F or the first time since 1996, the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre has temporarily stopped accepting new clients. The Dresden Row centre, offering specialized sexual assault care and support, announced it has become overwhelmed by their caseload after several years of increasing numbers of requests for help. The plan is to assess the needs of […]
#MeToo
Posted inArts + Music
Theatre review: Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells)
To February 24 Neptune Theatre Scotiabank Stage 1593 Argyle Street $30-$46 Closing this weekend on Neptune’s second stage is Rose Napoli’s magnificent study on the issues of consent and the abuse of power from those we trust most. Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells) follows the story of Laura (Celia Koughan), a troubled 15-year-old who discovers newfound […]
Posted inArts + Music
Mouthpiece’s brain matter
Mouthpiece To Nov 18, 8pm (2pm Sun mat) Alderney Landing, 2 Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth $35 ($25 underwaged) In Mouthpiece, Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava climb out of a bathtub to play both sides of one woman’s brain. They began creating her in 2013, put her on a Toronto stage in 2015, won two Dora Awards […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Shambhala financial show cash-flow problem
A chartered accountant in Halifax with experience in the finances of religious institutions sees cause for concern in the latest financial update from Shambhala Global Services to its membership The late-September financial report is “not saying the barn is on fire and the fire is getting worse every minute,” says Andrew Murphy. “But there is […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Clouds over Buddhist Project Sunshine
Senior Shambhala leaders are now speaking out against Buddhist Project Sunshine and the multiple reports of sexual abuse that have been published over the past several months. The third report in that series of grassroots investigations, which documents several allegations of sexual assault over a period of decades, arrived on August 23 in a blaze […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
How many knew about Shambhala abuses?
The third report from Buddhist Project Sunshine was released this week, containing new allegations of sexual assault committed by Shambhala Buddhism’s spiritual leader and head, Osel Mukpo, known as Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. And as in earlier Project Sunshine reports, there’s mounting evidence the sakyong’s inner circle—including Shambhala’s governing body, the Kalapa Council—knew of Mukpo’s sexual […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Unanswered questions about Shambhala investigation
Red flags are waving for two women whose stories are in the Buddhism Project Sunshine reports, and for the retired lawyer who carried out the investigations into allegations of abuse and sexual assault from Shambhala Buddhism’s spiritual leader, Osel Mukpo, known as Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. All three are asking questions about what Shambhala International calls […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Portrait of the sakyong as a fallen man
Correction: This story originally stated the Shambhala School is owned by Shambhala International. While the two organizations share a name, they are not affiliated. The story has been updated to reflect this. Rhonda Newcombe can’t look her guru in the eye. There are a couple reasons for that, chief among them the allegations against Sakyong […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Mass exit at Ruby’s Rhinestone
Ruby’s Rhinestone Reception and Lounge has only been open a few months and already the Salter Street business has seen a serious turnover in staff. Five employees of the downtown country bar jointly walked out three weeks ago over allegations that owner Steve Caryi failed to provide a safe work environment. In a hand-written complaint […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
25 for 25: episode 1998
It was #MeToo moment decades before #MeToo even existed. Gerald Regan, former Nova Scotian premier and Liberal party statesman, brought to court on eight charges of sexual assault against victims as young as 14. Journalist Stephen Kimber was there watching the trial in 1998 when Regan was eventually acquitted. He wrote about the story for The Coast […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Coast 25: 30 of the most important things we’ve written
“Adam’s fall” Matthieu Aikins’ award-winning feature on suicides from the Macdonald Bridge is a heartbreaking read even now, a decade after its publication. A year after Aikins’ story was printed, the bridge commission finally decided to install safety barriers along the old bridge to prevent future deaths. Seals of approval One of the most-read stories […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Field Guide employee leaves over sexual assault accusation
The local restaurant industry continues to reckon with the sexual misconduct of its employees. Field Guide on Gottingen Street has parted ways with an employee over an allegation of sexual assault that was originally brought to the attention of the restaurant’s owners back in December. Co-owners Ceilidh Sutherland and Dan Vorstermans posted a public statement Monday […]