What Emancipation Day means to Nova Scotia
Dr. Charmaine Nelson is a nationally leading researcher and academic, focusing on the history of slavery in Canada, plumbing the depths of a field of study that this country is desperately far behind on. (When The Coast interviewed Nelson in 2021, she explained that in America, there’s a “whole infrastructure” studying the history of slavery…
Canada vaccination uptake tracker to chart people with at least one dose of vaccine
To watch the race press the play button at the lower left of the chart. Click here for a larger version of the chart. “We are in a race between the variant and the vaccine,” Robert Strang said in April. Nova Scotia’s head public health official was referring to his province at the time, but he…
Where to get a rapid COVID-19 test this week (September 7-14)
COVID is still lingering in Nova Scotia, and if you’re having adventures or visiting family this summer, getting a rapid test is a great way to reassure yourself and your bubble while doing your part for public health. Doctor Strang recommends everyone gets tested on a weekly basis, even if you’re just going out for…
Your horoscope for the week August 5-11
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Lil MacPherson, Seamus Dalton, Haley Clarke, Bethany Stout, Allison Saunders, Gabriella Clive, Morgan Sheppard, Rochelle Locke, Farrell Shaw, Cohen Docker, Hillary Dennis and Kathleen Martin. 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 …
Cape Breton folk band Beòlach playing Halifax Thursday night
Cape Breton’s Beòlach has been doing its salt air-sounding thing since the late ‘90s, but it seems like, with the release of 2020’s album All Hands, the roots-folk four piece has finally started getting the praise its flawless fiddle work and soaring soundscapes deserve: The album received four ECMA nominations alongside a Juno nom for…
UPDATED: Liberal candidate booted from party over boudoir pics and OnlyFans account
UPDATE: The Nova Scotia Liberals announced a new candidate for Dartmouth South on the final day before the nomination deadline, July 29. The candidate is Lesley MacKay, whose bio says she graduated from the University of King’s College with a BA and then took public relations at NSCC. She currently works at the Liberal Caucus…
HFX Wanderers soccer finally comes home
For the first time in nearly two years, on Monday, August 2, the HFX Wanderers professional soccer team will be playing at its home stadium. The upcoming game against Athlético Ottawa marks the Wanderers’ return from Winnipeg, where the club played the first eight games of the Canadian Premier League season. Matt Fegan, the Wanderers’…
New Brunswick decides the pandemic is over
At the stroke of midnight, New Brunswick entered what it calls the Green level of COVID alert, the final reopening phase for the province. Starting Friday, July 30, there are simply no more pandemic restrictions in the province. Going Green means masks are no longer required in public, period. There are no more checkpoints or…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jul 30
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Seven must-see concerts in Halifax this weekend
After 18 months of longing, live music has come back to save our souls—and it’s wasting no time, with every fleeting summer evening stuffed to the rafters with cool concerts to check out. After the COVID-induced music show drought, we don’t dare complain. Instead, we’re rushing from stage to stage, pretending it’s a music festival…
Up your cheese game with Lemonade’s big wheel
Cheese wasn’t always a big passion for Alex Piitz like it is today. Back in university, the Toronto native had been studying political history and never seriously considered a career in the food industry. But after graduating and trying to figure out his next steps, he stumbled into a full-time position at Toronto’s Olliffe Butcher…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jul 29
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
There’s so much cool stuff to see at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia right now
OK, yes, there’s always something to see at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (the twin beaux art-y buildings at 1723 Hollis Street). There are the giant paintings by Kent Monkman and Norval Morriseau—two of the most important artists Canada’s ever produced—on semi-permanent display. And the plucked-from-the-hyperreal experience of visiting Maud Lewis’s house. (One look…
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The best eggs benny in Halifax
B runch is so much more than a meal; it’s a weekend gathering over our favourite foods and drinks, and no brunch would be complete without the poster duo, the eggs benedict and the Caesar. Both are true gems that can do it all. Eggs benny can be meat heavy or a veggie delight, just…
Your horoscope for the week July 29-August 4
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Kyle DeYoung, Jessie Bee, Deanna Bowlby, John Odenthal, Mike Belyea, Baillie Saunders, Graeme Stewart, Tanya DavisNeil Fraser, Teresa Orser and Alexandra Wilson. 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 …
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, Jul 28
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
6 ways to observe Emancipation Day in Halifax
This Sunday, August 1, Canada will observe Emancipation Day on a national level for the first time—a celebration of the actual day that the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect across the British empire in 1834. In Halifax, the new holiday is being celebrated as part of HRM’s slate of Natal Day celebrations, which brings…
The disease slows down, and so does doctor Strang
Nova Scotia is still in a State of Emergency—in fact, it was renewed in the province on Friday and will last until at least August 8. Despite that, each provincial political party’s election campaigning has begun, and door-knocking is already taking place. “We’ve worked with Elections Nova Scotia for months,” said doctor Robert Strang, the…
Crabs!
QI’m a gay male in my forties and I’ve been married to my husband for nine years. There was some mild infidelity on his part (exchanging photos and flirting via text with another guy) early in our relationship. I confronted him at the time, and he lied to me. I decided to let it go,…
Battle of the health care promises: Liberal, NDP, PC
Nova Scotia’s pandemic-time election has a clear focus—health care. PC leader Tim Houston launched his campaign with a massive health spending promise. NDP leader Gary Burrill pledged to eliminate ambulance fees and add nursing home beds for all who need them. And today, day 11 of the general election, Iain Rankin laid out the Liberal…
Shakespeare By The Sea is back until September
William Shakespeare penned A Midsummer Night’s Dream back in 1595 or 1596, when the world’s most famous playwright was in his early 30s and really churning out the hits. While the exact date is debated by experts, it was roughly 425 years ago—and that’s also roughly how long it feels we’ve been waiting for the…
As the world struggles with delta, how’s Canada doing?
While Nova Scotians dance and Canada is getting ready to reopen international airports, the pandemic is rising in much of the world. “Around the globe, coronavirus infections have surged again, driven by the Delta variant, with daily case counts more than 40 percent higher than a month ago,” is how the New York Times starkly…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Tuesday, Jul 27
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Halifax hunk Chris Gallant will be on The Bachelorette
Local members of Bachelor nation have a special reason to be excited about the upcoming 18th season of The Bachelorette, and his name is Chris. Due to premiere on October 19 according to dates released last week, the dating reality show will star Michelle Young, a 28-year-old teacher from Minnesota who was a contestant on…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Monday, Jul 26
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
A COVID-friendly dance moves tutorial
Halifax has been reminiscent of the town from Footloose for the past 16 long COVID months: No hand jives, no twisting and certainly no twerking—at least not in public. But as of July 14, dance floors at bars and clubs, as well as weddings and parties, have been allowed to reopen. With this, dancers are…
Can’t miss drive-in movies in Halifax Saturday night
Thanks to the pandemic, drive-in movies have been having their biggest heyday since the swell era of poodle skirts and soda shops. And it looks like the throwback fun won’t be cooling down as we continue to party with our pods and keep some physical distance this summer. Here are two drive-in screenings we’re amped…
Breagh Isabel’s “Girlfriends” may be the song of COVID summer
I n this pandemic summer of tepid uncertainty, a time of in-betweenness as reopening plans unfold and vaccinations take effect, there is no better song to play on repeat than Breagh Isabel’s “Girlfriends.” The single, her debut as a solo artist, deals with another sort of tender not-knowing—a cinnamon-sweet story of first loves Isabel kept…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jul 23
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Government tells Nicole Gnazdowsky she’s “no longer welcome” to contact the province
About an hour after The Coast published a story about Nicole Gnazdowsky’s 510-page FOI document findings—which included instructions from government staff to delete notes of meetings—Nova Scotia’s associate deputy minister of justice told Gnazdowsky she was no longer welcome to communicate with the department. “Your communication with Labour and Advanced Education (LAE) staff has become…
Your horoscope for the week July 22-28
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Francis Blois, Paulette Cable, Carsten Knox, Simone Abbass, Bruce MacAulay, Laurie the Guy and Shayla Howell. 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 …
Black women entrepreneurs make a COVID comeback with summer markets
In 2020, Tia Upshaw started Black Women in Excellence, a program that provides business skills to women of colour, pairs them with a mentor and gives entrepreneurship support. “We go through an in-depth business plan, a financial forecast, projections for three to five years. We basically build a foundation so that anybody who’s coming in…
Booze you can use
Nova Scotians can soon expect a more eclectic selection of imported wine, beer and spirits on menus and store shelves, thanks to a new venture from three Halifax restaurateurs. Remedial Wine Imports, or REMY’S as its owners call it, is Halifax’s latest alcohol agency. It’s the brainchild of Jenner Cormier, Annie Brace-Lavoie and Jess Beauchamp,…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jul 22
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
4 live music shows to see this weekend
We’ve waxed poetic about all the things we’ve missed about live music while the pandemic made in-person performances impossible, from grumbling about when the show would start to the rush of giddy embarrassment when you get an artist to autograph your album. Now that Nova Scotia has entered its Phase 4 of reopening, we’ve wasted…
You can help a park reach its dreams tonight
There’s a good chance you know Cogswell Park, even if you don’t know it as Cogswell Park. It’s the small patch of grass and trees located close to where Windsor Street meets Quinpool Road. Not the large open field on Quinpool next door to the Superstore, but the triangular bit of green space across Windsor…
The climate is changing rapidly, but the oil industry isn’t
It’s easy to think we’re beyond denial over the climate crisis, now that even oil industry executives are talking about taking it seriously. But, as with many politicians, what industry leaders say publicly often belies what they’re doing behind the scenes. An investigation by Greenpeace project Unearthed has drawn the curtain back on this duplicity. Investigators posing…
Hey Halifax, you’ve only got a few more days to see this amazing art show
A multi-artist exhibit that was slated as part of the Mayworks Festival of Working People and The Arts, TOIL HERE: Works from Rural Mi’kma’ki arrived at The Khyber (1880 Hollis Street) on June 30. But if you’ve yet to set eyes on the showcase, there’s no time like now. Thanks to Nova Scotia’s reopening plan…
“The race between virus and vaccine is not settled yet”
John Ross doesn’t blame us if we don’t feel like we know what to do right now. After 16 months living cautiously through the global pandemic, it seems like we’ve now hit the finish line. With significant changes in Phase 4 of reopening, patios are now full, vaccinated travellers are welcome to visit and restaurants…
In the straights
QMy wife got drunk at a vacation house we rented with a bunch of friends, and cheated on me with my best friend in the hot tub. They didn’t have sex but they did other things. I wasn’t there but there were eight other people in the hot tub and the jets were on so no…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, Jul 21
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Jerry Granelli, iconic drummer and teacher, dies in Halifax
Jerry Granelli, the luminary jazz drummer and improvisational musician, passed away today at his home in Halifax. He was 80. Although Granelli spent two months in hospital earlier this year, he had recovered and was able to give an “Art in Everyday Life” workshop at Halifax Jazz Festival on Sunday, with another workshop booked for…
NS calls grieving woman “hostile individual” behind her back
Nicole Gnazdowsky, the woman who’s been trying for months to get information from the province about her brother’s 2020 workplace death, said she wasn’t surprised to learn that NS staff called her efforts a “hostile attack” in government communications. “I understand why people just give up,” Gnazdowsky said in an interview Tuesday morning. Facing a…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Tuesday, Jul 20
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
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Adventurous Activities to do this Summer near Halifax
Whatever your idea of exploring is – or whenever nature calls – the All-New 2022 Volkswagen Taos is always game. With its generous passenger space, the Taos invites you and up to four friends to come along for the ride, or let it just be you, your partner and the open highway. Dare the Taos…
5 can’t-miss events happening at 2021 Halifax Jazz Festival
Well Halifax, if you’re looking for the true source of this scorching summer heatwave, we have a theory: It’s the white-hot lineup Jazz Fest continues to serve as the seasonal staple rolls on. This humidity, though? We’ll blame god/the sky/our horoscope for that. Below we’re breaking down the must-see events of the festival’s second week—all…
Agricola Street sinkhole caused by human activity
If you followed the line of cement trucks down Agricola Street this morning, you would have found yourself looking down into a gaping sinkhole in the asphalt. Photos of the sinkhole began to circulate on social media at around 7am Monday, but construction crews did not arrive at the scene—just south of Sarah Street, near…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Monday, Jul 19
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
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Where to find the best Caesars in Halifax
The area is known for its delicious, locally crafted food and beverage scene, and sometimes you just can’t decide which “best” place to go. So, while your friends are tossing up a coin, you can pull up this list and wow them with your expertise. Locals and tourists alike have boasted about these hot spots…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Sunday, Jul 18
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Preparing for an in-person Halifax Pride
Editor’s note: Hosting an arts event these days is no joke. It’s more like a dance with a million unknown, ever-changing steps, making event planners need back up plans for their back up plans. They pivot and contort to COVID’s inconsistent rhythm while keeping the beat at all feels like a feat. Juggling public expectations…
Premier Iain Rankin has called a provincial general election
Premier Iain Rankin, alongside his wife Mary Chisholm, visited Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc at Government House this morning to call the next general provincial election. Nova Scotians will be voting August 17, a Tuesday 31 days from now. The minimum allowable campaign length is 30 days. Nova Scotians have been on their toes waiting for this…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Saturday, Jul 17
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Nursing Homes of NS is launching its own election campaign
Update: Comment from Liberal leader Iain Rankin added following the July 17 morning election call. W hen election signs hit Nova Scotian lawns, so will campaign signs from the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association. The organization is calling for a ministerial portfolio of continuing care and highlighting “issues that have been facing long-term care…
Get a Sweet Tease of burlesque and drag this weekend
Live shows are coming back to Halifax, and a group of 15 local burlesque and drag performers is kicking off the summer in the city’s north end. The show, Sweet Tease are Made of These, will take over The Derby Show Bar’s stage on Sunday evening. It’ll be a night full of burlesque and drag…
Dal students scramble for housing after getting residence rejections
Becky Foster was on a trip to Cape Breton recently with other students she met during her recently completed first year at Dalhousie University. Although their classes had been completely online due to COVID-19, the group decided to meet in person before beginning second year in the fall. At one point during their trip, they…
Black entrepreneurs ready for Taking BLK Gottingen
Building on the success of last year’s debut, over 50 Black-owned businesses and vendors are back this Saturday for Takin’ BLK Gottingen. Vendors will transform streets and businesses along and around Gottingen Street with an assortment of food, clothing, art and performances in celebration of African Nova Scotian entrepreneurs and the north end. The market…
Rankin’s pre-election funding frenzy continues
On Friday, which is rumoured to be the day before the election call, Rankin’s list of announcements has continued to grow. Since this article was first written Thursday afternoon, the Liberal government in Nova Scotia has announced no less than eight different funding initiatives: Funding for clean transportation in Yarmouth Pilot project to help raspberry…
Black police officer and Liberal candidate pulled over at gunpoint by RCMP
D ean Simmonds, superintendent for the Halifax Regional Police, has devoted most of his career to trying to bridge the gap between Black Nova Scotians and the police force that serves them. He’s been an officer for 20 years, four of them spent as the HRP’s Diversity Equity Officer. He hoped his work might make…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jul 16
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Your horoscope for the week July 15-21
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Dale Wilson, Mike Vavra, Jessica Raven, Kate Inglis, Richard MacLean and Robert Plowman. 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 …
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Canadians, Bud Light Seltzer is here, just in time for summer
Let this summer be the year of exploring and trying new things – and that includes testing out new go-to beverages for the season. Whether you’re ready to venture out of your comfort zone or prefer something more familiar, Bud Light Seltzer is a refreshing people pleaser that’ll make this summer one for the books. …
NS hits 75% vax target but data dashboard lags behind
Nova Scotia moved into Phase 4 on Wednesday, on schedule, as planned. But according to the provincial data dashboard, maybe we shouldn’t have. On Thursday, the dashboard still sits at 74.3 percent of the population having at least one dose of vaccine (reporting numbers as of the end of Wednesday), short of the 75…
Strang says physically distanced dance floors are the new norm
Phase 4 of COVID reopening loosens rules on gathering in over a dozen different sectors. But one that has stood out to many Nova Scotians is that we now have permission to dance again. You can dance in bars and restaurants, you can dance at weddings and festivals, you can dance for inspiration—as long as…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jul 15
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
14 rules that relax in Phase 4 of NS reopening
Update: On August 23, at his first public COVID briefing as Nova Scotia’s new premier, Tim Houston announced that the province is aiming to move into Phase 5 on September 15. Getting there will require 75 percent of Nova Scotians to be fully vaccinated with both doses. Until then, Nova Scotia is in Phase 4.…
43 new affordable homes for Halifax from federal cash
One day after Halifax Regional Municipality’s deadline for the removal of crisis shelters from parks, mayor Mike Savage announced a plan to add at least 43 new affordable homes to the city in the next year—thanks to $13 million from a federal program. He used Wednesday’s affordable housing event to address the shelter situation, too.…
Crisis shelters safe as removal deadline passes
Halifax’s crisis shelters have survived to see another day, but the length and security of that stay is still anyone’s game. “We’re not going to move in and force people out,” said mayor Mike Savage Tuesday, the day of the city’s deadline for the shelters to be removed. “Our goal is to treat people like…
Good Robot Brewing does discount draft for doses
Across the United States and some parts of Canada, stores, businesses and bars have come up with COVID-19 vaccine promotions, like getting a (liquor) shot for a (vaccine) shot, or getting a discount or contest entry if you’ve gotten those sweet, sweet antibodies. But here in Halifax, the culture around vaccines has been a little…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, Jul 14
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Emotional arsonists
QI’m a 19-year-old girl who was dumped few months ago. My partner found out he didn’t like my body when we were having sex for the first time, and he told me right after. We were actually still in bed naked when he told me. He kept cuddling me to make me feel a bit…
Where to get a walk-in COVID vaccine in Halifax
Since June 29, Nova Scotia has been offering walk-in vaccination appointments to varying demographics. First, at the Convention Centre at 1650 Argyle Street in downtown Halifax, it was for first doses only. Then, second-dose walk-ins opened up to those 65 and up in early July, then 55 and up. Now anyone over 18 can go!…
Nearly 70,000 Nova Scotians need a doctor
More Nova Scotians than ever are on the province’s waitlist registry for family doctors. The waiting list of Nova Scotians needing primary care hit 69,070 people July 1, 2021—up from about 45,000 a year ago. Premier Iain Rankin acknowledged there’s a problem with primary care, but added it’s not a problem unique to Nova Scotia.…
Trudeau calls NS child care funding key to ‘a feminist recovery’ from COVID
While a provincial election call seems just around the corner, premier Iain Rankin, joined virtually by prime minister Justin Trudeau, announced a $905 million deal for child care that will cut average costs to $10 a day over five years. “This is a game-changer for Nova Scotia families,” Rankin said during a press conference at…
Kitsune makes a comeback (sushi fans can cheer)
Kitsune Food Co. will make its triumphant return this Friday, July 16 at 4pm. “We’ve missed you all so much and are so looking forward to seeing you all again,” says owner and chef Ami Goto, who started the small Japanese cafe five years ago in what used to be a garage attached to Mother’s…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Tuesday, Jul 13
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Vaccination rate…
Phase 4 brings radical reopening on Wednesday
Top doctor Robert Strang confirmed Monday that Phase 4 of the COVID reopening will begin as scheduled, July 14 at 8am. On Wednesday Nova Scotians will be allowed to meet in groups of 25 at bars and restaurants—establishments that will be allowed to operate for pre-COVID hours. Dancing at the bar or on a patio…
‘We don’t want another Trinity Bellwoods’ for Halifax shelters
Embed from Getty Images Slideshow of scenes from Trinity Bellwoods Park. Halifax’s housing crisis—and official discomfort over the visible homeless population—is not unique. In Toronto, at Trinity Bellwoods Park, a police and bylaw officer presence on June 22 forced nearly 25 people to leave their temporary homes and shelters in the park. The eviction included…
African Nova Scotian Justice Institute an Atlantic first
This morning, the province announced that it will be investing $4.8 million in an African Nova Scotian Justice Institute, or ANSJI. The institute—the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada—will be run through the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition (ANSDPAD), and will address anti-Black racism in the criminal justice…
First look: Slowly Slowly ethical fashion and beauty shop
Slowly Slowly is an apt name for the new store at 5685 Cunard Street. Owner and founder Hannah Sears explains that, in a world full of fast fashion, she wants to encourage people to shop more mindfully, slowing down to consider the impact of their purchases. “Fashion is anything but sustainable,” she says. “I think ethics,…
NS adds 264 beds for long-term care, needs 1,300
Nova Scotia will build 264 new long-term care beds and replace nearly 1,300 existing beds across the province, premier Iain Rankin announced Friday. Nova Scotia NDP and PC leaders say this plan falls short of what’s needed to support the public long-term care program—which has nearly 1,300 people waiting for a bed. In a…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Monday, Jul 12
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
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Rooftop patios in Halifax you need to check out
We’ve all been stuck inside, so why not treat ourselves to a little F&B with a view? Halifax’s rooftop patios are at just the right elevation where you can perch yourself up with an ocean sight, cityscape, or forested view; there’s no bad seat in the house! Celebrating Canada’s reopening wouldn’t be the same without…
Nova Scotia’s slowing vax uptake hurts national rank
Newfoundland and Labrador has Canada’s best vaccination rate, at 74.3 percent of its population having at least one dose of vaccine. Nunavut, meanwhile, has the lowest rate in the country, with 54.4 percent vaccinated with at least one dose. These numbers are the latest from the federal government, released on Friday, July 9, for vaccinations…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Sunday, Jul 11
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
Halifax Fringe Festival’s 2021 event is a-go
It’d be easy to say that this year’s Halifax Fringe Festival won’t be a typical one—but when has the beigeness of that word ever really captured the wild edges of the annual unjuried, uncensored performing arts event? Fringe has always been about the beauty of spontaneity and strangeness—a cloud of ‘anything could happen’ forming over…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Saturday, Jul 10
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
Planning Pride during a pandemic
Editor’s note: Hosting an arts event these days is no joke. It’s more like a dance with a million unknown, ever-changing steps, making event planners need back up plans for their back up plans. They pivot and contort to COVID’s inconsistent rhythm while keeping the beat at all feels like a feat. Juggling public expectations…
7 tips for how to ask about someone’s vaccine status
The COVID-19 vaccine has recently become a more frequent topic of conversation than the weather. And the old Nova Scotia adage—“wait five minutes and it’ll change”— seems just as true for the advice and social etiquette around vaccines. “The UK is planning on maybe no more guidelines, no more masks, no more distancing as early…
Three crisis shelters taken down four days early by city
Earlier this week, Halifax gave itself a deadline of July 13 to remove all the temporary crisis shelters it knows about on municipal property. And while Tuesday is still four days away, today—Friday—three of these shelters were carted away by city staff. “Now that the city has gone back on its word, we can’t trust…
Halifax’s restaurant scene is cooking up a comeback
With vaccine optimism high and COVID case counts low, it’s time to think outside the takeout box. To whet your appetite for dining with strangers, here’s a selection of 25 restaurants, bars and cafes that opened or refreshed in the last year. Dear Friend – In downtown Dartmouth, the illustrious cocktail garden at Dear Friend…
Shailene Garnett dreams of a Halifax sunset
When Shailene Garnett takes The Coast’s call to talk about her ideal summer day, it’s the sort of daydreaming fun she needs: She’s been on the set of Diggstown—the Halifax-set, Dartmouth-shot CBC legal drama where she plays the brash-but-loveable Iris Beals—since early that grey morning, so planning a perfect July day is perfect fodder for…
Six seltzers for summer
Hard seltzer is having its moment. And why shouldn’t it? On a hot summer’s day, it feels like a no-brainer to crack open a can of fruity, spiked, bubbly water. But before you reach for a case of White Claw at the NSLC, consider one of these local options instead. 1 Luna Hard Seltzer – Located…
Frozen treats beyond the standard scoop
One summer years ago, I took my little cousins out for ice cream. I didn’t clue in at first how special it was for them to get their own cones. Lost in the moment of enjoying my own scoop, it took a minute for me to check how the littlest one was doing. Somehow in…
The picnic renaissance
Growing up, going out to restaurants was reserved for special occasions. My mother, frugal and an excellent cook in her own right, imparted on me the concept of “Why pay for something you could make yourself?” So when we did go out, we ordered strategically. We ordered dishes that were interesting and elaborate, making sure…
Must-see live music in Nova Scotia this summer
July The East Pointers The Juno-winning trio that’s cribbed over four million Spotify streams comes to the Halifax Convention Centre to rock you gently. July 23-24, Halifax Convention Centre, 1650 Argyle Street, 8pm, $42.50-$62.50 Rose Cousins w/Zamani Fresh off her Juno win for best Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year, Rose Cousins comes to god’s…
A visual arts events guide for July and August
July Curved Space – Studio 21 delivers a hearty dose of delicate pottery with a joint showcase by Debra Kuzyk and Ray Mackie, who have been crafting pieces together for three decades. To Jul 14, Studio 21, 5431 Doyle Street Preserves, Small World and Notes on secrecy – A trio of showcases take over the…
All the summer’s a stage
July Comedy of Errors – Highland Arts Theatre in Sydney kicks off its summer season with an outdoor showing of Shakespeare. Hit up Open Hearth Park, Indian Beach or Rose Schwartz Memorial Park in New Waterford for these free performances—just be sure to book a seat online before you go. Jul 9, Indian Beach, North…
You’re in the land of fantastic summer festivals
Correction: An earlier version of this story listed the Halifax Seaport Beerfest as happening this August, but the event has been cancelled due to COVID-19. The Coast regrets the error. July Halifax Jazz Festival – While the outdoor showcase that’s brought the likes of Anderson .Paak and Lauryn Hill has all its fingers and toes…
How to get out on the water
This article was independently produced by our editorial team with financial support from Develop Nova Scotia. Visit Halifax waterfront this summer for food, art, shopping and adventure. Find a list of things to do and see here After a long winter and COVID-ridden spring, it’s time to get outdoors this summer. Hiking is one thing,…
René Boudreau suggests 5 places to explore Black Nova Scotia
René Boudreau had never considered entrepreneurship as a career option until she encouraged others to do so. At 18 years old, she was leading entrepreneur camps through the Black Business Association, empowering Black youth to think about starting their own businesses in the future. This would become one of many jobs Boudreau would work for…
Read ‘em and reap
You know the feeling when you meet your friend’s friends, and you hit it off better than you hoped? The welcome wave of realization that soon, these witty and warm people might be your friends, too? That’s the vibe that spreads, sweet as honey, when you get to read your favourite author’s favourite book. It’s…
11 top spots to find Nova Scotia nature at its finest
After a long year spent mostly inside, the urge to get out of the city and explore feels stronger than ever. With so many great outdoor spots in Nova Scotia, we’ve compiled a comprehensive (and potentially biased) list featuring the best of the best. Related Simple, superlative hikes Black Hole Falls, Baxters Harbour When people…
Annapolis Valley wine country: your nearby Napa
Driving into the Annapolis Valley can be an instantly relaxing experience. If you’ve spent the year mostly stuck in the city, the roadside farmers’ markets and Bay of Fundy are welcome, refreshing sights. With restrictions loosening across the province, this destination—only an hour’s drive from Halifax—is the perfect place for a day-trip or weekend…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jul 9
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
A tennis champion’s guide to playing in Halifax
If Anna Nicolela’s life were made into a sports movie, it’s easy to imagine where the training montage would be—the scene where, over intense music, the protagonist works tirelessly to defy all expectations. It would start when she’s around 13, after losing strings of tennis matches at Canadian national championships. These losses followed countless local…
Where to find a tennis court in Halifax
With so many people turning to outdoor sports like tennis—which is physically distanced by design—this pandemic, it can be harder to find a free court than usual. Here are a few recommendations for where to look in peninsular Halifax from Nova Scotia tennis star Anna Nicolela, who’s been hitting the courts with friends all summer.…
Crisis shelter fire creates a liability issue for HRM
As the debate around temporary crisis shelters in Halifax continues, many councillors and members of the public alike have forgotten that real people live in these tiny “sheds” situated in public parks. “These shelters and tents are not safe or appropriate housing,” said one councillor in a letter to the province on Wednesday. “They have…
What the vaccine plateau means for Phase 4 opening
Nova Scotia, so far, has moved through its COVID reopening phases with little problem. We’ve passed each test with flying colours, outperforming our own expectations for vaccination levels and infection counts, and started each of the first three phases on the best-case schedule. But with Phase 4 expected to begin in the province as early…
Your horoscope for the week July 8-14
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Lindsey Oram, Sarah Fawcett, Chris Frankel, Dustin York, Joanna Trager, Mimi Fautley, Kristine M, Amy Corbett, Wiebke Kungl and Menna Riley. 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 …
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jul 8
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
Sack Lunch leftovers
On the first Thursday of every month I host “Sack Lunch,” an online hangout exclusively for Magnum subscribers to the Savage Lovecast. I take questions, invite listeners to answer them with me and we have a blast. I’m giving this week’s column over to some of the questions we didn’t get to during this month’s…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, Jul 7
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
Advertiser Content
This new summer drink tastes good and helps protect our waters
Coors Seltzers hit the NSLC shelves just in time to help us cool down and enjoy the warm season with purpose: knowing that as we’re sipping some delicious seltzer, we’re helping to give back to Nova Scotia’s waters, too. With every 12-pack of this refreshing beverage, you’re helping to restore 1,000 litres of Canada’s waters…
HRM vows to remove temporary shelters without warning after July 13
On Tuesday, Halifax Regional Municipality released a statement that confirmed it will do what it’s been threatening for weeks—remove temporary shelters located on municipal property. “A deadline date of July 13, 2021 has been given to remove the shelters–failing which, the shelters, and any personal items contained within the shelters, will be removed by the…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Tuesday, Jul 6
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
1,000,000 doses but also a youth vaccine shortage
YUpdate: Number of unused AsraZeneca doses was added June 6 following a response from the province. oung Nova Scotians—who are only eligible to get the Pfizer vaccine under Health Canada guidelines—will not have doses set aside for their age group, despite the current Pfizer supply shortage. Public health head Robert Strang says there are no…
Premier Iain Rankin owns up to drunk driving charges
Premier Iain Rankin said at a COVID-19 briefing today, July 5, he heard questions were being asked about his history with drunk driving, and he wanted to “tell all Nova Scotians at once” about past incidents that resulted in a DUI conviction. “Before we get into the case numbers I want to address a personal…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Monday, Jul 5
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
Advertiser Content
Patios in Halifax you need to go to this summer
Now that we can all safely enjoy the patios around town, isn’t it about time we enjoyed a Caesar in style? Each Halifax patio has their own way of pulling together Canada’s official cocktail, and from classic to eccentric, there’s something for the Caesar novice and expert alike. If Mott’s® Clamato® Caesar’s weren’t already the…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Sunday, Jul 4
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Saturday, Jul 3
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Friday, Jul 2
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
7 things you need to know from city council
1 Sober centres City council will work on options for developing a sobering centre in Halifax as an alternative to using holding cells for intoxicated people. The motion came from councillor Lindell Smith, who requested a staff report in February on the feasibility of a sobering centre that considers services needed to support unhoused people…
COVID cases and news for Nova Scotia on Thursday, Jul 1
NOTE: This day is now over. Click for the latest on COVID-19 from The Coast. Or for an informative look back at Nova Scotia’s evolving pandemic response, keep on reading. Jump to The Coast’s COVID charts Map of NS community health networks Table of community networks New and active cases Recoveries …
Your horoscope for the week July 1-7
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Carl Laudan, Stewart Yule, Christine Wilson, Jamie Campbell, Morgan Mullin, Siobhan Martin, Eli Docker, Fran Zankowski, Lily Lowe, Sharbel Chater, Amelia Cox, Ben Bunin, Brad Hartman, Christopher Waters, Kevin Hagen and Mike Bunin. 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 …
