I checked out your Best of Halifax issue this week and felt a potent mixture of fury and sadness upon reading the category "Best Pick-up Bar". I'd like to propose a new category and nominate this establishment (and others) as "Most likely Spot to be Drugged and Sexually Assaulted". While acknowledging that sexual assault can happen anywhere, the downtown Halifax bar scene is a sexual predator hot-spot with the highest national average of reported sexual assaults in the country - on average one every day. If Halifax is ever to achieve the desired reputation of a 'great city', downtown businesses must take some responsibility in addressing this social cancer and collectively we must address the social attitudes behind such appalling statistics. Too much of our advice has historically been directed at women to avoid vicimization. What we need to say loudly and clearly to every man is "Don't rape!"

sad and angry