[image-1]Former Halifax firefighter Blair Cromwell, who was fired from the job after he made comments about fire department management on The Coast website, was subsequently sued for libel by fire chief Bill Mosher and deputy chief Steve Thurber. Today, Cromwell filed a defence to those charges, which basically argues that all of the postings on The Coast website are true. Neither the libel charges nor the defence against them have been proven in a court of law. The full defence is here.
Tim Bousquet
Posted inArts + Music
The Coast’s guide to a DIY Halloween
Notes from Meghan Whitton (photographer): cloak was made with a sheet and two drapes. I made the sword out of cardboard and tin foil. the “shield” is an aluminum plate from the dollar store. Fishnets from the dollar store. Dog chain bracelets from the dollar store, and lots of makeup. Photographers’ notes: hockey pads, bike […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Breaking news: demoted police officer in hearing before the Police Complaints Commissioner
Halifax Police staff sergeant Mark Hartlen is appearing before the Police Complaints Commissioner this week, with an a five-day hearing scheduled. This morning, commissioner Nadine Cooper Mont would not allow reporters to enter the hearing room. Hartlen was demoted from investigator to staff sergeant some time after a firm owned by Hartlen and fellow officer […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Opening day at the Nova Scotia legislature
Out of curiosity, this afternoon I stopped by Province House for the opening day of the fall session of the legislature. I have no plan to cover legislative debates like I cover city council—it’s not really my beat, and it wouldn’t work in any event. But, as with the convention centre, sometimes issues overlap between […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
TAO: The Adventure Outfitters in sign dispute
It was a big boost to the downtown retail scene when TAO The Adventure Outfitters moved from Bayers Lake to old Freemasons building on the corner of Salter and Granville Street. But when the new owners put up seven cloth signs announcing their presence, they were hit with a bylaw infraction notice for violating the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax mayor met three times with convention centre developer during no-contact period
Mayor Peter Kelly says he met three times with Joe Ramia, the developer of the convention centre proposed for downtown, during a period when prospective developers were to be disqualified from the project if they discussed it with city officials. But none of those meetings were improper, says Kelly. In 2008, the province and city […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Why the convention centre sucks, part 4
We have touched on the documents behind the convention centre proposal before. Part 2 and Part 3 of this series looked at the new jobs and tax dollars that are supposed to come with a new convention centre—what the consultants’ reports say the benefits will be, and how centre supporters overstate these benefits. Those earlier […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Transit opportunity
To their great credit, Halifax councillors have over the last few years made the hard political choices needed to fund an ambitious expansion of Metro Transit, resulting in the growing Link system, establishing rural routes, building bigger terminals and, most importantly, bringing 15 new articulated buses into service over each of three years, starting this […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Bernard Smith leaving Spring Garden Area Business Association
After nearly seven years in the position, Bernard Smith is leaving his position as manager of the Spring Garden Road Area Business Association. “The organization is on solid ground,” he says, “and it’s time for me to find something else to do.” Smith brought his immense talents to Spring Garden Road, stewarding the street into […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City’s convention centre costs balloon
The provincial government dropped two bombshells on Halifax council Tuesday. The deal in the works for the new convention centre proposed for downtown includes two provisos: that the city exempt the new convention centre from property taxes, and that the city buy the existing World Trade and Convention Centre. Either or both proviso could kill […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Wooden Monkey to open second location
The Wooden Monkey (1707 Grafton Street, 444-3844) is looking to expand. “We’ve got a possible site in Bedford,” says co-owner Lil MacPherson. The new restaurant won’t be as big as the present successful downtown locale. Partner Christine Bower “is a monster when it comes to having another restaurant, and to make a good living for […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Why the convention centre sucks, part 3
One of the most bizarre arguments in favour of the proposed convention centre is that it will increase tax revenues. “Generating perpetual tax revenue for the federal, provincial and municipal governments, a new convention centre will help fund valuable provincial infrastructure like roads, schools and hospitals,” says an online petition, echoing sentiments expressed by any […]