Saskatoon

I live in Saskatoon. It's brutally cold in the winter--do not visit. That said, it's cheap and gorgeous in the summer (May to September). Temperatures usually are between 20 and 30 Celsius during the day, and the sky is almost always clear. The sunsets are gorgeous, and there is a riverbank corridor that runs through the city where you can walk for 20 kilometres along the river and never cross a street (it's called the Meewasin... If you like nature, you will want to book a place near it). Bring bug spray, as there are lots of mosquitos in the summer, especially in the evening. During the summer, there is also a lot more to do--there are often festivals like the jazz festival, the Fringe (theatre), Taste of Saskatchewan, etc. There is not a ton of nightlife or other things to do--there are a couple of museums and art galleries, but it's a very small town feel.

Like everywhere in Canada, it's generally safe, LGBTQ friendly, and multicultural. It's safe for minorities, although we have racism like everywhere (and Indigenous people--women in particular--have to be careful walking alone at night). As a white woman, I have walked anywhere I want at all times of day or evening for my whole life, and not had a problem (although I have a high threshold for risk).

Canadian culture (prairie culture in particular) is polite and kind (you will be helped if you are in trouble) but reserved. Making friends requires some kind of "in" (like attending a mutual event or a shared sport or something like that.

There are no dangerous bugs or wildlife (there are bears if you travel to camp--and there is much gorgeous scenery nearby).

There are three good co-working spaces, currently. Two on Broadway (that is the trendy artsy area), and one downtown (called the Two Twenty). The Stand on Broadway is my top recommendation for a cheap place to get wifi and work, and the Two Twenty is the most established and the nicest.