Cos

Hello,
Thanks for answering my questions.
I have two daughters. One is 1 year old and the other is 3 and a half years old .
We will be arriving new to town next January.
I've been reading it is not very safe city. Is it true?
Which areas would you recommend for living?

Also, I'm not sure where I should apply for a daycare.Not being able to visit the daycare myself before applying, I would like to know about where I should apply. I am concerned about their education and safety.
Where would you recommend or not recommend?
Would you choose one until kindergarten? Or would you recommend the other ones until they are 12 years old?
Are there any other activities that you can recommend (libraries, gym, ...) ?
January is bad weather and I would like to have something for them for when we'll arrive. That's why it is important to apply now with plenty of time left.

Thanks in advance for your time and interest.

MarkG

It's one of the most dangerous cities in Canada.

Which isn't really saying a lot, given how safe most of Canada is. Violent crime rates in Saskatoon are something like 1/10 of those in a typical American city.

I've lived here ten years. The only crime I've experienced was when one of our neighbours had their bike stolen, and someone broke into a car in our work parking lot. But friends who work downtown do have a lot of stories about the crazy homeless people and drug dealers they run into there. The city government doesn't seem to want to do anything about them, and then they wonder why people don't want to live downtown.

Better that than the chavs setting cars on fire in the street where I used to work in the UK.

There are a few stabbings and the occasional shooting, but they're usually in the parts of the city where you wouldn't want to live. And most are people who know each other getting into fights while drunk. Avoid the dive bars, and you're not likely to run into them.

Any of the newer areas, really. The west side is generally less well-off, but, last I read, there was more property crime on the east side, presumably because thieves go there looking for better loot.

:Libraries used to be much better than any I visited in the UK, but they're degenerating. The new management seem more interested in pushing digital stuff than physical books. Which is fine for me, because I mostly read ebooks, but seems like a poor long-term plan. Not much point having physical libraries if we're just going to download stuff from the web site.

There are a bunch of gyms, but I haven't been to any. Might do soon, as I've outgrown the weights I have at home. There are swimming pools in the same buildings as some of the libraries, but, again, I haven't been to any.

The drive-in cinema owners keep threatening to reopen it, but it hasn't happened yet.

The new shooting/archery range officially opened outside the city a couple of weeks ago, if you're into that kind of thing. It's about 10km down gravel roads though, so bring an SUV.

Oh, yeah, and the buses work pretty well compared to anywhere I lived in the UK, if you have to use them. But waiting at the bus stop for three hours at forty below zero in a snow storm when they're seriously delayed gets old fast.

Aviator

Don't let them out on their own!

BristolUK

Saskatoon has second-highest crime rate in Canada
What is it with Saskatchewan, something to do with not changing the clocks?

MarkG

Saskatoon's problem seems to be too many hippies in the city government, who consider bike lanes far more important than violent crime. Don't know about Regina.

Shard

Had no idea. Always thought Saskatoon was pretty safe.

Cos

Thanks to everyone!
I am concerned about the safety of my family.
I am sure it is not like in UK, but still, my girls have to live there...
Hopefully we find somewhere safe for them

MarkG

Seriously, stay away from the grimy parts of town and you'll be fine.

And, if you have to stay temporarily in a hotel, I'd stay away from the downtown hotels on Idylwyld. There often seem to be news stories about drug busts there.

Cos

Thanks MarkG!

Sam1970

My daughter used to live in Saskatoon if you give me a couple days ill ask her the questions and get back to you....Day care she may not know about as she has no children...As the previous posts stated Sask does have its issues but what big city doesn't...Take London or Birmingham or even Glasgow but yes Saskatoon does have areas that you really don't want to be. There are some nice quite villages/towns just outside of Saskatoon within 20mins drive (that's just down the road in Canada lol) Warman being one. Its quite for the most part (daughter lived there) its growing with new residential sites. To be honest only during the summer months do you really see younger kids outside playing and most stay pretty close to home ....its more of a cultural thing in my opinion.

MarkG

Yeah, we were in Martensville the other day. It's only a few minutes from the edge of Saskatoon, but getting onto the highway in the rush hour with no traffic lights must be a real pain.

stubby43

I live in Regina, in terms of safety both cities seem about the same.

Both cities have gang problems but most of the time its just gang on gang crimes.

People let their kids walk home from school on their own here, as long as you arent in a bad neighbourhood you'll be fine.

Cos

Thanks Sam.
It would be lovely! Thanks

Cos

I've been reading that Alphabet areas, downtown and 22nd street are bad.
What neighborhood would you suggest?
My kids are still young so I don't let the out alone even here in Aberystwyth.
We were wondering about Lakeview or Evergreen area. But we don't know how much the houses cost around there.
Maybe would you rent until figure out the area to live?

Shard

Rent is always the best idea when moving to a new country.