Same team, different snake: Sask.'s pro basketball team now called the Saskatoon Mamba

The Saskatchewan Rattlers, a Canadian Elite Basketball League team, have been relaunched as the Saskatoon Mamba. The team, under new ownership, will play some home games at Merlis Belsher Place and others at SaskTel Centre. The rebrand aims to boost civic pride and engagement, with the new name acknowledging the team's Rattlers origins. The team's new logo reflects the curvature of the City of Saskatoon's logo, and the primary color is now purple. The Mamba will honor the Rattlers' legacy with a Rattlers Heritage Night and cross-ticket vouchers for fans.

Saskatoon bucks trend as downtown office vacancy rate rises to 19 per cent

Saskatoon's downtown office vacancy rate climbed to 19.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2025, defying a national trend and reversing direction from the year before. The rise ended a general downward trend since the downtown vacancy rate peaked at 24.2 per cent in 2021. The increase is attributed to the addition of 450,000 square feet of new office space in the River Landing complex, which left 650,000 sq. ft. of B and A class space vacant. Saskatoon's downtown vacancy rate ranked behind only Calgary among major cities in Western Canada, although Edmonton was close behind. The city's suburban office space remained stagnant, while its total office vacancy shot up to 12.7 per cent last year.

Cyber headache: U of S to shut down alumni email accounts on Feb. 15

The University of Saskatchewan is shutting down its alumni email service on February 15 due to rising data costs and cybersecurity threats. The university has offered this service for about 20 years and now suggests alumni download or forward any files, photos, or contacts they want to keep. The change does not affect current students, staff, and faculty, or contractors and adjunct professors. The university declined an interview request but provided a statement indicating that most alumni prefer free alternatives. Some alumni are concerned about losing access to important services, and the university is allowing some to extend their alumni email accounts until December 31 for a $50 fee.

CloudLinux Per-Site CageFS Isolation Now Available in Beta

Split emerges over who should run downtown Saskatoon arena district

Saskatoon city council voted to find a private partner to run a proposed $1.2-billion downtown arena district, but officials from SaskTel Centre argue for keeping it as a public entity. SaskTel Centre officials presented their case to keep operating the arena under the current model, citing their ability to manage an outdated facility and attract big events. The city administration remains committed to a private partner, with OVG expected to return to council in March. The North Saskatoon Business Association has shifted its position to be receptive to either model, while the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce will reserve judgment until the matter is considered by council again.

ToysRUs is closing their Saskatoon location

'Very dangerous' cold temperatures continue in Sask

This CBC News article reports on the ongoing dangerously low temperatures in Saskatchewan, with multiple communities breaking cold weather records. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an orange warning, indicating potential widespread damage. School bus routes have been shut down, and people are encouraged to stay indoors. Saskatoon has escalated its winter emergency response plan to shelter vulnerable people from the cold. Meteorologists warn of health and safety concerns, as well as potential issues with equipment and infrastructure. Warmer temperatures are expected to arrive starting on the weekend.

SSDs now cost 16x more than HDDs due to AI supply chain crisis — hybrid SSD + HDD datacenter deployments are now significantly cheaper to deploy than SSD-only equivalents

Due to the AI supply chain crisis, SSD prices have surged to 16 times the cost of HDDs, making hybrid storage deployments with a mix of SSDs and HDDs significantly more cost-effective for datacenters.

Lyft is now available in Saskatoon

Lyft is expanding its rideshare services to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, offering new riders 50% off their first 5 rides with promo code NSSK50. This expansion brings Lyft to over 20 Canadian cities and includes a Round Up & Donate feature for riders to contribute to local organizations.

WHMCS 9.0 is out!

The popular billing/automation software for hosting providers just released version 9.0!

Winterruption 2026 begins tomorrow!

Winterruption YXE is Saskatoon's premier winter festival, offering a diverse array of music, theatre, comedy, dance, and outdoor events. Since its inception in 2016, the festival has grown to feature over 30 events across more than 10 locations, attracting thousands of attendees. The festival includes 'Winterruption Outdoor,' a family-friendly event with storytelling tipis that highlight Indigenous and newcomer voices. Rooted in community collaboration, Winterruption provides a vibrant arts experience for all.

City of Saskatoon considers re-location of new east side leisure centre

The City of Saskatoon is considering relocating the new Holmwood leisure centre to a site south of two new high schools, citing challenges with the original shared site plan. The relocation aims to address concerns about traffic congestion and site access, with the leisure centre remaining within walking distance of the schools. Both school divisions support the relocation, and the total project budget remains at $65 million with potential minor adjustments.