🗞 Cast your vote

BOH’23

Voting is open for the 2023 Best of Halifax

This is it Halifax, the final vote for the 2023 Best of Halifax. Now in its 29th year, The Coast's annual BOH Readers' Choice Awards is the definitive guide to local excellence, and you get to make the decisions. After a public nomination period earlier this summer, we at The Coast tabulated the nominees to generate a final ballot of the top seven contenders in each category. That ballot is now open for anyone and everyone in Halifax to vote to determine the gold, silver and bronze winners.

Be sure to cast your votes by September 10, when the voting period ends. After that, we count the votes to find all the winners for announcing in November on thecoast.ca and here in the newsletter.

Need to know

🏊 Due to high bacteria levels Kearney Lake Beach and Albro Lake Beach are closed to swimming.

🌁 The Macdonald Bridge will be closed to vehicles starting today at 7pm until August 14 at 5:30am. Bikes and pedestrians will still have access.

🚴 The Ecology Action Centre, Halifax Cycling Coalition and Cycling Nova Scotia are holding an online public meeting to discuss the HRM’s plan for an e-bike and e-scooter share pilot program on August 14 at 6pm.

🦠 The WHO has declared a new strain of COVID-19, EG.5, a “variant of interest.” CTV has the story.

🖼️ Support4Culture is a proud supporter of the Black Loyalist Heritage Center and other Nova Scotia museums. See the impact Support4Culture makes here.*

🌙 You're invited to the North by Night Market happening tonight from 7-9pm! This pop-up style party with food, music, and artisanal goods is always a good time!*

🚌 Transit staff deserve a safe workplace, you deserve a safe ride. If you witness or experience any acts of aggression on Halifax Transit notify transit staff or call 311.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY TASTE OF NOVA SCOTIA

Taste of Nova Scotia mobile app

Eat, Drink, Explore – local culinary adventures start with the Taste of Nova Scotia mobile app!

From out-of-province visitors on the search for the perfect seafood chowder to local road-trippers off to explore Nova Scotia’s wine country, let the Taste of Nova Scotia mobile app be your guide to discovering over 200 culinary products and experiences.

Download now to start exploring!

On The Coast

In other news

🌿 According to a new study conducted by the Greater Toronto Home Pros, Halifax is Canada’s 5th Greenest City.

🏬 Bedford Place is slowly recovering from damage due to the floods but some business owners aren’t expecting to open shop for at least a few more weeks. CTV has the story.

🧒 The Province has announced 150 new childcare spaces in Southwest Nova Scotia.

🎙️ CBC spoke with new Preston MLA, Twila Grosse. Listen here.

🎣 Nova Scotia has announced a new one-time grant of $2,500 through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Wildfire Relief Program to help businesses impacted by the wildfires.

🌊 Were you there to see the harbour turn pink this week? Pink dye was dropped into parts of the harbour as part of a Dalhousie experiment looking to help the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide.

🙋 Wonder'neath Art Society is looking for volunteers to help build planters this Saturday from noon to 4:30pm.

SPORTS

Halifax is one step closer to having a pro women’s soccer team

Four years after HFX Wanderers FC founder Derek Martin told supporters that early discussions were taking place about a Wanderers women’s team, those discussions appear to be bearing fruit. On Thursday, Aug. 10, the Wanderers announced that the club has plans of joining League1 Canada as part of the yet-to-form League1 Atlantic—a move that would, in turn, add both women’s and men’s semi-pro clubs to the Wanderers’ umbrella.

It’s been a long time coming for the Canadian Premier League soccer club—and for those who have lobbied for a path to professional soccer for women and girls across the Maritimes.

“We’ve always had the intent to have a women’s team at some level,” says Martin, speaking by phone with The Coast, “and with League1 Atlantic looking to get off the ground here, it was a perfect time to help get that league going and help them develop a pathway [for players] in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.”

Coast reporter Martin Bauman has more on just how soon it could happen.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

8 things to do in Halifax this weekend

August is nearly halfway over, but that doesn’t mean summer is finished. There’s plenty to do in Halifax this weekend, from marking musical milestones to tasting craft beers from across the Maritimes to enjoying world-famous stand-up acts.

Allow us to be your weekend guide with these Coast picks.

Shop talk

👟 Check out new sneaker and streetwear store Market Price at 1477 Lower Water Street. Co-owners Lauren and Matt shared their story with Downtown Halifax here.

Eat this

🥤 The Chickenburger will be offering its special BLT Hot Dog and Cherry Vanilla Shake until the end of summer. Try them while you still can!

Drink this

🍹 Bottoms up! Check out Propeller Brewing’s lineup of non-alcoholic drinks.

Save the date

👾 The Discovery Centre is hosting Level UP! A 19+ Retro Games Night on September 9 at 9pm. Grab your ticket to a night of gaming on Nintendo, Genesis and Xbox systems. Retro board games will also be provided by The Board Game Cafe and beverages provided by Propeller Brewing Co.