Living in Exhibition, Saskatoon: Your Best Value Near the River

Ask most people in Saskatoon where the river neighbourhoods are and you'll hear Nutana, Varsity View, City Park or Buena Vista. Exhibition doesn't usually make the list. That's a big part of why it's worth a closer look.

Exhibition sits right on the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River, a few minutes from Broadway and downtown, with some of the best parks and trails in the city at the end of the street. And homes here have generally listed for less than the city average. If you want to live near the river without paying river prices, this is one of the first places we'd point you.

Where Exhibition is

Exhibition is in the south part of the city on the east side of the river. Roughly, it runs from Taylor Street in the north to Ruth Street in the south, and from the riverbank east to Melrose Avenue.

The neighbourhood takes its name from the exhibition grounds at Prairieland Park, just south of Ruth Street. It's also known by some long-time locals as Thornton, after an elementary school that used to serve the area.

About 2,750 people live here, according to the City of Saskatoon. It's a quiet, established area with mature trees and a mix of owners and renters.

The homes

Most of Exhibition was built between the two World Wars, with more homes added in the 1960s and 1980s. About half the homes are single detached houses, and most of the rest are small apartment buildings.

Here's what you'll typically find:

• Character homes from the 1920s to 1940s, often 1 to 1.5 storeys, with original wood details and plenty of mature trees around them
• Post-war bungalows from the 1950s and 1960s, many of them updated over the years
• Condos in small walk-up buildings, which are some of the most affordable options near the river
• A growing number of new infill homes, where builders have replaced older houses with modern two-storeys

Those infills are worth noticing. When builders start putting new homes on a street, it usually means they see long-term value in the location.

Why it's the best bang for your buck near the river

This is the main reason we like Exhibition. Being close to the river is one of the things buyers pay the most for in Saskatoon. In neighbourhoods like Nutana, Varsity View and Buena Vista, that usually means a noticeably higher price tag for a similar-sized home.

Exhibition gives you a lot of the same lifestyle for less. In recent listings, detached homes here have mostly come up somewhere in the $300,000s to mid $400,000s, and condos have often listed under $200,000. Brand-new infills sit higher. For comparison, Saskatoon's benchmark price for a detached home was around $500,000 this spring, according to the Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association.

For that price, you get:

• A short walk to the Meewasin Trail and riverbank
• Diefenbaker Park and Gabriel Dumont Park right next door
• About a 10-minute drive to downtown and even less to Broadway
• Mature trees and established streets that newer neighbourhoods take decades to grow into

Prices change street to street and home to home, so we'd always pull recent sales for the exact type of home you're looking at. But as a starting point, it's hard to find better value this close to the water.

Parks, trails and things to do

This is where Exhibition really shines.

The river and Meewasin Trail

The Meewasin Trail runs along the riverbank on the west side of the neighbourhood. You can walk, run or bike north toward Broadway and downtown, or south toward Chief Whitecap Park. In winter, sections of the valley turn into cross-country ski and fat bike trails.

Diefenbaker Park

Diefenbaker Park sits just west of the neighbourhood, overlooking the river. It has big open lawns, picnic spots, a disc golf course and trails. In the winter, Optimist Hill turns it into a small ski hill with tubing lanes, a terrain park and lifts. It's also where Saskatoon holds its Canada Day celebrations, fireworks included.

The park is also home to the Nutana Pioneer Cemetery, one of the oldest in the city and a designated heritage site.

Gabriel Dumont Park

Just north along the river, Gabriel Dumont Park has trails, a playground, barbecue spots and some of the best river views on the east side.

Neighbourhood parks

Inside the neighbourhood, Achs Park, Exhibition Park and Thornton Park give you green space within a few blocks of most homes.

Prairieland Park and the WDM

South of Ruth Street, Prairieland Park hosts the Saskatoon Ex every summer, plus trade shows, concerts and events all year. It's also home to Marquis Downs. Next door, the Western Development Museum and its 1910 Boomtown street are a favourite for families and visitors.

Schools

St. Frances Cree Bilingual School was located in Exhibition for years, but moved to a brand-new building on 7th Street East in 2025. Today, most kids in the neighbourhood attend schools in nearby areas.

If schools are a big part of your decision, check the current boundaries with Saskatoon Public Schools and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools before you buy. We're happy to help you look into it for any home you're considering.

A few things to know before you buy

Every neighbourhood has trade-offs, and we'd rather you hear them from us.

Event days get busy. During the Ex in August, race nights at Marquis Downs and big events at Prairieland Park, expect more traffic and street parking on the south end, near Ruth Street. Canada Day brings crowds to Diefenbaker Park too. Most people who live here say it's a small price to pay for having it all within walking distance, but it's worth knowing.

Older homes need a closer look. A house built in the 1930s can be full of charm, but you'll want a good home inspection. Things to ask about include the foundation, the age of the wiring and plumbing, the furnace, the windows and whether the basement has ever taken on water.

Ruth Street and the main roads are busier than the side streets. If you want a quieter spot, look at homes tucked into the middle of the neighbourhood.

Who Exhibition is a good fit for

• First-time buyers who want a detached home or condo near the river at a lower price point
• People who love being outside and want trails, parks and the river close by
• Buyers who like the character of an older home and don't mind a few projects
• Investors looking for a solid location with steady rental demand
• Anyone who works downtown, on Broadway or at the university and wants a short commute

Thinking about Exhibition?

Exhibition doesn't get talked about as much as some of Saskatoon's other river neighbourhoods, and that's exactly where the opportunity is. You get the river, the parks and a central location, usually for less than you'd pay a few blocks north.

If you'd like to see what's for sale in Exhibition right now, or find out what your own home in the area might be worth, send us a note or book a quick call. We're happy to walk the neighbourhood with you.

This article is general information only and current as of November 2026. Prices, listings and school boundaries change, so check current details before making a decision.