🗞️ AI is here to stay

Good morning Halifax,

I know it can feel scary, but it’s time to just embrace AI rather than fear it. And I know just accepting robots can feel counterintuitive, especially if you grew up on The Terminator movies.

But AI is here to stay, and like any other new technology, you just need to learn how to use it properly: Not just to cheat, although it is a great way to cheat at all kinds of things.

The issue of job interviews is a big one. One interviewer noted that after he asked a question, the interviewee would spend a few extra minutes obviously typing and asking AI the answer. Not a great look.

With the unemployment rate around 7%, those on the hunt for work are looking to get an edge on fellow job seekers. Some are turning to AI to generate pristine, error-free resumés and even prepare for interviews. But that trend has many on the hiring side questioning its ethics.

Like in something like, oh I dunno, journalism for example, readers have become savvy enough to pick up when a piece of writing is completely devoid of personality. Recruiters can sniff that out too.

But one expert says that the use of AI when trying to get a job is not necessarily bad, you just have to use it properly (and ethically). Using it to do research on the company you’re applying to can be super helpful by giving you a whole lot of insights to make your cover letter stand out.

When writing your cover letter, go ahead and use an AI-generated template, then personalize it with your own voice. Instead of just saying, ‘I want a job,’ it should be: ‘I want this job, and this is why I’m a good fit. This is why I feel connected to this role.’

Another great tip is to use AI to generate potential questions that you might be asked and use those to prepare. Also, get some ideas of questions you can ask them, so that when they say “do you have any questions for us?” at the end, you can be like actually yes in stead of just 🦗🦗🦗.

Good luck on the job hunt, it is no fun but you got this!

Have a great day!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 30°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 32°

Next Day: 🌤️ 30°

7-day forecast

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

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

🤔 Need To Know

🏛️ Halifax’s city council has directed the mayor to ask the Nova Scotia government for consultation on whether it is considering strengthening his authority—in Nova Scotia, all elected councillors, including the mayor, have a single vote on council issues.

⚖️ A new report says the prevalence of obesity increased faster during the COVID-19 pandemic than it did over the course of more than a decade beforehand—specifically in young adults.

🥀 To Theresa Gray, celebrating the life of her 16-year-old son, Devon Sinclair Marsman, made her "feel the love" of her community—but she says it doesn't feel like closure.

🐴 It's fresh! The real deal--the Halifax County Exhibition! A memory-maker event with live music, zanny contests, action-packed show rings, amusements, beer hall, artisan demos, & more. 10% off tix with promo code: TheCoastIsAtTheEx*

🎭 Catch Shakespeare by the Sea until August 31st! Join us in Point Pleasant Park for ROBIN HOOD: The Legendary Musical Comedy and Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT. Get your seats today!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

New Exhibition: Now Open!

Don't miss out the new interactive exhibition eat make share: a taste of immigration open at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Discover the surprising histories of the Canadian foods we love and engage with Canada's food traditions through hands-on activities, including a kids' kitchen.

Presented by BMO.

NEWS

Halifax artist launches provincewide grief and solidarity quilt for Palestine

Flyers taped along Spring Garden Road in Halifax have become quiet calls to action. Watercolour images of flowers, doves, and watermelon slices frame a QR code and an invitation that reads “Nova Scotia Grief and Solidarity Quilt for Palestine.” 

The posters, placed by textile artist and literacy advocate Kelly Bee, are drawing artists and activists from across the province into a collaborative art project aimed at both healing and resistance.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with Bee about how their collaborative project connects artists and activists through textile art while raising funds for humanitarian aid.

🗞️ In Other News

💳 There was a significant jump in the number of Atlantic Canadians who are concerned about their current debt levels—according to a new poll, 54% are worried about their debt, the highest among all the provinces.

🔋 The federal government announced details of $16M it’s providing for energy projects in the Maritimes— the funds will go toward improvements to the electricity grid, carbon capture technologies and the expansion of wind and solar power projects.

🌁 The MacKay bridge is now five years beyond its 50-year lifespan and the bridge commission says the gridlock-inducing repair work will become more common—but it’s still unclear whether the bridge will be replaced.

🎤 Canadian musician Matthew Good has announced that he’s cancelling his U.S. tour dates in protest of Trump’s government and its ongoing tariffs policy—saying on social media he cannot “in good conscience carry out my dates this summer in your country.”

📱 The CEO of TikTok is asking Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for an urgent meeting about the federal government’s order directing the company to shut down its Canadian operations.

😾 A Halifax pet store says the ongoing construction work on Dutch Village Road is severely impacting their business—Hello Pets said in a Facebook post it has seen a significant drop in foot traffic since construction work started in April.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 TD Halifax Jazz Festival: Formerly known as the Atlantic Jazz Festival, this is the oldest jazz festival and largest summer festival in Atlantic Canada. Designated a Hallmark Event by the Halifax Regional Municipality, the festival attracts up to 65,000 visitors, involves 400 volunteers and employs over 350 local musicians. Explore the lineup. | July 15-20 | 

🗓 Mat Hughes and Sadie Skinner Live: Halifax singer-songwriter and pianist Mat Hughes along with Sadie Skinner (Sarah Roberts from Steel Cut Oats) team up for a performance at The Carleton. | July 16 | 7pm | $20 |

🗓 Queer Crafternoon and BBQ: Enjoy an afternoon BBQ, ice cream, and arts and crafts to kick off Halifax Pride! Make connections with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in St. Margaret’s Bay and beyond. All ages welcome. | July 17 | 5pm | Free |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The Grande Sierra Leone vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Savona, Italy at 5:55am and leaves for New York at 4pm.

🚢 The CSL Koasek container ship arrives in Halifax from Jacksonville, FL at 8:21am.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Sail container ship arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 3:20pm and leaves for New York at 11pm.

🚢 The Oceana container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 3:20pm.

🚢 The Algoma East Coast oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 3:40pm.

🚢 The Algoscotia oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Sarnia at 8:15pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍓 Strawberries are the theme for the two croissants of the week at Two If By Sea: Strawberry Shortcake (fresh strawberries and whipped cream) and Balsamic Berry (strawberries tossed in balsamic with basil and mint with a drizzle of balsamic glaze).

🦞 Gio is doing lobster right: a whole Nova Scotia beauty in their signature tomato sauce with just enough chilli heat, topped with fresh herbs from local gardens.

👀 In Case You Missed It

💬 We asked, you answered! At last week’s meeting, regional councillors voted unanimously in favour of continuing some preparation, or early work projects, at the Windsor Street Exchange this year—as planning continues on a final design that will be back before council in the spring of next year. City staff told council that by getting work underway this year, the project maintains eligibility for $30 million in external funding from the federal and provincial governments. So, it sounds like it’s back on…for now. We asked for your thoughts on the whole fiasco and—as usual—you did not hold back.

🏛️ Tim Houston has issued a scathing appraisal of Halifax regional council—saying there's a "serious disconnect" between the decisions being made and the desires of citizens, and indicating the province is examining whether to give the mayor more power.

That’s it!

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