[Image-1] The biggest turnover in the October 15 municipal vote happened at the nearly invisible level of local government—the Halifax Regional School Board. Elected school board members are so low-profile that mainstream Nova Scotia news outlets virtually ignore the races, even in Halifax, home to the largest school board in Atlantic Canada. Nine elected school […]
HRM election 2016
Posted inNews + Opinion
What is council for, Halifax?
[Image-1] Council is for the people, all of the people, for so many of their everyday needs. For their bodies, their minds and in many ways their souls. How can it be that in the 21st Century, this brave new Canada of Justinian selfies, G7 status and pursuit of a new Security Council seat, the question […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax election results: district by district
While everyone else was busy enjoying Nocturne, we lucky political nerds at The Coast were watching the election results ever-so-slowly roll in. To no great surprise, Mike Savage won another term as mayor by defeating challenger Lil MacPherson. The Wooden Monkey owner did manage a respectable 31 percent of the votes, though. In HRM’s four […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Lindell Smith makes history in Halifax Peninsula North
[Image-1] There were cheers and chants of “history in the making” at Lindell Smith’s headquarters as the results came in on election night. Smith walked away with over half of the votes cast in Halifax Peninsula North, beating six other candidates by a wide margin. “Just take a moment and look around this room,” Smith, 26, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Waye Mason reclaims seat for Halifax South Downtown
For the second time, Waye Mason has defeated Sue Uteck. The incumbent councillor won another term in office, claiming the District 7 race Saturday night over Uteck and political rookie Dominick Desjardins. “It’s a real vindication of the changes we brought to council and to the government in HRM in the last four years to […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Sam Austin takes Dartmouth Centre
[Image-1] Urban planner Sam Austin is the new councillor for Dartmouth Centre, with 30.6 percent of the (unofficial) vote. The wide open race had eight candidates vying to replace longtime incumbent Gloria McCluskey (who stepped down this month). Behind Austin came Tim Rissesco at 21.6 percent, and Kate Watson at 20.4 percent. Austin celebrated the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
These first-time voters are excited for HRM’s election (even if no one else is)
[Image-1] What were you excited to do when you turned 18? For Josh Creighton, the answer is pretty obvious. “I’m more excited to vote in [the municipal election], because I feel like this—it’s closer to home,” says Creighton. “I love the idea of a councillor, how they’re in charge of this area, and their role is […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Campaign endorsements are getting political
[Image-1] An outgoing councillor’s endorsement can help or hinder a candidate’s chances of getting elected, depending on who the councillor is. As he leaves behind municipal politics, Waverley–Fall River–Musquodoboit Valley councillor Barry Dalrymple is publicly endorsing Cathy Deagle-Gammon in the race for District 1. That could be seen as an unfair advantage, but it really comes […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Plenty of challenges await Halifax Regional School Board candidates
[Image-1] On October 15, residents in HRM will cast their votes for Halifax Regional School Board members during the municipal election. With a budget of over $400 million, the new board will have big decisions to make. Chief amongst them will be the fate of 21 schools within the Cole Harbour and Auburn families. That […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
School board candidates talk diversity and inclusion in HRM schools
[Image-1] Nearly 22 years after the BLAC Report on Education detailed the systemic racism in the Nova Scotia school system, problems still persist for African Nova Scotian students. “Things have somewhat changed,” since the report was released, says the incumbent African Nova Scotian School Board Member candidate, Melinda Daye. “But for anyone to say that we’ve […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
HRM’s rural/urban struggle is real
[Image-1] Few things are more divisive than amalgamation. In the 20 years since the diverse communities of Halifax County were brought together by then-premier John Savage into the mega-blob of the HRM, criticisms of the amalgamated municipality—whether that’s resistance to signs that say ‘Halifax’ in a Dartmouth park, or protests of municipality-wide bylaws—have come up […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
HRM election debates to binge-watch
[Image-1] In between all the turkey and mashed potatoes this weekend will be a lot of down-time to try and ignore family members and escape into a blissful fantasy world of outlandish characters and scripted dialogue. Sure, Sunday’s American presidential town hall just got a whole hell of a lot more interesting, but closer to […]