

Where I Work: Darling Tattoos
Who They Are Helena Darling and Lacey Cormier co-own Darling Tattoos, a custom tattoo boutique that oozes with personality. After years of working at various tattoo shops—Darling for HFX Tattoo and Cormier for Divergence—they decided it was time to make their own glittery mark on the local scene. After discovering that they had a similar…
On journalism and biting the hand that feeds you
Last week, as part of their Fall Economic Statement, the federal government announced several initiatives to provide financial support to news organizations, including tax credits to support the production of original news content and to support subscriptions to Canadian news media. They also announced additional direct support for non-profit local news organizations to create open…
The joy of Annie Brace-Lavoie
It’s 9am when Annie Brace-Lavoie starts her day. The coffee maker is trickling as she begins to pull containers and produce from refrigerators. A tray of nest-like wheels made of praline-flavoured choux pastry make its way into the oven. After baking they’ll be cut horizontally and piped full of hazelnut creme. Desserts are always done…
Heritage status granted to Dennis Building
After months of debate, consultation and meetings, the Dennis Building has been granted heritage status. Regional council approved the designation this week after a short public hearing, making the Dennis one of the city’s only successful third-party heritage applications. Paul Armstrong, on behalf of the Maritime Institute of Civil Society, appeared before HRM’s Heritage Advisory…
25 for 25: episode 2016
This week on the podcast we’re joined by Tom Michael, owner of the dearly departed Video Difference, who shares his memories of running Halifax’s beloved cinematic landmark. Then, former HRM poet laureate Rebecca Thomas is with us in the studio, talking about spoken word, Cornwallis and her history of activism. All this plus Jacob uncovers missing…
SCIENCE MATTERS: Decades of denial and stalling have created a climate crunch
In a 1965 speech to members, American Petroleum Institute president Frank Ikard outlined the findings of a report by then-president Lyndon Johnson’s Science Advisory Committee, based in part on research the institute conducted in the 1950s. “The substance of the report is that there is still time to save the world’s peoples from the catastrophic…
City hall to pay for side guards on garbage trucks
Halifax will spend nearly a quarter of a million dollars installing side guards on trucks owned and operated by private businesses. Regional council voted on Tuesday to cover the costs for the life-saving devices on the 83 solid-waste collection trucks belonging to GFL Environmental and REgroup, respectively. The total cost to HRM works out to…
to the self check-out master
What’s the best part about doing your groceries late at night at the North Street grocery store (besides generally avoiding most other humans)? THE SELF-CHECKOUT MASTER. Everyone rants about the self-checkout machines eliminating jobs, but these machines have clearly allowed the guy that often works the night shift overseeing the machines to RISE TO THE…
It all comes crumbling down my face
To the cafes around this town that have decided it is beyond their capability to butter a bagel, but will hand you a hand-wrapped cube of butter (something that likely took longer than buttering my bagel as requested): You must be curing cancer. How busy are you, really? I see you. You aren’t that busy.…
Failing the ones who need it the most
Like honestly folks, here’s the elephant in the room: Our lovely home feels the need to dump endless amounts of cashola into needless crap (ahem, it’s a good percentage of YOUR paycheque) like stadiums, signage for BS smoking spots and so forth. Have we totally forgotten or are just most of us unaware of the…
“Security” guy in company car needs to learn to obey traffic laws
The Nova Scotia Advocate reported “eight pedestrians hit in a 24-hour period” yesterday and I am shaking my head as a pedestrian at the complete disregard for my well being tonight.You, a male driver, in a company security vehicle turning on to Gottingen Street from the MacDonald Bridge close to midnight, did NOT stop for…
To the guys who helped us into the radar station
Thanks for helping us (me) get my ass in the building. That was not going to happen without you offering to become human stairs and haul my ass up. And, having a tour guide didn’t hurt.—One who typically keeps two feet on the ground
Speaking of abuse
To the woman that pulled over your black minivan at the bus stop at the corner of Dunbrack and Main streets one morning this weekend to get out, open the hatchback and beat your dog: Shame on you!You are lucky I am not of the generation that has the reflex to pull out a phone…
Raymond Taavel to be memorialized with city park
A small park at the corner of Barrington and Inglis Streets is set to be renamed after Raymond Taavel, six years after the celebrated LGBTQ+ activist’s tragic death. Taavel was one of the city’s most prominent voices for gay rights—instrumental in bringing about HRM’s first public proclamation of Pride Week, raising the rainbow flag at…
Power Designs pops up at Brightwood Brewery
After spending a lot of time in their workshop lately, the sibling duo behind Power Designs wants a little bit of face-time with its shoppers and prospective shoppers. Mary-Ellen Power and her brother Graeme Power have been putting their creative minds and woodworking skills together for the last handful of years, making a name for…
Good Parma rises to the top(ping)
When a shoulder injury took Ryan Spence away from organic farming, he wanted to find a way to keep his connection with good, clean food. A vegan for nearly a decade, Spence was no stranger to experimenting with flavour in the kitchen, but it was a Christmas gift from his mother that pushed him to…
Moving backwards, apart: some background to the latest Transit controversy
The Purcell’s Cove area (from Williams Lake to Ferguson’s Cove) is a place of striking beauty. A significant part of the Backlands to the west of the area will become Halifax’s new Urban Wilderness Park. The serenity the Cove’s appearance contrasts sharply with the tension in its relationship with the central city since its annexation…
Plastic bag ban still up for debate
Plastic bags may be in peril in the HRM. The municipality’s environmental standing committee is holding off on a vote to reduce single-use plastic waste through voluntary collaboration with the city’s businesses. Back in January, regional council asked for a report to come to the Environment and Sustainability standing committee outlining options to reduce or…
Have a sparkling weekend with these Sure Things
An exiting weekend awaits as Mexican girl-punk band Introtyl tears it up at Gus’ Pub, a whole celebration of Viola Desmond takes over the north end and the Dartmouth Makers help start your holiday shopping. The Dartmouth Makers 2018 Winter Market Friday, Saturday The famed market stocked with all-handmade-everything returns to Christ Church Hall just…
Miss Chief and the Resilience
Kent Monkman is known for working on a monumental scale, and his recent work is as ambitious as ever. With the help of his Toronto studio, the Cree artist and his team of assistants (like a renaissance master and workshop) create stunning, giant canvases that reimagine the genre of history painting. History painting has less…
Harassment complaint against Youth Project executive director unfounded, investigation concludes
A workplace harassment complaint made against Youth Project executive director Kate Shewan has been found by a third-party investigator to be without merit. The complaint was made against Shewan sometime in September, at which point the LGBTQ+ non-profit says it contracted lawyer Rebecca Saturley with Stewart McKelvey to look into the matter. A statement provided…
Kaia Kater’s folk bomb
Kaia Kater w/Leanne Hoffman Sunday, November 25, 8pm The Carleton, 1685 Argyle Street $17.50 Kaia Kater picks up outside of Buffalo, New York, on a coffee stop as she and her band head back to Toronto. It’s the biggest band she’s toured with yet, four in total, after a good stretch playing as a duo…
Unclear how many people have signed up for CFL season tickets
Maritime Football isn’t releasing many details about its season ticket campaign. The company announced last week that 5,000 pre-sale deposits have already been made towards season tickets for Halifax’s unnamed, unconfirmed CFL expansion team, just two weeks after the ticket drive was announced. But 5,000 tickets doesn’t equal 5,000 butts in seats. Pre-sales on season…
Petra Glynt’s wake-up call
Petra Glynt w/Russell Louder, Marthas Thursday, November 22, 8pm Modulating Mansion, 2411 Agricola Street $10 “I shake to stay awake” sings Alexandra Mackenzie, her voice cutting through a dense sea of synthesizers. That cry comes from the song “Control” off My Flag Is A Burning Rag Of Love, Mackenzie’s latest art-pop romp under the name…
Julep Kitchen & Cocktails has plans for spring
“We don’t mind working hard,” says Ryan Wolfe of he and his business partner, chef Lawry Deneau. They’re the pair behind Chain Yard Urban Cidery’s in-house restaurant, Unchained Kitchen (2606 Agricola Street)—which has been doing big things out of an eight-by-eight kitchen since 2017—and they’ve got some plans for spring 2019. That’s when Julep Kitchen…
Stressfest
Q I’m a recently divorced single mom and full-time student. I’m really beginning to hurt financially and have decided to start working as an escort. I am at a point of great emotional stability, happiness and confidence—all reasons that led to my decision—and I’m surrounded by people who love me and won’t judge me. (Not…
Letters to the editor, November 22, 2018
There goes Bilby I just read the story on residents getting priced out of Bilby Street by development (“Bilby Street’s unaffordable future,” The City story by Sandra C. Hannebohm, November 8). We bought our first home on the street in 1992. Great location for the city. I could walk to work, the kids to school…
Free Will Astrology
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) “You have two ways to live your life,” writes spiritual teacher Joseph Vitale, “from memory or inspiration.” In other words, you can take your cues about how to live your life from what happened in the past, or else you can make your decisions based on what you’re excited…


