Joni Mitchell Being Honoured by City of Saskatoon and University of Saskatchewan

Office of the Mayor
April 30, 2018

MEDIA RELEASE

Joni Mitchell Being Honoured by City of Saskatoon and University of Saskatchewan

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2018

Saskatoon City Council announced today it will be naming a walkway along River Landing in recognition of the accomplishments of Joni Mitchell. Joni Mitchell Promenade will be located on the south side of Spadina Crescent East between Second and Third Avenues South.

Ms. Mitchell lived in Saskatoon during her early childhood and her first professional shows of a decades-long career of international acclaim began here.

"So many of Ms. Mitchell's powerful songs that have influenced the world are rooted in the places and lives of our community," says Mayor Clark. "She wrote honestly and prophetically. She was ahead of her time in writing about reconciling relations with each other and the land we live on."

Mayor Clark and City staff have been working with a small group of community members in developing a plan for honouring Ms. Mitchell. They have been pleased to have Ms. Mitchell's input and approval throughout this process. The group could not think of a more fitting way to honour Ms. Mitchell and her inspiring legacy of music than to dedicate in her name an area along the river that so inspired her.

Even though she is unable to travel at this time for the public unveiling ceremony of the Promenade, they will be keeping her up to date with videos and photos of the celebration.

The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) will also be honouring Ms. Mitchell by awarding her an honorary degree on Monday June 4, 2018. Mitchell will be the first of eight outstanding honorary degree recipients that the U of S will be announcing tomorrow.

"Joni Mitchell is one of Canada's greatest musicians, known worldwide for her artistic influence," said U of S President and Vice Chancellor Peter Stoicheff. "The University of Saskatchewan, in her hometown of Saskatoon and a part of its cultural history, is proud to recognize with an honorary degree her extraordinary contributions."

On Sunday June 10, 2018 there will be a public unveiling ceremony of the Joni Mitchell Promenade and a plaque on Broadway Avenue acknowledging the Louis Riel Coffee House where she used to play. Businessman Ken Achs is covering the costs of the Broadway plaque. He has great affection for the Broadway area having started out in business there, and wanted to recognize and pay tribute to Joni Mitchell, who started her music career there.

Details of the ceremony and other events, including a live performance component, will be announced shortly by Tourism Saskatoon.

For an interview with Mayor Clark: Michelle Beveridge, Chief of Staff, 306-229-4471 michelle.beveridge@saskatoon.ca

For an interview with a University of Saskatchewan spokesperson: Jennifer Thoma, Media Relations Specialist, 306-966-1851 jennifer.thoma@usask.ca

Office of the Mayor, City of Saskatoon | 222 3rd Avenue North | Saskatoon, SK, S7K 0J5 | (306)975-3202