Living in Montgomery Place, Saskatoon: The Neighbourhood Veterans Built

If you've ever driven along 11th Street West and noticed a pocket of quiet streets with big yards and tall trees, that's Montgomery Place. It's one of the most interesting neighbourhoods in Saskatoon, and it has a story worth knowing before you start house hunting there.

Here's a quick rundown on where it came from, what it's like to live there, and what to keep in mind if you're thinking about buying.

A neighbourhood with a story

After the Second World War, thousands of Canadian veterans came home needing a place to live. The federal Veterans' Land Act helped them buy small parcels of land, and in 1946 a group of them started building homes on open land just west of Saskatoon.

Back then, the area sat outside city limits. It stayed rural until the mid-1950s, when it officially became part of Saskatoon. Veterans kept settling here until 1977, when the program wrapped up.

In 2016, Parks Canada designated Montgomery Place a National Historic Site. Of all the Veterans' Land Act communities built across Canada after the war, it's considered the most intact. The original street layout, setbacks, green spaces and a lot of the original house plans are still here today.

Street names with meaning

The neighbourhood is named after Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the British commander known as "Monty" who led Allied forces in Europe during WWII.

Most of the street names honour battles and people from the war. You'll drive down Caen, Dieppe, Ortona, Arnhem and Normandy, plus streets named for Canadian leaders like Crerar and Simonds. Merritt honours Lt. Col. Cecil Merritt, who earned the first Victoria Cross awarded to a Canadian in WWII for his leadership at Dieppe in 1942.

A fun one: Crerar Drive used to be called Central Drive. It was renamed in the 1960s so people would stop mixing it up with Central Avenue in Sutherland.

What it's like to live here

The first thing most people notice is the space. Lots here are big, the trees are mature, and the streets are quiet. City rules prevent lots from being subdivided, so those large yards aren't getting split up for infill.

Many of the older streets don't have sidewalks. Some stayed unpaved for years because residents wanted to keep their taxes low. It gives the whole area a small-town feel, even though you're only minutes from Circle Drive.

The housing is a mix. You'll find original post-war bungalows from the late 1940s and 1950s, bungalows and bi-levels from the 1970s and early 80s, and a handful of newer custom builds where someone replaced an older home.

People also tend to stay put. Census data has shown well over 90% of homes here are owner-occupied, which is one of the highest rates in the city.

Schools, parks and getting around

Schools: Montgomery School (public elementary, on Ortona Street) and St. Dominic School (Catholic elementary, on Dieppe Street). Boundaries can change, so check with the school divisions for a specific address.
Parks: Montgomery Park is the big one at about 8 acres, and it's home to the neighbourhood's memorial cairn. Gougeon Park, Lt. Col. Drayton Walker Park and Lt. Gen. G.G. Simonds Park round things out.
Shopping: The Confederation area is a quick drive up Circle Drive, and the newer Blairmore area is just west along 11th Street.
Transit: Saskatoon Transit Route 22 runs through the neighbourhood.
Commuting: With 11th Street, the bypass and Circle Drive all right there, it's easy to get across the city.

Community traditions

Montgomery Place holds its own Remembrance Day ceremony in Montgomery Park every year, and the turnout is strong. Given the neighbourhood's history, it means a lot to the people who live there.

Then there's the Montgomery garage sale, held the first Saturday in May. It's billed as Saskatoon's largest community garage sale, and the streets get packed. Local groups run barbecues and bake sales throughout the day.

The community association is active too. They've even put together a brochure encouraging people who renovate or build new to keep their homes in harmony with the post-war look of the area.

The honest trade-offs

No neighbourhood is perfect, and here's what I'd want you to know going in:

Trains. The CN rail yards sit along the south edge, with the VIA Rail station off the southwest corner, and the grain terminal is to the north. Depending on where you are, you'll hear train noise.
Not many listings. Montgomery Place is small, so there are usually only a handful of homes for sale at once. If you want in, it helps to be ready to move when the right one comes up.
No sidewalks on many streets. Charming for some, a bit of a pain with a stroller for others.
Older homes need a closer look. With a lot of houses from the 40s and 50s, it's worth paying attention to updates on the foundation, electrical, plumbing and windows.

What homes cost

Prices move around a lot here because so few homes are listed at once. Earlier this year, listing sites showed median asking prices in the mid-to-high $500,000s. Original bungalows that need some work can come in well under that, while fully renovated homes and newer custom builds can go well over.

If you're curious about a specific street or style of home, reach out and I can pull the latest numbers for you.

Who Montgomery Place is a good fit for

Families who want a big yard and an elementary school down the street
Buyers who want space and a quieter pace without moving out to an acreage
Anyone who loves a home with history and character
People who work on the west side or need easy access to Circle Drive

Thinking about Montgomery Place?

Montgomery Place has held onto its character for almost 80 years because the people who live there care about it. The veterans who built it wanted a quiet, safe place to raise their families, and in a lot of ways, that's still exactly what it is.

If it sounds like a fit, start with my Buyer Readiness checklist to see where you're at. And whenever you're ready to start looking, send me a note or book a quick call. I'd be happy to help, with no pressure either way.

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.