Happy Friday Halifax,

Today my heart is heavy for a Nova Scotia mother who lost her daughter to alcoholism because our province wasn’t able to give her the help she needed.

Like many things in this province, long-term in-patient treatment for alcoholism is extremely expensive. I know. I went to 4.5 different treatment centres in my attempt to get well (we’ll save the .5 story for another day).

One option is Crosbie House in New Minas, which costs almost $11K for 28 days. In this article, staff at Crosbie say three out of four people who stay at the facility are abstinent one year after they leave.

That statistic is just laughable because you know who they are collecting the data from? Alcoholics and addicts. And you know who the biggest liars are about their sobriety? Alcoholics and addicts. I know because I am both. This claim is so incredibly misleading that it should actually be illegal.

But I digress…

The only free in-patient program available to people in the grip of alcoholism is detox, where the stay is anywhere from 3-5 days on average and patients are given medication to safely withdraw from alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal is an extremely dangerous process—oftentimes involving more pain and suffering than coming off opiates—and can result in seizures if not done under medical supervision. I also know that from experience.

The problem is you get out after five days and have no more tools to help you stay sober than you did when you went in. That’s why a longer stay that involves both detox and therapeutic treatment can be very helpful in breaking the cycle of drinking and making a plan to stay sober upon re-entry to society—things like relapse prevention plans and introduction to 12-step programs.

The mother in this story says Nova Scotia Health needs more treatment programs that admit patients to facilities for weeks at a time–known as inpatient treatment—that are similar to services offered by health authorities in New Brunswick and P.E.I.

Here’s the deal: Recovery from alcoholism is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life and it is by sheer luck that I am not dead. It required medical intervention, long-term treatment and then a lifetime of vigilance in a recovery program, and even then, there is no guarantee I won’t drink again.

Here’s the other deal: Not all alcoholics are created equal. Some can stop or limit on their own, some can stop if the consequences are severe enough—like a DUI or threat of divorce—and some (like me) cannot stop no matter what and require intense intervention and absolute abstinence.

This poor woman’s daughter sounds like she was one of “us” and was afforded only medical intervention and then was spit out and expected to fend for herself.

Addiction services staff at Nova Scotia Health say the best way to treat people is by offering a range of support people can access while living at home. That again assumes you’re treating all alcoholics equally, which underlines a huge misunderstanding of the disease.

Nova Scotia Health says their approach is based on numbers out of British Columbia that suggest approximately 80% of people suffering from alcohol addiction don't need aggressive interventions. This actually almost made me gaffaw my coffee onto the screen.

I call bullshit on this and I think Nova Scotia Health knows it too because when pushed, the spokesperson wouldn't explain how this number suggests outpatient services are more successful than inpatient services.

I am so grateful that my mum was able to see me sober and happy before she passed away—I think it was the greatest gift I’ve ever given her. And my heart breaks for this mum who wasn’t able to receive that same gift from her daughter.

If you are currently struggling with alcoholism, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram. I will help in any way that I can so that I don’t have to read another story like this.

Love and light!

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

Today: ☀ 19°

Tomorrow: ☀ 20°

Next Day: ☁ 18°

7-day forecast

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

Youth who have to stay at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax face obvious challenges to their otherwise regular lives. Whether it be medical, social or emotional, the disruption of having to stay at a hospital while undergoing care can be jarring to anyone. Kids, especially.

No one understands this more than Julia Countway. For 15 years, her teaching career has been based entirely within the IWK’s classrooms.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with an IWK educator on the hospital’s classrooms and how they benefit students.

🏛️ Things got tense at the Nova Scotia legislature on Thursday when Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender accused the premier of lying—twice—and launching a “smear campaign” against her, before getting up and leaving.

🚧 Commuters in Halifax will be facing more detours as a road closure on the Halifax peninsula threatens to snarl traffic for weeks to come—the busy off-ramp from the MacKay Bridge to Massachusetts Avenue and Robie Street in the north end is set to close Sept. 21 for more than two months for a rebuilding project.

🍷 Fall is calling. Explore NS’s stunning vineyards, sip award-winning wines, enjoy delicious local food, and experience the magic of harvest season with us.*

🪑 Pelvic health therapy to treat dribbles and leaks doesn’t have to be invasive, time-consuming, or difficult. Medical professionals are now embracing the Emsella chair.*

🏡 Adult children of Seniors are helping their parents decide whether to age in place. This free guide helps everyone figure it out together.*

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To celebrate its 5-year anniversary, Body Works Med Spa & Wellness in downtown Halifax is offering BOGO on laser hair removal – buy one package, get one package free with purchase by the end of September. Memberships are also available.

Get a better laser hair removal experience. Click here to book a free Laser Services consultation, call 902-405-0858, or email [email protected].

🏛️ The Nova Scotia government is amending eight pieces of legislation and creating a new act through an omnibus bill tabled Thursday that officials say is aimed at improving public safety—modernization efforts includes amendments to the Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act that would require someone to prove that they had consent to share an intimate image.

⚖️ The case against a man accused of threatening to bomb the U.S. consulate in Halifax has been delayed until next month—Ali Assakereh was scheduled to enter a plea and select a trial format today, but his new legal aid lawyer requested additional time to review the case.

⛺ A Nova Scotia woman says she is not giving up a fight launched by her son for enhanced government support for unhoused people—Jackie Lowe’s son, Bradley Lowe, died in 2023, years before he won a legal case on Aug. 5 that found that people living in tents were eligible for the enhanced provincial government support.

🦽 Inclusion Nova Scotia is already getting calls from anxious parents reporting that their children are being left out because of their disabilities—a new report by the advocacy group warns that students with complex needs continue to face barriers within the public education system.

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

🗓 Halifax Fringe Festival: The Halifax Fringe is eleven days of live, uncensored, and uncurated performance art. It’s full of genre-busting theatre, comedy, one-person tour de forces, and so much more. You can catch everything from Shakespeare to sword swallowing, all at an affordable price and in accessible venues. | Sept 3 - 13 | 

🗓 Roger Mooking - SoundBites: Don’t miss Roger Mooking's first solo exhibition in Atlantic Canada, bringing together visual art, moving image, music, and text in an immersive exploration of creativity, memory, and the rhythms of contemporary life. Drawing inspiration from the sampling traditions of Hip-Hop, Mooking recontextualizes reproductions of his own artworks to create a dynamic multidisciplinary environment. | Sept 10 - Nov 8 |

🗓 Taste Asia 2026: Experience the sights, sounds, and flavours of Asia at Taste Asia 2026, a vibrant waterfront festival celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Asian communities in Nova Scotia and beyond. Featuring authentic street food, cultural performances, artisan vendors, interactive demonstrations, and family-friendly activities, the festival offers a unique opportunity to explore traditions from across Asia in one exciting destination. | Sept 10-13 | 

🗓 Hatrick: Hatrick is taking over the Crown Royal Stage for two nights of live music!Get ready for fantastic guitar solos, amazing bass lines, powerhouse drumming, songs like Free Bird, and all the classics you know and love! Hatrick does not take breaks—it’s a whole night of nonstop music to keep you dancing from start to finish! | Sept 11 and 12 | 10:30pm | $5 | 

🗓 Festa Italiana Halifax: Experience a taste of Italy at Festa Italiana Halifax, a vibrant celebration of Italian food, culture, and community in Halifax’s Little Italy. Enjoy homemade favourites including gnocchi, lasagna, arancini, Italian sausage, and sweet treats like cannoli and tiramisu, alongside wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, language lessons, and family-friendly activities. | Sept 11 and 12 | 

🗓 FamFest Atlantic: FamFest Atlantic is a family-focused festival in downtown Dartmouth that proudly “doesn’t suck for parents.” This two-day event features live music, dance, theatre performances, magic, arts and crafts, food vendors, the Parent Olympics, a kids’ used book fair, and plenty more for all ages. Expect quality live music from national and regional artists, high energy variety shows, and interactive performances. | Sept 12 and 13 | $25 | 

🗓 NHL Street Harbour Fest: Hosted by the NHL and NHLPA, this two-day, festival-style street hockey event will bring together players of all ages and skill levels for an exciting weekend of competition, community, and fun.Teams will compete in beginner, recreational, and competitive divisions with a three-game guarantee, alongside inclusive programming designed to welcome everyone to the game. | Sept 12-13 | 

🗓 Agricola Open Street Sunday: For one afternoon, Agricola Street is transformed into a car-free community gathering space filled with live entertainment, local vendors, delicious food, and family-friendly activities. With live music, makers markets, community activities, and a welcoming atmosphere, Agricola Open Street Sunday celebrates neighbourhood culture, local businesses, and the joy of connecting with the community in a fun and accessible way. | Sept 13  | Noon | 

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

➡️ The Algotitan oil tanker leaves Halifax for Newark at 8am.

➡️🚢 The EF Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from Portland, Maine at 8:15am and leaves for Reykjavik at 6:30pm.

➡️ The Algoma East Coast oil tanker leaves Halifax for Saint John at 11am.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 4:30pm.

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

From Chile to Halifax, Pareidolia transforms the everyday into the extraordinary.

Jackets sing, tutus become ostriches, plastic becomes crashing waves. For all ages, this visually stunning, playful theatre show invites audiences to look closer and discover possibilities hiding in plain sight.

Experience Pareidolia at Prismatic 2026.

🍞 Fried Toutons. Sweet, salty, buttery, fried. Good Robot Robie’s toutons come with sea salt butter and molasses. Newfoundland knew what it was doing.

⛳️ Legendary Hospitality are gearing up for our 9th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on September 22, with great golf, fun and generous support for the IWK!

🌮 Fresh Latin flavours are just a click away. Order Salt + Sol online, skip the wait, and enjoy waterfront dining your way.

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🎞️ Nova Scotia has two new studios as its film industry builds momentum—sitting on a 20-acre, tree-lined plot of land 30 minutes from Halifax, the studio location can accommodate TV and movie productions.

🥩 As the fields around Nova Scotia begin to give their late-summer produce, the flavours at Vessel Meats are changing, too. For Brianna Hagell, owner and operator of the Dartmouth butcher shop, the weeks between the end of summer and Thanksgiving are an opportunity to bring the province’s harvest into the products her team makes in-house. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva delves deep into everything about Vessel Meats.

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