1
Two women and one man were arrested over the weekend during a local protest against Canada’s new anti-terror bill. Police took in two Bill C-51 protesters who were sitting in traffic at Spring Garden Road and Birmingham Street, but later released them without charges. A 26-year-old man was then arrested for causing a disturbance, which police say involved “swearing through a megaphone.” Journalist Miles Howe was at the protest, and recorded video of the three arrests as they were happening.
The Herald quotes Staff Sgt. Barb Saunders in saying that while neither swearing nor using a megaphone is of itself a charge, swearing while using a megaphone could be considered causing a disturbance.
2
Chris Cochrane, better known as Elle Noir, discovered some transphobic signs taped up in Burnside over the weekend. “WHEN, A: TRANNY TRUCK DRIVER, FINISHEs ROUTE…TRANs -END ⅜,” one sign incomprehensibly reads. Transgender individuals are one of the most-attacked segments of society, but the damage of these signs has to be diminished by the incoherent writing. Drivers in Burnside probably don’t have time to read legible hate signage, let alone these scrawlings. Some online have pegged the potential author as this man, who apparently stands (sometimes in a dress) with handwritten signs at the Burnside and Highfield intersection.
3
Halifax city council will vote Tuesday on whether to award Capital Demolition and Environmental Services the contract to tear down the former St. Pat’s High School. The company’s $1.3-million bid is, as noted by the Herald’s Brett Bundale, 22 percent cheaper than the next lowest bidder and well below the $4.5 million project cost estimated by city staff. Capital is owned by Lawrence Bellefontaine, who Bundale points out, is the owner of the company behind some controversial dumping in Lake Echo. Waste from Capital’s demolition of the Gordon Bell building has been thrown onto property belonging to Kiann Management (also owned by Bellefontaine). Kiann has applied to develop a waste processing facility on the site, but that’s not yet been approved by council. Nearby residents have been “flabbergasted” that debris is piling up on the site despite any vote on the project’s approval being months area. Capital also had a bid well below its competitors on the Gordon Bell demolition.
4
Sackville councillor Steve Craig would like Halifax to examine options for culturally-sensitive recreation policies. Craig says the recently-announced closure of a women’s-only gym at the Sackville Sports Stadium discriminates against Muslim women, and is an example of larger problems.
5
Privacy lawyer David Fraser took his aerial drone out for another spin around Halifax last week. Check out his HD-footage above the old Town Clock and Holy Cross Cemetery, and more of his videos right here.
6
Uytae Lee helps you re-live the wonder of the Casino Nova Scotia and Music Nova Scotia artist-in-residence competition. If you don’t know who won we won’t spoil it for you.
+2 Sure Things
Swing in Bedford.
Propagandhi in Halifax.
Watch the awarding of Casino Nova Scotia’s artist-in-residence.
