🗞️ Busing it from Halifax to Truro

Hey Halifax,

Full disclosure, I have a difficult time deciding what to make just myself for lunch every day, so I can’t even imagine the true nightmare it must be packing lunches for your children who—if they’re anything like I was—will drag it home uneaten so you can throw it in the garbage anyway.

The challenge is only compounded by the cost of food these days. But according to a new analysis conducted by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab, there is some relief at the grocery store, if you know where to look. 

For protein, the Lab says poultry—including chicken breasts, thighs and drumsticks—has become more affordable. As for dairy, prices are still high, but adding a small container of yogurt or a cheese stick to a lunchbox is still a “nutritious and economical” choice. For fruit options, grapes and strawberries are more affordable, and for veggies, go for lettuce and cucumbers.

Turkey, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges and onions have seen prices increase recently, so little Jimmy will have to go without his onion sandwich for the time being. 🧅🙍

Have a great day out there!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 24°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 22°

Next Day: 🌧️ 18°

7-day forecast

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

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

EDUCATION

The most popular course at NSCC is a surprise

For the first time in six years, business administration is not the number-one program for student enrolment at the Nova Scotia Community College. 

Since 2019, business administration has maintained the highest enrolment numbers—by hundreds of seats—above a fluctuating series of programs vying for enrolment spots two through five: continuing care, electrical construction and industrial, social services, practical nursing, office administration and early childhood education. 

For example, in fall 2023 the top five programs by incoming fall students at NSCC were: business administration: 632; practical nursing: 318; continuing care: 298; electrical construction and industrial: 193 and social services: 187.

But this fall, that’s changed.

Find out which program is leading the way in enrolment this year and why in the full story by The Coast’s education reporter Lauren Phillips.

🤔 Need To Know

🚨 Halifax Police have found human remains near the Long Lake Provincial Park—there is no indication whether the remains are connected to the search for a missing kayaker in the same area last month.

☀️ Join Agricola Open Street Sunday on September 8th for a fun-filled day with live music, delicious food, entertainment and family-friendly activities!*

🗳️ Andy Fillmore has resigned as a member of Parliament and officially registered to run for mayor of Halifax—saying no federal resources were used in his weeks of campaigning.

💃 Live Art Dance announces another compelling season of contemporary dance works! Brave, bold works in this time of change. Get your tickets today!*

🪧 Public library workers in Halifax left picket lines and went to city hall as their strike continues for a second week.

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY MEET YOUR FARMER & NOVA SCOTIA FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE

Meet Your Farmer on Open Farm Day

Visitors can explore working farms, meet the farmers who grow our food, and participate in educational activities for the whole family! Each participating farm will offer its own unique experiences such as farm tours, kids activities, demonstrations and conversations with local farmers. Plan your adventure.

CITY COUNCIL

Taking the bus from Halifax to Truro

The future of transportation in Nova Scotia was foreshadowed at Tuesday's council meeting as councillors peppered city executive Dave Reage with questions about the future of Halifax Transit. 

The city is applying for federal funding, $890 million, to try and improve Halifax Transit’s infrastructure and replace its diesel buses with more environmentally-friendly options. But the government of Nova Scotia is also getting in on the act: Reage informed councillors about the plans the provincial Joint Regional Transportation Agency has for adding to current services. 

He told councillors that the province is planning to add transit for Halifax and all outlying rural areas within an hour of the HRM’s downtown core. Meaning in the future, it should be possible to get from Halifax to Bridgewater, Kentville or Truro easily without a car. Reage also told councillors that he expects the province to announce funding for the HRM’s Bus Rapid Transit Plan, with the provincial transportation update expected in November of this year. 

On top of the future of transportation in the HRM, council talked about the Cogswell District project, scooters and taking 30 years to install a pump track in Bedford. 

All this and more in The Coast’s Matt Stickland’s report from Tuesday’s council meeting.

🗞️ In Other News

🛍️ Nova Scotia has the highest shoplifting rate in the country—according to the latest data from Statistics Canada—with 7,167 shoplifting incidents reported in 2023.

💭 HRM is putting out a call for ideas it hopes will lead to community projects to tackle anti-Black racism as part of a new grant program—an initiative described as a crucial step in recognizing and attempting to address systemic racism.

⛺ Mayor Mike Savage declined to say whether a public apology is warranted for the 2021 chaotic clash between police and protesters during a tent encampment eviction.

🏦 The Bank of Canada delivered its third consecutive interest rate cut on Wednesday—bringing its key lending rate to 4.25%.

🩺 Nova Scotia Health has entered a new partnership with Google Cloud that is supposed to make it easier for residents to search for health information.

🚨 Police say efforts to recover the body of a 29-year-old diver from Meteghan who went missing on Friday in St. Marys Bay—near Digby—are still underway.

🚌 A tour operator says traffic congestion caused by road closures, accidents and construction has drastically impacted his bottom line—with some frustrated tourists demanding refunds.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Charm Offensive With Jim Jefferies & Jimmy Carr: These two comedy heavyweights team up for a night that’s sure to bring big laughs. | Sep 5 | 7:30pm | $59.75

🗓 Graeme Patterson—Strange Birds: The sculptures in this innovative show are also the settings for both a projected animation and a virtual reality environment. Celebrate the opening and be among the first to experience this immersive multimedia exhibition! | Sep 6 |  6pm

🗓 Christina Martin Premiere Storm with Band and String Quartet: This premiere performance will feature Christina's band and a string quartet, creating an unforgettable live experience. The concert will be filmed, enhanced by projection and lighting design by local artist MacKenzie Cornfield and incorporate stunning album imagery by Nicole Aline Legault. | Sep 6 | 7pm | $29.32

🗓 Halifax Lebanese Festival: Celebrating 23 years of bringing the rich culture, delicious cuisine and vibrant traditions of Lebanon to the heart of Halifax. Come indulge in mouthwatering Lebanese cuisine and enjoy captivating live dance performances and fun activities for all ages. | Sep 6-8 | Free

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🛳️➡️ The EF Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from Portland at 8:15am and leaves for Reykjavik at 1pm.

➡️ The Morning Lynn vehicle carrier leaves Halifax for New York at 3:30pm.

🛳️ The One Owl container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo at 3:45pm.

🛳️➡️ The Seven Seas Grandeur cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 10am and leaves for Canadian seas at 5pm.

🛳️➡️ The Enchanted Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 9am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🛳️➡️ The Liberty of the Seas cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 8am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🛳️➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Sydney at 7:15am and leaves for Corner Brook at 6pm.

➡️ The Seabourn Quest cruise ship leaves Halifax for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍔 Introducing the Don’t Brie Ridiculous Burger from The Armview: beef smash patties, brie, bacon, truffled mushrooms, arugula, French herb aioli.

🎂 Have something to celebrate? Do it in style with the Cookies and Cream Cake from Layers Cupcakes: chocolate cake filled with layers of cookies and cream buttercream, a middle layer of rich chocolate ganache and covered in even more cookies and buttercream.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🛣️ Halifax’s Transportation Standing Committee started its Thursday Aug. 29 meeting as it always does, with the public participation section. For the past few Transportation Standing Committee meetings, the public participation section has been dominated by residents of Coburg Road who are absolutely furious that the city is making improvements. The Coast’s Matt Stickland has everything you need to know about what happened at the latest meeting of the Transportation Standing Committee.

🏆 Indigenous women across Atlantic Canada are being asked to share their stories in hopes of earning the Nikanus Red Dress Leadership Award. Founded in 2023 in celebration of the North American Indigenous Games being hosted that year in Nova Scotia, the Nikanus Red Dress award is given to young women, aged 15 to 25, who excel in a leadership role in sports, culture or within their community. Read more about the award and how it came to be on our website.

💸 More Nova Scotia seniors are now eligible for funding to help with the cost of household and health-care services—eligibility has expanded to include those with a household income up to $45,100.

🚢 A bronze statue from the Titanic—not seen in decades and feared to be lost for good—is among the discoveries made by the company with salvage rights to the wreck site. And thanks to everyone who wrote in after discovering we published the wrong link for this story in yesterday’s newsletter. We triple checked this time and the above link is correct.

That’s it!

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