As HRM officials lament the recent Halifax Transit “suck me, boy” racism that, along with a slew of other offences, has earned this town the moniker “Halissippi,” I’m mindful that the Clotilda—the last ship to transport Africans to bondage—was helmed by a Nova Scotian. His name? Captain William Foster. Famed for her novel Their Eyes […]
HRM
Posted inNews + Opinion
Two more ex-councillors speak up about discrimination inside HRM
Two former city councillors are joining with one of their past colleagues in demanding a public inquiry into racism within HRM’s workforce. Previous downtown and south end councillors Dawn Sloane and Sue Uteck, along with Equity Watch co-founders Jackie Barkhouse and Liane Tessier, held a press conference outside City Hall on Thursday afternoon to describe […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
No public inquiry into Halifax Transit racism says CAO
The municipality’s top manager and the transit union’s president are both laying the blame on each other for the decades of racial harassment that occurred inside Halifax Transit. Despite the confusion, chief administrative officer Jacques Dubé doesn’t think a public inquiry is needed to find out who should be held accountable. “We’re not considering that […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council approves Khyber sale to community group
After years of waiting, supporters of the old Khyber building can finally begin to rebuild. During a public hearing Tuesday night, Regional Council approved the sale of 1588 Barrington Street—the former location of the Khyber—to the non-profit 1588 Barrington Street Building Preservation Society for a nominal price of one dollar. The vote was met with […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City hall employees protest racism in the workplace
The municipality admits it’s not going a good enough job in creating a diverse and supportive work environment, and is promising—once again—to do better. The acknowledgement comes after 20 public employees demonstrated outside City Hall on Tuesday in protest of racial discrimination inside HRM’s workforce. The mostly African Nova Scotian group was speaking out against […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Customers of the state
We’re used to being thought of as customers—that the money we spend comes with certain entitlements, and that we should wield influence over those we spend it with. In the sense of expenditures on regular goods and services, this is largely true—justly or unjustly. Those of us who’ve worked in a service profession have no […]
Posted inArts + Music
Afua Cooper is Halifax’s new poet laureate
The municipality’s next poet laureate has no shortage of work experience. Afua Cooper, best-selling author and one of the country’s most celebrated voices of Black Canadian history, is now Halifax’s poet-in-residence. “Poetry brings people together,” Cooper writes in a press release announcing the news. “It is my honour to serve as the municipality’s poetry ambassador.” […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council trades Willow Tree height for (some) affordable housing
Halifax council has decided 10 affordable housing units are worth more than 36. On Tuesday, councillors approved a motion moving forward with a 25-storey height for the proposed Willow Tree tower at the corner of Quinpool Road and Robie Street in exchange for some below-market rents and other public benefits. Previously on Willow Tree, a […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Councillor tries again for code of conduct review
After censuring one of its members for retweeting a white supremacist group and leaking confidential information, Tony Mancini is politely suggesting Halifax council take another look at this whole code of conduct thing. The Harbourview–Burnside–Dartmouth East councillor is asking for a staff report at council’s meeting next week looking for recommendations on improving his colleagues’ […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Safer and accessible seating needed on Halifax Transit buses
When I see those blue plastic bus seats, I know I’m in for a stressful ride. Ever since Halifax Transit introduced them last year, they’ve added yet another awkward complication I’m forced to confront en route to my destination. The seats are extremely slippery and difficult to stay on, and I’ve fallen off them more […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Province finally signs lease for new convention centre
The ink is finally dry on the Halifax Convention Centre’s lease, nearly three months after its doors first opened. Substantial completion has been reached on the $169-million downtown project and the keys have officially been turned over to the province. “Reaching substantial completion with this massive project is a milestone,” writes Transportation and Infrastructure minister Lloyd Hines […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax searching for next poet laureate
Rebecca Thomas has some advice for whoever replaces her as Halifax’s next poet laureate. “Grow thick skin, but keep your heart soft,” she says. The poet’s two-year term as the municipality’s supreme scribe is ending in April and HRM is already seeking nominations for her successor. Applicants can be a poet, storyteller or spoken word […]