Getting Familiar with Your Surroundings
Familiarize Yourself with Your Neighbourhood
Table of Contents
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 major chain stores like Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, Costco, and Save-On-Foods that are excellent for your initial shopping needs.
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.
Note: It’s recommended to note the addresses of a few nearby stores or save them on your mobile phone’s map.
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 registration and transit 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, and 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.
Disclaimer
The information provided in these resources is intended for informational purposes only, and its accuracy is not guaranteed. The Saskatoon Iranian Cultural Association accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the content or any consequences resulting from the use of the provided information.
These resources are the property of the Saskatoon Iranian Cultural Association and may be freely referenced, provided that a link to the corresponding page on the Association’s website is included.
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