Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan design receives prestigious architecture award
Design for Saskatoon’s New Gallery by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects in association with Smith Carter Architects and Engineers wins prestigious national architecture award
TORONTO, December 16, 2011 – With the announcement of a 2011 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, the proposed new Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan (REMAI) is off to an auspicious start. This striking design, overlooking the South Saskatchewan River, is the result of collaboration between Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) as design architects and Smith Carter Architects + Engineers as architects of record. Scheduled to open in 2015, the Remai will be three times the size of the current 47-year-old Gallery it replaces.
“The Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan will be a vibrant cultural centre for an exciting, dynamic city,” said Vincent Varga, Executive Director and CEO of the Mendel Art Gallery. “This award for the stunning design of the facility only reinforces our belief in the project, as we transition from the Mendel Art Gallery, with its own proud history in the community, to the expansive and exciting new landmark at Saskatoon’s River Landing.”
The Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence, one of two major national design award programs, has recognized significant projects – from small-scale installations to complex institutional buildings – on an annual basis since 1968. The jury for the 2011 Canadian Architect Awards comprised Walter Frand Architecture Inc., in Vancouver, Diarmuid Nash, Partner in Moriyama & Teshima Architects in Toronto, and Peter Sampson, Principal of Peter Sampson Architecture Studio in Winnipeg. The Remai was 1 of 8 Awards of Excellence selected from 163 submissions.
In selecting the design of the Remai, juror Peter Sampson commented how the “rational composition of gallery and theatre volumes on the banks of Saskatoon’s river valley will be a compelling addition to the city’s south downtown precinct.”
Read more: Media Release
Children’s Discovery Museum poised to move into Mendel Gallery space
Less than three years after opening in Saskatoon’s Market Mall, the Children’s Discovery Museum is one step closer to moving into the space formerly occupied by the Mendel Gallery. A report submitted to the city’s planning and operations committee recommended giving approval for the museum to prepare a detailed business plan for moving into the space currently occupied by the Mendel Gallery. The expansion would allow the museum to increase its offerings to between six and 12 permanent installations, bring in travelling exhibits, and collaborate with the Saskatchewan Children’s Festival and Wide Open Children’s Theatre on various projects. The museum is also in talks with the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina about possible collaborations. The city has asked the museum to finish its business plan by June 30, 2012. The Mendel will become vacant when the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan opens in 2014.
Source: Tourism Saskatchewan
The Diefenbaker Canada Centre Reopens Early 2012
The Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker, Canada’s thirteenth Prime Minister, dreamt of a united Canada that finds strength in the diversity of both its land and people. Building on this legacy, the Diefenbaker Canada Centre (DCC) proudly hosts exhibits that interpret the Canadian experience, with a particular emphasis on the culture and heritage of the nation’s many peoples.
Reopening in early 2012, renovations to the DCC will bring a new and improved atmosphere, while still delivering the best possible learning experience to our local, national, and international visitors. Building on the recent 50th anniversary of one of Diefenbaker’s greatest achievements, The Canadian Bill of Rights, as well as the current 30th anniversary of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the DCC will be paying homage to these two important documents by focusing extensively on human rights in Canada and around the world. We look forward to welcoming past and present patrons to join us in collectively discovering our uniquely Canadian political and cultural past, present, and future.
A Double-Decker Showboat Sets Sail in Saskatoon in 2012
Shearwater Boar Tours (Shearwater Properties Ltd.) and Shearwater Marine Services Ltd. are forming a new limited company to build on the success of the Shearwater line's small tour and dinner boats on the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon. New in 2012 will be a 215-ton double-decker showboat. She will be named the MS MEEWASIN QUEEN and will accommodate 150 passengers. The vessel will be equipped for bar and dinner service on both levels, and has heated decks which will allow operation from early April until late in November. Shearwater will continue to offer daily cruises, dinner cruises and group charters.
The CCMA Announces Saskatoon as Host of Country Music Week and the 2012 CCMA Awards
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) announced that Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has been selected to host Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Awards in 2012. This will mark the first time that Saskatoon has ever hosted country music’s biggest week in Canada.
The announcement was made in Saskatoon by the Executive Director of the CCMA, Don Green, who spoke highly of the city’s successful bid. “We are very excited to be going to Saskatoon in 2012 for the first time to celebrate the CCMA’s 36th Anniversary,” said Green. “We were very impressed with Saskatoon’s solid and comprehensive bid package. It will be an unforgettable event for both industry and fans alike.”
Saskatoon’s excellent track record of hosting national events; combined with its strong volunteer base, along with the huge popularity of country music in Saskatchewan, will ensure that Country Music Week and the 2012 CCMA Awards are a huge success. In turn, these two events will directly benefit the economy of Saskatoon with its occupation of approximately 1,600 hotel nights and historical economic impact of $5-7 million dollars.
Country Music Week Saskatoon will be held September 6-9, 2012 with the CCMA Awards being held on Sunday, September 9. www.ccma.org
Saskatoon to host major economic summit in 2012
By Cassandra Kyle, The StarPhoenix
Saskatoon has been named the host of next summer’s Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) Annual Summit.
The major economic conference is expected to attract some 500 people — legislators, government officials and business leaders — from Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. To be held in the Bridge City from July 15-19, 2012, the PNWER Summit provides an opportunity for leaders to discuss key topics including natural resource extraction, energy usage, water policy, agriculture, transportation and border issues.
“Our province values the important role that collaboration between government and business plays in both Saskatchewan and beyond,” stated Premier Brad Wall.
Wall this week is in Portland, Oregon, where he will be addressing the 2011 PNWER Summit.
“The PNWER conference has a long history of helping to establish strong partnerships throughout the region, and we look forward to demonstrating our commitment to regional cooperation by playing host to the summit.”
The only partnership of its kind in North America, PNWER represents a combined GDP of $986 billion — or $1 trillion US. From Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and the Yukon and Northwest Territories are members of the regional group, while Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington comprise the members from the United States.
PNWER’s mission is to promote regional collaboration, enhance competitiveness, achieve continued economic growth and reduce trade and regulatory barriers.
A Saskatchewan delegation, which includes cabinet ministers, MLAs, business leaders and government officials, is attending the Oregon PNWER conference, which runs from Tuesday through Friday. Wall is attending the opening day of the 2011 summit, where he is inviting members to Saskatoon and “telling the Saskatchewan story” at an evening reception, according to a news release.
Lyle Stewart, Saskatchewan Party MLA for Thunder Creek and PNWER regional vice-president, has been named chair of the 2012 summit.
“Saskatchewan is a proven economic leader and we are honoured to have such a high-profile summit coming to our province in 2012,” Stewart stated.
“This is an ideal venue to help connect businesses from around the region and to allow elected and other government officials to discuss regional issues with our counterparts.”
Source: The StarPhoenix
Expansion - Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport
The Saskatoon Airport Authority (SAA) Board of Directors has given formal approval to the Airport Terminal Expansion project following the presentation of final design concepts by local architectural firm Kindrachuk-Agrey. The expansion, budgeted at $53 million and scheduled to begin early 2012, is expected to be completed by the summer of 2014.
The terminal expansion is part of a 10-year, $105 million overall Airport capital plan. Future capital projects to be undertaken by the SAA include a parking structure and a privately funded integrated on-site hotel complex.
Expansion Facts:
- Construction will begin early in 2012 with completion in summer of 2014. No construction disruption will be experienced until after the coming winter charter program.
- The new terminal will feature a pier design and offer eight bridgeable gates along with three ground-load positions.
- The expansion will include opportunity for a variety of food, beverage and retail services as well as a Business Lounge. The expanded services will primarily be post-security.
- Existing terminal is 139,000 square feet - new building area will be 266,670 square feet.
- Increased seating capacity is a primary focus and will incorporate comfortable seating areas, business stations, a fireplace and children’s play areas.
- The expansion will be funded through the current Airport revenues including the AIF fund.
Plans for the terminal expansion can be found on the Saskatoon Airport Authority website at www.yxe.ca.
River Landing Receives Two Prestigious Design Awards
Held in conjunction with the Design Council of Saskatchewan’s Design Week, the Premier’s Awards of Excellence in Design were announced on November 18. River Landing and its consultants won two awards recognizing outstanding applied design in Saskatchewan.
Crosby Hanna & Associates received the Design Council of Saskatchewan Premier’s Award of Excellence in Landscape Architecture for River Landing Riverfront – Phase One.
Stantec Consulting received the Design Council of Saskatchewan Premier’s Award of Excellence for River Landing Pedestrian Linkage (Collaborative Category).
The City of Saskatoon has worked with these two consultants over the past seven years to create the River Landing experience.
“We were delighted to learn of the awards River Landing received and congratulate our consultants,” said Sandi Schultz, Special Projects Manager. “River Landing is an amazing destination for residents and visitors alike, and we are thrilled that the Design Council of Saskatchewan recognizes the beauty, design, and positive impact of River Landing.”
Source: saskatoon.ca
Saskatoon fastest growing city in Canada
By Shannon Proudfoot, Postmedia News
Western Canada is home to an increasingly youthful and fast-growing population, while the eastern provinces are older and growing more slowly, according to new demographic analysis from Statistics Canada.
Saskatoon is Canada's fastest-growing city, with a population growth rate of 27.7 per 1,000 people between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010. That added 7,200 residents to the city, for a total population of 265,300, the agency said Wednesday.
Saskatoon is followed by Vancouver, growing at a rate of 22.3 per 1,000, and Regina, which swelled by 22.3 per 1,000 over that same one-year period.
"There are some differences happening in the western provinces compared to the eastern provinces, and what's happening in Saskatchewan is quite interesting," says Anne Milan, a senior analyst with Statistics Canada's demography division and co-author of the report released Wednesday.
International migration was the driving force behind Saskatchewan's booming population, the agency says, with nearly half the population growth fuelled by that factor. Saskatoon alone gained 3,300 people through net international migration in that year, outstripping the international draw of larger cities such as Hamilton, Ont. and Quebec City.
Toronto was Canada's fourth fastest-growing city, followed by Calgary, Moncton, N.B., Edmonton, Ottawa-Gatineau and Winnipeg.
In contrast, cities including Halifax, Montreal, Kelowna, B.C., Victoria and St. John's had growth rates below the national average. Only two cities — Windsor, Ont. and Sudbury, Ont. — registered negative population growth, driven in both cases by losing residents to other Canadian cities.
"In some ways, it's the opposite story (in Eastern Canada), where there's generally lower fertility, they don't receive a large share of immigrants and net interprovincial migration is frequently negative," Milan says.
Amid an aging Canadian population, Saskatoon is also the youngest city in the country, with a median age of 35.4 years, compared to the national median of 39.7.
Many of Canada's other youngest cities are concentrated in the west, with Saskatoon followed by Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Toronto and Winnipeg. Those cities are also aging more slowly, fuelled by far more births than deaths and net gains in migration from other countries, provinces and cities.
In contrast, Saguenay, Que., and Trois-Rivieres, Que., are the oldest cities in Canada, with median ages of 45.0 years, while Quebec City, St. John's, Kelowna, Victoria and St. Catharines-Niagara, Ont., are also older than average.
"Everything kind of interrelates," says Milan. "Population growth and the components of interprovincial migration and immigration and fertility — they all have an impact not only on population growth but the age structure."
Saskatchewan is also a front-runner in terms of the total fertility rate, or the number of children a hypothetical woman would have if she followed current age-specific fertility rates. Saskatchewan's total fertility rate was 2.05 in 2008, second only to Nunavut at 2.98 and the Northwest Territories at 2.08, and very close to the 2.1 replacement figure considered necessary to maintain current population levels without immigration.
In contrast, Ontario's fertility rate is 1.58, Nova Scotia's is 1.54 and Quebec's is 1.74.
But while longer life expectancies, aging baby boomers and fewer births have propelled population aging in recent decades, newly analyzed fertility data show a five-year trend toward more babies overall.
There were 377,900 babies born in Canada in 2008, up from 354,600 in 2006 and the highest recorded number since 1995, though the number still pales in comparison to the 479,300 bundles of Canadian joy welcomed in 1959 at the peak of the baby boom.
Source: canada.com
The Saskatoon Symphony has moved!
A new home for the SSO is music to the ears of Riversdale.
The Saskatoon Symphony moved in 2011 to a new facility in Riversdale, along Saskatoon’s burgeoning cultural corridor. For the first time, the organization is housed under one roof, instead of in separate, sometimes makeshift spaces across the city.
The centre, located in an existing building at 408 20th Street West, allows space for rehearsals, meetings, administration, storage, and for the Symphony’s Book & Music Sale. (The sale, which raised a record $119,585.08 in 2011, will have a permanent processing and storage area and the sale itself will be held at the centre.)
Over time, the SSO will use space in the centre for music-making, education, and creative exchanges with the neighbourhood and community. The proximity of the Roxy Theatre, just down the street, offers possibilities for programming events also. Major concerts will still be held at TCU Place. www.saskatoonsymphony.org
Hotel News
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
Slated to open in 2012, the Holiday Inn will have 179 rooms and a prominent downtown location across from TCU Place. (Limited details are available at this time.)
The James
Saskatoon is excited to welcome a new, independent hotel to the city’s inventory. The locally-owned boutique-style hotel – The James – opened its doors October 16, 2011, and is located adjacent to the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel, along Spadina Crescent overlooking the South Saskatchewan River. The 59-room property is comprised mostly of suites, many with balconies. Guests can choose from a selection of studios, one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom Signature Suites including the 1,400 sq. ft. penthouse. The all-inclusive rates include parking, local calls, hot buffet breakfast and more. The design concept is upscale, relaxed luxury with a residential feel, catering to frequent travelers. www.thejameshotel.ca
Green Initiatives Taking Root in Saskatoon Hotel
Taking action towards green lodging practices and addressing eco issues head on is one way that Travelodge Hotel Saskatoon is proving it’s serious about the environment.
With the help of local alternative energy company WSE Technologies and guidance from parent company Airline Hotels as well as the NRCAN/SRC, Saskatoon’s longest-standing north end business has installed a series of 57 solar collectors on its roof to capture the sun’s energy as thermal heat, which is then transferred indoors to warm the hotel’s main pool and the domestic hot water system for one-quarter of the hotel’s guestrooms. Over the course of the expected 25-year lifespan of the system, the energy saved will be equivalent to taking 133 cars off the road. At the end of their life, the collectors and components can be broken down and recycled once again.
Another major project the hotel has undertaken is the $98,000 upgrade to the entire laundry facility including 12 brand new machines with optimized design to provide maximum energy efficiency. The property has been awarded a Green Key designation for its efforts to reduce energy consumption by using energy efficient light bulbs, earth-friendly cleaning products, fast-acting biodegradable garbage bags and by offering recycling bins in all guestrooms, implementing a linen and towel reuse program for guests who stay multiple nights and by modifying daily cleaning procedures.
To further solidify their commitment to the planet, employees of Travelodge Hotel Saskatoon actively participate in workplace recycling, take part in Earth Hour and Earth Day, and have even created a staff-initiated “green team” to provide solutions and suggestions to constantly improve the environmental performance of the hotel. www.travelodgesaskatoon.com
.jpg)
.jpg)
