Voice of the City

If one is not poor themselves, it is easy to look at a neighbourhood like Highfield Park or the north end of Halifax as nothing more than inspiration to donate to a food bank. In the time I’ve spent living in poor communities in both Cape Breton and in my new home of north Dartmouth, […]

When I was about to move here from Montreal, my Québécois friends—who weren’t sure exactly where Halifax was located—all agreed that the city had an excellent music scene. While Halifax’s musical reputation wasn’t the main thing that drew me here (you can’t beat a good job for that), it did make me feel better about […]

For as long as I can recall, exploring cities and small towns by foot was an unchallenged thrill. In my youth I spent the free hours between music lessons investigating an entire university campus (St. Francis Xavier) all the while turning every door handle I came across. When I was a teenager in Wales I […]

I am delighted to have this opportunity to wish Coast readers a Happy New Year, and share some of my thoughts as we enter 2013. It is a privilege to be mayor of Halifax, and I am honoured to work with this council at this time in our history. We’ll be tested by big decisions […]

I am delighted to have this opportunity to wish Coast readers a Happy New Year, and share some of my thoughts as we enter 2013. It is a privilege to be mayor of Halifax, and I am honoured to work with this council at this time in our history. We’ll be tested by big decisions […]

On December 3 the United Nations recognized the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme was “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.” Throughout Halifax, the issues surrounding physical accessibility are becoming more noticeable and measures are being implemented to address them. New building construction follows strict accessibility guidelines […]

When I completed my graduate studies, I moved back to Halifax because I love it here. The city is just so jammed full of interesting people, places and things to do. There’s also a level of grit and realness to Halifax that comes from being an old port city with a deep culture and style all […]

When I think of travel I think of beaches, boardwalks, good food, great company, a bit of adventure and the opportunity to experience or learn something new. I want to relax, explore, do a little shopping and maybe have a glass of wine. I’d hazard a guess that for most of you, your ideas of […]

What is the Halifax we want? This is a question that the Irving shipbuilding contract invites and is one most politicians and news reports have missed. Instead, they’ve focused on the economic potential of the contract. Less attention has been paid to the social and cultural opportunity to reimagine ourselves. An opportunity we should take, […]