COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia the week Jan 31-Feb 6
Like the province, The Coast is admitting to omicron overwhelm. We are switching to bare-bones daily reports, while aiming to maintain the vital infographics that give the best picture of the current situation: NS COVID deaths Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave…
Former Dartmouth Travelodge to be transformed into supportive housing
Late last week, three levels of government came together for a Zoom announcement that will see a former Dartmouth hotel turned into 65 supportive housing units. “I don’t want to be the mayor of the city where people don’t have a place to live,” said HRM mayor Mike Savage, who spoke during the Thursday call…
COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia the week Jan 24-30
Like the province, The Coast is admitting to omicron overwhelm. We are switching to bare-bones daily reports, while aiming to maintain the vital infographics that give the best picture of the current situation: NS COVID deaths Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave…
New affordable units coming and a housing minister apology
Twenty new affordable housing units will be built in next year in Eastern Shore and Dartmouth, the province, HRM and the federal government announced Friday. Following the announcement, provincial housing minister John Lohr apologized for using the word “ghetto” when talking about affordable housing Thursday. “I want to make an unequivocal apology,” minister Lohr said.…
Lou Pécou aims to raise the bar for Halifax pizza
On a quiet Tuesday morning at Lou Pécou (5567 Cunard Street), owner Cédric Toullec removes a hefty armload of dough from the deep metal bowl where it’s been rising for the past 30 minutes. With effort and a loud slapping sound, he plops it onto the counter and douses it with a healthy dose of…
Downtown Dartmouth parking lot to be transformed into affordable housing
On Tuesday, Develop Nova Scotia announced an affordable housing development for downtown Dartmouth. Currently a parking lot with enviable waterfront views, the property on Alderney Drive between Prince and King Streets will soon be a mixed-use building, likely towering over nearby buildings. “That parking lot doesn’t really serve much of a use to anybody,” downtown…
Music Nova Scotia is giving up to $3,000 away to local artists and music businesses
Non-profit arts org Music Nova Scotia is fighting the surging variant with a funding opportunity. The COVID-19 response program was “created to help artists and music businesses respond to interruptions caused by the recent outbreak of the Omicron wave of COVID-19 and to increase the capacity of artists and music businesses to grow once COVID…
Try making this at-home dinner feast from The Orient for Chinese New Year
It’s been seven years since Ivan Chan first started offering a Chinese New Year feast at his lauded restaurant The Orient. Since first opening at 227 Bedford Highway in 2015, the traditional Chinese eatery’s annual dinner for the Lunar New Year has been highly acclaimed in Halifax. And while COVID-19 has threatened numerous businesses over…
Rooting around
QI’m a heterosexual cisgender male who loves prostate stimulation. I discovered it later in life, but it’s been a staple for the last 15 years. I’m worried I’m pushing the envelope too much and need your advice. Lately, the last six months or so, I will have an orgasm that’s so intense I have pain…
Wildlife corridors from divide and conquer to connect and restore
Robert Frost began his poem “Mending Wall” with the line, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” He could have been speaking for wildlife. Walls and fences fragment their habitat, limit travel for food and mating, block migration routes and cause death. (As do roads.) A 2011 study found “the fence along the U.S.–Mexico…
Your horoscope for the week January 27-February 2
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Austen Gilliland, Lezlie Lowe, Tara Lee Wittchen, Alex Tutty, Emeric Rasmussen, Emma D’Eon, Sarah MacNeil, Tara MacDonald, Arlo Merritt, Jamie Klarke, Jolene d’Entremont, Nancy Wells, Greg Clark and Brian Himmelman. share the love by emailing your friend’s name and birth date to bday@thecoast.ca then click your sign to go to your horoscope aquarius aries cancer capricorn gemini leo libra …
Restrictions extended to Feb 14 as NS reports its 30th COVID death this month
The province reported the deaths of three Nova Scotians due to COVID-19 today, marking 25 reported deaths in the last two weeks. Chief medical officer of health Robert Strang said these deaths are “unfortunate,” but he remains confident in Nova Scotia’s current public health protections. “I don’t mean to diminish it at all. Those are…
Let’s Talk about action
Today is the day. The day I mute every thinkable combination of words and hashtags across all social media platforms. The day I turn off the television and radio and anything that could have advertisements. The day I wonder if I can detach my retinas by rolling my eyes too hard. Today is Bell Let’s…
7 food spots opening soon in Halifax to get excited—and hungry—for
Just a few weeks into 2022, it already seems as if the local restaurant scene will be thriving this year. Tons of new cafes, bars and eateries in Halifax are set to make grand openings in the next several weeks, with many bringing a taste of international flavours. Halifax foodies can prepare for a range…
The Light House Arts Centre’s lofty ambitions
Those in the art scene in Halifax have been raising the alarm about the city’s venue crisis for so long that their voices must, by now, be hoarse. After two of the north end’s three indie theatres died due to development in the last five years, and while the old Khyber building continues to sit…
First modular move-in “was really great and very chaotic”
Despite bone-chilling wind and the temperature sitting around -16 degrees, a recent Sunday was warm and happy for the Out of the Cold housing association. The long-awaited day had finally arrived when a group of unhoused people got to move out of the Gray Arena, which was being used as a makeshift shelter since early…
COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia over the January 22-23 weekend
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Sunday is steady for…
Meet the Halifax textile artist whose headpieces have gone viral
The fashion world never stops spinning. Even during our past two years in the great indoors, when sweat suits ruled supreme and bras became a shorthand for a bygone era, getting dressed was a cultural impetus that refused to die. After all, if you’ve got Instagram, you still need an #OOTD. The latest example of…
New Dartmouth addictions centre opens Jan 25
A new addictions centre in Dartmouth will offer recovery, withdrawal and harm reduction support beginning Jan 25. The Alderney Drive centre is the first of four of these addiction support sites planned in last year’s budget. The other three recovery centres will be built in Truro, Cape Breton and Halifax over the next two years.…
COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jan 21
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave A reprieve from deaths…
COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jan 20
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave 3 more deaths Yesterday…
No need for contact tracing in schools, says Doctor Strang
Chief medical officer of health Robert Strang said Wednesday that COVID contact tracing in schools is disruptive and offers “no added value.” On the same day, Nova Scotia Health announced it will no longer release exposure notifications. The move away public COVID notices isn’t sitting well with everyone. Doctor Strang acknowledged that people have had…
Chanoey’s Pasta finds a second home on Quinpool Road
While the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been kind to many local businesses, the owners behind Chanoey’s Pasta have found the world’s dreary situation actually worked in their favour. On Jan 7, Carl Mangali and Catherine Paulino opened the second location of their popular quick-service pasta restaurant, at 6214 Quinpool Road, and they’re already seeing steady success.…
What should Prince Andrew High School’s new name be?
On Wednesday morning, Craig Campbell, the principal of Dartmouth’s Prince Andrew High School, sent out a mass email. “I am writing to share some exciting news!” he began, going on to say “we are resuming the process of changing the name of Prince Andrew High School.” The Woodlawn Road school first opened in 1960, and…
COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, Jan 19
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Nova Scotia reaches 125…
Will Halifax give the new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia $3 million?
It’s been two years since the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia first announced its itchy feet, a plan to move to an old parking lot on Salter Street and create what it calls the Halifax Waterfront Arts District. The vision is part art gallery, part community hub, and even though NSCAD announced it won’t be…
COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia on Tuesday, Jan 18
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave COVID kills another Nova…
What defunding the police means in Halifax
On Monday, January 17 the final report from the defining defunding the police subcommittee of the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners was presented at the commissioners’ virtual meeting. The 218-page report is the culmination of months of work by committee members El Jones, Tari Ajadi, Julia Rodgers, Harry Critchley and others. “The report is the…
Halifax seeking a new public art installation at Alderney Gate Public Library
Behind the circulation desk at the Halifax Central Library, a massive work by the legendary artist Cliff Eyland makes your neck crane ever higher, a wave of comfort following a backbend as you feel tiny in its towering presence. Library Cards is a mixed-media piece that has proven itself to be Instagram bait and a…
TV review: Son of a Critch’s steady silliness
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated Ron James is from Newfoundland when the comedian is actually from Nova Scotia. The Coast regrets the error. UPDATE: As of February 28, 2022, CBC has announced Son of a Critch will be renewed for a second season. A half hour of scripted television is the sort of…
COVID cases, hospitalizations and news for Nova Scotia on Monday, Jan 17
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Four deaths In its…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia over the January 15-16 weekend
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Hospitalizations rise on Sunday…
Making peace with two years of COVID
In the beginning Two weeks. Remember when the pandemic was supposed to last two weeks? Now, it’s been almost two years since we “buckled down,” stocked up on toilet paper and cloth masks, and first locked down due to COVID-19. Now, 22 months after the virus first reared its ugly head in Nova Scotia, we’re…
Halifax engineer questions province’s $1,250+ HEPA filter purchase
A Halifax engineer, who did his own minor ventilation upgrade to his childrens’ HRM school due to COVID concerns in summer 2020, said the province likely paid too much for the new HEPA filters. The province plans to have these $1,250 (plus tax) units installed in 71 schools before in-person class resumes Monday. The filters,…
Nova Scotia daycare costs reduced
Nova Scotia’s progress towards $10-a-day childcare by 2026 is ahead of schedule, with prime minister Justin Trudeau and premier Tim Houston announcing today that daycare fees will drop by 25 percent this month and by 50 percent by the end of the year. In a virtual announcement the premier and PM, joined by federal and…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jan 14
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave An otherwise slow end…
UPDATE: Two buzzy Van Gogh exhibits coming to Halifax
If Vincent Van Gogh was able to visit the future, Christmas Carol-style, he’d surely be unable to believe it: That the Dutch painter—and OG sadboi—could go from scraping by below the poverty line during his lifetime, selling only one painting (to a doctor who likely felt sorry for him) to being one of the biggest…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jan 13
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave A day without death…
Your horoscope for the week January 13-19
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Brian Byrne, Joel Flewelling, Meril Rasmussen, Daija Robinson, Dave Jones, Sanjay Gopal, Liam Prentiss, Danielle Comstock, Peter Orser, Sidney Norton, Gareth Roberts and Laura Walton. share the love by emailing your friend’s name and birth date to bday@thecoast.ca then click your sign to go to your horoscope aquarius aries cancer capricorn gemini leo libra pisces …
Halifax’s Jody Upshaw and Thrillah take over the Euphoria season two premiere
Jody Upshaw went for a nap earlier this week—and, by the time she awoke, had reached a new level of fame. It wasn’t a dream, or at least not the eyes-closed kind: Her single “Straight Shooter” had played on the season two premiere of HBO’s Zendaya-starring smash hit Euphoria, alongside the track “Mr.Bangbadaboom” by Dartmouth…
Hospitals cutting back on surgeries and other services amid COVID pressures
Nova Scotia’s hospitals are reducing their capacity for surgeries, procedures and ambulatory care clinics due to continued pressure from COVID-19. Last week about 120 surgeries and 30 procedures were postponed, according to Nova Scotia Health, and effective today “services have been further reduced, with only urgent and emergent surgeries, including time sensitive cancer surgeries, continuing…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, Jan 12
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Five deaths in three…
UPDATED: It’s time to buckle down on COVID compliance so Conway The Machine can play Halifax in 2022
UPDATE: Due to the omicron variant of COVID-19, the organizers of Conway The Machine’s tour have postponed the Halifax gig to May 2022. Keep your fingers crossed and keep wearing a mask! He’s had features from 2 Chainz, Ludacris and Method Man. He signed to Eminem’s Shady Records after launching his own label, creating a…
No respite from COVID at Halifax shelters
The Dartmouth modular housing units have finally finished construction, according to the city. “The municipality expects installation for the majority of modular units (providing access to 24 of the total 26 spaces) at the Dartmouth site, located on Alderney Drive near Church Street to be completed tomorrow,” said an HRM statement issued Monday, January 10.…
Three weird things to watch online in 2022—since you’ve already streamed everything else during COVID
Is it wave five of the pandemic in Nova Scotia? Or at this point are we so pummelled by COVID-19’s relentless inward tide that we’ve simply lost count? It’s hard to say. It’s also, at this point of almost two years of sheltering in place, hard to find something new to watch. If you’ve already…
New high for Nova Scotia’s family doctor waitlist
Nova Scotia’s ever-growing registry of residents seeking a family doctor hit 82,000 people in December, up one percent from the month before. More than eight percent of the million people living in Nova Scotia have signed up for the primary care registry in hopes of being paired with a family doctor or nurse practitioner. In…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Tuesday, Jan 11
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: Omicron hospitalizations New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Another death COVID has…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Monday, Jan 10
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave 3 COVID deaths Today the province is announcing…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on January 8-9 weekend
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave No slumping on Sunday In its minimal Sunday…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jan 7
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave The first death of 2022 The headline on…
Housing crisis update: what you missed over the holidays
Modular units are here, but still so far away Despite the city’s promise back in October to provide dozens of modular housing units “before the snow flies,” the Dartmouth modulars are still not inhabited. But if you walk or drive by the corner of Alderney Drive and Flotilla Lane, you’ll see the narrow, grey-sided buildings…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jan 6
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Infections keep falling For the third day in…
Your horoscope for the week January 6-12, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Randy Ansems, Makenzi McLeod, Ryan Murphy, Amal Chater and Mike Campbell. share the love by emailing your friend’s name and birth date to bday@thecoast.ca then click your sign to go to your horoscope aquarius aries cancer capricorn gemini leo libra pisces sagittarius scorpio taurus …
In-person school delayed a week, isolation requirements shortened
In-person schooling in Nova Scotia has been delayed another week, with kids studying online until Jan 17. Premier Tim Houston said the decision weighs heavily on him, as any disruption to in-person class harms children. “They’re the safest at school, it’s sad but it’s true. The reality for many children in the province, particularly as…
It’s 2022. Do you know what the COVID-19 rules in Nova Scotia are?
Early rock ‘n’ roll star Chubby Checker knew a hit when he saw one—and, more importantly, knew how to keep ‘em coming: While his all-time bop “The Twist” became one of the most popular songs of the century upon its 1960 arrival, he kept momentum up the following year with “Let’s Twist Again”, a sequel…
Nova Scotia announces new COVID-19 self-isolation policy for omicron
The biggest takeaway from January 5’s COVID-19 briefing from premier Tim Houston and Doctor Strang—aside from news that schools would continue online learning for another week—was changes to the self-isolation program for COVID patients and close contacts. The shortened isolation requirements for most come into effect 6am Jan 7. “The changes in self-isolation requirements are…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, Jan 5
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Infections fall to three figures Today Nova Scotia…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Tuesday, Jan 4
Omicron’s arrival means Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, these are the only infographics we can share with any confidence of accuracy: New and active cases Nova Scotia’s third and fourth waves Canada’s fourth wave Another 1,020 cases Just like yesterday, the province…
Nocturne opens call for curator-in-residence; announces 2022 dates
The city’s biggest open-air celebration of art is getting ready to mark its 15th spin ’round the sun this fall: Nocturne announced yesterday that, COVID willing, its 2022 festival will be slated for October 13-15. The event—which went into a multi-night format during the pandemic to accommodate safer crowd sizes—is also on the lookout for…
No new restrictions, 1020 new COVID-19 cases
The province “won’t hesitate” to implement new public health restrictions, premier Tim Houston said at Monday’s COVID briefing, but for the time being, nothing will change. While case numbers remain high—1,020 new cases of COVID-19 reported January 3 and another 1,893 new cases reported over the New Year’s weekend—chief medical officer of health Robert Strang…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Monday, Jan 3
Around the holidays, Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, the only infographic we can share with any confidence of accuracy is: Canada’s fourth wave Today’s provincial briefing Premier Tim Houston and top doc Robert Strang gave their first COVID briefing of the year today.…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Sunday, Jan 2
Around the holidays, Nova Scotia is overwhelmed by COVID and its data-dissemination abilities are severely compromised. For the time being, the only infographic we can share with any confidence of accuracy is: Canada’s fourth wave More than 1,000 cases in a day Nova Scotia’s first COVID report of 2022 may be “abbreviated” for the holidays,…
