SASKATOON—A resident of the Avalon neighbourhood is calling on the city officials to address the severe flooding whenever there is heavy rainfall. Avalon is in the area near Ruth Street East and Clarence Avenue South.
In a social media post on Friday, Aug. 8, Taylor said she and the neighbours in the area have been dealing with the situation for over 20 years. They again experienced the same result due to continuous rain early this morning.
Taylor said they have repeatedly reported the incident to the City of Saskatoon, but the issue remains unresolved. The weather report says that about six millimetres of rainfall is again expected Friday night until Saturday, Aug. 9.
Taylor added that they have contacted the city annually but received the usual response of, "We will document it." That is why they are asking for city officials to act now, as residents say they have had enough and documenting their report is no longer enough.
Taylor added that people’s houses and vehicles were always at risk of damage and have lost other valuables due to the frequent flooding caused by heavy rainfall, while also posing a threat to everyone’s safety.
“Personally, my family has lost three vehicles to flooding on our street, and previous residents have experienced the same losses. My home has also flooded three separate times because of this problem, resulting in the loss of many possessions and irreplaceable items,” Taylor said.
“As neighbours, we’ve been supporting each other during storms — waking one another in the middle of the night when heavy rain hits to help protect our vehicles and property. Last night [Thursday, Aug. 7], it was too late.”
Taylor described Thursday night’s incident, where the water level reached the knees, leaving both ends of the street impassable, adding that the only possible way to escape, in case of an emergency, would have been using a small boat.
“This is more than an inconvenience—it’s a safety hazard, a financial burden, and a serious threat to our livelihoods. Many residents, myself included, rely on our vehicles to get to work. Each loss impacts our income, stability, and well-being,” Taylor added.
“I’m calling on the city and the broader community to address this longstanding infrastructure issue immediately. The people of Avalon should not have to continue losing vehicles, paying repeated deductibles, replacing lost possessions, and living in fear every time it rains.”
Taylor encourages other Avalon residents, who have been impacted by the flooding during severe rainfall situations, to speak up, since the more voices calling out city officials, the faster the issue can be resolved.
