Saskatoon Construction III

[casper]

Originally Posted by roryn1

Here’s an unfortunate article ... their main reason for moving is the better climate. Any real thoughts on how to keep these companies in town? Our Innovatuon Place on campus has a pretty nice indoor setting but Kelowna’s apparently is downtown... you’d think the U of S has better services than UBCO to further their product - I know San Fransisco just banned this type of bioplastic since it doesn’t actually biodegrade.

Saskatoon based company moving manufacturing to Kelowna:
https://thestarphoenix.com/news/loca...d-4c4c559cef99

Sad to see home grown companies like that leave Saskatoon. Innovation place has a different vibe than other places.

In Victoria VIATEC is the local incubator, it is downtown in an old refurbished brick building. Most of the start up have migrated into the downtown core. The only ones that are sticking to the innovation park in Victoria are the ones the need special facilities. VIATEC is also more decoupled from the university than innovation place is in Saskatoon. In Vancouver, SFU has pretty much put all its programs targeting startups into the downtown core. This creates a very tech focused downtown.

I have been in that complex in Kelowna but don't know much about it. As for UBCO I don't think there is a strong competitive advantage one way or the other over the UofS. Sounds like they just want to have a university they can collaborate with.

I was talking to the person in charge of food procurement at UBC about two years ago. They stopped using the black bio-degradable utensils and plates because their research showed it did not biodegrade and there was no sense paying extra for it.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by roryn1

Here’s an unfortunate article ... their main reason for moving is the better climate. Any real thoughts on how to keep these companies in town? Our Innovatuon Place on campus has a pretty nice indoor setting but Kelowna’s apparently is downtown... you’d think the U of S has better services than UBCO to further their product - I know San Fransisco just banned this type of bioplastic since it doesn’t actually biodegrade.

Saskatoon based company moving manufacturing to Kelowna:
https://thestarphoenix.com/news/loca...d-4c4c559cef99

Kelowna's winter's aren't actually all that nice. Not as cold as ours obviously, but pretty gloomy. I think a lot of people get surprised by this.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Kelowna's winter's aren't actually all that nice. Not as cold as ours obviously, but pretty gloomy. I think a lot of people get surprised by this.

But they are short, and there are ski hills. And despite a couple frigid -15C days, it stays pretty moderate which is why the lake doesn't even freeze. Anyways, I know Jeremy and his family, I'm sure they're going to love the Okanagan.

[prairieguy]

I have had 10 family members move to Kelowna in the last 8 years (bw my family and my wifes). They all love it, but they do comment about the adjustment to lack of sunshine in winter and also the "new norm" of smoked out summers from wildfires(3 consecutive years now)...they also try and plan get aways out of kelowna back to Sask in summer, as it gets crazy busy/crowded there in the summer.

What that news story does emphasize is the importance of Saskatoon needing to provide the best possible quality of life options for residents/businesses to overcome our either real (or perceived) negative climate. This means downtown arenas, libraries, pro sports, cultural amenities, winter activities and amenities, art galleries, professional theatre, etc. We have some of this, but need to add more and improve on what we have. It is called "investing" in your city for the future!

[The Bess]

I think they will find out why people in BC affectionately state that the abbreviation stands for bring cash.

[The Bess]

Although it is depressing that a local company would move but businesses do it all the time don't they. BHP did move from Vancouver to Saskatoon, although they weren't local to Vancouver, I am sure they looked at the climate here in their research. He could have built his business up so he could sell it or have if it became successful he could have lived in Kelowna with his business here and small branch there. Maybe like Vecima does.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Considering BC had a net positive inter-provincial migration in 2017, while Saskatchewan's was negative, it seems that people (and businesses) are being attracted there for a reason despite having a carbon tax for a decade, high housing costs and a supposedly business-unfriendly government. I have had a handful of friends move there in the past five years. They must be doing something right.

It is a beautiful place but plan to be much poorer unless you owned a house for many years.

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by justabusinessstudent

Hi all! Been reading these forums for a while now and just recently decided to create an account. An absolute complete change of topic, but does anyone have any info as to the construction/development of any of the Cannabis Retail stores?

Very interested in it business and development wise.

Cheers!

Not in Saskatoon, but I had read this article in the Clarks Crossing Gazette about one of the cannabis outlets in Warman. It includes an artists rendering as well as some interesting info on how they plan to enforce things:

=======
Warman grants approval to cannabis retail outlet
https://ccgazette.ca/2018/08/23/warm...retail-outlet/

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Kelowna's winter's aren't actually all that nice. Not as cold as ours obviously, but pretty gloomy. I think a lot of people get surprised by this.

This is what I heard from some locals as well while we were out there a couple weeks ago--the smokey skies made for an extra level of suck because it was like winter when they don't see the sun and that's what they wait to get through each winter. They definitely don't have to deal with the cold though so it's a trade off for sunny blue skies and frigid temperatures I guess.

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

I have had 10 family members move to Kelowna in the last 8 years (bw my family and my wifes). They all love it, but they do comment about the adjustment to lack of sunshine in winter and also the "new norm" of smoked out summers from wildfires(3 consecutive years now)...they also try and plan get aways out of kelowna back to Sask in summer, as it gets crazy busy/crowded there in the summer.

What that news story does emphasize is the importance of Saskatoon needing to provide the best possible quality of life options for residents/businesses to overcome our either real (or perceived) negative climate. This means downtown arenas, libraries, pro sports, cultural amenities, winter activities and amenities, art galleries, professional theatre, etc. We have some of this, but need to add more and improve on what we have. It is called "investing" in your city for the future!

I'm not sure what Kelowna is like in the winter, but having been there a few times in the summer it is definitely way too busy and the traffic is terrible--much prefer other areas of the Okanagan for a more laid back atmosphere.

Gas prices were pretty crazy in BC this summer (peaked on our travels at $1.49.9 around the Golden/Revelstoke area, mid $1.40's in the Okanagan), but I think not having PST on restaurant meals more than made up for the difference in gas prices in our case eating out almost every meal on holiday. Obviously that wouldn't play into matters as much living there though.

[justabusinessstudent]

Originally Posted by Wyku

Not in Saskatoon, but I had read this article in the Clarks Crossing Gazette about one of the cannabis outlets in Warman. It includes an artists rendering as well as some interesting info on how they plan to enforce things:

=======
Warman grants approval to cannabis retail outlet
https://ccgazette.ca/2018/08/23/warm...retail-outlet/

Thanks Wyku! That's a great little write-up. Kind of going to be answering my own question, but this article just came up from CBC on r/Saskatoon.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...ions-1.4809583

[The Bess]

Don't forget BC has the highest average auto insurance rates in Canada. BC is a beautiful place but way too expensive, you get nickel and dimed to death there. BC is fast losing its economic advantage for the average worker. Great if your in the new economy of high tech or real estate. But industry, oil and gas and mining not doing to good.

[casper]

Originally Posted by The Bess

Don't forget BC has the highest average auto insurance rates in Canada. BC is a beautiful place but way too expensive, you get nickel and dimed to death there. BC is fast losing its economic advantage for the average worker. Great if your in the new economy of high tech or real estate. But industry, oil and gas and mining not doing to good.

I moved from Saskatoon to Victoria in 2013. A few things I noticed:
- property in Victoria and Saskatoon was in the same ballpark (That is now changed).
- You pay a bit more for auto insurance etc. However at the same time your taxes go down a fair bit. So it is a bit of a wash.

Vancouver has some very unique costs built into living there. Those don't exist in the rest of the province.

[saskatoonborn]

When you say taxes do you mean total combined taxes or just property taxes? im just curious is all?

[Arts]

Rode by the new bridge yesterday and took this photo, first lift of pavement complete:

[roryn1]

Such gorgeous views in that area - you can see for miles!

[circle33]

The 3 foot picket fence and all the parking blocks have been removed from lot on the northwest corner of Broadway and 9th. Something must be afoot.

[Echoes]

Politicians seek to speed up development of Saskatoon's city yards
A report from city hall administration on the Arbutus proposal suggested complete development of the property could take 25 to 30 years.

Phil Tank, Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Updated: September 4, 2018

The developer behind an ambitious proposal to transform the city yards located north of downtown left city hall more encouraged than he had been.

Jeff Drexel, president of Arbutus Properties, attended Tuesday’s meeting of city council’s finance committee, where his company’s proposal to buy and redevelop the city yards was discussed.

A report from city hall administration on the Arbutus proposal suggested complete development of the property could take 25 to 30 years.

Several committee members expressed dismay about the timeline for the yards, as had Drexel.

“Instead of saying, ‘Here’s how we could approach (the proposed redevelopment),’ it felt like (the report) was shutting it down,” Mayor Charlie Clark said.

The committee supported Clark’s proposal to study the possibility of speeding up a phased approach to redeveloping the yards, including moving city operations.

The city yards comprise about 32 acres of land north of downtown in the Central Industrial area. The city report points out up to 750 city employees work in the area, which also includes office buildings and storage of vehicles and equipment.

“I was somewhat encouraged,” Drexel told reporters outside council chamber. “I definitely like the approach that was taken.”

The report on a faster approach to moving and redeveloping the yards is expected early next year. Drexel said Arbutus will remain focused on its proposal, which includes a mix of residential and commercial properties, as well as a full-sized grocery store.

City hall has proposed moving operations from the city yards, but has yet to find the money to do it. A move to the civic operations centre has been shelved in favour of the possibility of establishing satellite yards throughout the city.

Neither the city administration nor Drexel would offer an estimate of the land’s value. Drexel pointed to the City of Saskatoon’s purchase this year of a former Saskatchewan Transportation Company building located in the city yards for nearly $5 million as a good indicator of land value.

[....]

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/loca...ons-city-yards

[Yeff]

Just wanted to add my two cents in on what seems to be a (albeit off-topic) Kelowna vs Saskatoon debate as someone who is currently transitioning out to Kelowna after spending 40 years of my life in Saskatoon....

It's not really THAT expensive:



https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-livin...&city2=Kelowna

But the sunshine tax is real ... if you work for most companies based here. Pay is less. However, If you work remotely and have a skill set like many here do, you get the best of both worlds.

Yes, there's not a lot of sunshine in the winter in the valley. But if you drive 60km east and spend a day (or weekend) snowboarding at Big White, there is plenty of sun and fun there. And yes, the fact that it's never usually much colder than -5 to -10 even in January helps a lot.

Yes, it's busy and hotter than hell in the summer ... but you just plan your routes for time, avoid the tourist trap areas, and it's not that bad. You can literally bike anywhere in this city almost faster than you can drive, and do it almost year round in actual bike lanes, go figure.

All in all, Saskatoon and Kelowna are both very beautiful cities for many different reasons, and you really can't go wrong choosing either as your home. Kelowna currently has a TON of in progress, approved, and proposed exciting tower developments and it's great to see. A few of them over 30 stories.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Arts

But they are short, and there are ski hills. And despite a couple frigid -15C days, it stays pretty moderate which is why the lake doesn't even freeze. Anyways, I know Jeremy and his family, I'm sure they're going to love the Okanagan.

Don't get me wrong. I love Kelowna and would be happy to retire there if I did not already have other plans. I am just repeating what recent prairie expats are saying about the gloomy winters. I think Kelowna has so much to offer, but not necessarily in certain job categories.