Before the dessert, the vegetables. And not broccoli-with-cheese-sauce or sweet-potato-fries vegetables, either. Premier Stephen McNeil and NS top doc Robert Strang brought the boiled turnips to their webcast C19 briefing on Friday. “I know many people are tired of staying home and that we all just want to see some light at the end of […]
Parks
Posted inNews + Opinion
The Halifax Common: the grass is lava
The park closure saga is becoming Halifax’s smoking ban 2.0. For the most part, Nova Scotians have embraced the provincial orders that shut down parks and trails in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 via public interaction. “Stay the blazes home,” we scream with delight into the ether. But HRM and the province’s […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Parks, beaches and trails are still definitely closed
T he province closed all parks and beaches to slow the spread of COVID-19 by taking away opportunities for people to get dangerously close to one another. This means that all parks and beaches and most trails are closed. You need to stay fit, but in the oft-repeated words of Nova Scotia’s straight-talking chief medical […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Public engagement phase of Common master plan comes to an end amidst concerns
The municipality is working to address concerns and develop a vision for the future of the Halifax Common park as it enters the next phase of planning. The final round of public engagement in the master planning process, which launched in December 2017, ended July 22 with the closing of an online survey. The most […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Parkland in a pinch
Both the municipality and the province have been steadily acquiring additional land to incorporate into parks. The Nova Scotia Nature Trust is working to secure more parkland in the Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area, just outside Halifax. It encompasses a 100-acre waterfront property along Frederick Lake. The Nature Trust was worried the private owner would […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Part of Sir Sanford Fleming Park up for sale
Last week, some HRM staff and members of the public were surprised to learn a section of a long-time public park is not actually owned by the municipality. Sir Sanford Fleming Park, the home of Dingle Tower, was donated to the city by Sir Fleming himself. The park includes a beach and picnic area on […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Raymond Taavel to be memorialized with city park

A small park at the corner of Barrington and Inglis Streets is set to be renamed after Raymond Taavel, six years after the celebrated LGBTQ+ activist’s tragic death. 
Taavel was one of the city’s most prominent voices for gay rights—instrumental in bringing about HRM’s first public proclamation of Pride Week, raising the rainbow flag at […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Why does no one care about Georges Island anymore?
[Image-1] There’s a forgotten treasure in the Halifax Harbour and those who care to visit remain unsuccessful. It’s been over a year since the general public was permitted on Georges Island and there’s been no indication of progress to reopen. Tristan Cleveland, coordinator of Our HRM Alliance, says establishing visitor accessibility to historic sites should […]
Posted inLifestyle
Map: where to have sex outside in Halifax
Survey question: Where is your favourite place to have sex outdoors? Top 5 answers 1. Point Pleasant Park 2. Citadel Hill 3. The Commons 4. Chocolate Lake 5. Crystal Crescent Beach Map of outdoor sex spots in the HRM View Larger Map Honorable Mentions (also placed on the map) Lawrencetown Beach Long Lake Fort Needham […]
Posted inArts + Music
Live like Common people
“The consultation process is a joke,” says Katie, a 24-year-old student, lips quivering, eyes on the brink of tears. She announces that she is going to leave Halifax because the city doesn’t care about the desires of its populace. Halifax Regional Municipality makes her feel agentless. Peter Bigelow, manager of real property planning for HRM […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Horatio the swan’s last song
Halloween brought a nasty surprise to the Public Gardens. Gardens staff found their swan, Horatio, dead on the morning of November 1. Horatio is remembered for his cantankerous disposition. “He was crazy and mean,” says gardener Tracy Jessen, who was often attacked by the swan while feeding him. “He could definitely draw blood.” This is […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Public Space
The Victorian green space remains a gorgeous retreat within the city, from the magnificent wrought iron of the gate at Spring Garden and South Park to the geese, ducks and swans floating through the gentle waterways. Through the summer’s warmer days it’s a popular spot for wedding photos, though we know people who like to […]