🗞️ Best of Halifax 2026 is here

Good morning, Halifax!

I want to reiterate a question that I’ve asked many times in this newsletter: what the hell is wrong with Nova Scotia Power?

The utility is asking for a rate hike despite all of the issues it’s faced over the last year: a cyberattack potentially impacting every single one of its customers, gouging money from people through nonsensical bill estimations, and just a general lack of infrastructure allowing the slightest gust of wind to cut off service.

Better yet, when it came time to hold a public hearing with the provincial energy board, the top brass for Nova Scotia Power didn’t participate—a break from tradition for the utility, according to an article from CBC. While CEO Peter Gregg was in attendance in the opening remarks last Wednesday, the utility’s board were seemingly missing from the day’s affairs.

It’s hard to believe that a company so looked down upon is choosing to not engage with the public on this matter despite being perceived as downright villainous. It would be a chance to maybe clear up the utility’s dying reputation, but instead, the executives would rather charge you and your family more without any further explanation as to why other than “our profit margins aren’t as high as we’d like.”

Maybe stop ripping us off and we’d be a little more sympathetic.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 2°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 8°

Next Day: 🌧️ 4°

7-day forecast

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

BEST OF HALIFAX

Best of Halifax 2026: Public Life results are here

We all know folks in our community who put in the work. Whether it's donating their time to a worthy cause, standing up for people in need, or just entertaining us through social media, these figures make the city of Halifax what it is. We also must celebrate the incredible locations, artistry and architecture that make Halifax a one-of-a-kind destination. The people of Halifax, coupled with the natural environment and the city's must-visit hangouts, make its culture feel distinct from any other city in North America.

The Best of Halifax's Public Life category celebrates all of these amazing things. From the creators whose content you consume and the advocates you cheer for, to the best date spots and places to swim, our readers have devised their favourites in 24 different Public Life subcategories, all of which are now available on our Best of Halifax 2026 tab on our website.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

🤔 Need To Know

🍁 A Ukrainian family in Halifax is left with questions after learning it could take up to 50 years for their permanent residency applications to be processed by the federal government—an access-to-information request shows the wait times exceed the life expectancy of most immigrants coming to Canada.

🌽 The provincial government is introducing a program allowing customers to buy produce directly from local farmers for about 10 percent cheaper—the discount applies to community-based agriculture subscriptions where customers pay up front for a share of a farmer’s harvest.

🗳️ While a new survey shows the Progressive Conservative government is holding strong with supporters, the Nova Scotia NDP continue to trend upwards within Halifax—forty percent of those surveyed said they would vote NDP is an election was held today.

🦉 Hope for Wildlife thanks our volunteers for their care and passion helping wildlife & our community for incredible support. Your votes earned us two gold awards!*

🚙 New to Lyft? Take 50% off your first five rides. Max $10/ride. Terms apply. Half price to cruise the waterfront, cross the bridge, or make that last-minute Seaport run. Tap to unlock.*

*Sponsored Post

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🗞️ In Other News

🐕 The Municipality of Shelburne will be reviewing its dog bylaw after a 13-year-old boy died in a dog attack earlier this month—officials say any amendments will be informed by the RCMP investigation into the attack which is ongoing.

🎸 Renovations to the Scotiabank Centre over the holidays revealed a signature from Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler—the band last played the venue in 1993 when it was known as the Halifax Metro Centre.

⛴️ The Alderney ferry running between Halifax and Dartmouth is being reduced from 15 minutes to 30 minutes—this is due to the Vincent Coleman ferry needing repairs, says the municipality.

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:

🗓 Knots and Knits: Bring a knitting or needlework project you’re working on and hang out with like-minded crafters in a quiet space with hot drinks. Happening at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. | Jan. 13 | 1PM |

🗓 The Busch Trio: The Amsterdam-based trio will be playing at the Peggy Corkum Music Room, showcasing three classical compositions on piano, violin and cello. | Jan. 14 | 7:30PM | $20+ |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Nord Logos cargo vessel departs Halifax at 6am.

🚢 The One Apus container vessel arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 10:15am.

🚢 The AS Caspria container vessel arrives in Halifax from New York at 3:20pm.

➡️ The Mega Caravan 2 heavy lift vessel departs Halifax for New York at 8pm.

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🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥪 Grab a Spicy Italian from Larry’s Sandwiches while you can! Made with sliced prosciutto and calabrese salami, hazelnut romesco, marinated eggplant, provolone cheese, cucumber and fresh arugula on a soft sub bun.

🍗 Rinaldo’s has a special on you have to try: their specialty Rinaldo’s Club. Roasted chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, house made chips, aged cheddar and garlic mayo all on a freshly baked hero roll.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎮 A first for workers’ rights in the video game industry quickly turned into a nightmare as a recently unionized studio in Halifax has abruptly shut down. On Dec. 18, around 60 workers at Ubisoft Halifax voted to unionize, making it the first studio under Ubisoft’s international umbrella to do so in North America. This comes after 10 years of business in the mobile games industry, with their biggest product being the spin-off mobile game Assassin’s Creed Rebellion. Employees at the studio joined CWA Canada Local 30111. On Wednesday, Ubisoft announced that the Halifax studio would be closing its doors for good. In a statement retrieved by CityNews, the company says the closure is part of its process of restructuring, which it says began two years ago. Unionization efforts at the studio began in June 2025. Ubisoft Halifax was originally founded as Longtail Studios Halifax in 2010 before being acquired by the international video game company in 2015. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over the union’s response to the shutdown and why Ubisoft may have set up shop in Halifax to begin with.

🚨 A 43-year-old Liverpool man has been charged with impersonating a police officer and stealing a dump truck in separate incidents—the man remains in custody and will be back in court on Feb. 4.

🔥 Halifax firefighters responded to a structure fire on the roof of the Scotiabank Centre on Thursday afternoon—members arrived quickly to suppress the small blaze, requesting additional resources in the process.

That’s it!

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