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Cruise ship season arrives in Halifax
And the salamander meander observes the mating rituals of the yellow-spotted salamander
Alyssa Goulart
April 20, 2023
PRESENTED BY
Good morning!
One year ago today, Coast publisher Christine Oreskovich and I shared the news that The Coast had been acquired by BC-based Overstory Media Group. "Overstory was founded in 2021 by Farhan Mohamed and Andrew Wilkinson, two individuals who are passionate about local community journalism in Canada," we wrote at the time. "Our team isn't going anywhere, and neither are we. We are continuing to run The Coast from Halifax but now we'll be a part of a dynamic group interested in making sure even more Haligonians reach our stories and events."
It has indeed been a year of growth. Under newsletter editor Alyssa Goulart, The Coast Daily reaches over 35,000 subscribers a day, way more than the old print Coast’s 25,000 copies a week. And numbers are still coming in, but it’s looking like the Burger Bash that ended a couple weeks ago is approaching pre-pandemic popularity levels.
The year’s gone by impossibly fast in some ways. Behind the scenes, The Coast’s calendar and document sharing system still isn’t connected with the rest of OMG, if you can believe it, adding a layer of friction to collaborations with our west coast colleagues in addition to the four-hour time difference. On the other hand, it’s hard to remember a time before OMG Victoria transplant Martin Bauman’s harbour traffic reports were a regular part of Coast coverage—not since Theodore Tugboat has Halifax so thoroughly connected with the comings and goings at its liquid heart. Read the latest report, about the start of cruise season, below.
If I wasn’t running out of room I’d drop more names to mark this anniversary, because everything comes back to people. That dynamic group at Overstory, the journalism professionals at The Coast and of course the people we do the work for: Readers like you who choose to spend time with The Daily, and maybe even spend money on an Insider membership to help support Halifax journalism. Thank you for joining us this year.
Editor, The Coast
HARBOUR TRAFFIC
Cruise ship season arrives in Halifax
When the 2,300-passenger Norwegian Dawn cruise ship docks at Pier 20 this weekend, it will mark the return of cruises to Halifax for the second full season after a two-year hiatus brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Signs of the season are already visible along the Halifax Waterfront: Tourist shops are back open at Bishop’s Landing, renovations are underway to the food huts that spill onto Sackville Landing and new patio chairs adorn the beach volleyball pit near the base of Salter Street. By the time the last cruise ship of the season leaves on Nov. 9, as many as 325,000 tourists are projected to have visited our coastal city on an Atlantic cruise—an uptick from 239,000 in 2022, and a return to pre-pandemic levels.
While the industry’s resurgence bodes well for the waterfront restaurants, downtown pubs and gift shops that count on their arrival, the ships’ return isn’t without controversy; last week, a Stand.earth petition garnered more than 52,000 signatures, calling on Transport Canada to ban cruise ship dumping in Canadian waters.
Need to know
☀️ Today's weather: Sunny with a high of 12C and a low of 0C.
🌳 Check out HalifACT’s community update for a snapshot of the municipality’s ongoing efforts to advance the goals set out in their long-term climate action plan.*
🚧 Bedford Row from Sackville Street to Prince Street will be closed today between 8am and 5pm.
🌷 Halifax Crafters Market is back! Visit the market this Saturday, Apr. 22 and Sunday, Apr. 23 at the Light House Arts Centre in Halifax.*
🚨 A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Durrell Samuel Diggs who is wanted in relation to a 2022 Dartmouth shooting. Halifax Regional Police are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
🌞 Get back into the spring of things this weekend at the Saltscapes East Coast Expo! Food, crafts, music, and more!*
🚒 During National Volunteer Appreciation Week, Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency is celebrating the over 500 volunteers that support their community day and night in the most challenging circumstances.*
*Sponsored Post
TOGETHER WITH HALIFAX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Halifax Chamber of Commerce presents the 2023 Spring Dinner
With changing consumer markets and expectations, a business’ adaptation is their key to surviving and thriving. The future of business? Environmental sustainability.
Organizations are seeking insights to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their bottom line. As we look toward the next phase in business best practices, we can be sure that environmental sustainability is key to success.
Join us on May 17 to hear from local business success stories on how they built sustainability into their business models, taking action for business and for the planet.
Featuring:
Kate Pepler, The Tare Shop
Dr. Greg Wanger, Oberland Agriscience
Mo AlGermozi, Graphite Innovation & Technologies
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SONIC CONCERTS
Legendary Canadian musicians are making their way to Halifax
You don't want to miss out on these amazing shows.
Daniel Lanois Trio: Sep. 10 at Light House Arts Centre
Matt Dusk Sings Sinatra: Nov. 3 at Light House Arts Centre
Jesse Cook Libre Tour: Nov. 27 at the Rebecca Cohn
These shows have reserved seating so get your tickets today!
In other news
📄 A tentative deal has been reached between the provincial government and Nova Scotia’s education support workers, two days before workers would be in a position to strike.
⚠️ Nova Scotia auditor general, Kim Adair, is warning the province that her recommendations need to be implemented faster if the government wants to avoid exposing Nova Scotia to “continued risks.”
🪪 A free photo ID clinic is being held at Alderney Gate Public Library on Apr. 24 for those who are experiencing homelessness, are at risk of experiencing homelessness or have just been housed within the last 6 months.
🚔 Police are investigating after a Tuesday evening shooting at a Fairview-area residence.
🪶 Humming Birds are back! So far they’ve been sighted in Barrington, Kentville and Dartmouth.
🪧 Federal workers across the country took to the picket lines yesterday after the government failed to reach an agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
🐰 An investigation is underway by the SPCA after 15 rabbits were found abandoned in an HRM driveway.
THE SEXIEST MIGRATION
The salamander meander observes the mating rituals of the yellow-spotted salamander
It begins on a dark, wet April night. On the damp forest floor, beneath the dead leaves and hardwood logs that are still thawing out from the winter freeze. Something slimy starts to stir from its slumber, and it’s feeling…horny.
Last weekend was the beginning of the city’s sexiest and slimiest migration, the salamander meander. This phenomenon is observed every year at the heart-shaped pond in Hemlock Ravine Park by a team of naturalists from the Museum of Natural History. The naturalists are joined by interested citizens—interested enough to sign up online for the meander.
About 30 people, mostly families with young children who were donning incredibly bright LED headlamps (a bit of a hazard when they’d stare directly at your face), joined on the Sunday evening and carefully shuffled around the pond, flashlights in hand, hoping to catch a glimpse of the slimy salamanders sexily swimming.
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