“We all need healing”: Halifax creator launches Afro-futurist comic series
Illustrator, designer, and now comic series creator, Robert Batuo Mbu, has spent the better part of three decades wielding a pencil like his own personal wand. In his words, “I take pride in using my art to spread light, liberation, and stories from deep within, and sharing them with the world.” The Halifax-based creative is…
Halifax designer Marie Webb brings “everybody” fashion to Supernova Market
“My designs are for everybody,” Marie Webb says. “I want people to feel powerful and colourful and proud.” Webb sketches away in her studio. She has got her collection ready to bring a vibrant splash of colour and purpose to this Saturday’s Supernova Market. A Halifax-based designer, creative, and advocate, Webb brings her signature style…
From classroom to club: Halifax teacher makes DJ debut at Sunset Beats Festival
The Sunset Beats Festival is coming to Halifax this weekend. Local DJ Madison Saldarriaga, better known as Badi, will perform her first major set at the fast-growing music festival on June 29. This marks her breakthrough moment in her unconventional, double-life journey from the classroom to the club. “I feel like I’m living the Hannah…
Breagh Isabel’s queer pop bop “Carrie” releases just in time for Pride Month
Breagh Isabel has a song to make your Pride Month even more prideful. “Carrie” dropped on streaming platforms on June 25. The pop tune, co-written and produced by Nashville-based singer Robyn Dell’Unto, details the wistful daydream of creating a character out of a stranger. The new single was one of several Isabel recorded for her…
Lights, camera, Halifax: Local talent shines in major TV production
Two rising stars with Halifax roots are making waves in the television world, showcasing not only their talent but the growing influence of Nova Scotia’s film and television industry. Yenuki Hordagoda and Noah Gillard—both emerging actors—have landed roles in high-profile productions filmed in the region. Hordagoda is featured in the show We Were Liars, bringing…
Looking to bring home a pet in Halifax? Here’s what you need to know
As workdays get longer and personal schedules fill up, many prospective pet owners are turning to low‑maintenance companions that provide affection without overwhelming care needs. While getting a pet is rewarding, employees at the Pet Valu on Quinpool urge people to “not just get a pet for the aesthetic.” “We have seen boys from the…
Less is more: Italy’s culinary philosophy finds a home in Halifax
I’ve been to Italy almost too many times to count. Crafting food and wine experiences there is a pleasure—if not a stroke of genius—as every corner of ‘the Boot’ has its own unique and wonderful food culture. It makes tour planning easier there than in most places around the world. At the root of Italian…
We asked, you answered
As has been reported over the past few months, the provincial government appears poised to announce changes to where alcohol can be sold in the province—with multiple sources saying that there have been ongoing conversations about expanding sales to convenience stores. At the end of the day, it is up to citizens and our elected…
A day in the life with “Just So You Know Halifax”
If you’ve been scrolling through your social media feed in Halifax and stumbled across a high-energy video spotlighting a local business, odds are it came from Just So You Know Halifax. What began as a COVID-era TikTok experiment has evolved into a full-scale local marketing and media company, spearheaded by entrepreneurs Will Fleming and Peter…
Halifax International Fleet Week returns with historic memorial and global naval celebration
Every two years, the heart of Canada’s premier naval city beats a little louder. Halifax International Fleet Week returns June 19–22 along the Halifax Waterfront. This year’s celebration promises naval ship tours, public events, and cultural exhibitions. Fleet Week underscores Halifax’s profound naval heritage and its ongoing global maritime role. For generations, families have bid…
When the world is ending, Ben Caplan says find love
It’s hard not to feel that we’re all on a sinking ship. Between climate change, endless wars, rising poverty, social disparity and the increasing prevalence and acceptance of authoritarianism, it seems many of us are doomed to get washed up in the metaphorical flood. However, with that pessimism comes a brief glimpse of positivity. How…
Halifax designer transforms hate into art through sparkly, whimsical fashion
For Filipino-Canadian artist and designer Caitlin Coo, clothing is more than fabric and thread. For her, it’s transformation, resistance, and self-discovery. Through her fashion brand Kaidain Ivy, Coo said she has been stitching together identity as she discovered her place in the world. Through her experience she weaves in culture and community, one sparkling garment…
Control isn’t care
A friend sent me a Substack post by Canadian journalist Nora Loreto titled “Navigating Conflict in Activist Spaces.” The timing was perfect. I recently made the difficult decision to step away from a cause I deeply believed in. It wasn’t a choice I made lightly. But in the face of conflict—and a refusal by some to…
Halifax’s best picnic spots: From the public gardens to the beaches
As International Picnic Day approaches on Wednesday, June 18, there’s no better time to gather your loved ones and enjoy the natural beauty of Halifax. From lush gardens to scenic waterfronts, here are some of the city’s top picnic spots. 1. Halifax Public Gardens This has to be the obvious first choice. Established in 1867,…
From pandemic panic to purpose: Halifax father breaks the silence on men’s mental health
When Kian Zarkechvari welcomed triplets during the height of the pandemic, he was met with fear, stress, and unanswered questions. “It was unexpected,” Zarkechvari recalls. “Having three kids at the same time during the pandemic was crushing. It was stressful—financially, emotionally.” Zarkechvari, a former infantry officer turned financial advisor, said nothing prepared him for the…
The double meaning of Elyse Aeryn’s newest single “Unstoppable”
Elyse Aeryn’s new single is not just a song about romance, but an anthem to self-love. The Glace Bay native released “Unstoppable” ahead of her sophomore album, due out in October 2025. Her roots-rock sound with a rebellious attitude has captivated audiences throughout Atlantic Canada and beyond, netting her the 2024 Music Nova Scotia’s Entertainer…
Philippine Fiesta Halifax returns with message of unity after Vancouver tragedy
“This is a celebration of joy, of culture, and of connection. And now, more than ever, we need that,” said Micah Lacson, president of the Filipino Cultural Society of Nova Scotia, as the community prepares for this year’s Philippine Fiesta Halifax. Lacson, now in her fourth year as president and fifth year with the organization,…
Where to buy and rent in Halifax
Whether you’re looking to buy or rent, the real estate market in Halifax can be frustrating, especially for young Haligonians. The Coast spoke with realtors and a property manager to find out what’s going on in the market, and where people should be looking. “For students, the main hubs are typically around the universities in…
If We Tolerate This, We Will Be Next
“If you tolerate this, then your children will be next.” – Manic Street Preachers, 1998 These words feel less like lyrics and more like prophecy. As a Canadian watching the Trump Administration attack civil society in the United States, I feel one part horror, one part admiration. Horror at the brazen attacks on democratic norms,…
Devour! goes live with Devour! Studios
Wolfville is famous for its Rockwellian-like blend of picturesque vineyards, charming country inns and restaurants. For the past 15 years each fall this bucolic town, and my ancestral home, has been brought to life by Devour! The Food Film Fest—the world’s largest celebration of food and film. Now, with the official launch of Devour! Studios,…
From networking to runways: Halifax celebrates sustainable fashion all summer
As global eyes shift towards conscious consumption and climate-conscious choices, Halifax stands proudly at the forefront, not just adapting but trailblazing. This summer, the city will host a series of inspiring events celebrating sustainable business practices, local talent, and creative industries — all grounded in a long-standing ethos of making the most of what’s available.…
We asked, you answered.
Last week, we reported that since Nova Scotia has the highest poverty rate in the country, it makes perfect sense that it’s also the province where people have the most difficulty being able to afford period products like tampons and pads. That’s why a local advocacy group called The Period Purse is launching a national…
Grannies set to put on a fashion show for a cause
The Ubuntu Grannies host their annual spring event with proceeds going to the Stephen Lewis Foundation
Meet the woman who is bringing TEDx to Halifax
Fatu M. Kaba is no stranger to transformation. From surviving a civil war in her home country of Liberia to stepping onto the red circle of TEDx Oshawa as a powerful storyteller, leadership coach, model, and mental health advocate, Kaba is now launching something even bigger: she’s bringing TEDx to Halifax. Kaba’s journey to the…
Seven local albums and artists to help you step into summer
It feels that every summer in Halifax brings with it a number of negatives. Bugs buzzing around everywhere. Humidity that can make your skin sweat off. The recurring fear of forest fires. All of these feelings are valid, but there are also plenty of positives. Taking a dip in the local lakes and visiting beaches.…
The top spring and summer fashion trends and where you can shop them in Halifax
As temperatures rise and wardrobes get lighter, spring/summer 2025 fashion trends brings a refreshing mix of easy-going elegance and bold statements. Halifax is about to transform itself with art festivals, fashion shows, exhibitions and tourists. Street style is going to be on full display now that we can put away those down jackets. From effortless…
Advertiser Content
Logistics, Localized: Get It Picked and the Rise of Smart Delivery in Nova Scotia
A new logistics platform is quietly reconfiguring how local deliveries function across Nova Scotia. Get It Picked, a Nova Scotia-based courier startup, is presenting a consummate response to the incorrigible inefficiencies embedded in traditional delivery networks. With a focus on hyperlocal service, tech-driven tracking, and flexible options for both individuals and businesses, the company is…
This local cookie company is doing more than just baking
Nova Scotia Cookie Co., a proudly woman-owned business, is taking the humble shortbread cookie to international heights, one lighthouse-shaped treat at a time. Founded by entrepreneur Jenna Ross, the Nova Scotia Cookie Co. is as much about community and connection as it is about confections. “Steeped in a tradition of welcoming hospitality, Nova Scotia has…
Every big show happening in Halifax in June 2025
The nostalgia is as high as the vibes with the shows hitting Halifax in June. As always, The Coast has you covered with everything that’s happening in the city this month. Jessi Cruickshank: Now That’s What I Call Live Tour Get ready to party like it’s 2009 with Cruickshank’s all new comedy show for anyone…