Name: Saskatoon’s Journey into Construction Management at Risk
Start: 2026-09-18T10:00:00-0600
End: 2026-09-18T10:30:00-0600

Saskatoon’s Journey into Construction Management at Risk

Friday September 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am MDT

Novara

The City of Saskatoon’s Waterworks Program is a $500M portfolio of small, medium, and large capital projects slated for delivery over the next decade. Designed to increase treatment capacity, enhance system resilience, and ensure continued regulatory compliance, the program's cornerstone is the construction of a second water treatment plant (WTP).

During the Program Definition phase, the City conducted an extensive evaluation of project delivery methods, including market soundings, jurisdictional scans, and a formal procurement options analysis. This process culminated in the selection of Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) as the preferred delivery model. As this marks the first instance of using CMAR for the City of Saskatoon, the organization adopted a strategic risk-management approach: staging the portfolio to deliver a medium-sized trial project before embarking on the $400M WTP facility. This CMAR trial, the Pumping Upgrades and Residuals Enhancement (PURE) project, is in the design phase with construction planned to begin in 2027.

While CMAR is a somewhat well-established delivery method in Western Canada, it should be considered as a framework rather than a rigid set of instructions. Owners must evaluate their goals and objectives, understand their organizational context, and select a delivery method that meets their needs. Project delivery methods are not "silver bullets" that guarantee positive outcomes. Ultimately, people—not just processes—build projects.

Owners and project teams must navigate a complex set of decisions when implementing a new project delivery method. Through "fact-finding" missions, project tours, formal learning opportunities, and by leveraging the appropriate internal and external resources, the City of Saskatoon has developed a specific approach for implementing a CMAR trial project. This presentation will detail why CMAR was selected and will explore the key decisions made in developing Saskatoon’s implementation plan.

Attendees will gain insight into:

Key choices available within the CMAR model.
Options for self-performed work and subcontractor procurement.
Choosing the right form of agreement.
Compensation model for pre-construction and construction phases.
Early work package considerations and the importance of the "off-ramp."

By sharing Saskatoon’s journey, this presentation aims to help identify potential CMAR pitfalls and highlight the necessary safeguards that are intended to increase the likelihood of successful project delivery.

Speakers

Brodie Thompson

Program Manager, City of Saskatoon

Brodie Thompson is the Program Manager for the Waterworks Program at the City of Saskatoon. Since 2023, he has provided strategic oversight for a portfolio of important capital projects that will enable future growth while ensuring that existing infrastructure remains both resili... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am MDT
Novara 1st Floor, Delta Hotel

Contract Management

global Y

WCW26

Brodie Thompson

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WCW26

Brodie Thompson

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