Before a COVID-19 vaccine can become a household name, it goes through months of testing by researchers around the world. Here in Halifax, scientists at the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology are working on three made-in-Canada vaccines—Medicago, VIDO and VBI—in hopes of finding the next Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca. And they are looking for human guinea […]
Victoria Walton
Victoria was a full-time reporter with The Coast from April 2020 until mid-2022, when the CBC lured her away. During her Coast tenure, she covering everything from COVID-19 to small business to politics and social justice. Originally from the Annapolis Valley, she graduated from the University of King’s College School of Journalism in 2017.
Posted inNews + Opinion
Nova Scotia’s unrequited Atlantic bubble
As of 8am this morning, Wednesday, April 7, Nova Scotia’s borders are open to travellers from all three of the other Atlantic provinces. That’s New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the brand-newest addition, Newfoundland and Labrador. “You will no longer have to self-isolate for those 14 days in Nova Scotia,” said premier Iain Rankin yesterday […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Bring home the bacon, literally
Food delivery boxes have thrived during the pandemic. With grocery store trips causing anxiety and home delivery getting more convenient than ever, companies like HelloFresh and GoodFood are doing big business promoting healthy options, vegan options and quick, easy options. When Jason Bourgoin saw the growing delivery market and decided to get into it, his […]
Posted inFood + Drink
The Dish: My big Greek feast
Enjoy The Dish, a weekly look at a single menu item from a Halifax restaurant. Whether it inspires you to dine in or take out, we hope to expand your eating horizons. The Greek Family Feast at Blue Olive Greek Taverna, $60 for four people Blue Olive’s family feast started out as a special during […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Don’t put all your mini eggs in one basket
Despite its Christian origins, the Easter weekend has become a secular candy holiday, like Halloween but with less stranger danger and more days off (if you’re one of those lucky workers who gets Monday off on top of the national Friday holiday, please give us a spring break from hearing about it). Probably because it […]
Posted inFood + Drink
First look: Sapori Italian Street Food and market
A new food destination opens today, Friday, April 2, on the Halifax waterfront. You’ll find Sapori Italian Street Food in the north edge of the Queen’s Marque building, 1741 Lower Water Street, not far from the ferry terminal. For the people behind Sapori–which means “flavour” in Italian—this opening day is a long time coming. “We […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Anyone over 70 can now register for a vaccine
It’s not an April Fool joke, although for some people it will sound too good to be true. Starting April 1, any Nova Scotians over age 70 are eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccine appointments online or over the phone. Before today, only those 75 and older in the general population could get the Pfizer […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax patios now more accessible to dogs than disabled people
On Tuesday, March 30, Nova Scotia’s department of environment and climate change went to the dogs with an announcement: Effective immediately, restaurant, cafe and bar patios will be allowed to welcome pet four-legged friends of the canine variety. “They’ll have to follow, obviously, some safety protocols, but I think it’s a great way to introduce […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Strang reassures everyone AstraZeneca vaccine is fine
Yesterday, Health Canada and NACI–the National Advisory Committee on Immunization–declared that the AstraZeneca vaccine is no longer recommended for Canadians under age 55, due to a potential reaction after vaccination. “This adverse event is being referred to as Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT),” says the Health Canada website. Today at the regular COVID-19 press briefing, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
From Hangzhou to Halifax
Last year, as the coronavirus made its way around the world, anti-Asian hate reared its ugly head. Over a year on, it’s persisted and risen. In Canada, a 2020 survey from the Chinese Canadian National Council received 1,150 reports of racially motivated incidents, with reports still being collected. In Halifax, incidents motivated by hate rose […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Vaccine delays could mean dipping into second dose stockpile
Earlier this week the Nova Scotia government announced its detailed plan to vaccinate everyone over age 16 who wants to be vaccinated by June. But there may already be a hitch in the plan. “We did receive word last night that a shipment of Moderna expected next week will be delayed by a week or […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Province gives breakdown of vaccine timeline by age group
The province of Nova Scotia revealed its latest vaccine rollout plans today, March 23, at a so-called “technical briefing” for reporters. Previous vaccine technical briefings have been held on March 5, February 17, January 20, January 5 and December 16, the structure of the vaccine rollout changing each time. But this morning’s PowerPoint presentation–from chief […]
