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 S A M P L E    R E S E A R C H    A R T I C L E

Affluent, savvy bedroom community may reverse the traffic commuting into Saskatoon

BY JOE RALKO

Martensville, 10 kilometres from Saskatoon, is a classic bedroom community where the bulk of employment - 26 per cent - comes from retail and business services for those who work in Saskatchewan's largest city.

Yet Martensville has some characteristics that set it apart from many commuter cities, according to Mayor Gordon Rutten, a former school superintendent who moved to Martensville in 2004, just before the tiny town began its unprecedented growth spurt.

Incorporated in 1966, Martensville has grown by 28 per cent in the past five years.

"With increased economic opportunities in the province comes a population increase and the Saskatoon area is a major beneficiary of that increase. As a result, communities in close proximity to Saskatoon become attractive alternatives for many families who are moving into the area."