Confederation Mall
A neighbourhood shopping mall and commercial centre in west Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Confederation Mall is a shopping mall in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, situated at the intersection of 22nd Street and Circle Drive. The centre serves west Saskatoon and surrounding neighbourhoods with a mix of grocery, general merchandise, apparel, sporting goods, home furnishings, restaurants, personal services, financial services, and specialty retail. The mall occupies approximately 329,128 square feet and is integrated with the surrounding Confederation Urban Centre and the Confederation Transit Terminal. The property opened in the middle of 1973 under the name Confederation Park Plaza. Its original anchor tenants were Canada Safeway and Woolco. The development followed a change in location: an earlier proposal for Saskatoon's east side, at Clarence Avenue and Circle Drive, was rejected by Saskatoon City Council in May 1972 after community concerns. Developers subsequently pursued a west-side site near Confederation Park, where mall planning had been discussed since at least the mid-1960s. The mall's name was selected through a public contest organized by the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix and developer Trizec Equities Ltd. around the beginning of construction in November 1972. A Saskatoon resident who submitted the winning name received an Air Canada trip to London and a cash prize. This community-oriented naming process helped establish the Confederation Park identity associated with the surrounding district. In 1994, Woolco was converted to Walmart as part of Walmart's entry into the Canadian Woolco locations. Around the same period, the mall expanded and added a food court and a replacement Safeway store. The former Safeway space was adapted for food-court use, while residual space accommodated other large-format tenants, including Family Video and later Petland. Over time, the tenant mix broadened to include clothing stores, electronics retailers, florists, banks, jewellers, restaurants, and service businesses. A major change occurred after Walmart built a new store in the Blairmore Urban Centre several kilometres west of the mall in 2009. The Confederation Mall Walmart closed after the 2009 holiday season, and the space was subsequently reconfigured. Canadian Tire, together with Mark's Work Wearhouse, opened in the former Walmart area in spring 2011, replacing a standalone Canadian Tire near Plaza 22. The former Walmart-related area was later divided among several retailers and a fitness operator, including Fit4Less, Dollar Tree, Sport Chek, and JYSK, while Winners became an interior-facing anchor in another reconfigured portion of the centre. The mall also undertook an interior renovation programme, including plans reported by 2015 to expand and improve the food court. Current and recent food-court offerings have included Tim Hortons and TacoTime. Although individual tenants have changed substantially since opening, Confederation Mall has continued to function as a local shopping and services destination rather than as a national consumer brand in its own right. Its transit connection is an important part of its role: Confederation Terminal, located near the mall's northwest exit on Laurier Drive, connects the centre with residential areas and downtown Saskatoon through multiple Saskatoon Transit routes.
History
Confederation Mall is a west Saskatoon shopping centre whose development was shaped by municipal planning, neighbourhood demand, and successive changes in retail formats. Plans for a shopping centre in the broader Confederation Park area existed by at least 1966. A later proposal placed the mall at the southwest corner of Clarence Avenue and Circle Drive on Saskatoon's east side, but Saskatoon City Council rejected that proposal in May 1972 following community concerns. The developers then pursued an alternative west-side location near what became Confederation Park. Construction began on 18 November 1972. Before and during construction, the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix worked with Trizec Equities Ltd. on a public naming contest. The winning entry, Confederation Park Plaza, was submitted by a Saskatoon resident, who received an Air Canada flight to London and $300. The mall opened in the middle of 1973 with Canada Safeway and Woolco as its principal anchors. Its early format reflected the period's suburban shopping-centre model: a grocery anchor, a department-style general merchandise anchor, and a collection of smaller retailers and services. The centre changed significantly in the 1990s. In 1994, Woolco became Walmart. Around the same time, a physical expansion added a food court and a new Safeway store. The original Safeway premises were adapted for food-court use, while remaining space supported another large tenant. Family Video occupied part of that area from 1994 to 2003, later being replaced by other uses including Petland. The tenant base expanded beyond the original anchors to include apparel, electronics, financial services, florists, jewellery, and other personal and professional services. The next major transition followed Walmart's decision to establish a newer store in the Blairmore Urban Centre. Construction took place in 2009, and the mall Walmart closed after the holiday season. In 2010 and 2011, the vacated area was reorganized. Canadian Tire, accompanied by Mark's Work Wearhouse, opened in spring 2011 in a standalone arrangement that replaced a Canadian Tire location near Plaza 22. The mall's internal retail area was subsequently adapted for other anchors and tenants, including Winners. Later occupants in the broader former-Walmart footprint included Fit4Less, Dollar Tree, Sport Chek, and JYSK. The centre also pursued a substantial interior renovation programme. Plans reported by 2015 included expansion of the food court and improvements to the mall environment. Food service has included Tim Hortons and TacoTime, although individual restaurants and tenants have changed over time. The former Safeway anchor operated from 1973 until 2019, when it was converted to FreshCo, marking another important change in the grocery component. Confederation Mall's role extends beyond retail. Confederation Terminal, located on Laurier Drive at the mall's northwest exit, is one of Saskatoon Transit's major bus terminals. It provides connections to neighbourhoods including Confederation Park, Fairhaven, Massey Place, Hampton Village, Parkridge, Kensington, Dundonald, Meadowgreen, and surrounding areas, as well as routes to downtown Saskatoon. This transit infrastructure reinforces the mall's function as a community-serving commercial node. Former anchors have included Safeway, Woolco, Walmart, Sport Mart, and Family Video/VHQ. The property remains active, but its ownership, management structure, and current complete tenant roster are not established by the supplied reference material.
- 2019
Safeway location becomes FreshCo
[1]The long-serving Safeway anchor was converted to FreshCo.
- 2015
Interior renovation programme advances
[1]Plans included an enlarged food court and wider interior improvements.
- 2011
Canadian Tire and Mark's open in redeveloped space
[1]A redeveloped portion of the former Walmart area opened to Canadian Tire and Mark's Work Wearhouse.
- 2010
Mall Walmart closes
[1]The Confederation Mall Walmart closed after the 2009 holiday season as operations shifted to the Blairmore location.
- 2009
New Walmart is built in Blairmore
[1]A new Walmart was constructed several kilometres west in the Blairmore Urban Centre.
- 1994
Woolco becomes Walmart and mall expansion follows
[1]The Woolco anchor converted to Walmart, while an expansion added a new Safeway and a food court.
- 1973
Confederation Park Plaza opens
[1]The mall opened with Canada Safeway and Woolco as its original anchor tenants.
- 1972
East-side proposal rejected
[1]Saskatoon City Council rejected a proposed east-side location at Clarence Avenue and Circle Drive after community concerns.
- 1972
Construction begins and public naming contest is held
[1]Construction began on 18 November, while a Star-Phoenix and Trizec Equities contest selected the name Confederation Park Plaza.
- 1966
Early planning for a Confederation-area mall
[1]Shopping-centre planning in the area around present-day Confederation Park was documented by at least this period.
Products and positioning
A west Saskatoon community shopping centre combining everyday retail, grocery, services, food, and transit access.
Food retail · 1973
Grocery retail
The mall has historically included a major grocery anchor. Canada Safeway operated at the centre from its 1973 opening until 2019, when the location became FreshCo. Grocery retail has been one of the mall's principal everyday-needs functions.
General merchandise · 1973
General merchandise and department-style retail
Woolco was an original anchor and became Walmart in 1994. The mall Walmart later closed following the opening of a larger Blairmore store, after which the space was divided and redeveloped for other major retailers.
Food service · 1994
Food court
A food court was added during the mall's 1990s expansion and later targeted for further enlargement and renovation. Reported food-court tenants have included Tim Hortons and TacoTime, alongside changing restaurant and snack operators.
Specialty retail · 2011
Large-format specialty retail
Following the departure of Walmart, the property accommodated Canadian Tire and Mark's Work Wearhouse, as well as retailers such as Winners, Sport Chek, Dollar Tree, and JYSK. These uses broaden the centre's offer across automotive, apparel, sporting goods, discount merchandise, and home furnishings.
Services and specialty retail · 1973
Services and specialty shops
The mall's smaller-unit tenant mix has included clothing and electronics stores, florists, banks, jewellers, personal services, and other local or national operators. The exact current roster is not established in the supplied sources.
Marketing campaigns
- 1972You Name It naming contest
Saskatoon · Saskatchewan · Canada
The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix and Trizec Equities invited residents to propose a name for the developing shopping centre. The winning entry was Confederation Park Plaza.
Outcome. The selected name was used when the mall opened in 1973; the winning entrant received an Air Canada flight to London and $300.
Brand decisions
2015
Renovate and expand the food courtStrategyBackground
The mall sought to refresh its interior environment and strengthen its food-service offer.
Action taken
A major interior renovation programme was launched, with plans reported to include food-court expansion.
Aftermath
The food court continued to serve as a central shared amenity, with Tim Hortons and TacoTime among the reported operators.
2010
Redevelop the former Walmart areaStrategyBackground
The departure of Walmart left a substantial portion of the mall requiring a new commercial use.
Action taken
The space was renovated and separated into new retail and fitness uses, including Canadian Tire, Mark's Work Wearhouse, Fit4Less, Dollar Tree, Sport Chek, JYSK, and Winners in reconfigured areas.
Aftermath
The mall shifted from reliance on Walmart toward a more diversified large-format retail mix.
2009
Relocate Walmart to Blairmore Urban CentreStrategyBackground
A new Walmart was built several kilometres west in the Blairmore Urban Centre.
Action taken
The mall Walmart closed after the 2009 holiday season and operations shifted to the new store.
Aftermath
The former anchor space was renovated and reconfigured for Canadian Tire, Mark's, Winners, and other subsequent tenants.
1994
Convert Woolco anchor to WalmartStrategyBackground
Walmart's Canadian expansion included the conversion of Woolco stores.
Action taken
The mall's Woolco anchor was converted to Walmart, alongside a period of mall expansion.
Aftermath
Walmart operated as a major mall anchor until its later relocation to Blairmore.
1972
Move the proposed mall to west SaskatoonStrategyBackground
The original proposal for an east-side site at Clarence Avenue and Circle Drive was rejected by Saskatoon City Council after community concerns.
Action taken
The developers pursued an alternate site near Confederation Park on the city's west side.
Aftermath
The relocated project opened as Confederation Park Plaza in 1973 and became the foundation of the present mall.
Sources1 sources
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