Saskatoon residents seek referendum on Downtown Event and Entertainment District

Ken Wood, the former CEO of Saskatoon’s SaskPlace and Credit Union Centre, is leading a citizen-led initiative to demand a referendum on the proposed Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED) project. The project aims to transform a section of Saskatoon’s downtown core into a hub for commerce, tourism, entertainment, and nightlife.

Wood has launched the website voteondeed.ca to gather advance commitments from residents before launching an official petition. Under Saskatchewan’s Cities Act, a referendum can be triggered if a petition is signed by 10 per cent of the city’s population, which equates to approximately 26,615 to 26,700 valid signatures. Once the formal 90-day collection period begins, the group intends to use the registered names to organize volunteers and neighborhood canvassing.

The DEED project has recently moved forward with negotiations involving the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, following a memorandum of understanding signed in June. Wood stated that regardless of an individual's stance on the project, a public expenditure of this magnitude requires the direct consent of Saskatoon taxpayers.