Congratulations

Energy Returning to City

Mayor Charlie Clark, City of Saskatoon

I was glad to join with everyone at SABEX again this year, here on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Metis people. As I learn more about the treaties, one concept I think is worth exploring in a context like the SABEX awards, is Miyo-Pimaticiwin. It is the ability to live a good life, to have a good livelihood here on this land. So much in business is about creating livelihoods and opportunity for people.

As we continue to work towards truth and reconciliation, and in addition to Call to Action 92, I encourage you to learn more about how the framework of Miyo-Pimaticiwin can also be a guide for building economic opportunity.

Over the past few years, I know there have been a lot of innovation and gymnastics involved in keeping the SABEX torch going. I remember 2020 - eight people to a room, socially distanced gala, where it took all of TCU place to host about 60 people. I think that was the day after Jason Aebig started his job too. And last year we were packed onto the stage in one of the few events that was able to happen during the Fall months.

Today we can breathe, still with some care, and be grateful we have gotten through everything we have in the past few years. Together. And I can certainly say over the past few months it has been so energizing to feel the energy returning to our City. Thanks to the resilience and perseverance of all of you. And there is tremendous opportunity on the horizon.

Saskatoon and our region continue to drive both the job and population growth of the Province and have been putting up some impressive numbers nationally as well. As of August of this year, Saskatoon had 20,800 new people employed compared to August of 2021. This is the highest year over year percentage change in Canada.

In the past 5 years Saskatoon has also accounted for 56% of all population growth, with a net growth of just under 19,000 people even through Covid. We continue to welcome people from all over the Province and all over the world to make this City home.

Just yesterday I met with a First Nation looking to make significant investments on a large parcel of land in our City, seeing opportunity here, and the benefit of building a partnership.

A few weeks ago, we hosted people from around the world for the Rare Earths Summit, as we see the first Rare Earth Ingots being processed right here in our City. We have the opportunity to be the second only processing facility in North America, and a crucial link in the global supply chain to meet the global demand for the rare earths needed to build the powerful magnets, electric car parts, LCD screens, and fiber optic cables.

I’ve also been talking to local and global tech companies about the exploding opportunity they are seeing here on the silicone prairie, driven by the quality of our local talent, our collaborative environment and quality of life.

I have also met with so many entrepreneurs from the newcomer community who have opened and expanded businesses here - providing services, building homes, opening exciting new restaurants, leasing up spaces and creating opportunity for everyone with their hard work and investment.

The SABEX awards continue be a very important way to share stories of success, and to celebrate the accomplishments of people who have worked so hard to build companies and community in Saskatoon. Thank you to the Chamber team for all of your work pulling this together. Congratulations to this year’s finalists, to the winners, and to your families and friends who are here and who have supported you along the way.

None of us can build a business or a community on our own. We must keeping working together, and continue to create a community where each of us can bring our best ideas and opportunities forward.