Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block delivered her first state of the city speech at what only be described as a dark time for Saskatoon.

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The challenges keep piling up for Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block, just a little more than six months into her first term.

Block knew homelessness would be a major struggle she would need to tackle, and she acknowledged it on election night as her top priority.

But she probably was not expecting the overdose crisis that continues to shake the city, with the fire department responding to 30 overdoses over three days this month to go with the hundreds so far this year and at least 21 deaths. The substances causing this month’s overdoses remain unknown.

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Then there’s the escalation in bear spray incidents. Plus the looming impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs. And, just when you might have had trouble imagining another big issue, the South Saskatchewan River is depleted and sandbars now threaten to impede summer fun and hinder businesses.

Saskatoon’s very identity seems threatened. So no better time for a........

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