People & Places
A trip to Saskatoon
If you’ve never been to Saskatoon, you could be in for a shock. It’s the largest city in the Saskatchewan province, and has no shortage of incentives for migrants to settle there
Patricia Curmi finds out why Saskatoon shines. Saskatoon may seem unassuming on the map, tucked away near the south of the rectangular province of Saskatchewan. But a visit to the city soon dispels the idea that it's an isolated prairie town. British migrants and other Europeans accounted for only 400 of the city's 234,000 population in 2004, and 21 per cent of all new migrants that arrived in Saskatchewan that year came from the UK and other parts of Europe.
The city lies on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, 348 kilometres from the United States border, and 225 kilometres east of the Albertan border. So, quite a trek to get to the nearest neighbouring city, but the fact that Saskatoon has an international airport, as well as a number of good highway connections and rail links means it has managed to raise its profile with businesses and migrants alike.
JoAnne Paydli, director of leisure marketing at Tourism Saskatoon, says, "Saskatoon has a relaxed lifestyle. Although it's the largest city in Saskatchewan, travel within the city will take you approximately 20 to 30 minutes from one end to the other." She adds, "The river meanders through the city centre, and provides residents with walking and jogging trails which are utilised all year round."
City celebration
Going for a quick jog might be fun in the city's summer months, where temperatures hover around the 25oC mark, but it's probably not such a great idea in winter when the temperature drops to -23oC. It is important to keep in mind, however, that unlike in the UK, where a dip in the thermometer sends the country screeching to a standstill, in Saskatoon, they aren't just prepared for the winter cold, they make it the centre of their leisure activities. Even if you don't feel like braving the cold, Paydli mentions the hundreds of other activities on offer. "Saskatoon residents have a multitude of activities available to them. "With ten golf courses in and around the city to the Saskatoon Symphony, theatre groups, museums and galleries." She continues, "Saskatoon is home to the University of Saskatchewan with a student population of 20,000 students. "Under an hour's drive to the north, a number of residents own cottages at any one of the countless lake resorts."
There's even a celebration of Saskatoon's multicultural heritage with the annual Folkfest, a three day event with 17 different pavilions featuring the food, dance, crafts and history of various nationalities represented in the city from German to Filippino to First Nation. Saskatoon also boasts over 140 parks that cover 4,000 acres of land, including the impressive Meewasin River Valley.
In terms of employment, Saskatoon has diversified at an astonishing rate away from its resource-based roots. For Information Technology and Electronics, for example, the city rates as the most competitive city in Midwest North America for electronic system development.
World leader
Internationally, it's also recognised as the world leader in agricultural biotechnology, and 30 per cent of the entire national industry is located there. Paydli says, "Companies now conduct leading research and manufacture innovative products in a wide variety of industry sectors, from traditional industries such as food processing and manufacturing to growth industries such as biotechnology and value added agricultural processing. "Research and development efforts are active, particularly in the agri-food and biotechnology sectors. This is largely due to the excellent collaboration between academics at the University of Saskatchewan and industry."
Saskatoon is also home to Innovation Place, an 80-acre science park that contributes around CDN$262 million each year to the Saskatoon and Saskatchewan economy. There are also some innovations in terms of easing the monetary burden on migrants. The city enjoys some of the lowest combined taxes and household charges in Canada; no healthcare premiums or payroll taxes; and it offers some of the lowest living costs in the whole of North America. So, as Saskatoon remains popular as a destination for migrants to Saskatchewan, overtaking the provincial capital, Regina, maybe it's time to pay it a visit.
Read other articles about Canadian cities:
Calgary: A city of opportunity
Live and work in Toronto
For more information:
Tourism Saskatoon
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