For many adults, the pressure is on since children are out of school—and will be until at least May 1. The absence of a structured environment that includes bells signalling the next activity or timed eating and recess, is no longer part of a child’s day. Afterschool sport and recreation programs have stopped. The result […]
youth
Posted inNews + Opinion
Youth in Halifax just need good jobs
I have been working with youth and communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality for 15 years. I grew up in the Bayer’s Westwood (The Pubs) public housing community. I understand first-hand the challenges experienced by those living in poverty, who struggle financially and are doing what they need to do just to survive. Society labels […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Young people make up the largest bloc of voters in Canada’s upcoming federal election
On October 21, thousands of Halifax youth will be flooding the polls and voting for the first time. With only two weeks remaining until Canada’s next federal election, many are hoping that this year will beat out previous voter turnout records—68 percent in 2015—rather than marking the return of dismal turnout in 2008. However, unlike […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Young people are fired up for the federal election
T his year, for the first time since the baby boomers, youth and students are the largest voting block in Canada. All over the country young people are pushing back against the narrative that we are apolitical. Many young people like myself are becoming increasingly involved in politics and are actively organizing around issues that […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Warming hearts and throwing darts
On any given Friday night in Halifax, you’ll find Emily Alford in the pub, going up against a group of 20-something guys in a game of darts. She asks if they’d like to play for a drink “of pop or something, of course,” she says. Or, if she has a bit of money on her, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
SCIENCE MATTERS: What do we do when the cathedral burns?
When Paris’s Notre Dame caught fire on April 15, the flames threatened more than eight centuries of culture and history. The fire evoked shock, horror and grief worldwide. While the cathedral burned, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed determination to rebuild what the French regard as a sacred site. Beset by divisive “yellow vest” demonstrations, the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
SCIENCE MATTERS: Children should be seen and heard
Summer 2018 was Sweden’s hottest since record-keeping began more than 260 years ago — marked by drought, wildfires and extremely low reservoir levels. That was too much for 15-year-old Greta Thunberg. She heard politicians talking about climate change but didn’t see them doing enough about it. So she refused to go to school until a […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Alex “Cunny” Ross finds fame through family
In the Spring of 2015, a shy 18-year-old named Alex “Cunny” Ross laid down 10 of his songs over beats produced by future Halifax councillor Lindell Smith during a session at his neighbourhood studio. The “Young and Coming Up” mixtape—featuring his Centreline Studio pals such as BenG, Neptune and Honey—was burned onto 50 compact discs. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Nightmare at Wood Street
Some young offenders hate the province’s only secure care facility so much, they’d rather be in juvie. Nova Scotia legal aid attorney Paul Sheppard says at a hearing last month, one of his clients being held at the Waterville youth jail was offered a deal: sign a form promising good behaviour and go free. But […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Phoenix marks 30 years of helping youth across HRM
The idea actually started in 1984, with a meeting to discuss the problem of homeless youth, but the Phoenix organization considers its founding as happening three years later. Those early years were a gestation period, time for a small group of committed people to coalesce around a concern and put a plan into action, rallying […]
Posted inArts + Music
What is it about Kids these days?
Ah, the art world: where you never have to grow up. At least that’s what a person might assume, given the relentless popularity of youth culture as a subject in contemporary art. That’s what led curator Zoë Chan to put together an exhibit on the topic, Kids these days, opening Saturday at MSVU Art Gallery. […]
Posted inArts + Music
UNITY Charity’s breakdance launch at the Library tonight
Tonight at the Halifax Central Library (6pm, free), UNITY Charity will announce its new partners in bringing Halifax youth weekly breakdancing and beatboxing sessions, with the Charity’s founder Michael Prosserman aka “Bboy Piecez.” The national community organization has made its way to our city via Branden “Haste” Taylor and Matthew “Testament” Jones, leaders of the breakdancing sessions […]