2 new cases March 31 as the humans win the month
Thursday has two new COVID-19 infections, another confirmation that the B117 variant is here and a milestone of 100,000 vaccinations.
Nova Scotia’s Affordable Housing Commission is hosting online workshop to talk about the housing crisis
How hard is it to find an affordable place to live in Nova Scotia? Hard enough that the government formed a commission, and that commission can state its mission pretty clearly: “We know that we must do more to increase the supply of new affordable housing, protect existing housing, and ensure that every Nova Scotian…
7 Sure Things happening in Halifax from March 31-April 8
Tactics for Staying Home in Uncertain Times The Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery’s latest show has its finger so firmly placed on the pulse that it must be beginning to cramp. Comprised of works by five emerging BIPOC artists from across the country, the gallery describes the show–which can be viewed completely online via…
The case for snooping
QI’ve been with my boyfriend for 2.5 years and we have a great relationship–or so I thought. Last week, I snooped on my boyfriend’s browser history and I don’t know what to do with what I found. I’m a longtime reader and Savage Lovecast listener SO I KNOW WHAT I DID WAS WRONG. I believe my…
Halifax patios now more accessible to dogs than disabled people
On Tuesday, March 30, Nova Scotia’s department of environment and climate change went to the dogs with an announcement: Effective immediately, restaurant, cafe and bar patios will be allowed to welcome pet four-legged friends of the canine variety. “They’ll have to follow, obviously, some safety protocols, but I think it’s a great way to introduce…
3 new cases March 30
In its daily COVID-19 update, the province is reporting three new cases. “One case is in Central Zone and is a close contact of a previously reported case,” the province says. “Another case is in Northern Zone and is currently under investigation. The other case is in Eastern Zone and is related to travel outside…
Strang reassures everyone AstraZeneca vaccine is fine
Yesterday, Health Canada and NACI–the National Advisory Committee on Immunization–declared that the AstraZeneca vaccine is no longer recommended for Canadians under age 55, due to a potential reaction after vaccination. “This adverse event is being referred to as Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT),” says the Health Canada website. Today at the regular COVID-19 press briefing,…
GameChangers902 is calling on Halifax to light up HRP’s phone lines
On Friday, a video posted by GameChangers902 and Trayvon Clayton showed a Halifax Regional Police officer pointing a loaded firearm at a Black man whose arms were in the air. In the 28-second video the cop is heard saying what HRP has called “unacceptable comments” which sounds like “I will kill you for a fucking…
HRM’s police oversight board is recruiting two community members
If you think it’s absolutely unacceptable for a Halifax Regional Police officer–one of Halifax’s highest-paid civil servants–to shout something that sounds like “I will fill you full of fucking lead,” or “I will kill you for a fucking laugh” at a Black man whose arms are raised, now’s the time to claim a seat at…
0 new cases Monday, March 29. Take that, C19!
Monday is a good day in Nova Scotia’s pandemic. After getting at least one new case every day for the last 13 straight days, today brings no new cases. Not one. The zero day is reported in today’s provincial update. A single person recovered from the disease since yesterday’s update, to go with nobody new…
Bike Again’s home up for sale
In early March, when Liberal MP for Halifax Andy Fillmore announced a big federal investment of $400 million in active transportation funding across Canada, he stood in front of Bike Again, the volunteer-run, do-it-yourself bike shop in Halifax’s north end, for his photo-op. The Charles Street bike shop was a fitting backdrop. The federal money…
2 cases and a warning for King’s Wharf on March 28
The province is announcing two new COVID-19 infections in its daily pandemic update. “The cases are both in the Central Zone,” the province says. “One is related to travel and the other is under investigation.” A case under investigation is always a drag. Also a drag in this report, a person with C19 had to…
ICYMI: The week in local book, theatre and music releases
Christy Ann Conlin’s The Speed of Mercy The prolific Nova Scotia author’s newly released novel promises prose that’ll jolt you out of winter hibernation–while delivering the salt water-sprayed scenery Conlin fans know and love. Described by her publisher as “capturing the unbearable cost of childhood betrayal and what happens when history is suppressed, our past…
Vaccine delays could mean dipping into second dose stockpile
Earlier this week the Nova Scotia government announced its detailed plan to vaccinate everyone over age 16 who wants to be vaccinated by June. But there may already be a hitch in the plan. “We did receive word last night that a shipment of Moderna expected next week will be delayed by a week or…
5 cases and 7 recoveries—the humans win Saturday 🏆
It’s the weekend, so we’ll start the day with a journalistic sort of brunch—eating our words. In yesterday’s report, we said that the province “has been horrible at providing follow-up information” when it comes to “probable” cases, those that aren’t conclusively positive or negative. It came up because there was a probable case at Sackville…
The Khyber releases database of BIPOC mental health resources
“It is difficult to find adequate and culturally competent mental health support that truly meets the needs of BIPOC people and communities in our current existing system,” writes The Khyber in a Facebook post earlier this week. The local arts organization couldn’t be more correct. During the hellscape of 2020, when our collective trauma meant…
Spring comes up like a crocus
In his tune “Crocus Song,” Six Mile Brook’s Thomas McCallum reminds us of Halifax in March, days spent looking at the ground, hoping for sprouting green and purple signs of spring, only to be met by ice and slush. But then, the first flower arrives and delights and unites us all across the peninsula. Savour…
4 new cases and more fears of school spread March 26
It’s a complicated day for coronavirus counting. The province is reporting five new COVID-19 infections in its routine daily update to media, but one of those is the Millwood High School case announced yesterday. We counted it yesterday in our numbers (like the map at the top of the page and the table below), but…
Jack Bishop’s latest paintings need to be witnessed IRL
Jack Bishop ambles into Studio 21 right on time for his interview with The Coast, bringing his dog Ted along with a gentle move of the leash. He’s at the Doyle Street gallery to talk about his new collection of paintings–called Road Trip Playlist–because “it’s just easier for me to talk about the paintings when…
We made a couple Suez Ship memes
Nova Scotia’s temporary protections for renters are only in place until either the state of emergency ends or April 1, 2022, whichever comes first. The protections cap rent increases for tenants who stay in the unit they are already renting, but has no restrictions on units that new tenants are moving into, and plenty of…
3 cases—oh crap, make that 4 cases—on Thursday
Every day the province releases the latest COVID-19 data, and every day that information is already late. That’s because the numbers that come out today reflect everything that happened yesterday: the newly diagnosed cases, the patients who recovered from the disease, vaccinations, all of it. The only exception is cases in schools, which are announced…
Nova Scotia needs to do more to ensure its shelters embody harm reduction
Since COVID-19 arrived in Nova Scotia a year ago, we have been doing what we can to keep ourselves, our loved ones and others safe. We have masked up, social distanced and ensured our neighbours in isolation have what they need, ranging from grocery drop-offs to dog walks. We have shown Canada and the world…
Video report: Catch up on Halifax Regional Council’s March 23 meeting
Struggling to keep up with what’s going on at city hall? That’s what we’re here for! All the details delivered in an easy-to-digest format that keeps you in the know without putting you to sleep. This week Halifax Regional Council made it through its first virtual meeting on Zoom. That was a switch from the…
In your horoscope: Heroes can be disappointing
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Jordan Stirling, Breton Cousins, Emma Ross, Sophia Millington and Samantha Warshick. 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 …
Nova Scotia gets 5 new cases on Wednesday
For a day with five new infections, which is on the high side for the last couple of weeks, Wednesday is pretty unexciting as far as COVID-19 spread goes. And that’s a very good thing. “The cases are in Central Zone,” says the province’s March 24 update to media. “Three of the cases are close…
7 Sure Things happening in Halifax from March 25-31
Anne & Aretha: Kindred Spirits Decorated Halifax writer Evelyn C. White explores the unlikely bond between PEI’s redheaded queen, Anne of Green Gables, and the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, in this Halifax Public Libraries-sponsored Zoom lecture. Thu Mar 26, 7-8pm, Zoom, free, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81713458352 Related MAJE w/Yohvn Blvck Two local hip hop heavyweights sharing the…
Lotsa Love Livestream leftovers
I want to thank everyone who attended our third Savage Love Livestream last Saturday night. Mistress Matisse was our very special guest, and we tackled a lot of questions about BDSM over a very lively 90 minutes. We didn’t get to every question–there were so many–but I will now, as promised, power through as many…
Province gives breakdown of vaccine timeline by age group
The province of Nova Scotia revealed its latest vaccine rollout plans today, March 23, at a so-called “technical briefing” for reporters. Previous vaccine technical briefings have been held on March 5, February 17, January 20, January 5 and December 16, the structure of the vaccine rollout changing each time. But this morning’s PowerPoint presentation–from chief…
1 new case and a vax breakthrough March 23
Nova Scotia is reporting one new COVID-19 case today. The patient lives in the Sydney, Cape Breton area. “The case is in Eastern Zone and is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada,” says the province’s Tuesday press release report. For a more focused location than the entire Eastern health zone, our table below, which pulls…
There’s no health data available by race, ethnicity or language in the health system in Nova Scotia
Sharon Davis-Murdoch, co-president and founding member of the Health Association of African Canadians, says health data is not available by race, ethnicity or language in Canada’s health system. “There is research, but that is different from data,” says Davis-Murdoch. She and HAAC have long been advocating for the need for race-based health data in Nova…
2 new cases and 20 active patients Monday, March 22
The official case report today from the province is short and, for a pandemic, sweet. There are two new COVID-19 infections in Nova Scotia. “The cases are in Central Zone and are all close contacts of previously reported cases,” says the report. Our table locates both of the new patients in the Dartmouth community health…
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6 new cases reported in Nova Scotia Sunday, March 21
Nova Scotia is reporting six new COVID-19 infections on this good news/bad news Sunday. The bad news starts with those six fresh cases. It’s been more than two weeks since the province has seen so many cases in a day, dating back to the six cases on Saturday, March 6. “Four of the cases are…
What’s coming to Halifax Regional Council on Tuesday, March 23
Boulevard Gardens Second reading of the new rules for boulevard gardens is on the agenda for regional council’s next regular meeting, this Tuesday, March 23. Second reading is the last stop on an item’s journey before becoming a real thing in council-land. These boulevard rules are for folks who want to put something other than…
The Youth Project is offering free gender-affirming garments to young Nova Scotians
Thanks to the effects of COVID-19, queer youth in Nova Scotia are more isolated than ever before, potentially cut off from support systems or school friends and forced to spend more time with families who aren’t always accepting. But thankfully, there are still people working to provide 2SLGBTQ+ youth with support, education and resources.…
2 new cases on Saturday, the first day of spring
Today the Nova Scotia Health Authority released one of its standard warnings about “potential exposure to COVID-19” at several stores around the Halifax Regional Municipality. We’re not going to get into the specifics here—the best, most reliable source of details is the authority’s database of potential exposures—but on top of possible risk in Clayton Park…
You can judge a song by its cover
When listening to Mo Kenney’s new album Covers–10 stripped-down takes on the likes of Tom Petty and Guided By Voices–something curious happens. Songs that used to be country feel more like rock. Tracks that were happy are now a smile with sad eyes, all while Kenney smudges them with her laid-back, guitar-forward, indie rock…
3 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, March 19
Nova Scotia is reporting three new infections today. “The cases are in Central Zone and are all close contacts of previously reported cases,” says the province’s daily COVID-19 media update. They’re all in the Dartmouth community health network, says our table at the bottom of this story, which analyses provincial data. With three patients recovering…
Atlantic Bubble and vaccine rollout both expanding
After the provincial legislature’s session on Thursday, Iain Rankin told reporters that the Atlantic Bubble was indeed in the works. And not just a Maritime Bubble like he’d indicated last week, but a full-on bubble including Newfoundland. “Their cases have come down over time, and now they’re down where New Brunswick is,” Rankin said. This…
ICYMI: The week in local book and music releases
JRDN’s new video for “Missing Us” One of Halifax’s biggest R&B exports, the Juno-winning JRDN served up a new music video yesterday, to remind us how dexterous and deft his range is. The slow jam is what Ne-Yo wishes every song he ever made could be, and you can vibe along to the video below:…
7 Sure Things happening in Halifax from March 18-24
Road Trip Playlist Painter Jack Bishop’s latest canvases are a departure from the brand-and-logo-soaked landscapes of his early work–as a quick lap around his new show at Studio 21 will tell you. Rich in texture (he tells The Coast he “almost over-paints on purpose”) and full of vibrant colour, these paintings–an almost-cross between Abstract Expressionism…
UPDATED: Iain Rankin and Andy Fillmore among Nova Scotia politicians who are also landlords
Updated March 19 with response from Tim Houston added to the text below. When we ask ourselves how did the situation for renters in Halifax get so bad, a common answer is that the majority of the decision makers in this province are homeowners. The theory is they just don’t quite remember the low, burning…
Nova Scotia proposes policy for police gear disposal
On March 11, the province of Nova Scotia announced that new legislation will eventually come into place “making it more difficult for someone to impersonate a police officer.” This comes nearly 11 months after a police impersonator–wearing reflective-stripe pants and a uniform shirt–killed 22 people with a firearm in Portapique and surrounding areas. It also…
In your horoscope: Nourish your sense of smell
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Missie Brown, Chris Currie, Kayoung Heo, Rima Saba, Ted Worthington, Christina Torrealba, John Tweel, Rita Malik, Gary Staple and Nicole Langdon. 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 …
Are you a house-hunting millennial? Better sharpen your pencil
Hopeful first-time home buyers in Halifax are writing love letters to staircases and fireplaces, French windows and quirky out-dated salmon-coloured bathroom tiles. All in the hopes of increasing their chances of being the successful bid on a mid-range house in Halifax. Because in case you hadn’t heard, HRM’s housing market is hot hot hot right…
A COVID-19 death is Nova Scotia’s first in 6+ months
The past few months of Covid have actually been pretty good in Nova Scotia. We’ve had some COVID-19 scares, but also got to relax. There have been cases in schools, but for the most part the school system has been open, a feat that’s rare in North America. Lockdowns have come, lockdowns have gone. The…
The Dish: Meatballs are the hero at Rinaldo’s
Enjoy The Dish, a weekly look at a single menu item from a Halifax restaurant. Whether it inspires you to dine in or take out, we hope to expand your eating horizons. Meatball hero at Rinaldo’s (two locations), $12 One of the first dishes that brothers Tony and Sam Rinaldo created together is still one…
2 new cases on a quiet St. Patrick’s Day
“Nova Scotians have made changes to their daily lives to limit the spread of COVID-19 and it’s no different for St. Patrick’s Day,” says premier Iain Rankin in today’s provincial pandemic press release. “We have been fortunate to have little to no new cases recently, but we know that the virus can quickly find its…
The phone job
QA male friend–not my best friend but a close one–told me his wife was really attracted to me, another male, and asked if I was attracted to her. His wife is an incredibly hot woman and I thought it was a trick question. I read your column and listen to the Savage Lovecast, Dan, so…
Almost 300 people in HRM shelters will get vaccinated next month
On March 16, premier Iain Rankin announced that hundreds of vaccines will soon be going to people staying in shelters in HRM. “We’ll be providing vaccine early April to about 300 people in the Halifax area who are in homeless shelters,” he said at Tuesday’s regular COVID-19 briefing with top doc Robert Strang. “We’ll also…
What to expect at the new Seaport Market
The Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market opened last weekend in its new space at Pavilion 22, immediately beside the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. It’s just 350 metres south of its former waterfront home, where the market had been since opening in August, 2010. On Saturday morning, the crowd was strong. Because of COVID-19…
2 cases, 2 ICU patients and 4 variant cases found March 16
The province is reporting two new COVID-19 infections today. “The cases are in Central Zone,” says the daily pandemic press release. “One of the cases is a close contact of a previously reported case. The other case is under investigation.” As our handy table of case activity at the bottom of this update reveals, both…
A Concerto is a contender
It’s a good week to be Ben Proudfoot: The Halifax-raised filmmaker co-directed the 2021 documentary short A Concerto is a Conversation, which is now up for an Oscar, as announced Monday by The Academy. (Arguably, though, Proudfoot has already won the ultimate prize by working alongside the Oscar-winning filmmaker Ava Duvernay, the genius behind 13th,…
For the ideal anniversary of COVID-19’s official arrival in Nova Scotia, a day free of cases
“Disaster anniversaries are powerful in part because they’re communal,” writes Jacob Stern in The Atlantic. “The bomb went off in an instant. The tornado tore through town in an afternoon. The earthquake rocked the whole region at once. The pandemic, though, did not come to everyone on the same day, or even in the same…
Victoria Hall development proposal edges closer to finalization
The apartment building at 2438 Gottingen Street was mostly constructed around 1885, “at the height of the revival of the French chateau style,” according to the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia. The trust says Victoria Hall is “one of the largest examples of this Romantic genre in Nova Scotia.” At the latest regional council meeting,…
1 case added and 1 case removed Sunday March 14
Yesterdays’ chaos didn’t end yesterday. The province is announcing one new COVID-19 case in the official update today, and it’s deleting one of the cases announced Saturday because somebody typed the wrong thing. If only this latest Saturday mistake could be blamed on losing an hour of sleep because daylight savings time’s return caused clocks…
UPDATED: I can’t stop thinking about this giant pipe organ
Update March 17: As of an hour ago, the previous organ owners took to our Instagram replies to tell us that the big beaut has found a new home. “No gimmicks here,” says Jonathan Brook, a photoless Facebook user, in the ad for a free pipe organ he posted on Facebook Marketplace Thursday. “Free means…
UPDATED: 5 or so cases and a bizarre false positive March 13
Update March 14: Apparently when you’re aiming to create chaos, there’s no such thing as too much. Below is our story about two chaotic things the province did on Saturday, but we should have guessed there was a third brewing. In the Sunday, March 14 C19 update, the province explains that the “case reported in…
UPDATED: It turns out there were 0 cases March 12
UPDATE March 13: The Saturday, March 13 case report includes the remarkable news that the new case announced Friday doesn’t count as a Nova Scotian case, because the patient had previously gotten a C19 diagnosis in another province. We’ve updated the map and headline associated with this piece, which used to be “1 case in…
How to sign up for your COVID-19 vaccine
Nova Scotia’s general vaccination program is already underway–some people aged 80 and up started getting shots this week–but it’s really ramping up the March 15 week, with thousands more people becoming eligible and a whole new vaccine coming into play. And like Alexander Hamilton, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health Robert Strang doesn’t want…
The Dish: The many kebabs at 902 Restaurant
Between winter weather and the pandemic, the world can feel pretty small right now. That’s why we started The Dish, a weekly look at a single menu item from a Halifax restaurant. Whether it inspires you to dine in or take out, we hope to expand your eating horizons. Kebab Mix from 902 Restaurant and…
10 things to bid on at Neptune’s fundraising auction
You gotta feel for Neptune Theatre. Days after it announced its tepid return to live shows, the government called for another lockdown (making those shows cancelled, of course). The new premier pretty quickly called JK on the whole thing–pulling the plug on a proposed monthlong shutdown one week in–but that doesn’t give the average live…
Defining defunding police committee gets important approval from police board
Halifax’s Board of Police Commissioners gave another green light to the committee that’s tasked with figuring out what people in Halifax think “defunding” the police should mean. After first deciding it needed an external committee to develop a definition for defunding the police in August, the board’s been slow to let it start working, but…
0 cases and a vax record Thursday March 11
Nova Scotia delivers a simple message for the coronavirus today: You suck! 🖕 The daily COVID-19 status report to media shows zero new cases of the disease, five people recovering from it so their cases are closed, one patient getting out of hospital and just one C19 patient sick enough to be in the hospital…
What will it take to fix the Halifax Pop Explosion?
It was like a snowfall. Flurries at first. Then, a quickly mounting storm. “YOUR company has systemic racism on its own, NOT just because most companies also have it,” reads one of many comments on an Instagram post shared last June by the Halifax Pop Explosion. “recognize that the racism stems from somewhere personal, whether…
Strankin hints at the return of the Maritime Bubble
At the COVID-19 press conference on Tuesday, March 9, premier Iain Rankin spoke words that haven’t been uttered in a few months: “Atlantic Bubble.” And Rankin didn’t bring it up because he was asked by a reporter–he mentioned the bubble of his own accord during his opening statement. “I will be having a discussion…
NS RCMP destroy 7 tonnes of gear that’s been sitting around
This week, Nova Scotia RCMP had a pretty big bonfire, incinerating 6.92 tonnes of RCMP “kit.” This kit, according to NS RCMP spokesperson Mark Skinner, contained things from uniform shirts and pants to boots and body armour, but also “other items that form a part of a member’s uniform.” It was all stored at a…
Your horoscope for the week March 11-17
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO Caora McKenna, Michele Ryall, Jane Crawford, Maddie Johnson, Jonathan Toms, Jess Hartjes, Rachel Banks and John Johnstone. 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 …
Only 1 case March 10
The humans beat the virus today, with Nova Scotia reporting three recoveries and a trifling one new COVID-19 case. That fresh infection is connected to “travel outside Atlantic Canada” in the reassuring phrasing of the provincial press release, and the patient “is self-isolating, as required.” “Again, our case count is remaining low—no cases Monday, five…
Video report: Catch up on Halifax Regional Council’s March 9 meeting
Yesterday was Halifax Regional Council’s last meeting on Microsoft Teams–the tech is switching to Zoom for the next meeting–and HRMs mayor and 16 councillors looked in to cracking down on illegal dumping, heard from Halifax Water and the Halifax Partnership, moved a development proposal for a 13-storey building at 2438 Gottingen Street forward to the…
Cutting remarks
Q I’m having a problem advising a friend. She’s been through a divorce and now the breaking off of an engagement. To put it simply, both relationships ended because she was cheated on and she has a zero-tolerance policy around infidelity. To complicate matters, in each relationship we—her friends—have witnessed her being very cutting to…
ANSMA’d our prayers
Last night, the African Nova Scotian Music Association’s awards highlighted a handful of the ear-exalting excellence that local Black artists put forth in 2020. From the kalimba-soaked single “Outside” by Zamani to Jah’Mila’s reggae resistance song “Chant Their Names” to Keonté Beals’ anthemic track “KING” (from an album of the same name that was so…
5 new cases and a patient gets out of the hospital March 9
Nova Scotia’s legislature is finally sitting today under new premier Iain Rankin, after former premier Stephen McNeil couldn’t be bothered getting the house back to work for the entirety of the pandemic. (McNeil’s bullshit one-day opening in December absolutely doesn’t count as democracy in action.) Unfortunately the coronavirus is back to work, too, after taking…
How to file your first post-Covid taxes
It’s tax season, and things have changed because of COVID-19 shaking the world for most of the 2020 fiscal year. With the federal government providing many Canadians with financial assistance during the pandemic, filing taxes this year is a bit different. Stephanie Folahan, president of Premier Accounting and Tax in Halifax, says tax refunds may…
0 cases on Monday 🙌
Zero new cases in Nova Scotia today, according to the province’s daily COVID-19 report. None, not one. But five people with C19 recovered since the last report, making this a very good Monday for the humans. The disease, on the other hand, can suck it. The last zero day was Friday, February 12. Between then…
2 new cases March 7
The province is reporting two new cases of COVID-19, both in the Central health zone, on a straightforward Sunday. “One is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada. The person is self-isolating, as required,” says the province’s report to media. “The other case is a close contact of a previously reported case.” With two patients recovering…
5 sure things for International Women’s Day
On this International Women’s Day, Monday, March 8, let’s take a beat to remember that women earn less money per hour for the same work as men, and women of colour earn even less than white women. Call it the wage gap, call it the power gap, it’s real and it’s the reason if you…
A whole bunch of Halifax musicians get ECMA noms
Halifax knows it’s a music hub. It’s the east coast’s magnet for rockstars-on-the-rise and is full of the quiet certainty that, at any given venue on any given night, you’ll happen upon some serious local talent onstage–someone that’s not just good for a small city, but fucking good, full stop. So, really, who’s surprised that…
6 cases but none of them particularly scary on March 6
There are six new COVID-19 infections in the province today, the most since the 10 cases reported Friday, February 26, which made Strankin implement the circuit breaker lockdown. But this six-case spike comes the day after lockdown ended early. Did the lockdown stop too soon? Should we be worried? “The case count is a little…
2 new cases March 5 in Nova Scotia’s emergency year
Nova Scotia’s first-ever COVID-19 cases were announced March 15, 2020. One week later, then-premier Stephen McNeil declared an official state of emergency. An SOE stays in effect for two weeks, unless cancelled early or extended longer. McNeil extended it every chance he got, including the just-passed February 21, days before he left office. With the…
First look at Boyd’s Pharmasave on Agricola Street
While some children have fond memories of going to the candy shop or the toy store, Greg Richard’s memories are of trips to the local pharmacy. “When I was growing up, I remember going to the pharmacy. Maybe that’s a weird thing but I remember it, and I remember being just so impressed with this…
35 of Canada’s best hockey players are in Halifax this week
Some of the best hockey players in the world are on the ice in Halifax this week. You can’t watch them in person right now, but hopefully they’ll be returning in May for the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Halifax and Truro. Since Monday the rink at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre has played host…
3 new cases plus 1 more person in hospital March 4
The same day doctor Strang and premier Rankin end the lockdown early, more Nova Scotians recover from COVID-19 than get infected. It’s like the disease is supporting Strankin’s decision. Which might be a nice gesture if C19 wasn’t otherwise horrible in every possible way. There are three new cases, all in Central zone, only one…
Strankin ends 1-month Halifax lockdown after a week
It was just last Tuesday, February 23, that Iain Rankin was sworn in as premier, and he gave his debut public COVID-19 briefing the next day, taking former premier Stephen McNeil’s place beside chief medical officer of health Robert Strang. Nova Scotia’s new pandemic power duo didn’t announce any major changes at that first briefing,…
Nova Scotia’s vaccine rollout continues to have technical difficulties
Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 plan is a hot topic of conversation. Who will get it, where, when and how? So it’s not surprising that when the vaccine registration website went live earlier this week for people 80+, a lot of people wanted to test it out. But somehow the province was surprised. On day one, the…
Love and devastation
QI am at a loss. I am devastated. I just found out my husband has been sexting with another woman. As if that’s not bad enough, this woman is his first cousin! And this has been going on for years! I’ll give you a moment to recover from that jaw drop. OK, now the background.…
Your horoscope for the week March 4-10
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO: Darryl Wright, Matt Brand, Kasia Morrison, Kate Bogle, Dan Murrans, Sue Downey Lim, Brittany Carragher , Carolina Andrade, Colin Morrison, Jeff Supple and Haley Boulter. 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 …
The Dish: Korean fried chicken at Backoos
Between winter weather and the pandemic, the world can feel pretty small right now. That’s why we started The Dish, a weekly look at a single menu item from a Halifax restaurant. Whether it inspires you to dine in or take out, we hope to expand your eating horizons. Chicken Combo from Backoos Korean Food,…
UPDATED: Why the Halifax lockdown got lifted early
Update March 4: Today the province did indeed lift the lockdown, a full three weeks early, making the following article more pertinent even as it becomes out of date. Get the deets on what happened in our story about the restrictions ending. Update March 8: The original headline on this story was “Why the Halifax…
3 new cases and another testing record March 3 🏆
The province is reporting three new infections today, one in the Northern health zone and two in Central, all of them people who are closely connected with other COVID-19 patients. Three new cases is higher than the last two days, which each had only one case, but it’s still low enough to earn praise from…
First look at Fiends Collective’s new digs
After just over a year on Agricola Street, spiritual store Fiends Collective has moved to Dartmouth, opening today, March 3, in its new location at 104 Portland Street. Check out the slideshow below for a look inside. Co-owners Forest Greenwell and Amanda Baiocco say the new space is three times larger than the old, and…
Fantastic at saving plastic
The Tare Shop was dubbed Halifax’s first fully zero-waste store when it opened in October 2018. Everything at its 5539 Cornwallis Street location–from rice to shampoo to spices–is available in bulk, with the option to purchase an upcycled container or bring your own. The shop recently did a calculation of just how much waste it…
1 new case, more variants and hospitalizations March 2
Tuesday brings good news in terms of new COVID-19 cases, testing and recoveries, but bad news for patients getting admitted to the hospital and virus variants. Let’s start with the good news, because we can. For the second day in a row, Nova Scotia is reporting only one new C19 infection. “The case is in…
The five most expensive capital items budgeted for 2021/22
Halifax Regional Municipality is budgeting $175 million in capital funding for the 2021/22 fiscal year. This money is different from the operating budget, which pays for the city’s ongoing operations like staff salaries and snow plowing. Capital money is a one-time or once-in-a-while expense for the big building stuff. New roads, building maintenance, upgrades to…
Coburg Road home approved for heritage status
Halifax’s supply of heritage protected houses is one home bigger. The house, at 6215 Coburg Road, across the street from Dalhousie University’s Howe Hall residence, received Registered Heritage Status from Halifax Regional Council last Tuesday. The status puts guidelines on what can be changed about the property, and also incentivizes restoration with HRM’s renovation matching…
1 new, 35 active cases on Monday, March 1
The province is announcing just one new COVID-19 case today. “The case is in Central Zone and is a close contact of a previously reported case,” says the C19 update to media. Four previously infected people have recovered since yesterday, bringing Nova Scotia down to 35 active cases. Two of those are patients in the…
COVID-19 cases and news for the March 1 week
NOTE: For the very latest news about COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, please go to The Coast’s main C19 coverage. Click for mobile-friendlier version of graph. Monday, March 1 Our latest variant Just like this miserable virus, our COVID-19 coverage has been mutating over the past year, in hopes of becoming easier for people to absorb…
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Turning Passion into Purpose
The Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MREM) program at Dalhousie caters to a wide array of interests in an already inclusive field. Whether students are interested in renewable energy, coastal zone restoration or habitat conservation and wildlife management, there’s an opportunity to take their passion and turn it into practice. Alum Victoria Sandre speaks…
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An Innovative and Inclusive Approach to Education
Traditionally, when we think of “career minded” initiatives, we think of focused job placements—but Dalhousie’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) questions the definition of “traditional” and digs deeper. FASS’ academic and experiential learning offerings can prepare students for a lifestyle and workplace grounded in Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI). Faculty (Acting) Dean Dr.…
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Leading Students Down the Path of Business Creation
The Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC) isn’t just a space where students can learn to launch a business; the entrepreneurial mindset that is forged within the centre can be applied in all facets of life. “Launching a business is only one output of the centre,” director Michael Sanderson explains. “Students also learn to combine…
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Get an Edge Up With Studies in Health, Wellness and Sport
A passion for new experiences in sports brought Julie Naugler to Saint Mary’s University, unexpectedly opening new horizons in the classroom too. When she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in May 2020, in she was also the first student to receive the university’s new Certificate in Health, Wellness and Sport in Society (HWSS).…
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A Growing Market
A career in agriculture goes beyond farmers and retail—there’s a middle holding those two together. Dalhousie’s International Food Business program (IFB), offered at Dalhousie’s Agricultural campus in Truro, Nova Scotia, is the only dual-degree program of its kind. Upon graduation, students receive a Bachelor degree in Agriculture from Dalhousie University, and a Bachelor degree in…
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Where Art meets Public Engagement on Lost History
NSCAD (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) University is in the midst of developing a unique complement to its already well-respected selection of courses and programs. The Institute for the Study of Canadian Slavery is a ground-breaking initiative led by NSCAD’s first Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 1 Dr. Charmaine A. Nelson. Among its…
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Curating the Next Generation of Artists
The Dalhousie Fountain School of Performing Arts is a supportive and dynamic environment in which students are encouraged to follow their passions. The faculty is invested in helping tailor degree paths to students’ individual interests in order to help them accomplish their goals. Students leave the Fountain School of Performing Arts having invested in their…
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Building Confidence in Students Entering the Workplace
Mount Saint Vincent University’s Public Relations program prepares students for the realities of the PR industry by offering both traditional and innovative options to explore in the field. Through practical skill-building in the classroom as well as a co-operative education work placement, students leave MSVU with applicable work experience and developed skills that they can…
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Preparing Students for the Careers of Tomorrow
We’re coming to an incredible moment in history for studying computer science, explains Dalhousie Computer Science Dean Andrew Rau-Chaplin. “Coming out of this pandemic, you realize the extent to which our future is going to be digital and the many social and economic opportunities that will come from this,” he says. Looking at the broad…
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