What it is The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) AKA COVID-19 was first found after cases of pneumonia were reported in Wuhan, China. Human coronaviruses are common, and typically associated with mild illnesses like the common cold. This one hadn’t been found in humans before December. The symptoms Symptoms are: Fever, cough and difficulty breathing. They can take up […]
Caora McKenna
Caora was City Editor at The Coast, where she wrote about everything from city hall to police and housing issues. She started with The Coast in 2017, when she was the publication’s Copy Editor.
Posted inNews + Opinion
Less than a quarter of candidates vying for a seat on Halifax regional council have been women
Before Lisa Blackburn became deputy mayor of Halifax, she was elected as District 14 councillor on regional council. And before that, she was knocking on doors in Beaverbank, Upper Sackville, Middle Sackville and Lucasville, telling people the myriad reasons why they should elect her to represent them at Halifax’s decision-making table. Before that, she was […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
How you can shoot your shot for a seat on Halifax regional council
Who can run? Anyone who is at least 18-years-old, a Canadian citizen and have been living in the wide expanse that is Halifax Regional Municipality for six months can run. What to do: 1. Get an official agent. Someone (could be you) who can handle your campaign finances and file some forms. Then, make an […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Coronavirus explained
Editor’s note: This article is out of date. A more recent version of Coronavirus explained from September 2020 can be found here. Life in the time of coronavirus is changing rapidly. The good news is that things changing quickly might prevent things from getting too bad. Acting fast is one of the main defences against […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Provincial staff take a field trip to city hall to explain QEII expansion project
This week Halifax Regional Council heard from the province about the QEII Health Sciences Centre New Generation project—a result of pressure from councillor Waye Mason for more clarity on expansions of the QEII site that could see a large parkade built beside the Museum of Natural History on Summer Street. The need for parking, explained […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Airbnb regulation in Nova Scotia leaves any strict rules up to municipalities
This month the province of Nova Scotia released the Tourist Accommodations Registration Act—which will require anyone operating a short-term rental that isn’t their primary residence—to register with the province and pay a petite fee. The point of the regulations, says minster of business Geoff MacLellan, was to “level the playing field” for the tourism industry. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The North American Indigenous Games are coming to Halifax this summer
NAIG Volunteer Launch Halifax City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street Feb 21, noon-1pm, naig2020.com I n July—a mere 143 days away—thousands of youth from across North America will be in Halifax, celebrating the largest sporting event the Maritimes has ever seen since European contact. Five thousand athletes, 756 Indigenous nations, 16 sports, 21 venues—all with the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
HRM’s budget committee settles on tax rate and extra spending for 2020/21
Halifax Regional Council’s budget committee settled on a tax rate and some extra spending for the 2020/21 year this week. The way the budget process unfolds in Halifax is set up to increase clarity and create more space for filtering out wants versus needs. The result, if given final approval from council, will be a […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Get yourself a lover with The Coast’s Valentine’s Day card
Love is hard. Dating apps are harder. Take it easy with a classic paper Valentine. Click on the download icon at the top left corner of the PDF below. Then open the file and click print. Fold on the marks in half and half again. Then go out into the world with love and optimism […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax’s old memorial library gets heritage status from regional council
Grafton Park and the old Memorial Library beefed up their protections against being flattened in the future, as regional council approved heritage site status for the building and the entire property it sits on at the corner of Spring Garden Road and Grafton Street. The designation as a heritage site—versus just a heritage property—means that […]
Posted inFood + Drink
The Cheesecake Test
Ideally, the person who slid into your DMs would arrive on the highly anticipated first date ready to provide any need-to-know info you weren’t able to suss out from their social media. With their horoscope’s rising sign or what Hogwarts house they’d be sorted into, you could quickly decide if this situation is more “thank […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Sex + dating survey: Let’s talk about consent and rape culture
The Coast spent a long time considering whether or not a quirky survey about sex and relationships was the place to ask the harder questions about sexualized violence and rape culture. At first, we thought no way: There is nothing quirky about sexual assault. But we also wondered why it’s so easy—and there’s so much […]