Saskatoon Travel Forum

Hi everyone my names chris, i'm hoping to emmigrate soon with my wife and daughter to saskatoon.Waiting for the paperwork to come through. could anyone give me any info on what its like to live there.I am trying to get over shortly for a look around so any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.....

Bring lots of winter clothing... brrrrrrr

More like a town than a city...prepare for lots of snow & -40 degrees Celcius in the winter.

Be prepared for a bit of a challenge - coming from the UK to the northern edge of the prairie will be a bit of a culture shock, and depending on whether you like to experience new things and places or not, you may get homesick very quickly.

That being said, Saskatoon is a very pretty little city (population of just over 200,000), has a very pleasant river valley (the South Saskatchewan) with walking paths, a pedestrian friendly downtown, some very good bookstores, and an architecturally interesting university campus. Plus all the usual Canadian & North American chain stores and coffee shops etc.

As others have mentioned, winters can get very cold, but there isn't nearly as much snow as has been suggested - there is far more snow in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces.
Summers are very sunny - Saskatoon is one of the suuniest places in Canada, and it can get very hot (with fairly low humidity).

Housing is relatively inexpensive by Canadian standards, and from what I know about the UK, I suspect that you will find the housing downright cheap (in comparison to your earnings).

There are websites that can provide you with more information - have you looked at them??

thanks for the info, looked at quite a few websites but its better hearing what its like from actual people who live there, Is the area quite good for children.
What is the best sort of area to live in outside of the city but not to far away?

Canada is a country of wide open spaces, and cities on the prairies tend to be like islands in enormous expanses of countryside, especially in Saskatchewan.
So - to answer your question - there really aren't any communities in close proximity to Saskatoon such as those you would find around large cities.
However, Saskatoon itself is a pleasant place - it is not big and bustling by any stretch of the imagination - and there are some nice areas, including newly developed neighbourhoods with new housing, so you don't have to look outside of town to find a good place to live (in the area around Saskatoon the lands are largely agricultural - fields of grain crops etc.).
Since Saskatoon is small and quiet, it is "family friendly", and the people are generally very friendly as well.

thanks for the replys,it sounds like a decent place to live, not too busy and overcrowded like the uk. as you say the housing over here is really expensive and so are the taxs... thanks anyway

lots of beautiful lake in northern saskatchewan if you like fishing/camping for your vacations.

Chris,

I live in Saskatoon though have not added information to my homepage yet. Please send me an email if you need anything specific.

I have a family too and could certainly assist you in any way that I can.

Weather is turning quite decent (by our standards) and we hope to see double digits this week - in Celsius...

We find S'toon to be quite a nice place. Easy to get around, lots of things to do (depending on your lifestyle of course) and nice place to raise family...

Let me know when you are in town and we could possibly meet.

Regards - Adi

Hi Adi
Thanks for the reply,just trying to find out as much as possible about saskatoon, hoping to get over in next few weeks to have a look around and to see the company i'll be working for.
How long have you been living there,do you find it ok? Have your children fitted into school ok, I have a daughter who is 13 and she's a little worried about starting a new school etc. Anyway bye for now look forward to hearing from you soon. All the best......

Chris,

We have been here since Dec 2001 and were in Winnipeg for 12 years prior to that. Our children adjusted very well to their new schools. We have 3 girls (one 15 year old and twin 11 year olds). They really like it here in Saskatoon.

May I ask where you are moving from?

Adi

Sorry... a quick check of your homepage would have told me that you are moving from the UK.

Let me know when you plan to be here...

Adi

Chris - this seems really coincidental, but there was a story on CBC radio (like your BBC) yesterday about a couple of families who emigrated from the UK and settled in Saskatchewan. (both families were employed in the agricultural sector). Both families had children including a several who were teenagers.

From the interviews that the parents gave, it seems that the teens were initially very resistant to the idea of moving, and were worried about leaving their friends behind etc.
In one case, the teenager took some time to settle in, but after a while made new friends and loved it.
In the other case, the teenager had a much tougher time adjusting, and was sent "home" (to the UK) to spend the summer with extended family still living there, and upon return to Saskatchewan told the parents that she did not want to go back to the UK again for at least 10 years!!!

It is scary moving so far, especially as there are a lot of "unknowns" for you in making such a big change in your lives, but just remember that Canada is a nation of immigrants, and it is not for nothing that the UN regularly votes it as the best country in the world in which to live.

Good luck!!!

Hi adi & babcia
Its nice hearing positives about saskatoon and canada, I think my daughter is gradually coming round to the idea probably because I keep telling her about all the sports she can do especially in the winter, ie skiing etc. As you say it is a very big move selling everything and moving to a different country but I think it will be worth it in the end.
Were not coming over especting it to be like one big holiday, but I think we could have a better standard of living and a more relaxed lifestyle than we have here in the uk. Also were hoping to give our daughter a better chance for the future. Anyway i'll stop rambling on now so thanks for the encouraging comments. Speak to you soon.....

Hi Adi
Ihave finally got a flight over on the 22nd of this month and will be staying until the 27th, Can you recomend any good b&b's or motels in saskatoon, I dont mind travelling a few miles as I will be hiring a car from the airport. Quite looking forward to coming over to see what its like. Will the weather still be cold or is'nt it too bad now? Thanks for spending the time in replying, Bye for now....
chris

Hi Chris, although I do not live in Saskatoon, I do live on the prairies and I am an obsessive weather-watcher!!
So - to answer your weather question - the past week has been beautiful on the prairies - lots of sun, and warm. It was 16C yesterday in Saskatoon. The forecast for the coming week is for slightly cooler weather.
By the end of Apri it is normally warmer than the beginning of the month, (temperatures gradually increasing), however, the weather sometimes likes to pull surprises, and on the prairies that means a spring snowstorm (wet snow that lasts only a brief time, maybe a day).
If I remember correctly, Saskatoon holds the honour of being the sunniest city in Canada !!
For more info, check out these two websites:

1. Environment Canada:
http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/canada_e.html

2. The Weather Network (TV):
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index.htm

As for accommodation, we like to stay at the Delta Bessborough, it is right downtown, is a lovely hotel, and has reasonable rates. Our other favourite is the Radisson.
Saskatoon is relatively inexpensive when it comes to accommodation because it is not a tourist spot. Here's the website for Saskatchewan tourism:

http://www.sasktourism.com/

Enjoy your stay and when you return to the UK, let us know how it went.

Babcia

Hello again Chris,

You've probably already searched on line for information about Sasaktoon, but here are a few websites that may be helpful for your move:

http://relocatecanada.com/saskatoon/

http://www.movingincanada.com/Saskatchewan/SaskatoonMovingList.htm

http://www.city.saskatoon.sk.ca/

http://saskatoon.foundlocally.com/

You'll even find many links to other sites,and even a few photos of Saskatoon (the "city of bridges"). Although I have many photos, they are unfortunately prints and not digital and I haven't had a chance to scan them in to my travel pages (yet!!).

Good luck!

Ala (Babcia)

Hi Ala,
Thanks for all the info and websites, looking forward to having a trip over before the big move.
I'll certainly let you know how it goes when I get back to uk[and the rain]. Thanks again
chris....

Chris - did you get my email including phone number I can be reached at. Let me know...

Adi

Hi Adi
yes I got your phone number thanks, looking forward to coming over, got everything booked ready.
Just been looking at property in s'toon and compared with uk its really cheap. Anyway got to go and sort our new dog out (6 week old american bulldog) so I'll give you a ring when I get over and could possibly have a drink and a chat if thats ok.. Bye for now
chris