Westmount, Saskatoon

History

The area that now makes up Westmount was settled by homesteaders in 1884, as the east bank settlement of Saskatoon struggled for survival.{{cite web | access-date = 2010-10-03}} A settler named Archibald L. Brown was one such landowner, owning a section of land where Westmount School would later be built.{{cite book | access-date = 2007-10-28}} The neighbourhood was within the city limits when the City of Saskatoon incorporated in 1906. At that time it was the city's northwest corner, hence the name. The streets in Westmount are named for early settlers of the Saskatoon area,{{citation

The neighbourhood appeared on a surveyors' map in 1911.{{cite web | access-date = 2011-10-03}} The current boundaries of Westmount include some of an area called Ruskin Place, which appears on a 1913 map of registered subdivisions.{{cite book

Westmount Community School was opened on April 3, 1913, now renamed Westmount School. It was designed by architect David Webster, who designed six of Saskatoon's Collegiate Gothic style elementary schools between 1910 and 1914. E. D. Feehan High School was opened in 1967, and named in honour of Edward Daniel Feehan, a former superintendent of separate schools in Saskatoon.{{cite web | access-date = 2011-10-03}} It is designated a bilingual English and Ukrainian school, and also has classes in Cree and Spanish.

McMillan Avenue, which forms part of Westmount's western boundary, is named for Frank McMillan. He was a Toronto businessman who moved to Saskatoon, owned several successful businesses, and built several landmark buildings downtown. He would serve as Saskatoon's mayor and later a Member of Parliament.

Development prior to 1927 was haphazard, which sometimes resulted in irregularity between neighbourhood streets between Westmount and Caswell Hill. In 1927, the first formal town planning board was established. Westmount was zoned Residence A District, which limited development to one and two-family houses of no more than two-and-a-half storeys.

In its recent history, Westmount has become a lower-income inner city neighbourhood. It and other core neighbourhoods have been the recipients of affordable housing and community economic development initiatives to improve the lives of residents.{{cite web | access-date = 2011-10-03}}{{cite web | access-date = 2011-10-03}}

Government and politics

Westmount exists within the federal electoral district of Saskatoon West. It is currently represented in the House of Commons by Brad Redekopp of the Conservative Party of Canada. He assumed office in 2019.

Provincially, the area is within the constituency of Saskatoon Centre. It is currently represented by Betty Nippi-Albright of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party, elected in October 2024.

Municipally, Westmount exists within Ward 2, and is represented by City Councillor Senos Timon. He was elected in Saskatoon's most recent mayoral election on 13 November 2024.

Institutions

Education

Westmount is serviced by four schools, including two within the neighbourhood and two in nearby communities.

• Westmount Community School is a public school operated by Saskatoon Public Schools which serves students from pre-kindergarten to grade eight. Built in 1912, it is one of Saskatoon's "castle schools", named for their Collegiate Gothic architecture.
• E. D. Feehan Catholic High School is a Catholic school operated by Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. It is free to attend and serves students from grades nine to twelve.

Outside of Westmount, in nearby communities, schools serve students who reside in Westmount:

• St. Maria Goretti Community School is a Catholic school operated by Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. It is located in neighbouring Mount Royal and services students in Westmount from pre-kindergarten to grade eight.
• Bedford Road Collegiate is a public high school operated by Saskatoon Public Schools. It is located in neighbouring Caswell Hill but borders Westmount via Rusholme Road. It services students from grades nine to twelve.

Public Transportation

Westmount is serviced by Saskatoon Transit, which operates multiple routes in the neighbourhood. These buses operate on major roads only, and do not cross residential streets. These routes include:

• High School Route 315, a weekdays-only route connecting secondary schools to major transit terminals.
• Route 3, which goes from Meadowgreen to Downtown Saskatoon bus terminal, crossing through Westmount on 29th Street West and again on Avenue H North.
• Route 5, which goes from the Confederation Mall terminal to the downtown terminal, crossing through Westmount via Rusholme Road.
• Route 60, which goes from the Confederation Mall terminal to the downtown terminal, crossing through Westmount via 22nd Street West.
• Route 65, which goes from Kensington to the downtown terminal, crossing through Westmount via 22nd Street West.

Community and Culture

Recreation

Westmount is home to four parks:

• Westmount Park – 2.9 acres
• Pierre Radisson Park – 21.3 acres
• Leif Erickson Park – 13.2 acres
• Scott Park – 14.6 acres Westmount Park offers a walking trail, playground, and paddling pool. Leif Erickson Park has a community garden with fifteen plots. This program is run by the Westmount Community Association.

Community Association

The Westmount Community Association works to enhance the quality of life for its residents. It promotes and coordinates leisure programs and social activities, and provides a voice for the community on issues of local concern. A number of seasonal programs are offered at Westmount Community School, also the site of the outdoor rink.{{cite web | access-date = 2011-10-03}} The Association coordinates events within the community, and works alongside community organisations from neighbouring Caswell Hill, Mayfair, and Mount Royal. Coordination and events are mostly communicated through Facebook.

Commercial

Businesses in Westmount are almost exclusively located along 22nd Street. 35 home-based businesses are also based in the neighbourhood.

Location

Westmount is located within the Core Neighbourhoods Suburban Development Area. It is bounded by 22nd Street to the south, Avenue H North to the east, 31st Street to the north and Avenue P North to the west. Roads are laid out in a grid fashion; streets run east-west, avenues run north-south.

Demographics

As of 2024, there were 2,838 people residing in a total of 1047 dwellings in the neighbourhood. Homeownership was at 64.4%, with an average household size of 2.6. 50% of dwellings had been built before 1960, and 33% between 1961 and 2000. 17% of dwellings had been built after 2000.

Of adults in Westmount, 200 hold a post-secondary certificate or diploma from a college or university, 240 hold a Non-Accredited Degrees, 455 hold a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest form of education, and 275 have not completed high school. 32 adults were actively enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan, and 50 at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. In 2022, 253 students were enrolled in Westmount Community School (K-12), and 480 in E.D. Feehan Catholic High School (9-12). E.D. Feehan Catholic High School enrols students until the age of 21, therefore, adults ages 18-21 who were enrolled for the 2022-2023 academic year were enlisted as "enrolled" and not "No certificate" in the most recent census.

References

References

2. (24 November 2024). "Brad Redekopp - Member of Parliament".
3. (10 January 2024). "BETTY NIPPI-ALBRIGHT - OPPOSITION CAUCUS".
4. (2 July 2024). "Ward 2".
5. (23 March 2024). "Westmount Community School".
6. (20 August 2025). "ED Feehan - High School Routes 2025".
7. (29 June 2025). "Routes Effective June 29th, 2025".
8. "Summer Play Programs (Paddling Pools and Splash Pads)".
9. (23 April 2020). "Community Garden Contact List".
10. (9 April 2024). "Westmount".
11. (18 September 2023). "Upgrading and Adult Students".
12. (2 May 2025). "City of Saskatoon".
13. (19 April 2023). "Westmount".