Originally posted on May 9, 2024

I admit to having complicated feelings about Innovation Place Research Park in Saskatoon. Back in my science days, I worked for two different companies who call Innovation Place home. Let’s just say both had rather sketchy management which is something I always struggled with in the workplace. I’ve also spent and awful lot of time applying to jobs and interviewing at various companies there so, it’s a place I didn’t like for a long time. Until, that is, I started doing photo sessions there.

I just tried looking up some of the history of Innovation Place but there’s not much posted. I vaguely remember it being built up when I was very young back in the 80’s. (Yes, I’m that old!) By the time I reach high school though, it seemed like it was always there. All I really knew about it was that there were a lot of science-based companies there.

Currently, Innovation Place consists of two research parks: on in Saskatoon and one in Regina. The Wikipedia page says that in 2018, they were home to at least 140 science and technology companies. Some are small start up and others are large multinational corporations who felt they needed labs/offices in Saskatchewan. My favorite place, both when I was a lab technician and now as a photographer, is Boffin’s Public Gardens.

When The Galleria Building was built early in the park’s history, a lovely little outdoor space was created with steps to perch on and a small water feature. Then came along The Atrium and the space created for that building was, and continues to be gorgeous.

There are all sorts of nooks and crannies setup there that make for beautiful backdrops in photos from the Zen garden to a little waterfall. There are pergolas and shelters as well as seating spaces everywhere. Everything is setup around a small lake; a lovely little oasis on the prairies! And the great thing about this space is that it’s gorgeous any time of the year.

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