Great universities deserve great cities and great cities deserve great universities
On February 27, the longstanding relationship between the University of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon officially became a partnership as U of S President Peter Stoicheff and Mayor Charlie Clark signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore collaborations that will address issues related to urban planning, land development, reconciliation, transit and research collaborations to name a few.
Although the relationship is now official, the U of S and the City of Saskatoon have been working together collaboratively for years. Here are just a few examples:
Growth plan
The U of S and the City of Saskatoon are working together on implementing of the city’s Growth Plan initiatives for bus rapid transit, Preston growth corridor and 33rd Street bridge.
Saskatoon symphony
The U of S and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra signed an MOU to enhance and extend joint initiatives that benefit the cultural interests of the province of Saskatchewan and beyond.
Merlis Belsher Place
President Stoicheff has noted the importance of the many community relationships which have facilitated progress on the project. The City of Saskatoon is a major contributor to the new multi-sport ice facility.
Research
Many colleges have an ongoing partnership with Saskatoon, including the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, which leases land from the city for agriculture research.
Internships
Internships and co-op placements for students at the City of Saskatoon are ongoing throughout the year and have helped many students and recent grads get a start in their careers.
Saskatoon Forestry Farm collaboration with WCVM
Students in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine have access to animals they would rarely see or get to work with and the zoo gets vet services at a discounted price.
Remai Modern partnership
In what is believed to be the first agreement in Canada between a university and a city-owned art museum, President Stoicheff and Remai Modern Executive Director and CEO Gregory Burke signed an historic partnership agreement in Dec. 2017.
Transportation
The U of S is responsible for 40 per cent of the city’s bus users.
Alumni
Nearly 39,000 U of S alumni call Saskatoon home, comprising about 15 per cent of the city’s population.