all four sides of the playground. The playground will also be affected by the irrigation upgrades. These upgrades mean the park will be completely irrigated – both the pond (north) and the multipurpose field (south). It is the City’s aim to keep the playground open for as long as possible, but it will eventually be fenced off and temporarily closed. It will reopen this fall or possibly earlier, depending on adjacent construction progress.
If you have any questions about the watermain project, please contact: Transportation & Construction Division | tel 306.975.2476 Construction & Design Department | Technical Services Department City of Saskatoon | 222 3rd Avenue North | Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J5 constructionupdates@saskatoon.ca
Please, visit “Weaver Park Redesign” for a recorded presentation that includes the renderings, information on how the dry storm pond will function and an explanation on the various stages of construction.
For questions or concerns related to this project, please, contact: Mitch McMann, Storm Water Utility Manager Saskatoon Water, City of Saskatoon 222 3rd Avenue North Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J5 Phone: 306-986-0914 E-mail: mitchell.mcmann@saskatoon.ca
This year, Diabetes Canada is asking for Community Champions to organize their own Lace Up walks. A Community Champion would be responsible for picking a location for the 5 km walk and getting other people involved with the walk. This could be anyone, your family, friends, coworkers, church members. By becoming a Community Champion and creating and going on your own Lace Up walk, you will be joining thousands of people across the country to helping fight diabetes by raising awareness and possible donations while also getting some fresh air!
If you are interested in becoming a Community Champion, please look over these steps outlining the process of how your efforts as a Community Champions would need to be used, while also showing what support Diabetes Canada will provide you.
If you have any questions about becoming a Community Champion, please feel free to email the Lace Up team members in the Community Champion step outline.
The QEXCA is now offering our winter edition of Tiny Tots Soccer for free! Would you like an activity for your kids (aged 5 – 7) to be active, have fun, interact with children their own age and learn some soccer skills along the way? Then the Tiny Tots Soccer program could be just what you are looking for. Your children will be encouraged to take part in a variety of age-appropriate games and drills, focused on ways to develop their soccer skills, all while having fun and learning to be a part of a team. Due to the number of children in the program, a parent or adult caregiver must stay during the class to help supervise their children. Weekly commitment is appreciated.
Please see the full schedule for more information about Tiny Tots Soccer. Spots are limited, so if you are interested, please email programs@qexca.caas soon as you can to guarantee your child’s spot.
