Getting Familiar with Your Surroundings
Introduction
One of the first things you should do after arriving in Saskatoon is to get familiar with the area around your accommodation and learn about the local amenities.
This familiarity will help you feel more comfortable more quickly and make it easier to manage your daily tasks.
Grocery Stores and Daily Essentials
In your first few days, it’s a good idea to locate the nearest grocery stores, pharmacies, and household goods stores.
In Saskatoon, there are several major chain stores that are excellent for your initial shopping needs:
- Walmart
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Costco
- Save-On-Foods
You will also find smaller, local stores in most neighbourhoods, which offer quicker access for everyday items.
For specific Iranian products, stores like Petra Market and Frutico are good options for purchasing Iranian groceries.
Tip: It’s recommended to note the addresses of a few nearby stores or save them on your mobile phone’s map for easy access.
Public Transportation
Saskatoon’s public transportation system consists primarily of city buses.
During the first few weeks—when you might not yet have a car—it will be very helpful to learn about nearby bus stops, main routes, and bus schedules.
At this stage, simply gaining a basic understanding of the routes around your place of residence is sufficient.
(A complete section on transit registration and cards will be explained later.)
Newcomer Welcome Centres
Saskatoon has several newcomer service centres that offer a variety of supports for immigrants.
These centres can help you with initial settlement steps, such as:
- Getting guidance
- Enrolling in language classes
- Learning about local opportunities
At this stage, it’s enough to identify the nearest welcome centre and find out their hours of operation.
(Detailed registration information will be provided in later sections.)
Additional Tips
| Service | Description | | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Pharmacies | Locate the nearest pharmacy; over-the-counter medications are readily available. | | Banking Services | Find the nearest bank branch or ATM. | | Medical Clinics | Know where local clinics are located for basic medical services. | | Service Centres | Identify places like post offices and government service centres nearby. |
Conclusion
During the first few weeks, the goal of getting familiar with your surroundings is to manage your daily needs without added stress.
Taking simple steps like walking around the neighbourhood, using online maps, and talking to neighbours or local store staff can help you connect with your new environment more quickly.