Good morning!

I want to give a shout out this morning to André Myette, the executive director of my favourite music venue in the world, the Marigold Cultural Centre (not biased at all, my fiancée does not work there, what are you talking about).

On Tuesday, Myette spoke at the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage regarding the importance of performance venues and creative spaces.

In his opening speech, Myette mentioned the arts and culture cuts from the Nova Scotia government, and passionately advocated for creative spaces and the need to keep the doors open so the arts can flourish. Venues like the Marigold often act as community spaces for more than just taking in a musical performance. It’s a space for education. A place to celebrate achievements in all art forms. A beacon of community that gives each of us a chance to be with one another, enjoying the same, special moment.

Myette’s words to the committee rung true, especially in the face of Nova Scotia’s cuts: “Without these spaces, we risk losing the next generation of Canadian storytellers to other regions or seeing them step away from their crafts entirely.”

As far removed as it seems we are from the budget process (it really does feel like forever ago), we can’t stop fighting for creative spaces where talent can be allowed to flourish, where people can learn to be themselves, and where our culture comes from.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: ☀ 26°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 26°

Next Day: ☁ 19°

7-day forecast

🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

Don’t feel like driving? You can now go down to the wharf and hail a sea taxi.

A new electric water taxi service is starting in Halifax this Thursday. Titled FlyteBoat, this business is lined up at the waterfront, offering taxi services to popular destinations like Georges Island right from Cable Wharf. Prices are set at $24 for adults and $15 for children under 12.

In a press release for the new service, the company promotes its “harbour tours and sunset cruises,” which allow guests to bring food and non-alcoholic drinks on their journey across the waves. It will also offer on-demand transportation, including pickups and drop-offs at private docks. Commuter routes will be offered between Halifax, Dartmouth, and the Northwest Arm.

The boats are claimed to be fully electric and weather-protected, as well as pet friendly (as long as you aren’t headed to Georges Island, where pets are not permitted).

Will it make for a good way to get to work in the morning? While it depends substantially on where you’re located and if you can afford the price of admission, its biggest hurdle is the Alderney Landing ferry which runs the Dartmouth-Halifax route every 15 minutes.

Whether or not it will be a privately-funded threat to the ferry service is yet to be scene, but more likely than that, it may be an interesting way for tourists and residents alike to get a good view of the city from the harbour.

💸 Monthly travel expenses for the premier and his cabinet no longer include the names of the hotels they stay in while away on provincial business—the spokesperson for the executive council office says this was not included to streamline the expense records and not to intentionally eliminate any details.

🚨 A white nationalist demonstration in Bedford over the weekend saw no arrests—the Second Sons gathered on Larry Uteck Boulevard around 4pm on Saturday with around 20 people present, though they moved to a parking lot before police arrived on scene.

👶 The province is investing $8.2 million into an online childcare portal that it hopes will prevent parents from putting their names on several wait lists, hoping for a call—the goal is to have the new portal ready in 2027, with the wait list component coming in 2028.

Only four days of unforgettable concerts remain at Scotia Festival of Music 2026. Tonight brings French elegance and trippy American minimalism, and tomorrow we hear a breathtaking late Beethoven string quartet. Rising stars take the stage June 6, before a thrilling orchestral gala finale on June 7.

🪧 Families of long-term care workers are continuing to urge the province to come back with a better deal and raise wages—the strike now involves 3,600 workers and has been ongoing for eight weeks.

🐟 A search warrant resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old Digby County man for possession of drugs, illegal tobacco, and baby eels—police also found a flare gun that was fashioned to look like a hand gun.

🗳️ E-balloting has begun for the new electoral district of Cheticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay as of today—the provincial government says this new district was made to give Acadian voters representation, with election day set for June 23.

Enjoy authentic cultural sharing from Indigenous artist hosts, who will weave teachings, traditions, and personal insight into the creative process.

Package includes museum admission, a personal tour of Welcome to Turtle Island installation, and a hands-on Mosaic Glass Art workshop grounded in Mi’kmaw, Anishinaabe and Anisininew teachings. Starting June 9!

Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓 Better Times Comedy at Good Robot Brewing: This weekly comedy show features regulars like Clare Belford, Dan Hendricken, Travis Lindsay, Adam Myatt, and a rotating cast of local and visiting comics. | May 28 | 7:30PM | $15 |

🗓 STAGES Theatre Festival: A spring theatre festival bringing exciting works that are innovative and boundary-pushing to the Eastern Front Theatre. | June 3-7 |

🗓 Neptune Theatre: Come From Away: This musical about the experiences of Gander, NL residents during the September 11 attacks is playing at the Neptune Theatre. | March 31-June 21 | $40+|

Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].

🚢➡️ The Mersey Venture factory fishing vessel arrived in Halifax from Dartmouth at 12am and departs for Dartmouth at 2pm.

🚢➡️ The Zuiderdam cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 8am and departs at 4pm.

➡️ The Atlantic Marlin barge departs Halifax at 8am.

🚢➡️ The Bakkafoss container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 8:15am and departs for Argentia at 6pm.

🚢 The Silver Arctic container vessel arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 9:15am.

➡️ The Onego Duesto general cargo vessel departs Halifax at 1pm.

➡️ The CSL Tacoma bulk carrier departs Halifax for Tampa at 4pm.

🚢 The Don Quijote merchant roll-on/roll-off vessel arrives in Halifax from Philadelphia at 5:25pm.

🍺 Warm summer days call for a cold one, and Lake City Cider has a new beer just in time for the sun: Berry Guava Sour. A fruity sour with notes raspberry, pink guava, cherry, and a candy-like tartness at 5.8 percent ABV.

🍟 Stubborn Goat is serving up some special loaded fries until June 7: the Chicago Dog. Made with house-cut fries with celery salt, lightly charred hot dogs, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomato and onion, relish and a gherkin on the side, pickled hot peppers, mustard aioli, and poppy seeds.

🍎 If Nova Scotia were a child on the last day of school, its parents would be far from pleased. Food Banks Canada released their Poverty Report Cards this week, scoring each province on how it's weathering the ongoing affordability crisis and the social programs implemented to help those most impacted. Nova Scotia has scored a D, with a report card littered with F's and a couple C's and B's to drag up the average. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over Nova Scotia’s poor grade and the reasoning behind it.

📹 Attacks against politicians have left some considering the benefits and detriments of streaming municipal council meetings, with Annapolis Royal ending its live stream due to harassment concerns—43 out of Nova Scotia’s 49 municipalities stream their meetings.

🏫 An administrative assistant who was stabbed by a student in a Bedford school in 2023 told CBC she has been in “survival mode” since the attack three years ago—the Halifax Regional Centre for Education has not contributed to her pension since she’s been off work and has not allowed for any wage increases.

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