Voice of the City

Every day I read another opinion piece about how the Halifax job market is terrible and why people are being forced to leave the city in order to find work. Every day I get more and more frustrated at people trying to blame this city for their inability to get a job. When I was […]

I’m 30 years old. I have a masters degree. I’ve probably served you eggs on a Sunday morning. This wasn’t part of the vision. But somehow, it’s where I ended up. Nine years ago, I graduated with all the sense of optimism and invincibility befitting a new graduate, led by ego, searching for that perfect […]

It’s 9:30pm and while finishing a game of darts the other night (yes darts, that’s a story, but not this story) in the north end, I posed a question on Twitter. “Is it OK to walk from Lady Hammond Road to the Macdonald Bridge to catch the bus?” As is typical with the Halifax Twitter […]

We are all maintaining our new year’s resolutions around this time. This year, what if we resolve to treat people better? Let’s start with those who work in the service industry—the people whose primary job is to serve you as the customer, so places like retail and the food industry. You should work in customer […]

There is no question that The Oval provides a great opportunity for the people to get outside and be active during the winter months. Now in its third season, The Oval continues to attract more people to the centre of the city to skate, socialize and snack on local food fare. Pastry, that is. That’s […]

Christmas sucks. OK, I don’t totally think it sucks but it does kind of depress me. Early in the fall—and sometimes even in the summer—I may pick up a gift or two to tuck away for someone. In theory, I look forward to buying gifts, getting together with people and all those other things that […]

I’m a letter carrier and I love my job, but I hated today. Today was not only the first day of icy sidewalks to navigate, it was also the day that Canada Post announced that you would lose the service of getting your mail delivered to your door and that my job of delivering it […]

Nova Scotia’s gotten less crowded in the last year, and that’s not a good thing. Last month, the 2013 population estimates were released by Statistics Canada. Canada added 400,000 people last year. Factoring in movement within the country, all provinces and territories added residents except the Northwest Territories (-83 people), Newfoundland (-139) and New Brunswick […]

I trust we all agree pedestrian safety is important. As is the use of bicycles, and vehicles, to efficiently and safely move about and transport goods within a city. A vibrant and healthy city must accommodate both pedestrians and drivers, and find ways to maximize the safety of all who use the roads. Halifax Regional […]

Halifax has tried to convince residents that tap, not bottled, water is best for everyday drinking and cooking, for some time now. Tap the Tap, a new campaign by Nova Scotia pediatricians, is urging parents to get their kids consuming tap water. While water is always a healthier choice than sugary drinks, and Halifax Water […]

I am waiting for the 52 Crosstown at the Dartmouth Bridge Terminal. Across from the platform is the row of parked out-of-service buses. The one right across from me has a placard on its side promoting the Start By Believing campaign of Avalon Sexual Assault Centre. It’s a nice seafoam green. The text says, “25% […]

If you walk in Halifax in winter, you’ve noticed the difference in sidewalk clearance on side streets compared to arteries. Until this winter, sidewalk snow-removal on side streets has been the responsibility of property owners. That’s why you’d find that the sidewalks in front of most houses were cleared reasonably well, and fairly quickly after […]