Bessborough Gardens

Bessborough Gardens is a sloping riverside lawn in the middle of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, laid out behind the Delta Bessborough hotel on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River. The hotel, a château-style railway hotel built in the 1930s, is the best-known landmark in the city, with its copper roofs and towers rising above the trees, and the gardens give it a green setting that opens toward the water. The name recalls the Earl of Bessborough, who was Governor General of Canada when the hotel was completed.

The gardens are shaped like a natural amphitheatre, with a gentle slope that runs down toward the river. That shape makes the lawn an ideal place for outdoor concerts, and it has become one of the city’s main festival venues. The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, held in the summer, has long used the gardens for performances, and the lawn fills with people on blankets and folding chairs when a headline act plays. Other festivals, community gatherings, weddings and small events also use the space, so the schedule changes through the year. On ordinary days it is a quiet place to sit, with the sound of the river and a view across the water.

Visitors will find the gardens easy to combine with a walk along the Meewasin Valley Trail, which follows the riverbank on both sides of the water through parkland and woods. Paths link the gardens to the nearby bridges, and the river valley is a favourite route for walkers, runners and cyclists. Across the water, the University of Saskatchewan campus and the old Nutana neighbourhood lie close by, and the Remai Modern art gallery and the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market are a short walk or ride away along the river.

The setting changes with the seasons. In spring, the lawn greens and the trees leaf out, in summer the gardens are in full use for music and picnics, in autumn the river valley glows with yellow, and in winter the snow-covered slope and the lit hotel make a quiet scene. Flowerbeds and trees around the edges add colour, and the hotel’s terrace and restaurants look over the lawn.

The gardens are open to the public, and there is no charge for casual visits. They suit couples, families, music lovers and anyone who wants a restful spot near the city centre. Allow half an hour for a stroll, or an afternoon if a concert or festival is on. Check event listings before you go, as some events require tickets and fenced areas.