WEYBURN - A vibrant downtown is the heart of any community. In Weyburn, our downtown reflects our legacy of a prairie city built on entrepreneurship and community spirit. It tells the story of who we are while offering a canvas for what we can become.
As communities across Saskatchewan look for ways to strengthen their economies, attract families and improve quality of life, many have turned inward to their downtowns. Downtown revitalization, when approached with care and foresight, can be a powerful catalyst for economic growth and community connection. And it all begins with a plan.
The Purpose of a Master Plan
A downtown concept master plan brings together diverse voices to shape a shared future. Through community engagement, technical analysis and creative visioning, it helps us answer key questions:
• How do we want downtown to look and feel in 10, 20 or 30 years?
• Where do people park, walk, gather or rest, and how can those experiences be improved?
• How can we support existing businesses and bring new life to our downtown core?
• How can our public spaces reflect the values and aspirations of Weyburn?
A Shared Vision
The City of Weyburn – in partnership with the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce and Weyburn Regional Economic Development (WRED) – invested in a Downtown Revitalization Conceptual Plan. The project, budgeted for in 2024, was a shared initiative, with funding split between the City (50 per cent), the Chamber (25 per cent) and WRED (25 per cent).
This plan is not a construction project but rather a community-driven roadmap. It is designed to guide the future of Weyburn’s downtown core, bringing together residents, businesses and experts to shape how our downtown looks, feels and serves our needs for decades to come.
“We want to keep that small-town charm people love, while making downtown more inviting, walkable, and welcoming,” said City of Weyburn Director of Engineering Renee Cugnet. “That means thoughtful additions like pedestrian corridors, pocket parks, and updated landscaping that highlight the character we already have.”
Following a competitive process, the City awarded the contract in July 2024 to Crosby Hanna and Associates, a Saskatchewan-based community planning and landscape architecture firm, at a cost of $70,908.78. They are leading the project alongside Associated Engineering (traffic and infrastructure analysis) and 1080 Architecture Planning + Interiors (public engagement).
The City of Weyburn hosted a community open house at City Hall on May 9, introducing conceptual street-scape plans for public review and feedback. The Downtown Revitalization Conceptual Plan is focused on increasing economic activity, improving the overall vitality of the area, and creating a downtown that works better for both residents and businesses.
What We’ve Learned So Far
From the start, this project has been shaped by community voices. Every street in the downtown core was walked, photographed, and mapped by the consultants. Both in-person and online engagement opportunities were offered to local stakeholders, and traffic and pedestrian studies were completed to help better understand how people use and move through the downtown core.
These findings helped guide the preliminary design concepts that are now available for community review. Special attention was given to improving parking availability, accessibility and pedestrian flow, ensuring downtown remains easy to access and enjoyable for everyone.
Laying the Groundwork for Revitalization
Revitalization won’t happen until foundational underground infrastructure work (including water and sanitary pipe networks) is complete in the downtown core. But when the time is right, the City will be ready with a plan informed by community input, rooted in practicality and built to reflect our shared vision.
Revitalization doesn’t replace infrastructure – it builds on it. The City of Weyburn Downtown Revitalization Master Plan ensures that when we’re ready to build, we do so with purpose and intention, guided by a shared vision shaped by the people who live, work and gather downtown.
Be Part of the Vision
The City encourages all residents to review the proposed concept plan, reflect on how you use the downtown today and imagine how it could serve you better in the future. Master plans are more than blueprints. They are forward-looking, community-driven roadmaps that help municipalities navigate growth and change with intention.
Following this phase of community consultation, the feedback gathered will help refine the concepts into a final master plan that can guide future capital planning and development over the next several decades.
Visit the City’s website to access the online survey and be part of shaping the heart of our community at weyburn.ca/engage.
