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Anyone who wasn’t watching Donald Trump or prepping for a fond farewell to Jon Stewart was probably live-tweeting last night’s leaders debate. In case you missed it, there’s plenty of coverage today from outlets regional, national and international. Seriously, lots and lots of coverage. As is his wont, Prime Monster Stephen Harper took no questions from reporters after the debate.
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The largest Parapan Am Games ever kick off today in Toronto, bringing together 1,600 athletes who’ll be vying for a spots on the podium between now and August 15. One of those enviably talented individuals is Halifax’s Pam LeJean—a gold medal hopeful— who’ll throw down in both javelin and shot put events during the games. "I always want to be peaking. I always, even in practice, I want to always be at least at par with my last throw. I'm an asshole to myself,” she told The Coast back in January. Tune into her events on August 11 and 14. Sadly still absent from the Parapan Am Games? Rowing.
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Wes Booth, 24, wants to “change the narrative” of Nova Scotia by putting blue paint on strangers’ noses. CBC reports on the Wolfville man’s grassroots social media campaign, while noting Booth is “currently unemployed and broke.” Related:
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“You make them not a pokey-little vehicle stuck in a traffic jam, but the most efficient thing on the road and you can sell that to people. All of a sudden the bus—the transit, the loser cruiser, the loser's choice—starts to look like a pretty good idea.” Taras Grescoe spoke last night at the University of King’s College, but you can read his thoughts about public transit and Halifax’s future in an interview The Coast conducted right here.
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Metro’s Zane Woodford gets a sneak peek at the renovations ongoing at the Metro Scotiabank Centre. New seats, bigger washrooms and improved concessions are all part of the plans now that banking giant Scotiabank is footing some of the bill. Because Halifax, donairs will also now be sold at the centre’s concessions booths (along with lobster rolls and sushi).
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Gentrification continues in north end Halifax. Tenants in buildings owned by Harbour City Homes are worried they’re being forced out, after being informed the non-profit society is selling several of their properties on Brunswick Street. One resident, who’s lived in the neighbourhood her entire life, tells CBC the building next door was recently renovated and then rented out for double what she pays now. Evictions in everything but the name, these sorts of practices are one reason activists have called for Halifax to bring back rent control.
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If you’re swinging by the Halifax Forum Farmers’ Market this Saturday, seek out Jessie Palmer’s table. She’s the English teacher and fermenter extraordinaire behind Cabbage Patch Kimchi, a relatively new, Halifax-made product. Kimchi pizza? Kimchi tacos? Kimchi Caesar? They could all be on this weekend’s menu.
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Drown out tomorrow’s heavy rainfall warning with this week’s High 5: the thunder storm edition
