On Monday, January 17 the final report from the defining defunding the police subcommittee of the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners was presented at the commissioners’ virtual meeting. The 218-page report is the culmination of months of work by committee members El Jones, Tari Ajadi, Julia Rodgers, Harry Critchley and others. “The report is the […]
el jones
Posted inNews + Opinion
Join the struggle for a better Canada on Canada Day
With most July 1 events cancelled due to COVID-19, lots of people will be spending Canada Day at home. But what better time to learn about colonialism and racism than Canada Day? You can do just that with the click of a link, thanks to a public webinar presented by the Migrant Rights Network: “Canada Day […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax hosts Day of Rage in protest against West Bank annexation
On July 1, Palestinian land, identity and culture will once again be threatened with brute force by Israel through the planned annexation of the West Bank. The annexation, slated to take place this Wednesday, has been widely condemned by the international community. “Acquisition of territory by force has no place in 2020 and must have […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Activist
Gold Winner El Jones Silver Winner Carly Sutherland Bronze Winner Rana Zaman There really are no losers in the Best Activist category. A single individual calling for change; a single act of resistance means just as much, can have just as much impact, is just as brave as all those fighting the good fight. Which […]
Posted inArts + Music
After the Don
A new parlour game launched in late November when Don Connolly announced his retirement. “Who’s going to be the new Information Morning host?” is based on the premise that CBC has one chance to get this right, as precedent tells us the person filling Connolly’s chair could be a public face of the corporation for […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Upcoming rally will tackle key issues faced by women in Nova Scotia
“We’re not going anywhere,” says Jackie Barkhouse. In January of this year, the Women’s March on Washington garnered support around the world—including a sister protest in Halifax. Barkhouse was one of the organizers and, since then, she’s helped continue the movement. The local protest was followed up in May by Nova Scotia Women Vote, an […]
Posted inArts + Music
Angst for the memories
Andre Fenton is selling his self-published book of poems, Ode to Teen Angst, as fast as he can print them. “I always joke around about selling this book like a mixtape, it’s not really in stores yet, so I just carry it with me,” he says. Fenton sells copies from his bag to people who […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Reading for the revolution with Black Lives Matter
“Knowledge is power and I hope it gives them courage to speak up and really understand what solidarity means,” says Shaya Ishaq. Ishaq and Jade Byard Peek are behind Halifax’s first Black Lives Matter reading group. The weekly gathering is free and meets every Wednesday evening at the Khyber Centre for the Arts. “We have […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Activist
Gold Winner El Jones Silver Winner Paul Vienneau Bronze Winner Evan Coole Don’t worry, Halifax, El Jones will be back. The award-winning spoken-word artist, professor and outgoing poet laureate left Canada this summer for the prestigious International Writing Program at the University of Iowa (eat your heart out, Hannah Horvath). Despite the success, the city […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
How to be Halifax’s next poet laureate
[Image-1] El Jones, Halifax’s poet laureate for the last two years, announced today she’ll be leaving Nova Scotia for a writer-in-residence program at the University of Iowa. It’s a big blow to the city’s social justice and arts community. It also brings up the question of who’s going to replace Jones as HRM’s new poet […]
Posted inArts + Music
Step Up for Stepping Stone
Speaking to Stepping Stone director Rene Ross the other day, I was pretty surprised to learn that the organization (which offers support and outreach to sex workers and former sex workers) has never had a fundraiser before. “We try to only ask for donations when we really need it,” Ross explains. With cutbacks and a […]