Avalon, Saskatoon

Avalon
—  City of Saskatoon neighborhood  —
Avalon Shopping Centre
Avalon location map
Coordinates:
Country  Canada
Province  Saskatchewan
City Saskatoon
Suburban Development Area Nutana
Neighbourhood Avalon
Annexed 1910-1919
Construction 1946-1970
Government
 • Type Municipal (Ward 7)
 • Administrative body Saskatoon City Council
 • Councillor Bob Pringle
Area
 • Total 1.46 km2 (0.6 sq mi)
Population (2007)
 • Total 3,214
 • Average Income $65,000
Time zone UTC (UTC-6)
Website Avalon Community Association

Avalon is a mostly residential neighbourhood located in south-central Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a suburban subdivision, consisting mostly of low-density, single detached dwellings. As of 2007, the area is home to 3,214 residents. The neighbourhood is considered a middle-income area, with an average family income of $65,000, an average dwelling value of $168,444 and a home ownership rate of 77.3%.[1]

Contents

History

Most of the land for the neighbourhood was annexed by the city between 1910 and 1919, with the remaining southern piece annexed between 1960 and 1969.[2] A 1913 map shows that the present-day Avalon area overlaps three registered subdivisions of the day: Avalon in the northwest, Pacific Addition in the east and railway stock yards in the south.[3] Home construction, however, did not begin in earnest until after World War II.[1] The layout of the streets reflects the changing urban planning philosophies of the day as the land was developed. The north part of the neighbourhood follows a traditional grid pattern. By the 1950s, the design of residential neighbourhoods used a modern system of curving residential streets, feeding into collector roads that connected to arterial roads. Thus, the southern part of the neighbourhood follows this design practice.[4]

John Lake School was opened in 1958.[5] Georges Vanier School was opened that same year, and renovated in 1963.[6]

Government and politics

Avalon exists within the federal electoral district of Blackstrap. It is currently represented by Lynne Yelich of the Conservative Party of Canada, first elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2006.

Provincially, the neighbourhood is within the boundaries of the Saskatoon Eastview constituency. It is currently represented by Judy Junor of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party, first elected in 1998 and re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

In Saskatoon's non-partisan municipal politics, Avalon lies within ward 7. It is currently represented by Councillor Bob Pringle, who was elected to city council in 2006 and re-elected by acclamation in 2009. Previously, he served in provincial politics as the NDP MLA for Saskatoon Eastview from 1988 to 1998.

Institutions

Education

John Lake School
John Lake School
Address
2606 Broadway Avenue
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7J 0Z6,
Information
School type Elementary
Opened 1958
School board Saskatoon Public School Division
Principal Angela Banda
Vice principal David Crowell
Grades Kindergarten to Grade 8
Education system Public
Website
Georges Vanier School
Georges Vanier School
Address
820 Wilson Crescent
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7J 2M4,
Information
School type Elementary
Religious affiliation(s) Catholic
Opened 1958
School board Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division
Principal Bauche, B.
Vice principal Doepker, L.
Grades Kindergarten to Grade 8
Education system Separate
Website

Parks and recreation

The Avalon Community Association exists to represent the educational, recreational, and social needs of residents, to promote a sense of community and enhance quality of life in the area.[9]

Public services

Avalon is a part of the east division of the Saskatoon Police Service's patrol system.[10] Saskatoon Fire & Protective Services' east division covers the neighbourhood.[11] Transit services to Avalon are provided by Saskatoon Transit on routes No. 6 (Clarence - Broadway) and 13 (Lawson - Exhibition).[12]

Commercial

The main commercial development is the Avalon Shopping Centre, a strip mall located on the corner of Broadway Avenue and Cascade Street. There are also two small commercial areas along Ruth Street: one between Lorne and Vernon Avenues, and another at Melrose Avenue. In addition, there are 40 home-based businesses in the neighbourhood.

Location

Avalon is located within the Nutana Suburban Development Area. It is bounded by Ruth Street to the north, Circle Drive/Idylwyld Freeway to the south and west, and Clarence Avenue to the east. Roads are laid in a grid fashion in the north part of the neighbourhood, while the south part features crescents and cul-de-sacs.

Vernon Avenue is a local oddity. On maps it is a one-block long one-way street for northbound traffic between Bute and Ruth Streets. It actually begins at Bute Street as the back alley for houses along McPherson Avenue to the east. It then merges with the Idylwyld Freeway offramp to become a true road until terminating at Ruth Street. St. George Avenue in the neighbouring Exhibition neighbourhood is similarly used as the southbound exit from the Idylwyld Freeway to Ruth Street. The combination of houses and exiting freeway traffic makes this type of street a rarity in Saskatoon. Another oddity in the neighborhood is Niderost Street. It starts as a gravel road from McPherson to Melrose Avenues, with a paved patch at the intersection of Kelvin Avenue in between the two blocks, before turning into a paved street from Melrose to Wilson Crescent. [13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Avalon neighbourhood profile" (PDF). City of Saskatoon - City Planning Branch. 2007. http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Community%20Services/PlanningDevelopment/Documents/Research/Neighbourhood_profiles/2007/avalon.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-29. 
  2. ^ Community Services Department (Spring 2006). City Planning Branch. ed. Populace. 8. City of Saskatoon. p. 5. 
  3. ^ O'Brien, Jeff; Ruth W. Millar, William P. Delainey (2006). Roberta Coulter. ed. Saskatoon: A History in Photographs. Coteau Books. p. 31. ISBN I-55050-336-7. 
  4. ^ "Key to Landmarks". A View From Above. Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists. 2000. http://scaa.sk.ca/gallery/aerial/landmark_key.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  5. ^ a b Blashill, Lorraine (1982). From a Little Stone School... History of Saskatoon Public Schools. Saskatoon, SK: Modern Press Ltd.. p. 100. http://www.ourroots.ca/toc.aspx?id=8531&qryID=f8c23e27-3624-44d2-ab53-b42ca5df6714 
  6. ^ French, Janet (September 3, 2009). "School copes with enrolment boom". The StarPhoenix. CanWest. http://www2.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=3c965cc6-182a-436e-9d03-1d56a56c32e2. Retrieved 2010-01-20. 
  7. ^ "John Lake School". Saskatoon Public School Division. http://www.spsd.sk.ca/schoolsPrograms/elementaryschools/johnLake/about.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  8. ^ "Georges Vanier School". Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. http://www.scs.sk.ca/our_schools/OurSchools.php?sch=van. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  9. ^ "Avalon Community Association". City of Saskatoon - Leisure Services & Community Development. http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Community%20Services/Communitydevelopment/Community%20Associations/Avalon/Pages/Avalon.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-10. 
  10. ^ "East Division". Saskatoon Police Service. http://www.police.saskatoon.sk.ca/index.php?page_id=3&loc=divisions/east.php. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  11. ^ "Divisions - East". City of Saskatoon - Fire and Protective Services. http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Fire%20and%20Protective%20Services/Operations%20Division/Divisions/Pages/East.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-20. 
  12. ^ "Routes and Services". City of Saskatoon - Transit Services. http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Utility%20Services/Saskatoon%20Transit/Pages/Routes.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-20. 
  13. ^ Warren, Jeremy (2010-05-17). "City paves the way". The StarPhoenix. CanWest. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/City+paves/3037039/story.html. Retrieved 2010-07-06. 

External links