Living

When you arrive in Saskatchewan, you may need to buy things for your home, groceries, clothing or school supplies.  You will need services, too, such as getting a hair cut or buying a bus pass.  Your Regional Newcomer Gateway may be able to direct you where to make these first purchases.

Saskatchewan has many stores where you can buy groceries, clothing and household items.  There are also many service businesses in its cities.  Most towns have several large stores, and villages might have a store combined with a post office.  It is common for people in smaller centers to sometimes drive to the nearest city for shopping.

In the cities, there are department stores, grocery stores, drug stores (pharmacies), specialty stores, and a variety of restaurants.  Sometimes many stores are located in one very large building, called a shopping mall.  Shopping malls are convenient for shopping in the winter because the whole mall is heated and you can go from one store to another without going outside.  Malls usually offer free parking, and sometimes underground heated parking.  Shopping malls also have public washrooms and usually have an area for changing a baby’s diaper.

The hours that stores are open varies in different communities.  They are usually open during the day and may be open some evenings.  Many will be open on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday); however others will be closed or will be open for fewer hours.  Some grocery stores pharmacies, restaurants and cafés are open 24 hours.

In Saskatchewan, when shopping, you first collect the items you want.  Prices will be listed on the item or on the shelf where it is found.  The store may provide shopping carts or baskets to hold the items while you are shopping.  You can ask people working in the store where to find the items you want.  When you are finished shopping, you take the items to a check-out desk to pay for them.  You may need to wait in line.  You can pay in cash, or by using a debit card or credit card.

Here are some things about shopping in Saskatchewan that may be different than in your home country:

• Prices for items in a store are usually fixed (not open to bargaining).
• You may bring your own shopping bags to a store but you must pay for the items before putting them in your bag.
• It is common for both women and men to shop in Saskatchewan.
• Shopping can be a social activity - a chance to meet with friends after the shopping is done.
• Parents do not discipline their children in public places.
• It is a serious crime to take anything from a store without paying for it first (called shoplifting).  Many stores are equipped with security cameras to discourage "shoplifting."

Supermarkets are large grocery stores that sell fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, shrimp, and dairy products.  These products are sold fresh and many of them are also sold frozen.  Frozen foods are washed, prepared, packaged and then put in store freezers for people to buy and prepare at home.  The grocery stores also sell canned goods, fresh flowers, and some household items.  Many have a pharmacy centre.  Supermarkets usually have a variety of ethnic dry and canned foods, meats such as lamb, and spices.  Some even sell clothing.

Department stores are located in cities and in some towns.  They sell clothing, furniture and household goods, and may offer some car repair service.  

Specialty stores give you choices for particular clothing, ethnic foods, liquor, health products, sports equipment and special-interest items such as photography or wedding supplies. 

Pharmacies, also known as drug stores, sell medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor and other medicines like aspirin that can be purchased without a prescription (called over-the-counter medications).  They often have a post office section and may develop your photographs.  Many of them also sell food, cosmetics, bathroom products, and greeting cards.

Convenience stores are located throughout the larger centers, and are usually open longer hours throughout the day and evening compared to other stores.  They sell snack foods, drinks, and some general foods in small quantities. 

Restaurants, cafes and coffee shops are plentiful throughout Saskatchewan.  There are restaurants that sell hamburgers, French fries, and other foods.  They are called “fast food” restaurants because you usually go to a counter and buy food that has already been cooked.  You will also find ethnic restaurants, nightclubs and coffee or donut shops depending on where you live.  Many people leave a tip for the serving staff equal to about 15 percent of their bill.

The prices of items in stores and restaurants are fixed - you pay the price that is requested.  However, you can bargain over the prices of bigger purchases, such as cars and homes, or larger appliances like refrigerators.

To get clothing and household items at a lower cost, you can go to sales held by charities such as churches and community groups.  These sales are often held outdoors in the warmer months and indoors when it is colder.

You can also shop in places which sell used items.  These stores are called thrift shops or second-hand stores.  They often sell used clothing or small items for the house and sometimes sell bigger items, like tables, couches or beds. 

Garage or yard sales are another way to buy household items inexpensively. People who want to sell their personal items put up signs and sell their things from their own garage, driveway or yard. 

To find garage, yard and charity sales, check local newspaper advertisements.  Also look for signs on residential street corners.  Bargaining is common at garage sales and other places where used items are sold.

In some communities, outdoor farmers' markets sell fresh, locally-grown products in the warmer months.  Some of the products are organic, which means that they are grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  In the winter, farmers' markets move indoors.