SASKATOON — An event kicking off the first day of summer at the Avalon Shopping Centre was a collaboration of businesses that celebrated community.
One business in the centre held a barbecue with proceeds earmarked for the Avalon Community Association. Others held sidewalk sale events, including Solar Gardens’ Avalon location, as they had announced they would be moving this branch of their business back to their acreage location, giving the community an opportunity to say farewell.
The Avalon Shopping Centre is a main commercial development — a strip mall located on the corner of Broadway Avenue and Cascade Street. It opened in early 1960 and once housed a Safeway location. It also previously held a SARCAN recycling depot, which has since been converted into an indoor golf facility.
In 2023, the ACA marked its 40th birthday with a special event, reflecting the goals it has pursued throughout its existence — blending purpose with community camaraderie and connection.
This mature neighbourhood in Saskatoon is the blend of charm, characterized by green space and more than 10 acres of landscaped parks. The majority of the neighbourhood’s businesses are locally owned, and as of a 2024 census, 75 per cent of the homes in Avalon are owner-occupied.
The layout of the streets reflects the changing urban planning philosophies of the day. The north part of the neighbourhood follows a traditional grid pattern, but by the early 1950s, the design migrated to a modern system of curving residential streets, feeding into collector roads that connect to arterial roads.
Many of the street names in the Avalon neighbourhood honour mayors and other community leaders from early Saskatoon history, including Wilson Crescent, which commemorates James Robert Wilson, Saskatoon’s second mayor.
Avalon falls within the federal electoral district of Saskatoon–Grasswood, currently represented by Kevin Waugh, who was first elected in 2015. Provincially, the neighbourhood is within the Saskatoon Eastview constituency, represented by Darcy Wharrinton. Avalon lies within Ward 7 for the City of Saskatoon, currently served by councillor Holly Kelleher.
Georges Vanier Catholic Fine Arts School and John Lake School are elementary schools in Avalon, with Aden Bowman Collegiate located a few blocks north of John Lake School.
Avalon Park is the largest of the three parks within the neighbourhood at 4.2 acres, while John Lake Park is a close second at 4.1 acres. C.P. Seeley Park is 1.3 acres.
Mature trees are plentiful in this Saskatoon neighbourhood, both in residential areas and the community’s parks and green spaces. Community members appreciate and enjoy the walking and biking opportunities throughout the area.
The Avalon Community Association, now in its 42nd year, exists to represent the educational, recreational and social needs of residents, to promote a sense of community, and to enhance quality of life in the area.
