Preliminary results show voter turn-out in Nova Scotia higher than the national average
It may have taken a day longer than we anticipated, but Monday’s federal election saw Mark Carney’s Liberals regain the popular vote and for a minority government—narrowly missing out on a majority. Nationally, the election saw a record-breaking voter turnout. Elections Canada estimated that 7.3 million Canadians voted early—a 25 per cent increase from the…
The beauty behind Bologna Colorado
You may not know what a Bologna Colorado is, but you’ll want to after you experience one of their live shows. The four-piece from Halifax is committed to bursting your eardrums with screeching guitar riffs, pounding drums and impassioned, raw vocals. All of this kinetic energy has been harnessed in the band’s latest single, “GET…
Savour the moment
The 2025 Savour Food & Wine Show—hosted by the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia —as part of the Savour Food & Wine Festival celebrated its 21st show Monday night with an incredible evening of food and drink at the Halifax Convention Centre. The annual event encourages locals, visitors and foodies alike to celebrate the culinary…
Nova Scotians paint the province red
Acadie—Annapolis (formerly West Nova) ELECTED – Chris d’Entremont, Conservative Party of Canada (incumbent) Ingrid Deon, New Democratic Party Ronnie LeBlanc, Liberal Party of Canada Matthew Piggott, Green Party of Canada James Strange, People’s Party of Canada Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish (formerly Cape Breton—Canso) ELECTED – Jaime Battiste, Liberal Party of Canada Joanna Clark, New Democratic Party Allan…
“Awful but not unlawful”: White nationalism is on the rise in Nova Scotia—and we need to talk about it.
Note to the reader: This post contains screenshots and references to anti-Semitic, misogynistic, and violent language. It may be triggering to individuals who have experienced online bullying or harassment. Please proceed with care. We are witnessing a steep escalation in white nationalism in Nova Scotia. This is not hyperbole. I do not say this lightly.…
The Mystique of Mystic
Long before Mystic opened its doors beneath the Rise Again Stairs in Halifax’s Queen’s Marque District there was an air of mystique about the restaurant that would occupy this now iconic symbol of Halifax’s waterfront. Whispers of Michelin star aspirations were already wafting through the local hospitality community. Could Halifax one day be home to…
Braden Lam’s experience manifests in his full-length album, ‘The Cloudmaker’s Cry’
Braden Lam is exactly where he wants to be. The indie-folk musician who has called Dartmouth home for nearly a decade is nearly two weeks in from releasing his first full-length album, The Cloudmaker’s Cry. It’s a place he never could have imagined himself when he finished university and couldn’t find work at the height…
Why are there no Halifax election polls? And other questions about the federal government.
There is only one poll that matters—especially at the local level. As politicians and Canadians focus on polls to get a sense of who might win the next election, at the local level, the best gauge of the future is the past. Below, we answer your questions about local polls, tariffs, trade, politician pay, party,…
Local artist turns grief into a thing of beauty
The space feels sacred; the stories it holds makes the air thick. Each piece of art is given space and room to breathe. Each story is tragic and each painting is beautiful, somehow capturing the essence of the loss without descending into darkness. As I walk around the show at Applehead Studios on Barrington Street…
Voters turn out in record droves to cast early votes: here’s how it went down in Nova Scotia
A record number of Canadians cast a ballot during four days of advance voting over the Easter long weekend. Elections Canada says an estimated 7.3 million people cast a ballot during advance polls April 18 to 21. The previous record for voters at advance polls was 5.8 million ballots cast during the 2021 federal election. In…
What keeps Canada democratic—and independent? Readers asked. We answered.
Democracy isn’t inherently permanent. That fact—clearly linked to growing concerns about human rights and democracy in the United States—is on the minds of more than a few Coast readers. We recently posted an explainer article called Government 101 and it spawned a flurry of follow-up questions from readers about how our federal government functions, and…
Step right into summer with Verry Gerry’s debut album Sunny Beaches
Although the weather would have you convinced otherwise, summer is indeed right around the corner. We’re halfway through spring—halfway to sun rays and shorts. Verry Gerry’s debut album, Sunny Beaches, may be exactly what you need to push yourself towards the finish line. Released last month, the 10-track album is a marvel of indie-pop bliss.…
Family fun for Easter weekend in Halifax
There’s lots to do this Easter weekend in Halifax. Get ready for visits with the Easter Bunny, egg hunts and other fun activities going on all over the city—it’s sure to be a hopping good time, er, baskets of fun, er, an egg-cellent celebration, ummmm…you get the gist! PLAY Hatfield Farm Annual Easter Egg Hunt…
Government 101: How does Canada’s federal government work?
The further you get from your last social studies course, the more likely you are to vote. And let’s face it, it’s been a long time since many of us were given a breakdown of how exactly the Canadian government worked. With a federal election coming up in less than two weeks, it’s worth spending…
NS auditor general applauds government progress on past recommendations
Nova Scotia’s top watchdog has given the government top marks on its implementation of past audit recommendations, in her office’s latest follow-up report released April 15, but notes important changes are still needed. The latest annual report from auditor general Kim Adair tracked the completion rate on recommendations in 11 performance audits between 2020 and…
Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival to celebrate 15th anniversary on National Canadian Film Day
It all started 15 years ago because people in Black communities had nowhere to tell their stories. That first year, the Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival screened about eight films. This year, they received over 100 submissions from all around the world. “This year, about 50 per cent of the films are local, but we…
An epidemic requires epidemic-level funding
This week marks five years since the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history. On April 18 and 19, 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, a man disguised as an RCMP officer drove from Portapique to Enfield, Nova Scotia, killing 22 people—including a pregnant woman. His murderous rampage began in his own home with…
And the candidates are…
Set to be an important battleground province for the Liberals and Conservatives—Nova Scotia voters’ are interested in a variety of key issues, but top of mind for obvious reasons (ah-hem Trump) is the economy and affordability. With the province’s trade tied up with the U.S., Nova Scotians are rightfully nervous. Other hot button issues include…
Rose Cousins believes in love on ‘Conditions of Love Vol. 1’
Rose Cousins’ latest album proves that love is both undefinable and limitless Whether it be the ones closest to us, those too far to reach, or the harmony of lying under the sun, there is love all around us. Our parents, our children, our partners and our friends. Yet, when we try to describe our…
We asked, you answered
On Tuesday we asked for your opinion on whether I should risk detention by traveling to Florida for a much-needed vacation. You certainly didn’t hold back and offered a wide variety of opinions—from the deeply unkind (thank god for trauma-induced tough skin), to the hilarious to the incredibly thoughtful. A few caveats right off the…
Dalhousie launches first-of-its kind program to create “diverse new generation of leaders” to shape the digital future of Nova Scotia
Dalhousie University announced a $1-million investment from Scotiabank for the new College of Digital Transformation (CDT) aimed at increasing diversity in the field of digital transformation in Canada. A first-of-its-kind collaboration between the management and computer science faculties, CDT aims to train future-ready leaders for careers in digital transformation—using technology to improve operations and customer…
City council making moves
Money matters After weeks of humming and hawing and much discussion, council has approved the 2025/26 municipal budget. The budget includes municipal operations, Regional Council-approved priority initiatives and investments to purchase, construct and rehabilitate municipal assets. Basically, all of the costs associated with running (and hopefully growing) Halifax. The 2025/26 municipal budget includes an operating…
Celebrating the best of the best in local cocktails
Every year the Imbibe Cocktail Event—hosted by the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia (RANS)—hosts a cocktail competition. Bartenders showcase their skills to a panel of judges to be awarded the Judges’ Choice Award. On the night of Imbibe, guests also get the chance to vote for their favourite cocktail and bartenders. Guests at Imbibe immersed…
Sexism vs. Misogyny: They are not the same and the difference matters
Nova Scotia is in the middle of a crisis—and we’ll say it over and over until everyone believes it. Since Oct. 18, seven women and one man have been killed in incidents of intimate-partner violence. In five of the seven homicides, the perpetrator then killed himself. As a province, we also own two records: the…
Ground-breaking psychology training program coming to Halifax
The kids are not alright. According to Mental Health Research Canada, 1.25 million youth in Canada need mental health support every year, yet more than half of them aren’t receiving it. The numbers are stark: surveys suggest roughly one in four young people have had thoughts of suicide; tt is now the second leading cause…
Municipal and provincial and federal, oh my!
In Halifax, it’s hard to imagine a time in the last year when front yards weren’t littered with election signs. First the municipal election, then the provincial one, and now here we are again. Hopefully you have recovered from your inevitable voter fatigue and feel reinvigorated to get out there and cast your ballot for…