Halifax Regional Council

“I am a story. I am the only woman of colour running in my district,” says Sherry Hassanali, a second-generation Canadian. “The fact that there’s never been a woman of colour on council in the 271 years is a story.” Hassanali’s parents moved to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago. And over the last 24 years of […]

Bangladesh-born community volunteer Mohammad Ehsan is running for councillor for District 10 (Halifax–Bedford Basin West) because he wants to do more for his district. “There is limitations on you on how much you can do from the sidelines.” He’s passionate about senior citizens in the district: He spearheaded a project called the Stronger Together Initiative […]

T ony Mancini has run in elections before, but not like this. “The previous two campaigns we literally knocked on thousands of doors. And I just felt that because of Covid the risk wasn’t worth it,” he explains in a phone call with The Coast. “Because let’s say that either myself or one of my […]

Five years ago, Andrew Curran was taking his dog for a walk when he met a senior whose husband had died just a few months earlier. Because she did not have many friends, she spent her time talking to dog walkers and watering her lawn. “After I spoke with her, she had moved away because […]

After Renee Field started working as a volunteer in District 10 (Halifax–Bedford Basin West), she formed a neighbourhood watch program in Rockingham that handled the car theft issue, and she chairs a residents’ association where they raised $140,000 in less than two years to redesign DJ Butler Park. Now she wants to take this love […]

Douglas Day tried reaching out to the current councillor of District 6 (Harbourview–Burnside–Dartmouth East) a couple of times via email about some concerns he had. When he didn’t get a response, he decided to run for the council seat himself. “I feel it’s time for a change,” says Day. “Time to get rid of the […]

Ibrahim Manna is running for office because the current councillor has been ignoring the needs of residents in District 6 (Harbourview–Burnside–Dartmouth East). “I’ve personally been talking to the councillor himself,” Manna says, “and he has done nothing to these issues.” Manna, who’s lived and worked in the district for a long time, wants to be […]

After nearly 34 years as a police officer in Dartmouth, Mitch McIntyre is running for the District 5 (Dartmouth Centre) council seat because he cares for the city. “I’ve walked the street, I’ve been the eyes and the ears of the citizens of Dartmouth for all those years,” the 64-year-old says. He’s disappointed with the […]

With previous experience as a meteorologist and talk show host, Richard Zurawski got into politics in 2016 with a strong focus on science, climate change and the environment. “As a new councillor it takes a couple of years just to understand how things work, and so once you get the experience…you want to be able […]

As a resident of the area for over 27 years, George Mbamalu is running for the District 3 (Dartmouth South–Eastern Passage) seat on council because he wants his community to be heard. “We have been poorly represented in the past,” says Mbamalu. “The way the city’s going I don’t see a positive outlook. It’s almost […]

She’s been a councillor. She’s been a provincial MLA. Now, after being away from the political scene since 2013, Becky Kent says she’s ready now more than ever to make a comeback. That’s why she is excited to be running for council again this election, as a candidate for District 3 (Dartmouth South–Eastern Passage). During […]

C linton Desveaux had his political epiphany at the supper table. The 47-year-old father of two remembers being worried for young pedestrians and cyclists after a rash of car accidents. “There’s been a lot of hit and runs in the neighbourhood,” he complained at the table. “My wife said to me: ‘Stop complaining about it. […]