Here are your Best of Halifax 2024 winners for Public Life

At a time where groceries are becoming more expensive and wages are stagnant, it makes sense that the amazing folks at Feed Nova Scotia came out on top for our Best Activist Organization Award, as well as our Best Place to Volunteer Award.

Feed Nova Scotia does a lot of good throughout the province, delivering around 3 million kilograms of food to 140 food banks, meal programs and shelters. This is all while they help build member organizations and raise awareness of the root causes of food insecurity—namely low wages, systemic racism and a lack of affordable housing. Speaking of affordable housing, you voted it Gold as the Most Important Local Issue.

But for some entries that are perhaps less depressing, NSNDP leader Claudia Chender made out well with three Golds—one for Best Up-and-Coming Community Leader, one for Best Activist and another for Best Member of the Provincial Legislature. There’s no doubt Chender has spent a lot of time standing up on issues that other politicians don’t want to bother with, indicative by her place in these three categories.

Almost as important as politics is Woody the Talking Christmas Tree, who won Gold for Best Local Character. Whether you find him cute and charming or a monstrosity only equalled by ancient eldritch horrors, you can’t deny that Woody leaves an impression on all who meet him.

For even more Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each of our Public Life categories, check out the list below. Want early access to all the Best of Halifax winners, like Food + Drink and Arts + Culture, right now? Become a Coast Insider today, and you’ll get the full list of Best of Halifax 2024 winners.

BEST ACCESSIBLE BUSINESS
🥇 Discovery Centre
🥈 Bus Stop Theatre Co-op
🥉 Cape and Cowl Comics and Collectibles

BEST ACTIVIST
🥇 Claudia Chender
🥈 El Jones
🥉 Elle Noir

BEST ACTIVIST ORGANIZATION
🥇 Feed Nova Scotia
🥈 Out Of The Cold
🥉 Dalhousie Legal Aid Service

BEST ATHLETE
🥇 Ellie Black
🥈 Sidney Crosby
🥉 Nathan Mackinnon

BEST BEACH
🥇 Crystal Crescent
🥈 Martinique
🥉 Rainbow Haven

BEST BUS DRIVER
🥇 Susan Boutilier
🥈 Billy Georgakakos
🥉 Denyelle Ingraham

BEST COMMUNITY PROJECT
🥇 Hope Blooms
🥈 Dartmouth Community Fridge
🥉 The North Grove

BEST COUNCILLOR
🥇 Tony Mancini
🥈 Lindell Smith
🥉 Waye Mason

BEST HALIFAMOUS PERSON
🥇 Elliot Page
🥈 Alicia Mccarvell
🥉 Rouge Fatale

BEST INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
🥇 @hfxnoise
🥈 @halifaxretales
🥉 @dal_memes

BEST LAKE
🥇 Lake Banook
🥈 Long Lake
🥉 Chocolate Lake

BEST LOCAL CHARACTER
🥇 Woody the Talking Christmas Tree
🥈 Sullivans Pond Geese
🥉 Gus the Gopher Tortoise

BEST MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
🥇 Andy Fillmore for Halifax
🥈 Darren Fisher for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
🥉 Sean Fraser for Central Nova

BEST MEMBER OF THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE
🥇 Claudia Chender for Dartmouth South
🥈 Gary Burrill for Halifax Chebucto
🥉 Brendan Maguire for Halifax Atlantic

BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE
🥇 Halifax Waterfront
🥈 The Board Room Game Cafe
🥉 Halifax Public Gardens

BEST PLACE TO DANCE
🥇 Seahorse Tavern
🥈 The Lower Deck
🥉 Pacifico

BEST PLACE TO GO SWIMMING
🥇 Rainbow Haven Beach
🥈 Martinique Beach
🥉 Long Lake

BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER
🥇 Feed Nova Scotia
🥈 Hope for Wildlife
🥉 Nova Scotia SPCA

BEST PUBLIC ART OR MURAL
🥇 Pat Stay mural in Dartmouth Cove
🥈 John Dunsworth mural on Quinpool Road
🥉 Viola Desmond installation on Gottingen Street

BEST PUBLIC SPACE
🥇 Halifax Public Gardens
🥈 Halifax Central Library
🥉 Peggys Cove

BEST STAYCATION SPOT
🥇 Sensea Nordic Spa
🥈 Wolfville
🥉 White Point Beach Resort

BEST TIKTOK ACCOUNT
🥇 @aliciamccarvell
🥈 @nottheworstcleaner
🥉 @colinjmuise

BEST UP-AND-COMING COMMUNITY LEADER
🥇 Claudia Chender
🥈 Anna Mona-Pia
🥉 Kate MacDonald

MOST IMPORTANT LOCAL ISSUE
🥇 Affordable housing crisis
🥈 Homelessness
🥉 Health care