🗞️ Bizarro Coast

Happy Friday Halifax,

This year, International Women’s Day just hits a little different. In light of a string of femicides, America’s attack on reproductive rights and the general misogynistic hellscape that is politics right now—it’s really easy to get bogged down in how unfair it all feels.

But tomorrow, I challenge you (and myself) to celebrate our wins, however overshadowed they may feel. March 8 is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions—whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women—who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. Like you and me, doll!

Remember, that we are all here because of women, and the achievements of women form the literal framework of our lives. Every day you interact with something that wouldn’t exist without us. Phones wouldn’t have Caller ID (the horror!). You’d be drinking coffee grinds if not for the invention of filters (gasp!!). Commercially produced ice cream, medical syringes and the first computer programming language—all invented by women. 

Women have spearheaded important legislation, founded groundbreaking companies and composed our favourite songs. And we are still boots on the ground, demanding change and fighting for our rights.

So just for tomorrow, let’s take the day to bask in our collective glory. But rest assured: On Sunday, we ride at dawn.

Have a safe and restful weekend 💜

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧️ 4°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ -1°

Next Day: 🌤️ -1°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS

The future of AI news is here in Halifax, it seems—and god, it sucks

A few weeks ago, Coast reporter Martin Bauman ventured down Quinpool Road and visited a company office that doesn’t exist. The building is real. And the company, at least in the nominal sense, is real. But the other parts—who works at the company, how they’re connected to Halifax, what it bodes for our new digital era—leave a much cloudier picture.

He went there in search of a group of people who, despite The Coast’s best efforts to prove otherwise, don’t appear to exist either. Or at the very least, a mounting pile of evidence suggests they are not who they claim to be. Which is troubling, because they claim to be journalists and writers working in Halifax. 

So began a rabbit-hole chase that would stretch from a business park in Finland all the way to Canada’s West Coast, and include dire warnings from AI experts and researchers alike. And as Bauman reports, that is only the beginning of the story.

🤔 Need To Know

⏸️ US president Don Trump said Thursday that Canada and Mexico will get a one-month pause on tariffs for some imports after the economy-wide duties caused market chaos all week.

🚗 Optimize your vehicle fleet with Jim Pattison Lease! Flexible leasing, telematics, analytics, upfitting and fleet management tools boost efficiency and reduce costs. Learn more about our services now!*

⚠️ Nova Scotia Health has issued a public alert about a potent new drug never before seen in the province's illegal drug supply—the white pills, seized in Bridgetown, contain protonitazene, a synthetic opioid that is up to 20 times stronger than fentanyl.

🍋 Ciao Halifax! Have you checked out the Bakery at The Italian Market lately? Here's a sneak peek of their Limoncello Torte made with real Limoncello!*

🌁 The Nova Scotia government says tolls on the Halifax Harbour Bridges will be removed on March 17—two weeks ahead of the original planned date.

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY CROWTHER & BRAYLEY LTD.

Tony Saulnier estate collection auction

View the catalogue here. Online bidding opens March 14.

Nova Scotia artists, many exhibited, 120 lots, Nova Scotia pottery including Walter Ostrom, Taylor, Donovan, Smith, Lorenzen, jewellery, Nova Scotian 18th and 19th century furniture, teak furniture and decorative items.

Register and bid here.

Crowther & Brayley Ltd.
902-860-0111
[email protected]

EDUCATION

Auditor General report blasts “arbitrary” funding of universities

On Tuesday, the province’s top watchdog, Auditor General Kim Adair, released her report on government funding to universities. Looking back on the last five years, it called the province’s primary funding methods “arbitrary” and “unrestricted,” which could threaten the long-term sustainability of Nova Scotia’s 10 degree-granting institutions. 

The report found that last year, the province covered a third of universities’ costs, following a downward trend across the country as schools rely more heavily on tuition as their primary revenue source. It notes that while grants to universities have, essentially, plateaued in the past five years, the backlog of deferred maintenance—think roof repairs, heating system maintenance and accessibility upgrades—was nearly $1 billion in 2022. 

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips examines the new audit's goals and recommendations, and discusses what universities should do next.

🗞️ In Other News

🚔 Police arrested multiple people across Nova Scotia in connection with a national effort to crack down on child pornography—RCMP took part in Project STEEL by executing search warrants targeting online child sexual exploitation offenders.

💜 With the uptick in deaths related to intimate partner violence in the province, staff at women's shelters are continuing to work around the clock in hopes of preventing such tragedies.

🏛️ Nova Scotia is extending the reach for families looking to have court-ordered child and spousal support payments enforced—it is among the changes proposed in the Financial Measures Act tabled Wednesday.

🧹 The Service Employees International Union Local 2 has filed a motion at the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, seeking a review of a janitorial contract at Alderney Gate in Dartmouth that was recently awarded to Imperial Cleaners.

💆‍♀️ Police in Halifax say a man working as a massage therapist in the city has been charged with sexual assault—officers received a report in December about an alleged sexual assault that was said to have happened during a massage appointment.

📣 An advocacy group for reproductive health—Wellness Within—says the Nova Scotia government is failing to address the recent spike in gender-based violence.

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

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

🗓 A Li’l Affair: Funk Island Lab presents A Li’l Affair, a show to celebrate International Women’s Day and the artists who performed at Lilith Fair, featuring the music of Sarah McLachlan, Lauryn Hill, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, The Cranberries, Alanis Morissette and more. | March 7 | 6:30pm | $40

🗓 Gerry Dee—”Funny You Should Say That” Canadian Tour: Acclaimed comedian Gerry Dee will embark on a new standup comedy tour across Canada throughout 2025, debuting all-new material full of stories and observations from how he sees the world. | March 7 | 8pm | From $65.50

🗓 Halifax Thunderbirds Lacrosse: Come cheer on the home team as they take on the Toronto Rock at Scotiabank Centre. | March 7 | 7:30pm | $26.25

🗓 International Women's YAY: Come celebrate International Women’s Day with a comedy show at the Bus Stop Theatre. Featuring a superstar lineup of Halifax comedians, including host Kristyn Green (The Coast Best of Halifax 2024 Winner), Sara Graham (The Understudies), Stef MacNeil (Halifax Comedy Staple), Catherine Robertson (Halifax Comedy Fest), Kirsten Finch (Just For Laughs Originals) and headliner Luba Magnus (SiriusXM, CBC's LOL). | March 8 | 8pm | $20

🗓 Mini Pop Kids Live—20th Anniversary Celebration Tour: The ultimate family friendly event features electrifying performances of chart-topping hits from today’s biggest stars like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish, plus nostalgic throwbacks that will have the whole family singing and dancing along. | March 8 | 1pm | From $39.99

🗓 Jewellery & Cocktails: The event takes place at Anemone Dining where you’ll taste their handcrafted cocktails and local snacks. Alongside the tasting, a demonstration of the wax build-up technique will be given and you’ll create a piece of jewellery in this material. The workshop is two hours and your handmade piece will be available for pick up three weeks later. | March 9 | 4:30pm | $215

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢 The NYK Dementer container ship arrives in Halifax from Cartagena, Colombia at 10:20am. 

🚢 The CSL Toni Morrison container ship arrives in Halifax from Antwerp, Belgium at 11:15am.

➡️ The CSL Tarantau bulk carrier leaves Halifax for Baltimore at 12:30pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 6pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🚢 The MSC Ornella container ship arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 6:15am.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍫 Back by popular demand—and featured on You Gotta Eat Here!—don’t miss the S’Mores Dessert at Morris East: house-made marshmallows, graham crackers and melted chocolate, baked in their pizza oven.

🌶️ Spice up your lunch with the Fajita Chicken Burger at CHKN CHOP: fried chicken, fajita spice, sauteed bell peppers and onions, grated cheddar, cilantro lime sour cream, salsa.

👀 In Case You Missed It

💰 The bulk of Halifax’s budget season is now in the rearview mirror, as the city closed out its regular season budget debates last week with the city’s Administrative Business Units, Halifax Public Libraries, the Office of the Auditor General and the city’s legal department all presenting their budgets for approval. More on the administrative budgets, including an M. Night Shyamalan-style twist, in Coast City Hall reporter Matt Stickland’s report from the last meeting of this year’s budget regular season. 

🍔 It’s about to get real saucy: Halifax’s annual city-wide burger love fest is back for its 13th year and just four weeks away. The Halifax Burger Bash—hosted by The Coast—runs April 3-12. This year, there are more than 150 tasty patties on offer at 135 locations across the city. See all the offering, from bacon jam brie burgers to lamb, halloumi and falafel burgers, HERE.

That’s it!

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