For several months, unhoused people in HRM have been struggling to find a safe place to sleep. Residents “sleeping rough,” as the city has dubbed it, have had municipal workers threaten eviction, seen promises of shelter announced and then revoked and been the focal point of violent police action. Many houseless citizens eventually settled at […]
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
Journalist Robert Devet remembered as champion of the people
Simon de Vet remembers his dad considering retirement about a decade ago. “He was a little worried that he’d be sitting around the house all day,” says Simon, a first-year physics professor at Dalhousie University. “He was a little hesitant to retire early.” His father, Robert Devet—who styled their Dutch surname slightly differently—had been working […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
A tale of two Thanksgivings under COVID as NS and NB restrictions differ
“In many parts of our country, families cannot be together due to COVID,” said chief medical officer of health Robert Strang at Nova Scotia’s COVID briefing this week. “Yesterday New Brunswick announced travel restrictions for the Moncton, Fredericton and Edmundston regions.” But here, the fourth wave of infections isn’t as intense right now. “Thankfully, Nova […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
First look at Ramblers Coffee and its “vision for just the perfect cup”
Elly Hannon and Adam Pye are learning all the industry secrets to brewing the perfect cup of coffee. “What we both found is that we’re really, really picky about where we get coffee,” says Hannon, taking a break from stamping a vintage car logo onto white to-go cups and brown paper sleeves. “And we love […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
24 protesters arrested at the shelter siege have their first day in court
“I’m not a hero,” says Kate MacDonald into a microphone, standing at the centre of a group gathered this morning outside the courthouse on Spring Garden Road. “Nobody here is.” But the crowd of about 50 may disagree. MacDonald and 23 others were arrested by Halifax Regional Police on August 18 for defending their unhoused […]
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What type of proof of vaccination do you need in Nova Scotia?
As of Monday, October 4, proof of COVID vaccination is required to enter non-essential businesses in Nova Scotia. This includes destinations from restaurants and cafes, to sporting events and concerts, to gyms and dance classes. The province said that new proof of vaccination, or POV, certificates with QR (quick response) codes would be ready for […]
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First look at Biscuit General Store after its move to Gottingen Street
Biscuit has been a fixture of Argyle Street since 1996. The curated shop was ahead of its time in bringing “local love” to Halifax, whether it was through fashion, accessories or a range of giftables that everyone wants to receive. Over the years, Biscuit General Store—named for owner Wendy Friedman’s upbringing in the American South, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City responds to housing crisis with modular units and staffer used to emergencies
The assistant chief of emergency management for HRM usually deals with the fallout from hurricanes, power outages and nor’easters. Erica Fleck has been in that position since 2017, but the duties of the job largely changed earlier this month when Fleck was assigned to what the city calls “a three-month role leading the emergency response […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Texas anti-abortion law sparks Halifax rally for reproductive rights Saturday
Reproductive Rights March Saturday, October 2, 1pm Peace and Friendship Park, Hollis Street at South Street As of September 1, abortion after six weeks gestation is effectively banned in the state of Texas, due to the passing of Senate Bill 8. While the southern state is over 4,000 kilometres away from Nova Scotia, the decision […]
Posted inArts + Music
What is Truth and Reconciliation Day and why is it important?
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation became a federal holiday in the summer, when it was passed into law by parliament. Getting officially recognized a few months after the decision to mark Emancipation Day on August 1 of each year, Truth and Reconciliation Day is Canada’s newest holiday, and will be held annually on […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Why Dalhousie’s HoCOVID party is the perfect thing to be mad about
On Saturday night, a few residential city blocks between Coburg and Jubilee Roads were unlike any other. Busier than Pizza Corner after the bars close, bodies packed tighter than Christmas at the Forum in pre-COVID times. But rather than waiting for poutine or shopping for gifts, these people were Dalhousie (and probably King’s and SMU […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Breaking the silence on COVID exposures in schools during the fourth wave
In the first 27 days of September, Nova Scotia announced 535 new COVID-19 cases. How many of those were at elementary and high schools, colleges and universities, we simply don’t know. This is because the Nova Scotia government doesn’t require exposure notifications to be issued to the public if everyone who was at an event […]