[URBAN NOTE] Seven city links: Pierrefonds, Edmundston, Saskatoon, Louisville, Belfast, Jerusalem …

• Ending free coffee for municipal employees in the Québec community of Pierrefonds created massive controversy. CBC reports.
• The mayor of the Francophone city of Edmundston in New Brunswick has encouraged immigrant Québec students hurt by immigration changes to come to his community. CTV News reports.
• The price of crystal meth in Saskatoon is apparently as low as $3 a bag. Global News reports.
• Guardian Cities notes how Louisville, low on trees, is trying to regreen the city as a way to deal with rising temperatures.
• Open Democracy considers if the DUP is about to lose its strongholds in Belfast.
• Guardian Cities looks at the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Kafr Aqab, a place where Palestinians can access their metropolis (and their partners).
• CityLab shares photos of the wonderful new public library of Helsinki.

[URBAN NOTE] Five city links: Hamilton, Kingston, Montréal, Saskatoon, Washington D.C.

• Hamilton, Ontario, now has a wall open to public street art. Global News reports.
• An early immigrant to Kingston, Ontario, explains what it was like to move to this eastern Ontario hub. Global News reports.
• MTL Blog notes that Montréal mayor has cancelled the construction of a condo tower because it was not including social housing.
• A museum exhibit in Saskatoon is offering free HIV testing and blood donation services in the fight against stigma. Global News reports.
• Ellen Mauro at CBC explains to readers the movement to make Washington D.C. into the 51st American state.

[URBAN NOTE] Five city links: Montréal, Pittsburgh, Saskatoon, Atlanta, Calgary

• CityLab takes a look at how Montréal took care of the problem of an excess of raccoons in that city’s Mount Royal Park, particularly around the Camillien-Houd lookout.
• CityLab takes a look at the city-defining design of Pittsburgh-based architect Tasso Katselas.
• The Yellow Quill First Nation is setting up an urban reserve in the city of Saskatoon. Global News reports.
• Guardian Cities looks at the roots of the black art renaissance in Atlanta.
• Joe McFarland at Global News argues that, particularly with its skepticism over the 2026 Olympics, Calgary is starting to retreat into an anti-development mood.

[URBAN NOTE] Four city links: New York City, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Saskatoon and Regina

• The landlord who destroyed the 5Pointz warehouse in New York City, for real estate development, despite the importance of its graffiti, has been ordered to compensate the art’s creators almost seven million dollars. VICE reports.
• Pittsburgh’s model of urban renaissance, based on heavy investment in high-tech and education, is still used as a model for cities everywhere. Bloomberg View has it.
• Vancouver has announced plans to remove viaducts and to replace them with towers and park space. Global News reports.
• Saskatoon and Regina, the two leading cities of Saskatchewan, are leading Canada in terms of growth. Global News reports.