Dear Ask Hole, I’ve always thought that a little gentle ribbing was endearing. But, recently one of my jokes didn’t go over so well. My friend “Julie” is a textile artist, and when she asked if I’d be at her opening, I joked that “If I wanted to see some old afghans, I’d go to […]
Opinion
Posted inNews + Opinion
“Destroy the Indians”
On October 1, 1749, governor Edward Cornwallis gathered his council in Halifax to discuss the growing French and Mi’kmaq threat. Cornwallis’ bright successes at the Battle of Culloden and in the Scottish Pacification may have been illuminating his mind when the councillors met in his Parade Square home. The Halifax settlement was small, isolated from […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Letters to the editor, April 20, 2017
Cornwallis creep Your feature “Called into action” is an informative perspective on Rhonda Britton and her calling as pastor of Cornwallis Street Baptist Church (Cover story, April 6). However, this statement by writer Maggie Rahr may need to be run through the fact-checker: “The church, as the street it rests on, is named for Edward […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Macdonald Bridge closures have been havoc for cyclists
Since June 2015, cyclists have not been allowed to cross the Macdonald Bridge on their bikes. While drivers have only had to deal with bridge closures on evenings and weekends, the bridge has been closed to cyclists all of the time. As the bike lane re-opening keeps getting pushed further and further ahead, I continue […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The perfect silence in Syria
I was in Grade Five when the teacher asked me, “What do you want to learn as a second language, English or French?” In some parts of Syria, kids had the chance to choose between the two. That was the first important decision I had to make. I felt joy at the idea of having […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Sexual assault support services aren’t nearly enough for survivors
There has been much discussion in the news regarding sexual abuse and the way that lawyers (defence and the Crown), police and professionals-at-large treat victims. I have read and heard people wax poetic for better training, the end of victim blaming and the end of re-victimization by a system that is supposed to help survivors. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Letters to the editor, April 13, 2017
Fossil fools I am visiting Halifax from Calgary, just reading your paper for the first time. There is a letter, “Fossil fuel flop” by Alison Petten, and I’m wondering if there’s any chance she could let us know which subsidy she is referring to when she writes about Justin Trudeau’s budget cutting subsidies to the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Snow dazed and confused
I start muttering and twitching even before I’m out of bed. The cell phone on the other side of the room has “dinged” and because it’s 6am on a winter weekday, I know that a text has just arrived, saying “All schools in HRSB will be closed today.” They’re words that strike fear and loathing […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Nova Centre is just the latest in long line of big, bold failures
By virtually any measure the Nova Centre in downtown Halifax has already been a bad deal for the public. You can debate how bad it’s been, and you can wonder how we ended up in this mess, but we can all agree that it’s been bad. It’s also the latest in a long line of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Letters to the editor, April 6, 2017
Dartmouth debate I was happy to read Melissa Boute’s positive of review Picnic at Dart (“Picnic packs personality,” Food + Drink, March 9). The Picnic and its partner The Dart Gallery are just one of many businesses that have brought new life to downtown Dartmouth. With affordable rents, walkable streets and a welcoming business community, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Know comments
The Coast’s comment section is a place intended for civil debate, constructive discussion and for folks to share their own experiences. But it hasn’t been meeting those goals. The vast majority of comments on our website fall under personal attacks and intense arguments between commenters. Given the potential of comments to be a force for […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Call me Ms.
The last time I identified as a Mrs. it was for the sake of establishing some credibility for myself. I was opening a new bank account as an unemployed “homemaker” and this lack of professional identity left me feeling a bit insecure with Mr. Bankman. So I chose Mrs. as my prefix in an effort […]