🗞️ A special kind of comedy

Happy Friday, Halifax!

It’s hard to believe I’m at the tail end of my trip to Newfoundland.

In just a few short days, I travelled from the rocky shores of Port Aux Basques, to the winter wonderland of Western Newfoundland, the mild weathered Central Newfoundland, and as your reading this, I am on my way eastward towards St. John’s, where I’ll catch a flight back to Halifax on Saturday.

We’re leading up to our holiday break here at The Coast, with the next Tuesday edition (December 23) being our last for the year. While I’ll be sure to thank all of our readers for their continued support in that newsletter, I wanted to bring special attention to the Newfoundlanders who have taken the time to email me during my trip.

Several affirmed my critiques, telling me why they moved from the island. Others tell me they moved to Newfoundland and are still getting used to the raging weather and often dilapidated infrastructure. What I want to stress, despite all of my complaining, is that although I have never regretted my move to Nova Scotia and all the amazing people I’ve met in Halifax, Newfoundland is and always will be my home.

It’s a very tough place to live for so many reasons. I’ve conveyed a few here, but there are certainly more out there. However, there’s also a sense of kindness around every corner that I have yet to find elsewhere. As much as Nova Scotians get credit for their goodness—which is well appropriated, mind you—I believe Newfoundlanders are the epitome of warmhearted hospitality, and each stop I’ve made on my trip has further proven that in my mind.

So, while I may criticize, complain, outright bash my home province for it’s shortcomings, I hope my fellow Newfies know I do it out of love and appreciation for my home.

I won’t lie, though: I’m starting to miss Nova Scotia an awful lot.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧️ 12°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 0°

Next Day: 🌨️ 5°

7-day forecast

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

ARTS

Award-winning comedian to film new special in Halifax this spring

British-Canadian comedian James Mullinger has made people in both of his homes laugh on and on, but his bests crowds have always been in Halifax.

In celebration of the city that helped make his journey in the comedy world possible, Mullinger will be filming his next comedy special at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre in Halifax on April 17, 2026.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer gives details on James Mullinger’s upcoming performance.

🤔 Need To Know

🏛️ Halifax is looking to buy back the historic Khyber building from the Turret Arts Space Society after staff report threats to safety and the society’s inability to fundraise the $18.5 million needed to renovate the building—the society purchased it for $1 in 2018.

💵 Nova Scotia’s deficit has only increased, with Finance Minister John Lohr announcing it has grown to nearly $1.3 billion—Lohr says spending needs to be reined in while the province looks for new ways to generate revenue.

✈️ An $18-million settlement has been reached with Air Canada in a class-action lawsuit concerning a crash landing at the Halifax International Airport in 2015—the plane landed short of the runway when it struck power lines in a snowstorm, injuring 25 people.

🛍️ The Christmas crunch is on! Check out the 2025 Downtown Halifax Holiday Gift Guide for inspiration from over 110 local businesses to help finish your list.*

🍷 Purchase a WINE TOUR GIFT CERTIFICATE for any amount or a specific tour and your guest chooses the date they want to go. Give an experience to the person on your list who loves wine.*

🧑‍🌾 Complete our NS Food & Farming survey and be entered to win a $500 gift certificate to your favorite farm, farm store, or farmers’ market!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

Last chance to visit!

The California roll was invented in:

a. Tokyo
b. Los Angeles
c. Vancouver

Discover the surprising histories of Canadian foods we love and so much more in this interactive exhibition. Don't miss out eat make share: a taste of immigration open now until January 2026. Plan your visit today!

🗞️ In Other News

⚖️ A convicted sex offender who was the subject of a Halifax police alert in 2024 pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and breaching his supervision order—Harvey Venus has had his release into the community suspended twice.

🏒 The Montreal Victoire beat out the Toronto Sceptres 2-1 in a shootout finish at the first ever PWHL game to take place in Halifax—goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens made 35 saves and Marie-Philip Poulin scored the game-winning goal.

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE THEATR

Come From Away has been extended two more weeks!

The unbelievable demand for COME FROM AWAY tickets means that we are extending the show by TWO WEEKS. And those tickets are on sale NOW.

Give the gift of experiences this holiday season, and book some of the best seats we have available for the musical event of the season!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Symphony Nova Scotia: Handel’s Messiah: Chorus master Joel Tranquilla leads four guest soloists and the 80-voice Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus through Handel’s holiday favourite. | Dec. 19-20 | 7:30PM | From $31.50 |

🗓 La Posada Mexican Christmas Party: Sharing the magic of Mexican Christmas at Cafe Cempoal in Halifax’s North End. Pinata fun, karaoke vibes and delicious tamalas made with love. | Dec. 20 | 5PM |

🗓 Gluten-Free Holiday Market: Gluten-free holiday treats crafted by local vendors. Happening at the Findlay Community Centre. | Dec. 20 | 2PM |

🗓 A Chorister's Christmas: Join the choristers of Capella Regalis for a festive celebration reflecting Nova Scotia’s multicultural population and the diversity of the choir’s members. | Dec. 21 | 4PM, 7PM | $25 |

🗓 Japanese Holiday Market: Shop with over 20 local vendors selling Japanese treats, artisinal goodies and more at the Halifax Brewery Market. | Dec. 21 | 12PM |

🗓 Winter Market at Oxalis Restaurant: Cozy vibes and chef-made treats make this holiday market are must-go. | Dec. 21 | 10AM |

🗓 Neptune Theatre: The Wizard of Oz: Get ready for the classic tale of Dorothy’s travels in the magical land of Oz on the Neptune Theatre stage. Featuring all your favourite songs from the movie. Family-friendly. | Nov. 4 - Jan. 4 | 7:30PM | From $40 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Algoma East Coast tanker departs Halifax for Charlottetown at 10am.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship departs Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥪 You have to try RInaldo’s Chicken Parm Alla Vodka sandwich—fried chicken cutlet, vodka sauce, mozzarella, parm, garlic mayo and fresh basil.

🍫 Rousseau Chocolatier has the perfect holiday with their magical Nutcracker Bars—made with homemade caramel and salted peanuts, available in 38% milk chocolate and 64% dark chocolate.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎄 A Christmas Carol is one of the most celebrated Christmas stories of all time. The transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from a grouchy holiday hater to gift-giving saint-to-be is as iconic as any other. In timing with the season, Halifax-based podcast Afternoon Pint have delivered a holiday special worthy of the timeless story, a reimagining of the tale in a form unlike any other the podcast has taken: scripted. Adapted by podcast co-host Mike Tobin, the radio play shifts Charles Dicken's story forward with comedy and commentary, revitalizing themes from the original that still fit within our modern understanding: economic pressures, social divisions, and the menial but lasting impacts of everyday cruelties. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer has the scoop on Afternoon Pint’s special holiday episode.

📉 Despite efforts to increase Nova Scotia’s population, the province saw a dip in the third quarter of 2025 for the first time since 2020—the overall population decreased by 1400, the largest decline in a decade.

🌿 RCMP say they have no evidence to support Premier Tim Houston’s claims of trading post cannabis containing fentanyl—Houston’s office claims this misinformation was based on a personal conversation.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading The Coast Daily today.

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