Halifax’s Board of Police Commissioners met on Wednesday, and learned that former police chief Dan Kinsella’s sudden retirement is negatively impacting women who have been the victims of violent crimes. That’s because the city, in a proven effort to make the legal system a bit less dismissive of assaulted women, wants to automatically review any […]
Matt Stickland
Matt spent 10 years in the Navy where he deployed to Libya with HMCS Charlottetown and then became a submariner until ‘retiring’ in 2018. In 2019 he completed his Bachelor of Journalism from the University of King’s College. Matt is an almost award winning opinion writer.
Posted inNews + Opinion
Everything you need to know about HRM Council’s Oct. 2 meeting
Public spaces like the Convention Centre, the Halifax Metro Centre (currently known as Scotiabank Centre) and the new stadium being proposed for the Wanderers Grounds live in a weird place in this day and age. They are built and exist with public money, and yet don’t give the HRM much direct benefit in return. Most […]
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Everything you need to know about HRM council’s Sept. 26 meeting
There are now 21 tents in Grand Parade; this is an increase of four tents from the last council meeting. Speaking of the housing crisis, it dominated most of Tuesday’s council meeting since the federal Liberals, finally, decided to start using their power. What this looks like for the HRM is an increased amount of […]
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Halifax is trying to make municipal elections more equitable
The majority of Monday’s HRM executive committee meeting was devoted to trying to make municipal elections more fair. The debate started with a seemingly innocuous request from councillor Paul Russell to remove the word “spouse” from the municipal elections bylaw. After a prolonged debate, this item was deferred and will come back to this committee […]
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The Wanderer Grounds podcast: The Halifax Wanderers and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day
Nothing good happens in Langley—at least, that is, if you’re the Halifax Wanderers. Twice in 2023, the Canadian Premier League soccer club has made the trip west to British Columbia’s Fraser Valley and left empty-handed, despite holding the better record. On Saturday, Sept. 23, the Wanderers seemed to be well in control of the game […]
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Who pays for a $40-million stadium at Wanderers Grounds?
Halifax Wanderers president Derek Martin has dreams of a permanent 8,500-seat stadium in Halifax’s downtown. Last week, the Canadian Premier League soccer club founder made his pitch to the HRM’s Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee to overhaul the municipally owned Wanderers Grounds—where his club plays—in favour of an all-purpose venue. The cost? An […]
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Halifax’s $100 million police headquarters pipe dream
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, the HRM’s Board of Police Commissioners met. Since last year’s police budget consultation process went so poorly, the city is starting police budget discussions early this year. At Wednesday’s meeting, the board was supposed to get a presentation on next year’s proposed budget, but new acting Halifax Regional Police chief Don […]
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How Halifax spent $11 million on fencing
Wednesday morning, the HRM’s audit and finance committee met to find out just how dire the city’s financial situation is. City staff told the committee that first quarter reporting shows Halifax is expecting to be out approximately $20 million due to climate change—and a municipal public service that’s incapable of dealing with climate emergencies. So […]
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The Wanderer Grounds podcast: Halifax summons extra-time magic in tense battle with Ottawa
Two days before his Halifax Wanderers hosted Atlético Ottawa in a match with playoff ramifications galore, Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar spent a moment to wax philosophical on pressure. His Halifax side has felt its share in recent weeks: In the past fifteen days, the Wanderers have played four matches against playoff-bound opponents—or those eager […]
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Everything you need to know about HRM council’s Sept. 12, 2023 meeting
On Sept 12, 2023, Halifax council decided not to go ahead with putting an encampment on the Common. Councillors briefly considered treating the housing crisis like the immediate and ongoing emergency it is. But ultimately their decision was underwhelming. Related There’s not much more to be written on this that hasn’t already been said before, […]
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More tents coming to Halifax parks
The start of Tuesday’s city council meeting was spicy. Councillors came in hot. Councillors like Tim Outhit, Sam Austin and Lisa Blackburn were all visibly upset about the growing scale of human suffering that’s being caused by government inaction on housing. Council got an update about just how badly Haligonians are being failed by all […]
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Halifax police chief Dan Kinsella is retiring
Halifax Regional Police chief Dan Kinsella is retiring at the age of 57. The move—announced right before Thursday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting—comes four years into Kinsella’s reign as the city’s top cop, and his last day will be Sept. 15. It’s a bit of an unexpected and abrupt exit for Kinsella, but if Chadwick […]