The people in our city are known for having big hearts and a willingness to give. At My Saskatoon, we believe that this is at the core of what makes our city so incredible, and we wanted to create a way to showcase the local organizations who are making a difference in Saskatoon. We recently officially launched Give Back Saskatoon, an online platform designed to increase the online visibility of local non-profits and charities at no cost to them. Give Back Saskatoon is fuelled by the local business community, and every local business on My Saskatoon will be hand picking a non-profit or charity organization to be featured on Give Back. Each week we will be adding more as new local businesses join our community. We thought we'd share with you the first few wonderful organizations on Give Back Saskatoon!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon has set a goal to fill 30 mentorship roles by the end of December. If you’re interested in learning more about mentoring, contact BBBS today!

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the chosen charity of Brothers in Grime. 

Day of Play

Day of Play is held annually in Saskatoon, as a way to bring families and children together for a day of fun in support of a great cause! Day of Play honors the memory of Rayna Korte, and all proceeds go to Saskatoon Crisis Nursery.

Day of Play is the chosen charity of Maaco Saskatoon. 

Growing Young Movers Youth Development

Dedicated to enhancing the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of children and youth, Growing Young Movers provides a new education model that ensures young people grow to be confident, physically and emotionally healthy members of our community.

Growing Young Movers is the chosen charity of Granite Transformations Saskatoon. 

Habitat for Humanity Saskatoon

Habitat for Humanity helps low-income working families in Saskatoon achieve the dream of affordable home ownership. Habitat homes are built with 95% volunteer labour. What a great example of people coming together to accomplish something amazing in our city!

Habitat for Humanity is the chosen charity of J&S Picture Frame Warehouse. 

Hands On Street Ministries

Hands On is dedicated to serving Saskatoon's inner city children and youth by providing a safe environment, healthy meals, clothing, activities, and entertainment. The kids at hands on are loved, nurtured, and empowered to be all that they can be.

Hands On Street Ministries is the chosen charity of Haven Builders.

Stay tuned for new listings and future developments on Give Back Saskatoon! We'd love it if you'd follow Give Back on Facebook :)

1. Planning ahead for the weekend? Stop by the Saskatoon Food Bank PianoThon at The Bassment on Friday and enjoy great music while supporting the Food Bank with a non-perishable food item or a cash donation. 

2. Paramount Day Spa is kicking off 12 Days of Christmas Sales with 30% off all socks today, plus 20% off clothing, jewelry, and accessories. 

3. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon has set a goal to fill 30 mentorship roles by the end of December. If you're interested in learning more about becoming a mentor, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters today. 

4. Its Paddock Wood Brewing Co.'s 10th Anniversary this week! Growler bottles are 1/2 price, and there are additional daily deals today through Saturday. Connect with Paddock Wood for the details. 

5. Here's a fun Christmas gift DIY that is easy for kids to help with or even tackle themselves. 

Enjoy your Monday!

This month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon has put out a call for mentors. More specifically, the organization is seeking to fill 30 mentorship roles in 30 days. This holiday season, give the gift of time and help BBBS reach its goal! Whether its by spreading the word to your friends or getting involved yourself, you can help the children in our city realize and share their full potential.  

If the thought of becoming a mentor intrigues you, check out the information about mentoring available on the BBBS website. Here you can find out what is expected of a mentor and discover whether the role is right for you. 

There are several different mentorship programs available through Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatoon. Browse through the options and you’ll get a sense of what suits your personality and lifestyle best, whether its in-school mentoring, group mentoring, one-on-one mentoring, or something else! There are several options available through BBBS. 

If you could see yourself giving the gift of mentorship, check out Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon's profile on Give Back Saskatoon. The folks at BBBS would love to hear from you!

1. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday! After all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping madness, Giving Tuesday provides us with a nice nudge toward sharing our time and money with local charities and non-profit organizations. 

2. Tickets are now available for The Princess Shop's 8th Annual Glass Slipper Benefit for Princesses. Purchase your ticket or table online here. 

3. Hands on Street Ministries is holding a Dessert Night Fundraiser this Saturday. Contact Hands On to get your ticket or corporate table!

4. The Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre just kicked off its Do Something Amazing campaign. Do something amazing for someone else this holiday season and share your story! 

5. Check out Give Back Saskatoon to discover Saskatoon's vibrant community dedicated to giving back! 

Enjoy your Monday!

One of our favourite things about Saskatoon is its entrepreneurial spirit. We love the constant chatter surrounding locally owned and operated businesses in our city, and the supportive consumers who fuel them. Our vibrant Saskatoon business community is strengthened even further when local businesses find ways to partner with each other for mutual benefit. In many instances, one local business will have something to offer that another needs, driving the growth of both. 

In the Business Services category on My Saskatoon, great local service-based businesses are striving to help move other businesses forward. From sign shops to safety training to bookkeeping, these local experts are here to help local entrepreneurs who require outside support. 

JPM Business Solutions helps small and medium-sized businesses with bookkeeping and accounting assistance. Whether a difficult financial situation is arising or a proactive method of maximizing profits is desired, the accounting specialists at JPM can provide mentorship to any business who needs it. JPM has the expertise to help businesses achieve the best financial position possible by assisting with everything from policy review to meeting regulatory bookkeeping requirements. 

Accounting expertise is crucial during all phases of the business cycle. JPM assists clients who are setting up a new business by ensuring that accounting systems are in place and that administrative staff is properly trained. In times of difficulty or disorganization, JPM can relieve a business of the day-to-day bookkeeping struggle and can ease the anxiety that is overwhelming for any business owner facing financial issues. 

Business growth can also present bookkeeping or accounting complications as new staff are hired, new capital is acquired, or services are extended. Whether its assistance with payroll, financial reporting, or budgeting and forecasting, JPM is here to help booming businesses make sustainable decisions with a long term vision.  

In addition to bookkeeping and accounting, JPM Business Solutions offers IT services and HR consulting to businesses looking for expertise in these areas. Visit JPM’s Spotlight Profile for contact details and to learn more about the experts behind JPM Business Solutions.  

At My Saskatoon, we are strong believers in local people who put their time, effort, risk and resources into meeting the needs and desires of consumers in our city. From Jewellers to Caterers to Gyms, most every product or service imaginable is available through locally owned businesses in Saskatoon. 

And we want to make sure that you know about all that these great local businesses have to offer. With business profiles broken up into three main categories, Shop Local, Eat Local, and Support Local, our goal is to provide an informative hub for people who share our love of all things local. Find local business alphabetically, by subcategory, or with our search tool, and discover everything you need to stay connected. 

Browse our Eat Local page for our latest food-focused blog posts and mini listings featuring local Saskatoon restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, producers, and caterers. Our Shop Local page features posts about local sales, trends, and sought-after products in Saskatoon. Discover businesses you didn't realize are local by clicking through to Shop Local subcategories like Apparel, Flooring, and Home Decor. Our Support local page houses some of the great service-based businesses in Saskatoon, from Financial Services to Landscaping to Home Builders and Veterinarians. Gather tips, tricks, and inspiration by reading blog posts featuring local Saskatoon service providers from our Support Local category.

We love Saskatoon and its vibrant local business community, and hope that you will enjoy discovering it with us!

One of the most sought-after home features these days is a luxurious, spa-like bathroom. New home builds with expansive ensuites are trending with custom home builders and designers in Saskatoon. Home owners who are involved in the home design process are choosing floor plans with capabilities for luxurious bath features, and renovators are modifying homes and knocking out walls to accommodate new open-concept shower spaces.

The Inspiration  

There are so many ways to achieve a relaxing bathing area, and we are loving the design inspiration on Houzz that, with the help of local experts, could easily be turned into reality here in Saskatoon.

The Design & Construction 

Local Saskatoon home designers and builders CADvantage Design, Homes by Daon, Decora Homes, and Haven Builders have a ton of experience with designing and creating luxurious bathing spaces for their clients. Visit the Home Builders category on My Saskatoon to explore the options and get the process started in turning your dreams into reality. 

The Details

Perhaps a glass tub enclosure or open-concept shower area would suit the vibe of your newly designed bathroom. Glass Doctor of Saskatoon can do anything from basic framed shower doors to elaborate custom heavy glass enclosures. The glass experts at Glass Doctor will guide you through the entire process, from design to installation to maintenance. 

If you're looking for luxurious shower or bath functionality for your space, locally owned in Saskatoon, Dynamic Bath & Shower has tub and shower features for the bathroom of a lifetime. Enclosed steam showers from Dynamic Bath provide fantastic health benefits like detoxification, skin health, and a boosted immune system. You can add essential oils to the steam mechanism in the shower for an aroma-therapeutic steam experience, and in-shower lighting can be adjusted to suit your mood. Massage tubs from Dynamic Bath provide various degrees of massage intensity with automated and impulse options for the ultimate relaxation experience. 

Wouldn't sinking into a warm tub or enjoying the benefits of a steam shower in a beautifully designed space make this chilly Saskatoon winter more enjoyable?

1. Your social media posts could impact your insurance claim if you're in a crash. Thank you to Maaco Saskatoon for spreading the word on this!

2. This cute upcycled plastic bag holder is perfect to keep in your car for an impromptu grocery run. 

3. If you're too busy to take your vehicle in to be detailed, Kristy Kleen will take care of your car right in your own garage. 

4. Glass Doctor of Saskatoon recently shared that a coffee filter is perfect for a clean, streak-free mirror. 

5. A unique DIY keychain makes a great stocking stuffer. 

Enjoy your weekend!

1. Get tickets to Glitter and support local non-profits while scoring great deals at The Mall at Lawson Heights. 

2. Until November 17, treat yourself to a new top and bottom and get a gift card from Believe Fit.

3. Ingredients is sampling single malt scotch tonight from 6:30-8pm.

4. Twisted Goods has a great gift for the wine lover in your life. Check out the Corkcicle. 

5. These cute cork planters make lovely living magnets.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Our city is growing, and its growing out. There are quite a few new suburban neighbourhoods in the works, surrounding Saskatoon nearly on all sides. Blairmore, University Heights, and new suburban development area Holmwood are the latest sectors in Saskatoon to feature new neighbourhood developments. Many of the new areas feature walkable neighbourhoods with a Complete Streets design concept that is safe and accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Some residential neighbourhoods are already being built and actively promoted, while others have yet to begin construction. The further along the progress in each area, the more details available via the City of Saskatoon. Keep your eye on each of these exciting new Saskatoon neighborhoods as growth transforms the shape of our city. 

Kensington

Kensington, located in Blairmore, is a neighborhood you are probably familiar with. A walkable neighbourhood with a vibrant village square, numerous parks, and homes oriented to take advantage of solar energy, this community is referred to by the City of Saskatoon as an 'environmentally-sustainable urban village'. Kensington residents will be offered a rebate for achieving a certified energy efficient home, as well as a composter and rain water collection barrel to help incentivize environmentally-sustainable household practices. It is estimated that upon completion, around 8,000 people will call Kensington home. 

Brighton

Situated north of 8th Street and south of Arbor Creek, Brighton has been designed to be a walkable neighborhood with amenities close at hand and outdoor recreational areas near residences. A variety of housing options will be found in Brighton, with development combining residential and retail/office space. An efficient transit system will provide a viable alternative to driving, and the neighbourhood design will provide a pedestrian safe environment through a Complete Streets design concept for 8th Street and McOrmond Drive. Constructed wetlands and and a linear park system will characterize the neighborhood. Brighton will be the future home to over 15,000 Saskatonians. 

Aspen Ridge

This is the next neighborhood to be developed in the University Heights sector. North of Evergreen, Aspen Ridge will eventually house 13,000 people and is slated to be a walkable neighbourhood with a wide range of housing choices and convenient access to amenities, schools, and recreational facilities. Aspen Ridge will continue the Complete Streets design concept for McOrmond Drive, and will feature a village square as well as a linear system of parks. 

Elk Point

West of Hampton Village, Elk Point will one day be home to around 10,000 residents. Similar to the other new developments, Elk Point will have a village centre and village square, and is planned to accommodate a mix of housing options among open spaces. Connectivity for all modes of transportation will be a priority in the development of Elk Point. 

More information will continue to be released by the City of Saskatoon as progress on each of these neighbourhoods continues. Connect with local home builders Decora Homes, Evolution Homes, Homes by Daon, and Haven Builders to stay in the know about lots for sale and new home builds on the horizon. Do you want to make your dream home a reality in one of these new neighbourhoods? Contact CADvantage to discuss a custom house plan design. We are looking forward to what the future holds for Saskatoon, and are most excited for the new local businesses that will be popping up in these new neighbourhoods!

*all information obtained via the City of Saskatoon