To the editor, It was refreshing to read Matthew Campbell’s letter on the CBC lockout (“Rock out with your lockout,” September 22). His writing skills should qualify him for a part-time position at the CBC once the lockout is settled. But the Canadian Media Guild would probably begrudge him that. The CBC workers seem to […]
News + Opinion
Coast newspaper coverage of Halifax city news, breaking news, HRM municipal politics, city hall news, local business, downtown development, Dartmouth, Sackville, Bedford, Nova Scotia, Halifax councillors and the mayor
Still Jamming
To the editor, I’ve enjoyed reading your articles since I discovered The Coast existed and have always felt very satisfied with everything you write. I’ve enjoyed most bands and musical tastes The Coast has shared, but today I felt heart-dropping disappointment with the comment made against Pearl Jam in the TOC. I’m a fan of […]
Pump up the Jam
Dear editor, I’d like to thank whoever writes the table of contents for the sensational statements about Pearl Jam last week. If you’re going to sling such tripe, shouldn’t you back it up? There wasn’t a single syllable to buttress those ridiculous assertions. Thanks for the journalistic hit-and-run. Pearl Jam is neither desperate nor “in […]
New Growth
Bob and Lori’s Food Emporium at 2179 Gottingen will remain open, and it’s going back to regular hours of Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm after Thanksgiving. “People have been incredibly understanding, and we’re very, very thankful,” says co-owner Bob Trenaman. “Nobody pushed us too hard.” Bob and Lori’s was closing early a few […]
Back to the land
They found the remains of Alicia Ross last week. Twenty-five and missing for a month from her home in Markham, Alicia’s remains were scattered around picturesque cottage country on a lake near Coboconk, Ontario. Three days before, it was Jennifer Teague. Eighteen and missing 11 days since she left the night shift at Wendy’s and […]
Dial tones
With the CBC lockout entering its sixth week, woeful fans have had plenty of time to assess what they miss the most from their public broadcaster. Because regional branches of CBC Radio are shut down across the country, original local programming has all but disappeared from the airwaves while day-to-day operations are handled out of […]
Shelter storm
At 9am on a recent Friday morning, a motley band of 50 social activists and low income people-many of no-fixed-address pushed shopping carts down Spring Garden Road and shouted out their need for more affordable housing now. “Are shopping carts our national housing strategy?” asked a hand-lettered sign sticking up from one of the carts. […]
Locked in
“We’ve just put an offer on the table.” So begins the full page ad in the Globe and Mail (my colleague Tod Maffin reports that such ads cost about $63,000) on Day 45 of the CBC lockout. It’s going to create a lot of talk, this ad. People are going to think it means a […]
Part 1: Getting out
“Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright.”—Randy Newman, “Louisiana 1927” New Orleans is gone. I left it behind me on Saturday, with my two kids in the backseat, the soundtrack to Shrek on the CD player. My wife, a pediatrician, was on call for the weekend and stayed behind. She […]
Part 2: City of the dead
“I can’t go back there,” says my wife, Tami, talking on the cell phone. We’re driving from Carencro into Lafayette to find an insurance office and check out the food stamp line. She listens to the caller, a friend of mine from high school. “That would be great,” Tami says. They’re talking about Minneapolis. Every […]
Part 3: Just a little while to stay here
Lafayette, Louisiana She just stares at me, the Iowan volunteer. Silver and green Mardi Gras beads drape around her neck. She pushes a blank form across the table. “It’s been a long day,” she says. Sitting next to her, another volunteer quickly smiles. “Welcome,” she says. “You came to the right place.” I tell them […]
Part 4: The new New Orleans
“Why is this our problem?” I say this to Cindy. My family and I have been in her home in Carencro, Louisiana, about 150 miles west of New Orleans, for a month now. I say this to her when she brings up the matter of the various children in our evacuee household, trying to plan […]

