Meewasin celebrates sponsors of Cameco Riverfront Campaign, and opens the Children’s Water Play Feature

Today, Meewasin celebrated with sponsors and donors as well as the construction team for the Cameco Riverfront Campaign at a ceremony at the Riverfront at River Landing

Dignitaries were on hand to cut the ribbon and allow more than 100 children from schools around Saskatoon to be the first to enjoy the Children's Water Play Feature. Many of these children were the ones who participated in designing the mosaic fish tiles that line the apron of the Children's Water Play Feature. (see backgrounder on the Children's Water Play Feature attached)

Minister Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister for the Crown Corporations announced that SaskTel will contribute $250,000 to the Campaign in support of the eco-initiatives at the Riverfront. These eco-initiates include many one-of-kind features for Saskatoon and Saskatchewan such as dark-sky compliant lighting, a natural treatment filter made up of cattails and other plants to clean water from the Water Play Feature, and increasing the Biomass to bring aquatic, terrestrial and avian wildlife back to the site.

"Meewasin's leadership on environmental stewardship matches SaskTel's focus to ensure that our business practices are eco-friendly, and leave the smallest possible environmental footprint in the communities," said Cheveldayoff. "Meewasin made many environmentally conscious choices when building the riverfront at River Landing and we are happy to support them in this initiate."

Many corporate sponsors of the Campaign including Cameco, Affinity Credit Union, SaskPower, CIBC, Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation, P.I.C. Investments, AREVA, and West Wind Aviation joined individual donors to enjoy the first day of summer at the Riverfront.

Designed to bring people and our community together, the Riverfront at River Landing integrates an urban plaza with an interpreted visitor experience unlike anywhere in the world. A combination of public space and business interests, the area is tasteful, understated and timeless.

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Media, for more information:

Susan Lamb, CEO
Meewasin Valley Authority
665.6887

Kim Ali
Cameco Riverfront Campaign
477-9134


Backgrounder on the Children’s Water Play Feature at Riverfront at
River Landing

This major education and environmental interpretive feature is a representation of the Saskatchewan River Basin. The water feature will provide a critical sense of place, highlighting Saskatoon in the broader watershed setting of the North and South Saskatchewan River Basins. Interpretation of the river punctuated by water play and whimsy are the key characteristics of this feature.

This key feature of Riverfront at River Landing will be an exciting development for all children and the "young at heart". The educational and interpretive value is immense, teaching children about our environment as it relates to the river system, nature, and habitat, and geography both physical and political. It touches on the Rocky Mountains, the Precambrian shield and includes references to all Prairie Provinces and some major sites.

The River Basin Play Area is a place to learn about the Saskatchewan River Basin, its geography and its history. The area is a fully-accessible amenity which will offer:

• A year-round artistic feature along Saskatoon’s riverbank
• A children’s play area


• A children’s water play park


As part of the River Basin Water Play Area, Meewasin with leadership from artist-in-the residence Laura Hale organized a project to engage hundreds of students from the Saskatoon Catholic and Public School Divisions. Students designed and created mosaic fish that that were installed around the edge of the River Basin Water Play area at Riverfront at River Landing.