The City of Saskatoon says the Cosmo Civic Centre will be closing temporarily in order to be transformed into a designated evacuation site. Canadian Red Cross approached the City about the request, and they will also be footing the bill associated with hosting the evacuees.

Right now, over 3000 people have evacuated from northern communities due to wildfires burning in close proximity. These impacted communities include but aren’t limited to Whelan Bay, Pelican Narrows, Lower Fishing Lakes, and Brabant Lake.

Over ten years ago, Cosmo Civic Centre was used for this purpose, and it was the last of Saskatoon’s leisure centres to do so.  The closure includes all programming, rentals, and transit ticket sales; however the Carlyle King Branch Library will remain open.