Bill C-16, the federal trans rights bill, passed in the Senate today with a vote of 67-11. This bill calls for the Canadian Human Rights Act to be amended by adding gender identity and expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination, which currently includes colour, sex and sexual orientation, among others. In an […]
Reality Bites
Posted inNews + Opinion
To the men who disagree with the concept of Lady Drive-Her
I avoid cabs when I’m alone. Usually, I’d rather walk. However, sometimes I’ve had a few drinks and it’s cold or I’m in uncomfortable shoes, so I’ll wave a taxi down from the sidewalk. When I get in the car, my eyes immediately dart around for a licence number. I’m ready to jump out if […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Looking at Canadian political herstory
An American author saw a void in books about Canadian female politicians, so she decided to fill it. Madelyn Holmes is currently in Halifax to promote her latest book, Working for the Common Good: Canadian Women Politicians, in which she profiles eight different women from the New Democratic Party. Holmes’ interest was piqued by reading […]
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Dalhousie takes another swing at replacing ceremonial mace
After its first effort fell short, Dalhousie University is once again asking the public to design a replacement for its ceremonial mace. The school is hoping to swap out its oak-carved graduation horcrux for a symbol that better reflects Dal’s diversity and values. A request for proposals issued this week is seeking submissions from the […]
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Knock knock: Doors Open Halifax returns this weekend
Doors Open Halifax is back again this weekend, for its fifth year celebrating the city’s historical and modern architecture. Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4, all are welcome to pop inside over 30 venues (from 10am-4pm) for a free behind-the-scenes look at some of the city’s more intriguing structures. For disclosure’s sake, we should […]
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Vincent Coleman and Rita Joe win Halifax ferry naming contest
The results are in for the second most important election in the province: The harbour ferry naming contest. As if that classic Heritage Minute weren’t enough, Halifax hero Vincent Coleman will be memorialized by having his name painted on the next ferry. Over the course of the 10-day naming contest, 11,014 votes were tallied, with […]
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Halifax Pride addresses pinkwashing by discontinuing community fair
Halifax Pride is nixing booths from its festival grounds ahead of this year’s celebration. The change was announced late last month, several months after October’s tumultuous AGM, during which a “pinkwashing motion” brought forth by members of Queer Arabs of Halifax (QAH) was voted down. According to the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project, pinkwashing usually […]
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Tarrah McPherson seeks judicial review of Human Rights decision
If you filed a complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, you’d expect the investigator would take the time to interview you. It even says so on the Commission’s website. “A human rights officer will interview everyone involved.” Tarrah McPherson is alleging that didn’t happen in her 2016 complaint against her former instructor, Michael […]
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Pump it up at Halifax Bike Week
Taking consistent care of your bicycle can save you from disasters down the road. For Bike Week, Mountain Equipment Co-op is setting up a slew of “mobile bicycle maintenance stations,” doing safety checks and offering advice on basic bike fixes. In the meantime, Brendan Sutcliffe—bike mechanic at MEC—gives a few tips for keeping your ride […]
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Liberals win second majority in close election
It was a night of twists and turns, but the Liberal Party will once again form Nova Scotia’s government. The victory was bittersweet, though. Stephen McNeil’s second mandate lost several important seats, and just barely held onto the party’s majority at Province House. Still, the premier-designate called the night’s results “democracy at its best.” “Nova […]
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North Preston campaign signs defaced with racist imagery
To say it’s an unpleasant start to election day is an understatement. Campaign signs in the Preston-Dartmouth riding have been vandalized by graffiti. Signs for PC candidate Irvine Carvery, NDP candidate Shelley Fashan and Liberal candidate Keith Colwell at the entrance to North Preston have all been spray-painted with racist and Nazi imagery, including a […]
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Shawn Cleary continues push for changes to HRM’s snow plans
The snow may be gone from Halifax—knock on wood—but Shawn Cleary still has winter on his mind. The councillor for Halifax West Armdale will be asking for two new staff reports at the next meeting of Regional Council that would allow residents to opt out of sidewalk snow clearing, and bring all of HRM’s sidewalk snow […]