Pre-feasibility report for Saskatoon region, Saskatchewan

About the pre-feasibility phase

The pre-feasibility phase is the first step in the national urban park designation process. This process is locally-driven and flexible, and the activities and roles of specific partners, as well as the timing of activities and decision-points, will vary based on the local context. Throughout this process, Parks Canada and key partners maintain regular communication to confirm whether there is interest in proceeding. The pre-feasibility phase concludes with the publication of a pre-feasibility report.

Summary

Parks Canada and partners have been exploring the potential for a national urban park in the Saskatoon region since the fall of 2021.

Parks Canada confirms that the Saskatoon region candidate site has completed the pre-feasibility phase of the national urban park process. The site aligns with program objectives, with sufficient support from local partners to be deemed feasible as a National Urban Park. The project is now ready to shift into the planning phase. The planning phase is the next step in the national urban parks designation process.

This means that in Parks Canada’s view:

local partners, including Indigenous governments and organizations, have been included in the pre-feasibility exploration of a national urban park. Together with Parks Canada, they have formed a steering committee to guide the national urban park designation process
First Nations and Métis partners are engaged in co-developing an engagement approach to honour the nation-to-nation relationships in the spirit of reconciliation
local partners have identified a study area for the national urban park, with a focus on the Meewasin Valley
the study area presents opportunities to advance the principal objectives of the National Urban Parks Program: conserving nature, connecting people with nature, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
local partners have conducted site-specific studies to inform the national urban park exploration
local partners have engaged a range of stakeholder perspectives through early engagement after the project was first announced
local partners have discussed considerations for a vision, boundary, and governance model for the potential national urban park

What we heard

Through the pre-feasibility phase, Parks Canada has heard from local partners and stakeholders that a national urban park should:

conserve the unique natural and cultural landscape of the Saskatoon region
involve First Nations and Métis voices, perspectives, and leadership
provide opportunities for significant and long-lasting reconciliation activities
create opportunities for education, economic development and tourism
be inclusive and accessible, and include meaningful experiences for all visitors
be guided by a long-term vision for natural and cultural conservation in the region

Build on strengths

The proposed national urban park in the Saskatoon region builds on the strengths and success of the Meewasin Valley Authority’s experience in operating a local urban park over the last 45 years. Meewasin is a collaborative, registered charitable organization that spans multiple jurisdictions, has many established partnerships and is well positioned to manage an enhanced national urban park into the future.

In the Saskatoon region the national urban park will not be a federally governed or administered park. The Meewasin Valley Authority is the lead partner and the model under consideration suggests that Meewasin would coordinate park operations with partners. It has been identified that a designated national urban park could be governed under the existing Meewasin Valley Authority Act. Roles and responsibilities of all partners will be further discussed in the next phase.

Other key local considerations important to partners include:

having a boundary that creates a connected corridor
ensuring a willing buyer, willing seller approach for any potential future land securement
no new or additional federal regulations
and establishing sustainable, long-term federal funding

Project partners on steering committee

A steering committee was created in November 2021 to guide the exploration of a national urban park in the Saskatoon region. Member governments and organizations include:

City of Saskatoon
Government of Saskatchewan
Meewasin Valley Authority
Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Western Region 2A
Parks Canada
Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G)
Rural Municipality of Corman Park
Saskatoon Tribal Council
University of Saskatchewan
Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority

Support from local partners

Local partners engaged have expressed support for a national urban park and continued discussions.

First Nations and Métis partners are engaged in co-developing an engagement approach, and engagement is ongoing. Reconciliation is a key objective and will continue to be a key discussion area.

Steering committee member governments and organizations have expressed interest in continuing to collaborate to explore the potential for a national urban park in the Saskatoon region.

Partners have also expressed:

a desire to conserve prairie ecosystems that are critical to urban health and First Nations and Métis ways of life
a commitment to ensuring that First Nations and Métis voices and perspectives are included in the creation of the national urban park from inception
interest in ways a national urban park can create opportunities for health, wellness, education, and tourism
recognition of the importance of local leadership, and that the national urban park will need to be informed by, and led by, active involvement of local governments and partners, including Indigenous governments and organizations
a commitment to developing a long-term and aspirational vision to ensure that unique natural and cultural features are protected for future generations

Study area

Urban area: Saskatoon, SK and surrounding region in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park
Study area: Meewasin Valley

Size of area of interest: 6700 ha
The study area for the national urban park is the jurisdiction of the Meewasin Valley Authority. Parks Canada will continue to work with partners to determine which areas of the Meewasin jurisdiction should be included within the national urban park, and to identify any additional areas of natural or cultural significance that could be considered for inclusion within a potential park boundary. A map of the Meewasin Valley Authority jurisdiction can be found on their website at https://urbanparksask.ca/the-opportunity/.

Alignment of study area with program objectives

The National Urban Parks Program has 3 core objectives:

conservation of nature
connecting people with nature
advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

The study area identified for the national urban park in the Saskatoon region aligns very well with those objectives:

Conservation of nature: The Meewasin Valley is an area with high quality biodiversity and considerable areas of native prairie grasslands, one of the most ecologically valuable and threatened ecosystems in the world. Other ecosystems such as wetlands and forest/shrublands are also present. The Meewasin Valley is home to a highly diverse environment with a high variety of plant species and bird species, and numerous mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. The Meewasin Valley is also home to several rare, endangered or culturally significant species, including plants like the Western Red Lily and Sweet Grass, birds like the Sprague’s Pipit and the Barn Swallow, and amphibians like the Northern Leopard Frog.

Connecting people with nature: More than a third of the population of Saskatchewan resides within 15km of the Meewasin Valley Corridor, and over 325 classrooms are educated annually in the study area and there are over 107km of trails. There are multiple public and active transit routes that connect with the Meewasin Valley, with additional opportunities for enhancements for those that live further away. The study area averages over 2 million visits per year, with usage doubling during the pandemic. Visitation to the Meewasin Valley has already surpassed usage levels expected for 2045, and balancing visitation and conservation goals will be an important consideration in the national urban park planning process.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples: The Meewasin Valley includes areas of significant historical and cultural value to First Nations and Métis people, including archaeological sites as well as places that continue to be used for cultural practices today. Culturally significant areas will be explored further as this project continues. Parks Canada and Meewasin Valley Authority are in ongoing dialogue with Saskatoon Tribal Council member First Nations, the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Western Region 2A to explore opportunities for First Nations and Métis communities to access and reconnect with the lands and waters in the Meewasin Valley. Parks Canada is committed to nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationships with Indigenous partners, in a spirit of reconciliation. A number of Knowledge Keeper gatherings have taken place to gather insight related to reconciliation and additional sessions will take place in the planning phase.

Site-specific studies

The following site-specific studies were conducted as part of the pre-feasibility report and will inform future planning activities for this site:

Inclusion and accessibility assessment tool and review:
- Meewasin Valley Authority worked to develop a tool to assess and measure inclusion and accessibility of Meewasin’s existing sites, facilities, programs, policies, and public information.
Conservation tools and policies review:
- a study reviewed conservation tools for conserving lands for a national urban park in the Saskatoon region. This study also assessed Meewasin’s existing policies and made recommendations to those policies.

Stakeholder engagement

Preliminary stakeholder engagement was conducted in early 2022 to explore the overall feasibility of a national urban park in the Saskatoon region, and to identify considerations related to a potential vision, boundary, and governance model for a national urban park. A broad range of stakeholders and local leaders participated, including those working in policy, national conservation efforts, tourism, parks, fund development, business, social and cultural interests.

Through this stakeholder engagement, Parks Canada heard:

pride and support for the Meewasin Valley as a defining feature for the region, and a national success story for Canada
universal support for the conservation of nature and culture as the region grows
interest in the inclusion of areas beyond the city, using the South Saskatchewan River as the connector
reconciliation is a key priority; the national urban park process needs to ensure that First Nations and Métis leadership are involved from the outset and through to the launch, operations, and governance of the potential park
a national urban park should create increased access to nature for all ages, stages, interests and abilities, with a need to ensure that a national urban park is an inclusive and accessible place
interest in opportunities for tourism, economic development, and the opportunity to raise the profile of the region on the national scale
an emphasis on the importance of local leadership in governance and decision-making
questions about the capacity to manage increased visitation volume and law enforcement in the context of a national urban park
recognition that it is a challenge to balance conservation and development in the context of a rapidly growing city

Pre-feasibility phase milestones and findings

October 2021 – Statement of Collaboration signed with Meewasin Valley Authority
November 2021 – steering committee created, meetings are regular and ongoing.
Early 2022 – stakeholder engagement launched
2023 – Site-specific resource management plans
July 2024 - pre-feasibility complete

Parks Canada confirms that the Saskatoon region candidate site has completed the pre-feasibility phase of the national urban park process.

Next steps: planning phase

The planning phase is the next step in the national urban parks designation process.

Building on the pre-feasibility phase, activities in support of the planning phase of the national urban park designation process for the Saskatoon region candidate site include:

planning to solidify options related to the vision, potential boundary, and governance model for a national urban park and to discuss possible phased implementation
ongoing collaboration with Métis and First Nations partners to advance reconciliation
management plan development for several sites within Meewasin Valley
public engagement is anticipated in early 2025
preparing a capital and operating plan. This work is conceptual and exploratory and intended to identify potential costs and benefits to help inform a park proposal, decision making and future funding requirements
exploring possibilities for dedicated cultural spaces
discussing roles and responsibilities of the various partners

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