🗞️ Bar for sale!

Good morning!

I always say that when I (covers cat’s ears) impulse bought my cat Monty, my house became "polarized” because we all had very mixed feelings about his arrival (like regret, for example), but also because he looks like a fat polar bear cub.

But the word “polarized” has been on many a lip this year for more obvious reasons, prompting Merriam-Webster to declare it the 2024 word of the year. “Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” says Merriam-Webster’s editor at large. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.”

I know what you’re thinking, “but Julie, where did the word even come from?” and I’m so glad you asked because (rolls in trusty overhead projector from 1996) the word "polarization" was actually not developed during the renaissance like most words with Latin roots about science! I know, right?! 🤓 It’s actually just a spring chicken of a word, developed in the 1800s.

While I don’t love it for us as a society, I think we can all agree that “polarization” is the appropriate word of the year, making it the single only thing that happened in 2024 that was not polarizing 🐻‍❄️

Have a great day!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧️ 10°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 9°

Next Day: ☀️ 0°

7-day forecast

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

SHOPTALK

Quinpool Road brewpub seeks new owners

If you’ve ever wanted to own a bar, now’s your chance: The Brewery by Quinns is on the market. The Quinpool Road brewpub—right across from Preston Street—is listed for $400,000, boasting a “turn key operation” with a “huge kitchen,” a 750-hectolitre brewery and an “amazing outdoor patio.”

The Brewery opened in 2022, a year after its sister pub, Quinn’s Arms, opened just a few doors down in the old Phil’s Seafood. At the time, owner Paul Thomas told The Coast that he was high on Quinpool Road’s future: “With what’s going on with the construction and the new condos and apartments going in, we’re really looking to try, and hope that this will be a good spot.”

The Coast’s Martin Bauman has more on what’s to come for the brewpub, along with its in-house brewery.

🤔 Need To Know

👋 The leader of Nova Scotia’s Liberal party has resigned—Zach Churchill stepped down on Tuesday morning, one day after a recount in Yarmouth confirmed he lost his own seat to PC candidate Nick Hilton.

🇨🇦 Explore A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada, the first national exhibition that reveals a history many Canadians don’t know about.*

💸 The federal government's GST break will arrive this Saturday, just in time for the last stretch of holiday shopping—here's a breakdown of what you'll save on and how the relief works.

✨ Don’t miss the “Everything is Sparkling” holiday light projection show featuring the song “It Snowed” by Meaghan Smith on the former Halifax Memorial Library nightly from 5-11 pm.*

⛓️‍💥 Yesterday’s broken link to the Best of Halifax Public Life release was not the best at all. Try again here or read more about why you should check it out below under In Case You Missed it.

📰 Reserve your Globe and Mail holiday crossword issue, out December 21! Call 902-429-5468 to order your copy of this holiday tradition, or visit our website.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY

HalifACT community update 6

In the sixth HalifACT community update, the municipality is pleased to spotlight some of the ways we've been investing in a future of sustainable growth.

NEWS + OPINION

Show me the progress

In 2023, the provincial and federal governments put together a group called the Progress Monitoring Committee. Chaired by former Nova Scotia lieutenant-governor Myra Freeman, the PMC is an oversight panel to report on the way governments implemented a response to Turning the Tide Together, the Final Report of the Mass Casualty Commission.

Recently, Freeman and her PMC released their annual report. Both in the report and at a press conference announcing the report, the PMC said publicly that the province has shown “progress” in implementing gender-based violence prevention programs and support services.

The Coast reached out to the PMC to find out exactly what steps have been taken that would constitute “progress.” Which programs received more funding and how much? What kinds of accountability mechanisms have been put in place? What steps have been made towards new education or training programs? We waited four days for a response from the PMC office.

The response that finally came via email this week was a 500-word public relations missive signed by Freeman, that essentially boiled down to either no progress has been made, or we don’t know what progress has been made, depending on the paragraph. Neither of which is great.

The Coast’s Julie Lawrence has more. A lot more.

🗞️ In Other News

🚔 The lawyer for a 55-year-old man alleging he was sexually abused in the 1980s by a Halifax police officer who won accolades for his work with youth says he suspects there could be more victims who haven't yet come forward.

🏥 Patient access and parking at the QEII Halifax Infirmary’s emergency department will shift from Robie Street to Bell Road, starting this Saturday.

🩷 Friends of a Nova Scotia woman who died this month from stage IV breast cancer are urging the province to update its screening policy for women with dense breast tissue—they believe if such a policy had been in place, Tanja Harrison may have caught her cancer earlier.

📦 Wait times for deliveries continue to grow as shoppers and businesses deal with the fallout from the Canada Post strike—millions of Canadians who receive or send parcels via Canada Post in the leadup to Christmas have had to turn elsewhere.

SPONSORED BY ART GALLERY OF NOVA SCOTIA

Handcrafted Jewellery at the AGNS’ Gallery Shop

Looking for the perfect, unique gift for someone special? The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s Gallery Shop has an array of handcrafted jewellery by local artists. Whether you're searching for a statement piece or a subtle, one-of-a-kind design, you're sure to find a gift as extraordinary as the person receiving it.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 The Magenta String Quartet—The Music Room Chamber Players Series: The prize-winning Magenta Quartet is based in Paris, with its members coming from Switzerland, France and Canada. In 2023, they were finalists in the International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition in Vienna, and now they are embarking on their first Canadian tour with a stop Wednesday in Halifax. | Dec 11 | 7:30pm | $35

🗓 A Very Dartmouth Christmas Concert: Eastern Front Theatre is taking inspiration from classic Christmas TV specials of days gone by and the Rankin Family-heavy school concerts of the ‘90s. This event is a cozy, banquet-seating evening with all your favourite non-denominational Christmas songs, stories and snacks. | Dec 12 | 7pm | $20

🗓 Symphony Nova Scotia’s The Nutcracker: When a young girl’s toy comes to life, she’s whisked away to an enchanted world where she meets magical creatures, colourful new friends and the ferocious Mouse Queen. Complete with larger-than-life puppets, spirited dancing and Tchaikovsky’s iconic, hauntingly beautiful music, this tale of magic and wonder is a much-loved interpretation and a delightful holiday adventure for all ages.| Dec 12-15 | 7pm | From $38

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The MSC Pamela container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 5am.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker container ship leaves Halifax for Sydney at 8am.

➡️ The Zim Iberia container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 11am.

🛳️ The Polar Prince tender arrives in Halifax from St. John’s at 1:15pm.

🛳️ The East Coast oil tanker arrives in Halifax from St. John’s at 11:40pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥐 Taste the holiday season with the Eggnog Cheesecake Croissant this week at Two If By Sea: sweet eggnog cream cheese filling, a drizzle of eggnog glaze and a graham cracker crumble.

🍰 Yule want to try the yule logs at Pane a Circo! Experience the magic of the season with layers of joy in Pistachio Raspberry, Tiramisu, Triple Chocolate and Chocolate Hazelnut.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎥 There’s nothing more normal than learning about other people’s cultures—even if you can’t quite get a grasp on it. That’s essentially the premise to Bell Fibe TV1’s new short-form comedy series Normal Scotia, co-created by Charles Wahl and Amarpal Dhillon. The show features two Indian immigrants, Manish (played by Akshay Shirke) and Shiv (Ishan Sandhu) coming to terms with the Maritime lifestyle as they work at a curling club in north end Halifax. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with Dhillon and Wahl about Normal Scotia and how it looks to portray culture clash in comedic ways.

🏆 At a time where groceries are becoming more expensive and wages are stagnant, it makes sense that the amazing folks at Feed Nova Scotia came out on top for our Best Activist Organization Award, as well as our Best Place to Volunteer Award. Feed Nova Scotia does a lot of good throughout the province, delivering around 3 million kilograms of food to 140 food banks, meal programs and shelters. This is all while they help build member organizations and raise awareness of the root causes of food insecurity—namely low wages, systemic racism and a lack of affordable housing. Speaking of affordable housing, you voted it Gold as the Most Important Local Issue. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer fills you in on all of this year’s Best of Halifax Public Life winners.

That’s it!

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