Best of Halifax 2026: Arts + Culture

Good morning, Halifax!

Yesterday, we went live with a story about a Ubisoft Halifax employee impacted by the recent closure of the studio just weeks after their union was certified.

A few hours after finishing that story, I obtained a press release from CWA Canada, the union representing Ubisoft Halifax workers, stating they filed a legal complaint against Ubisoft for the closure, alleging it was an attempt to keep out the union.

While Ubisoft said the closure was due to financial restructuring and declining revenue, the decision was sudden. Senior staff and the union were not informed of the closure before it happened: it was a shock to everyone involved. This is usually not the case, as unions are typically told in confidence if mass layoffs are on the way. To prove their claim of financial necessity, the union has called on Ubisoft to provide documentation.

Now, if the Nova Scotia Labour Board looks at this case and judges it in favour of the union, it’s likely not much can really be done. Ubisoft may have to provide financial compensation or reinstate some jobs, but in all likelihood the Halifax studio would remain closed and workers would still be out of jobs.

The union is calling on the Labour Board to improve penalties, including reopening for a year, providing three years of compensation, and helping find jobs for workers affected by the closure. To add fuel to the fire, Ubisoft utilized over $11 million in Nova Scotian tax credits, meaning that staff and other resources at the Halifax studio were compensated for by taxpayers, not just the company itself. Furthermore, Ubisoft has claimed 605.6 million Euros in tax credits from Canadian governments from 2020 to 2024.

In the meantime, keep these workers in mind as this situation progresses. They’re the ones most affected by such a sudden closure.

Best,

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

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BEST OF HALIFAX 2026

Best of Halifax 2026: Arts + Culture results

They make us laugh, and they make us cry. From filmmakers and theatre companies to visual artists and dancers, Halifax would not be as vibrant a city as it is without its wealth of artists who enhance our local culture through their work.

As part of the Best of Halifax 2026 Reader's Choice Awards, you voted for your favourite artists, art companies, galleries, drag performers, actors, dancers, comedians and more, with winners in 16 different categories.

As of Jan. 15, those results are publicly available on our Best of Halifax 2026 page. Please take some time to look through the gold, silver and bronze medal winners in all of these categories. You may even discover a new favourite.

🤔 Need To Know

🎰 Casino Nova Scotia will be moving from the Halifax Waterfront to Dartmouth Crossing amidst declining revenue—the building on the Waterfront will be sold off as a new casino is built in the Dartmouth shopping area.

🚰 The provincial regulatory board has approved Halifax Water’s rate hike, raising prices by 18.1 percent in 2026—customers will see a 12.1 percent increase effective Jan. 1 and another 6 percent increase on April 1.

🚨 A Sipekne’katik First Nation man with a firearm who triggered an emergency alert on Tuesday was shot and killed by police, according to the Serious Incident Response Team—RCMP previously reported that the man was taken into custody.

🌮 Savour the best of Halifax! Unique prix fixe menus starting at $10 invite you to indulge in local culinary creativity.*

🛋️ At Your Counselling, we thoughtfully match you with the right therapist to reduce false starts, build connection, and support effective therapy from the first conversation.*

🚙 Lyft’s launch deal is live: 50% off your first five rides anywhere in Halifax. Max $10/ride. Terms apply. Fast activation, quick savings. Click the link to get started.*

🦪 Join Taste of Nova Scotia at their premier event, Sip n’ Shuck, on January 23 at the Westin, featuring local oysters, seafood, and craft beverages.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

Celebrate African Heritage Month with Jah’Mila and Julian Taylor

Join Joy Bullen and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 on February 6th for an unforgettable evening of music, heritage, identity and storytelling. Experience the music OR magic live—get your tickets now!

Presented in partnership with Joy Bullen, and supported by TD Ready Commitment.

🗞️ In Other News

💰 Auditor General Kim Adair is once again calling for more financial oversight as she delivers her report on the province’s budget—the report highlighted $1.6 billion in spending in 2024-25 that wasn’t authorized by a majority vote in the legislature.

🚗 Halifax council voted to delay a debate regarding a bylaw that would bring more oversight for drivers working for ride-hailing companies like Uber—while Uber does background checks, Coun. Sam Austin argues that information should be shared with the municipality.

🤝🏾 New board members of the Africville Genealogy Society plan to hold a meeting to hear from descendants and former residents of the historic Black community—plans include an annual family reunion and pushing for reparations.

SPONSORED BY LIVE ART DANCE

Dance that Makes the Heart Soar

Live Art Dance presents taqəš and Other Works, a stunning evening of dance from award-winning Ballet Kelowna!

Featuring signature pieces from choreographers Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe, Alysa Pires, and Guillaume Côté, this high-energy program has it all. Power, fluidity, history, beauty – an evening of mesmerizing movement. Get your tickets today!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Talk and Taste: Perfect Pairings: Nova Scotian chefs from different cultural backgrounds tell their stories and share fusion dishes at this event at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. | Jan. 15 | 6:30PM | $25 |

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads: Watch your hometown heroes take on the Sagueneens De Chicoutimi at the Scotiabank Centre. | Jan. 15 | 7PM | $25.25+|

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢 The Oceanex Sanderling container vessel arrived in Halifax from St. John’s at 12:25am.

➡️ The CMA CGM Titan container vessel departed Halifax for New York at 1:30am.

🚢➡️ The Zim Asia container vessel arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 7:20am and departs for New York at 6pm.

🚢 The Pictor container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 8:15am

🚢 The BBC Georgia cargo vessel arrives in Halifax from Baltimore at 8:30am.

🚢 The Algoma Acadian tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 9:40am and departs for Saint John at 9pm.

🚢 The MSC Greta III container vessel arrives in Halifax from Malaga at 12:45pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🧇 Try out this brunch special at Studio East HFX this weekend: Fried Chicken and Waffles! Made with house karaage chicken, pumpkin spiced waffles, pumpkin marmalade, praline, house kimchi relish and sriracha maple syrup.

🥪 The BBQ Crunch is back at WaveFoods! Buttermilk freid chicken, shredded lettuce, honey bourbon BBQ sauce, pickle and crunchy onions on a brioche bun.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎮 A unionization effort started as a way to avoid mass layoffs has ended with just that. Seventy-one workers at Ubisoft Halifax are without jobs after the international video game corporation shut down the studio days after 61 members of their staff joined CWA Canada Local 30111, the first union within Ubisoft's North American operations. Their unionization was certified on Dec. 18. On Jan. 7, workers were pulled into a town hall to be told that the studio was shutting down. "It was obvious that this was a surprise to everybody," says Jon Huffman, a lead programmer at Ubisoft Halifax. "It wasn't just a surprise to the members of the union and the employees. It was a surprise to our leadership team, as well, so this was certainly something that blindsided us." The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with Huffman about their unionization efforts and the sudden closure of Ubisoft Halifax.

⚡ Nova Scotia Power is set to spend $20.8 million on repairs to a coal-fired generator that is already at the end of its life—the refurbishment is set to take place in 2026 and 2027 with plans to shut down the generator in 2028.

🏚️ The Vimy Branch 27 legion in Halifax has closed despite members fighting to keep it alive—the 99-year-old legion was closed due to financial issues and high rent according to Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command.

That’s it!

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