Last summer, my organization published an evaluation of the 39 P3 schools built in the late 1990s. We concluded that it was a failed experiment marred by cost overruns, massive private profits, mismanagement and an overarching lack of evidence-based decision-making (echoing the Auditor General). We recommended that the province take the discount rate (43 percent […]
Voice of the City
Posted inNews + Opinion
Pride is political and Pride is a party
The east coast is bustling in July. Anyone who’s spent a winter on our fair coast knows that the two months of summer we get are used to their full potential as best we can. Pride week is no exception to that and is always one of the best times to be in Atlantic Canada. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Proud Boys are a microcosm of the unchecked violence in Canada’s military
The July 4 opinion piece in The Coast on the “Proud Boys” left out a small but important detail about the members of this fascist right-wing group: they are all members of the Canadian military, as confirmed by Royal Canadian Navy. As an Indigenous person with close ties to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), I think that […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Our people refuse to be broken
When I was a kid, I used to play “Indian.” I would put a feather in my hair, wear whatever fringed leather jacket my mother had kicking around from the ’80s and I would run around war-whooping outside. When I was a teenager, I dressed up as Pocahontas for Halloween. When I was in my […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Disabled is just different
We live in a society that is very focused on independence. It seems as though the goal for an adult life is independence, and if you can’t ever reach that goal, then perhaps you haven’t really grown up. You’re doing it wrong. It makes us uncomfortable to think about what it might mean if we […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
A love letter to Nova Scotia
Dear Nova Scotia, Today marks our two-year anniversary. Writing this letter has additional significance to me because it is the first time I have written a love letter in my 25 years of existence. And although it isn’t to a person, rather a place, you have changed me in much the same way I envision […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
No sugar-coating NS election results
In the aftermath of the May 30 election, Nova Scotia NDP leader Gary Burrill claimed that the NDP’s “trajectory of difficulty has been reversed,” the glass is “way more full than empty” and “we have won, because only the NDP has opened up a door to hope.” Yet the NDP received its fewest votes since […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The inspirational legacy of Wade Smith
I was very saddened to hear the news of my community brother Wade Smith’s passing on Friday, June 2. Wade was many things to many people: family man; friend; mentor; coach; administer/educator; community leader and more. Upon my reflection of Wade’s 50 years, I was filled with inspiration and pride. Pride in the example of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Goodbye Mr. Smith
In my high school years, there was always that one teacher I could count on, and that was Mr. (Wade) Smith. From keeping me on track to just giving me your ear when I needed to talk—but more importantly needed someone to listen—you were always there. You gave me guidance and support as a young […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
De-celebrating Canada 150
I’m sitting in Cornwallis Park feeling useless. However, that’s not the best way to begin: focusing on my own feelings when I want to tell you about a powerful performance piece by Indigenous artist Raven Davis. Did I mention that I am a white person, a settler, a guest on these unceded Mi’kmaq lands? Davis […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
We need to talk about Venezuela
On Saturday, May 20, Canadians and Venezuelan-Canadians gathered at Grand Parade in solidarity with Venezuelans fighting against president Nicolas Maduro. I organized this gathering in response to the countless protests happening in Venezuela over the past 53 days. They started in March, when president Nicolas Maduro dissolved the opposition-led National Assembly. This means that there is […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Student issues are real this election
Something I hear over and over is how apathetic students and youth are. As a young person, I am frustrated and insulted by this because I know that it isn’t true. I’ve been working with the Canadian Federation of Students-Nova Scotia and an amazing group of student organizers to help engage young people in the […]
