The Ronald McDonald House is under construction along 25th St. W. in Prince Albert. (Image Credit: Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Financial help

  Ronald McDonald House asks city for relief on 25th Street costs 

Jan 23, 2026 | 1:51 PM

Prince Albert city council will consider on Monday what to do about a request from Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan (RMHS) to have the city hold the development costs for 25th Street rather than the charity.  

A Ronald McDonald House is being constructed on 4.5 acres of land near the Victoria Hospital that was donated by Lake Country Co-op in 2023. The city also donated a little over one acre of land.  

“From that point, the organization took the risk of building on Prince Albert land that had sat dormant, and empty to future development,” wrote Tammy Forrester, CEO of RMHS in their submission to council.  

“With no underground services, Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan invested in future development in the city by ensuring services would be available for both our house build and future development projects down 25th Street.” 

25th Street was a dirt road that was upgraded with pavement, curb and gutter. Water and sewer were also installed.  

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As is the practice, some of the costs are then passed on to adjacent landowners who benefit from the upgraded road. In this case, the land belongs to several owners but has swampy spots that make some of it unsuitable for building on.  

To the north side of the street, the whole block is the Joseph Custer Reserve, while two companies and the City of Prince Albert own the three other lots on the south side of the street.  

In their deal with the city that was signed in 2024, RMHS took on the responsibility of collecting proportionate fees from the other benefitting property owners and agreed to not hold the city responsible if the other property owners failed to pay.  

According to the RMHS submission, the amount of land they now own is significantly larger than they need.  

“Although we are grateful for the now 5.85 acres of donated land that we will be able to create future community spaces on, we do not require that amount of land to build our 12-room house and playground area. Our required footprint is designed to only take up 2.7 acres,” said Forrester.  

The charity has two requests of council: that the city take the responsibility of collecting frontage fees from the other benefitting parties; and, that RMHS is charged only for the 2.7 acres they need for their project and not the full 5.8 acres. 

The city’s administration is recommending that both requests be denied and that development levies be applied in accordance with The Planning and Development Act.  

Reasons for denial included the already signed servicing agreement and the negative impact on ratepayers if the city doesn’t collect servicing costs.  

City council meets for their regular meeting on Monday at 5 p.m. at City Hall.  

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com