It’s autumn again. The leaves have turned, quickly swept away by the wind and rain. Families are heading to corn mazes and carving pumpkins. And local sexual health educators are taking their wooden model penises out of storage and preparing for another year full of condom demonstrations. Unfortunately, they are also steadying themselves for another […]
Voice of the City
Posted inNews + Opinion
The truth about Ottawa
[Image-1] “Every man, wherever he goes, is encompassed by a cloud of comforting convictions, which move with him like flies on a summer day.” “There are those who blame the Press, but in this I think they are mistaken. The Press is such as the public demands, and the public demands bad newspapers…” —Bertrand Russell […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Domestic violence still at our doors
Over Thanksgiving weekend, in the early hours of Sunday, my partner and I were woken by the sounds of a very loud fight happening in the apartment above us. A man’s voice screamed continuously, loud bangs and crashes from what we assumed was furniture being thrown around. A woman’s voice cried and pleaded. My partner […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Here’s to a new Nova Scotian economy
I have spent several weeks on a rollercoaster of feelings when it comes to fracking. First came relief, as the Nova Scotia review of hydraulic fracturing, led by David Wheeler, acknowledged the complete lack of social license for development of Nova Scotia’s unconventional onshore resources. The panel’s final report enshrined community consent as the only […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
This attack on workers’ rights is just bad for everyone
[Image-1] At first, the Liberal health care bill was only aiming to blow-up and rebuild the system’s administration over the next six months in order to maybe, someday, save five million dollars. Suddenly, though, it was about picking a massive fight with 24,000 health care workers by ignoring their rights. Twenty-four thousand fellow Nova Scotians […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Guidance counsellor is an outdated job
As a social worker who works with youth, and has for the past 22 years, I spend most of my time with who I call “tweeners.” These are the youth who are in-between. School is not working for them. They are often on the verge of dropping out, but they don’t yet possess (or haven’t […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Depression is all too common in Canada
Thursday, October 9 is National Depression Screening Day. This international event calls attention to depression as a serious, life-threatening health problem. As psychologists and as scientists who have long studied and treated depression, we are raising our voices in our city to answer four pressing questions about depression. Depression can involve symptoms such as sadness, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
On Rwanda
[Image-1] Rylan Higgins’ recent letter to the editor hopes to convince readers that good intentions are simply not enough to assist in progress for the people of Rwanda. Higgins’ fear of action is what the Ivany Report says is also what is holding back Nova Scotia. What Higgins refers to as good intentions, we like […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Potatoes, not patchouli, is the best way to help Rwanda
Haligonian Barb Stegemann has been in the media a lot lately talking about her initiative to save the world one perfume bottle at a time by encouraging farmers to produce perfume ingredients for her company The 7 Virtues. Having recently expanded into Rwanda, Stegemann emphasizes that, although she runs a for-profit business, not a charity, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Chefs of Halifax, up your veggie game
Let me begin by saying that no, no, I’m not a vegetarian. But I do love eating at many of the casual, sustainable and local-conscious restaurants and bars that have been popping up like wild, forageable mushrooms around Halifax over the past few years. You know the ones: open concept and lively, innovative cocktails plus […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Lost in Transportation
[Image-1] Since I’ve moved from France to Halifax, I’ve been using public transportation more often. I could say I do it because it’s good for the environment, or because I like the exercise, but then I’d be lying. I use public transportation because it’s very expensive to own a car, and when you live in […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax’s disgrace
[Image-1] At first glance, there’s something particularly shameful about the way that Halifax Central Library has dropped “Memorial” from its name and is giving away certain objects from the physical Memorial exhibit, such as the Silver Cross. The significance of this Memorial was to honour our World War Two veterans. Remembering becomes more important over […]
