Saskatoon - a city of bridges

For the past month we have been enjoying the beauty of our prairie home  - Saskatoon, a city of bridges. It has been great to spend time with our immediate family and friends. We have been enriched once again by enduring and supportive friendships - not something one can take for granted.


Saskatoon is situated on the banks of the south Saskatchewan river which is crossed by seven bridges within the city limits. the altitude of Saskatoon is 481.5 meters above sea level. The city covers an area of 218 sq. kilometres which includes over 120 hectares of riverbank parklands.

Saskatoon is one of the sunniest cities in Canada, receiving an average of 2,381 hours annually. Saskatoon experiences four distinct seasons with temperatures ranging from 30°c  on the warmest summer days to -30°c on the coldest winter days. The average annual precipitation level is 347.2mm.

Saskatchewan grows half of the entire quantity of Canada’s major export crops: wheat, oats, barley, rye, flaxseed and canola. Saskatoon is at the heart of this market, providing a variety of services and products to the farm sector. Mining is also an important part of the economy.

The Saskatoon region is the world's largest exporter of uranium, and nearly two-thirds of the world's recoverable potash reserves are located in the Saskatoon region.Value added food processing is one of the fastest growing industries in Saskatoon, which is considered the agriculture biotechnology capital of Canada. Saskatoon was named "one of the best cities in Canada for knowledge based businesses" by the Globe and Mail in 1995.


Saskatoon is Saskatchewan’s largest city with an estimated population of 224,300 and growing (as of December 31, 2010).


The Saskatoon area has been inhabited for some 6,000 years; however, it was not until the summer of 1883 that the first settlers began to arrive and subsequently in 1903 that the town charter was obtained. "Saskatoon" is derived from 'mis-sask-quah-toomina', the Cree Indian name for a local indigenous berry. Saskatoon was incorporated as a city on May 26, 1906, and celebrated its 100th birthday in 2006. 


Information on Saskatoon taken from the Saskatoon City website: www.saskatoon.ca