Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark and the President of the University Peter Stoicheff signed a memorandum of understanding this week further cementing an integral relationship between the two co-existing entities.

Clark says the university is researching the same issues that City Hall is trying to tackle whether it is climate change or the impact of autonomous vehicles, the changing economy, social issues such as poverty and inequality. He describes the relationship between the City of Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan as the “town and gown relationship” Stoicheff noted, in a news release, the relationship is based not only on location but also on the large number of people connected to the U of S who live in the city. He also indicated that the relationship between the city and the university had already resulted in a range of initiatives addressing strategic infill, transportation needs to projects centre on recreation and joint research. Clark stressed that the MOU is more than reinforcing what already exists but is about a new approach of intentional collaboration and problem solving.