Besides mystery tunnels under the harbour and basically anything donair, no regurgitated news story piques the interest of this municipality quite like the perpetual discussion of putting a football stadium in Halifax. Well strap in and hold on, because shit’s about to get (vaguely and informally) real. The Sports Network is reporting that the Canadian […]
Jacob Boon
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax council to undergo cultural sensitivity training
In the fallout from several racially charged statements made by elected officials and more than a dozen conduct complaints submitted to city hall, Halifax Regional Council has agreed to collectively take part in cultural sensitivity training. The idea was unanimously approved Tuesday night after three hours of in-camera discussion. “We could all use a […]
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Tony Mancini wants stronger sanctions for disrespectful HRM councillors
As Drake would say, Halifax council is coming back on its worst behaviour. Harbourview–Burnside–Dartmouth East representative Tony Mancini is asking for a staff report at Tuesday’s meeting of HRM Regional Council on updates to the municipality’s code of conduct for elected officials. Part of that report will look at creating a new integrity commissioner at […]
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Ellen Page details abuse, harassment from director Brett Ratner and others
Ellen Page has become the latest in a perpetually expanding list of female actors to describe the harassment, sexual abuse and horrific experience of being a woman in Hollywood. The Halifax-born Page begins a lengthy Facebook post published Friday afternoon with an anecdote about working with alleged serial harasser of women Brett Ratner during 2006’s X-men: […]
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LED streetlight project delayed, millions of dollars over budget
The light at the end of the tunnel is costing Halifax an extra $8 million. The municipality’s budget for installing energy-efficient LED streetlights has increased from $47 million to $55 million—a result of several operational delays in the massive public works project. Council approved the increase as part of a yet-to-be-declassified staff report back in […]
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Jamie Baillie is stepping down as Progressive Conservative leader
After seven years and two general elections, Jamie Baillie is stepping down as leader of the Progressive Conservatives. Baillie submitted his official notice to Tara Miller, the PC Party president on Wednesday morning. “I want to thank my family, my caucus colleagues and the dedicated members of the PC Party for their support over the […]
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Council choo-choo-chooses not to fund downtown “road train”
The Halifax “road train” will have to conduct its business without any funding from city hall. A vote at council to provide $50,000 in municipal money for the downtown people-mover was defeated by an 8–8 tie on Tuesday. Councillor Waye Mason, a member of the Halifax Community Road Train Society, recused himself from the vote. Ambassatours […]
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Matt Whitman is sorry if he offended anyone by using the word “negro”
For the third time in his political career, Matt Whitman has issued a public apology. The councillor stood at the start of Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting to address his Twitter fight last week with fellow elected official Shawn Cleary and his use of the word “negro” on TV. “I apologize to my colleague […]
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Marc Denhez on the future of heritage
If there’s an expert on heritage planning in Canada, it’s Marc Denhez. The author and adjudicator has over 30 years experience dealing with historic preservation and planning issues all across the world. He chaired a government-renovation industry task force, and has been honoured by the Canadian Institute of Planners, Ontario’s Ministry of Culture and received a […]
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Halifax councillors keep fighting about racism on Twitter
A city councillor’s use of the word “negroes” while stating that it’s impossible to be racist against Mexicans has prompted the latest public tweet storm between Halifax’s elected leaders. The back-and-forth between city councillors devolved out of Halifax West Armdale representative Shawn Cleary’s statement Tuesday that he would personally no longer use the term “marijuana” […]
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Memories of life at the Elmwood
While researching this week’s cover story on the history of the Elmwood building at South and Barrington, The Coast ended up speaking with dozens of current and former tenants from the past 40 years. They shared their memories—and a couple ghost stories—about what it was like living at the ageing historic property. Here’s what they […]
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The fall of the house of Elmwood
“So much of mankind’s varied experience had passed there—so much had been suffered, and something, too, enjoyed—that the very timbers were oozy, as with the moisture of a heart. It was itself like a great human heart, with a life of its own, and full of rich and sombre reminiscences.” —Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of […]