Being a Trusted Partner on the Trusted Saskatoon Directory of Excellence comes with a lot of responsibility - no other directory, advertising company, or 'watchdog organization' puts businesses through the ongoing process we do before we promote and endorse them.
Why Choose a Business On the Trusted Saskatoon Directory?
All of the Trusted Saskatoon partners have to pass a unique verification process, they are then annually contracted to uphold our 5 Trusted Guarantees. The partners then become part of a local community of Saskatoon and area businesses that we promote with a strong local marketing campaign. We also have a Trusted MYSTERY SHOPPER PROGRAM. This is where we find and engage with normal everyday people, just like you, who are looking for products and services in Saskatoon and area. We approach individuals we can see are looking for a local business and we ask them to mystery shop Trusted Saskatoon Partners. Those that agree to be Trusted mystery shoppers go about their usual business, except at the end they fill out a report to tell us about the experience. We then share it with you! We are thrilled to share our latest mystery shop.
PickNic's Catering and Fine Foods are Trusted Saskatoon caterers!
Date of Mystery Shop: August 2022
Shopper : Ezna
MYSTERY SHOP CHECKLIST:
1. How was the greeting/ welcome/ call answered? Friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.
2. Appearance of the store/staff and showroom? When I picked up my birthday cake, I was impressed with the elegance of the storefront.
3. If a quote was required, was it well laid out/ clear? I asked for an estimate and it was clear.
4. Overall experience 1-10. 9 out of 10
5. Would you return as a customer/ recommend them to close friends? Yes, already did
6. Did anyone stand out as exceptional? If so who? Why? Owner offered extra finishing touches when I picked up the cake, and carried it to the car.
TRUSTED GUARANTEES
1. Provide the service and quality promised - 10
2. Complete the job on time - 10
3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises - 10
4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs - 10
5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind - 10
Ezna shared picture of the 2 cakes, and as always, they look amazing!
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
Everybody absolutely loved the cupcakes and icing !
Unfortunately I never got to taste the large carrot cake birthday cake because my daughter and I gave it away to a gal whose mom couldn’t afford a cake and also celebrated her bday at the party.
Apparently her face lit up when she saw cake So was worth it
It’s my compassionate daughter Alicia who heard about this and came and pitched the idea to me and how could I say no? Made me happy to see my daughter flow like that and to brighten someone else’s day - Ezna ( Mystery Shopper & birthday girl)
WHAT A GREAT GESTURE EZNA & A WONDERFUL MYSTERY SHOP NICOLA & TEAM!!!
Yet again showing you deserve the Thumbs Up from www.TrustedSaskatoon.com
Let Nicola and the team at PickNic's Catering & fine Foods create something special for your next event or special occasion!
"Taste...That Delivers!"
TRUSTED SASKATOON RECOGNIZES OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRUSTED FOR OVER 10 YEARS!
In this series of articles, we continue to shine a spotlight on the businesses that have been partners for over 10 years. This year we recognize the Trusted Saskatoon Partners that joined us in 2012. We want to thank them for TRUSTING our team, and we are identifying each of them individually for providing 10 years of OUTSTANDING service to the citizens of Saskatoon and the surrounding area! This latest article celebrates and recognizes
Cam and the talented team at Bateman Jewellers.
“Your Jewellery Is A Lifetime Investment...Buy It From A Lifetime Friend"
A History To Be Proud Of
George Bateman opened G.W. Bateman Jewellers in October of 1945 at 122 20th Street East. George had recently returned home from overseas after serving six years in the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II as an instrument technician.
In 1948 after working at Bateman’s Jewellery Store Millie married George and In 1954 George opened a second store in the Senator Hotel on 21st street. In 1981 he opened a third location in Melfort. Bateman Jewellers reputation became the store with the largest assortment of diamonds and watches in Saskatoon and boasted the most up-to-date repair departments.
Fast forward to 1992 when George's daughter Marilynand her husband Ken, purchased Bateman’s from her father George. In 1995 the store moved to its current location on 2nd Avenue South. This gave them more space and they owned the building.
In February 2004 While travelling to a jewellery show in Edmonton with a coworker, Marilyn was involved in a serious car accident. Although she continued to work during her recovery, she found it difficult. Which led to them making the decision to sell the store with the intent to retire in B.C
Cam Kripki, the current owner, had been working for Bateman’s since 1991. Cam was eager to purchase the store from Marilyn given his education in gemology and watch repair. He appreciated the history, the legacy and the reputation Batemans had built over it’s long history. In mid 2004, Cam and his long time customer & private supplier for Bateman Jewllers, John Scarfe, started conversations about a partnership to buy the store. John also has a gemology background, he believed in the potential of Bateman’s and its good reputation.
In March 2005, Cam, his wife Janice, his business partner John Scarfe and his wife Laurie became business partners, then in January 2016 John sold his shares to Cam and Janice Kripki who are now the sole proprietors and continue to operate the store with integrity and care. You may recognize Cam’s voice from his long running ‘ Legend Of The Rock ‘ radio ads.
Over the years Bateman’s offerings have expanded to include high quality giftware, including quality fashion jewellery, fine glassware, jewellery boxes, Maison Bergers and beautifully designed household items. They hold a huge sale every year in October to commemorate their anniversary, the deals available are awesome and definitely worth checking out!!
Trusted Sara and Batemans
“ I have known Cam and Janice since 2008, and they have been my family's jeweller ever since. When I was developing the concept for Trusted Saskatoon they were the kind of company and owners I was looking to partner with. The TrustedSaskatoon community is composed of local businesses who are true experts in their industries. In addition, they are huge supporters of the wider Saskatoon community. Bateman Jewellers is a fine example of local supporting local and they are built on a foundation of giving back going back decades. Jewellery is a special gift to give and I have been so happy with Cam’s help over the years picking out Graduation, milestone anniversary & birthday gifts for my family and friends. When I have been searching for the perfect gift for a valued person in my life I know I can rely on him to work with me to provide a great option within my budget. I have also been impressed by how much Batemans gives back to the community , as a volunteer, sponsor and prize sponsor of so many charity and fundraising events. Cam and the team are humble and rarely promote all the amazing community work they do, so I am glad Trusted can spread the word! “ - Sara Wheelwright - Trusted Founder.
Can't find what you’re looking for? Bateman’s offers a custom jewellery design service . For example they can 3D design a ring specifically for you using professional CAD software, so you can get your perfect, special piece designed from scratch using GemVision's Matrix software.
For an easier process, they use Countersketch Studio to edit adjustable templates to work together on a design that you will love for years to come.
Contact Cam or visit them in-store for more information.
The Trusted Saskatoon team guarantees when you choose Bateman’s as your family jewellers you will receive outstanding value and attentive personal service from a local family owned business that truly cares and is there for you before, during and after your purchase!
Thank you for TRUSTING us Cam, Janice and the Bateman’s team. You have provided 10 years of AMAZING service to the people of Saskatoon as our Trusted Saskatoon Jewellery store. Bateman Jewellers continues to be a wonderful legacy in our city, that has always provided personal and outstanding service to Saskatoon and area for nearly 80years!
We are proud to support then and to share that they upheld the 5 TRUSTED GUARANTEES of service long before we came along.
When the Trusted Saskatoon team gives a business the 'Thumbs Up' it really means something!! So continue to use and recommend TrustedSaskatoon.com to FIND GREAT LOCAL BUSINESSES YOU CAN TRUST like Bateman Jewellers
The Trusted Saskatoon Team is delighted to welcome our newest Trusted Saskatoon Contractor Liftech Concrete Leveling Inc to the Saskatoon Contractors, Exteriors & Roofing Category. Liftech Concrete Leveling is your go-to Trusted Saskatoon Contractor for lifting and leveling sunken and uneven concrete. Get to know all they do and meet the people behind the business in our latest Trusted Saskatoon article welcoming a new partner to our Saskatoon community of locally owned businesses operate with integrity! .
Scott Loucks & Jim Loucks started Liftech Concrete Leveling Inc over 10 years ago and have an outstanding community reputation. Liftech was founded in Saskatoon, a family-owned & operated company proud to call Saskatchewan home! We are so fortunate that Saskatoon is home and have decided to apply to join our Trusted Saskatoon Community so can we spread the word about their exemplary customer service, and how they continuously go above and beyond to provide accurate, and honest concrete raising, repair, and waterproofing services!
Trusted Saskatoon Concrete Lifting and Leveling Experts
So, does your property have settling concrete, cracking or sinking slabs? They can be a real eyesore and often a sign of underlying issues with the soil. If you’re wondering why your sidewalk or driveway is becoming increasingly uneven, Liftech Concrete and leveling have your solutions! Their goal is to be known throughout Saskatchewan as THE concrete leveling experts
“Is your sinking concrete dragging down the value of your property??
GIVE IT A LIFT... It's a fraction of the cost of replacement!"
With over 22 years of combined experience , Scott Loucks & his Father Jim Loucks have the ULTIMATE solution for you! They are passionate about going above and beyond to provide the most accurate, and honest customer service. Their main services include concrete raising, repair, deep foaming injection and fill foaming and waterproofing.
Liftech Concrete Leveling can be the solution to many commercial and residential property owners concrete problems. We repair concrete slabs such as sinking driveways and patios, uneven sidewalks, garage and warehouse floors for a fraction of the cost of replacing the concrete. and we keep tons of old concrete out of landfills annually by repairing, instead of replacing it.
At Liftech Concrete Leveling we strive to provide our customers with service that is second to none, while leading our industry by using the latest technology, equipment and techniques.- Scott Loucks- Liftech
What Did Their Customers Say?
When we were speaking to LIftech's customers, which is an integralpart of the Unique Trusted Verification Process, we consistently heard amazing things. Read some of the real personal testimonials from their customers below, including another of our long term Trusted Saskatoon homebuilders Decora Homes
“ We have been happy with all the services we have gotten from them. There are never any surprises. They are our go-to company when we need their type of services." - Dustin G, Decora Homes
"I called this year regarding a past quote they had provided and they came out and reconfirmed the work that needs to be done. They gave me a date and Scott and his team came out and did a great job on our driveway. It was neat seeing how the foam jacking worked. Our driveway and sidewalks look fantastic (there is one spot where it couldn't be raised anymore but that is the fault of the binding concrete and not Liftechs') The best part is the holes they drilled are tiny compared to normal mudjacking. I would say they are dime-sized. Barely noticeable after they filled them. I would definitely recommend Liftech for your mudjacking/foamjacking needs! - Ryan D, Saskatoon
"We have known Scott & Jim for 8 years. They have always been great to deal with and there is never any panic. They are the easiest company to deal with. Their communication is almost too good." - Jon A, Saskatoon
We encourage you to visit Liftech's Trusted Saskatoon listing to read more customer reviews, see their full range of services and to find out more on their website. Questions? Simply reach out to Scott, Jim and their team about your situation. They are here to help, and all of there climes shared that they are down to earth and beyond knowledgeable! Local experts you can trust!
TRUSTED SASKATOON RECOGNIZES OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRUSTED FOR OVER 10 YEARS!
In this series of articles, we continue to shine a spotlight on the businesses that have been partners for over 10 years. This year we recognize the Trusted Saskatoon Partners that joined us in 2012. We want to thank them for TRUSTING our team, and we are identifying each of them individually for providing 10 years of OUTSTANDING service to the citizens of Saskatoon and the surrounding area! This latest article celebrates and recognizes Milton Taylor and the ladies at Imagery Photography.
Milton B. Taylor, MPA founded Imagery Photography in 1977. Milton has had an illustrious and lengthy photographic career. He is a multi-award-winning photographer, whose skills are still very much in demand.
When we presented Milton with his Trusted Saskatoon 10-Year Award, we asked him about advice he would give others in business and why he has been so successful over so many years. He replied simply and predictably…
"TREASURE LIFE."
“Treasure Life” has been Milton’s motto for many years. “We all get opportunities to do something in life. We have to seize those opportunities and make them count.” He hopes that we can all look back in years to come and recall how wonderful and treasured those opportunities are and that we always treasure life.
Trusted Sara and Milton
“ I have known Milton since meeting him at a breakfast networking event in 2011, and he has been my photographer ever since. Over the years he has visually documented my life with cherished family photos, passport photos, Trusted event photos and all of our Trusted team and website photos. I have always loved the results and have no hesitation in recommending Milt to anyone looking for a talented and trustworthy photographer in Saskatoon
In 2021 Milton agreed to collaborate with me to raise money for local charities. I roped him into volunteering as my partner and we stepped up a team for the Saskatoon Progress Club’s Celebrity Challenge -which promotes local restaurants and raises money for local charities. We represented Team HomeQuarter and together we sold over $6000 of gift cards and promoted the event far and wide. All in all the event raised over $80,000 for local non-profits, including one close to his heart, Care and Share Saskatoon. I was thrilled to witness him accepting the prestigious Professional Photographers of Canada: Saskatchewan Fellowship Award. in 2017, which is the highest honour which can be bestowed upon a member. I am so grateful to be able to promote him as .a client, a Trusted partner and to also call him a valued friend." - Sara Wheelwright - Trusted Saskatoon Founder.
Milton is also community driven and is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including but not limited to:
- SABEX Community Leadership Award
- 2015 B’nai Brith ‘We’re Proud Of You Award.
- 2017 NSBA Shirley Ryan Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2017 Professional Photographers of Canada: Saskatchewan Fellowship Award
Community Support Is At The Foundation Of Imagery Photography
As passionate about volunteering as he is about photography, Milton devotes countless hours to many community organizations, projects and programs. He has been and continues to be, involved with many community and business organizations. If you visit his studio it is impossible to miss all of the awards crowding the window sills and shelves. Most recently, he was Chair of the NSBA board of directors. One of Milton’s greatest passions is his involvement with Care and Share Saskatoon. 
Care and Share is a non-profit organization devoted to the needs of Saskatoon’s inner-city schools. Care and Share’s mission is to ensure all children have an opportunity to develop all of their potential: in sports, in school, in culture and in recreation. Milton strongly believes that education is the only way to break the cycle and that the longer children can stay in school, the better their chances of success. Milton volunteers and has served on the board for over 15 years.
We guarantee when you choose Imagery Photography as your photographer for family, commercial or professional pictures, you will receive fantastic pictures at a fair price from a local family-owned business that cares!
Thank you for TRUSTING us Milton, Betty & Brenda, and thank you for providing 10 years of AMAZING service to the people of Saskatoon. Imagery Photography continues to be a well-respected and valued company in Saskatoon and the area and they have always upheld our 5 TRUSTED GUARANTEES of service.
When the Trusted Saskatoon team gives a business the 'Thumbs Up' it really means something!! So continue to use and recommend TrustedSaskatoon.com to FIND GREAT LOCAL BUSINESSES YOU CAN TRUST like Imagery Photography.
K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan. In addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon tip, K & S Contracting, Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors, and foundation specialists, discuss if you should see your home vs foundation repair work.
Trying to make the decision if you should sell your home versus foundation repair can be quite a decision. If you decide to sell your home with a faulty foundation you have four options:
Option 1: Do nothing and list as-is for a lesser amount.
Option 2: Complete the repair before putting it on the market.
Option 3: Offer credit to buyers to be used towards repairs after closing.
Option 4: Negotiate repair terms once an interested buyer has had an inspection.
However, if you should decide you want to keep your home and do the foundation repair. Then you need to review what is causing the problem. Below is a short list of typical foundation repairs:
SINKING
Excess water around a home’s foundation from rain or flooding can saturate the soil, causing it to sink. That effect will vary at different places around the foundation, causing not only sinking but uneven sinking, including breaking up the foundation.
SETTLING
Drought can have just as big an impact on the foundation. The soil will dry up and shrink. This causes the foundation to settle into a reduced level of the soil. And of course, that settlement will be uneven across the foundation, causing cracks and breaks.
TREE AND SHRUB ROOTS
When planted close to the home’s foundation, roots can cause significant damage. In dry conditions, they pull out moisture, causing the soil to settle. In wet conditions, the cracks created can lead to excess moisture and even flooding in basements or crawl spaces.
FROST HEAVE
In typical Saskatoon freezing conditions, the top layer of soil freezes quickly, followed by the lower levels. Unfortunately, that top frozen layer doesn’t allow the lower levels to expand as they freeze. This, in turn, pushes the top layer upward and puts pressure on the home’s foundation. Cracks and bulges are the inevitable consequences.
POOR WORKMANSHIP
A home’s foundation could also suffer from poor workmanship in the original construction. For example, the concrete mix could have too much water, leaving weak cement. It could also be improperly levelled, leading to big problems over time.
At the end of the day, deciding to sell your home vs foundation repair work depends on what you want to live with. When trying to make that decision, we recommend you
call Steve immediately and ask him to provide you
with your options and costs.