🗞️ CUPE: First in workplace violence, last to the table

Good morning Halifax,

If you hate adorable cats and/or joy, please feel free to scroll on by this morning.

For the rest of you who are not cat haters, an Ottawa cat named Axel Biggie Smalls’ weight loss journey has made him a legit TikTok celebrity! Grossly overweight, he was rescued and put on a diet that is working wonders for him. He is down from a massive 43 lbs (four times the size of an average cat) to a still chonky, but less chonky 33 lbs. 

His TikTok account—which was started to raise awareness about pet obesity—has over 2.5M likes. And while I obviously deeply hate that anybody would allow an animal to get this big, I’m happy that Biggie Smalls is on the right track.

His owner says sometimes he does get “hangry” and tries to steal food—his favourites (and incidentally the ones that make him the most aggressive)—involve cheese. And I mean, same.

Have a great day out there! 🐈

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ⛈️ 21°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 21°

Next Day: ☀️ 23°

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.

NEWS

New Roots Community Land Trust starts GoFundMe with $250,000 goal

A community land trust in Halifax’s North End has started a GoFundMe page to help their cause.

The North End New Roots Community Land Trust is looking for the city to divest a parcel of land in the Cogswell District, currently undergoing redevelopment, to create opportunities for African Nova Scotians and right historical wrongs.

As reported by The Coast last month, Halifax’s African Nova Scotian community has suffered due to the destruction of Africville by the city in the 1960s and the continued gentrification of North End neighbourhoods.

This project gives the city an opportunity to use more than just words to make up for Africville while giving the North End’s historical Black community a chance to own land, participate in community building, and develop a space that’s right for them.

The trust is looking at Parcel D in the Cogswell District for their project. As stated on the GoFundMe page, this parcel was selected due to the “economic losses, the dissolution of close-knit communities, and ongoing social and economic challenges” faced by African Nova Scotians after their community had been continually gentrified throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Early conceptual drawings of a developed parcel show a multi-storey building with over 400 mixed-market residential units, a community and recreation centre, commercial space prioritizing Black-owned businesses, and outside social spaces. They had previously presented to the city’s Community Planning and Economic Development committee, garnering positive responses from members.

While the project is still in its earliest stages, the GoFundMe is looking for $250,000 to help with start-up expenses such as legal fees, administrative costs, and operational expenses. Contributions will also be used to make a down payment to secure a piece of land in the North End. 

If you’d like to make a contribution to the land trust project, visit the GoFundMe page.

🤔 Need To Know

🏖️ Lifeguards will be on duty starting this weekend at most Nova Scotia beaches.

🛻 Ford is recalling thousands of pickup trucks in Canada because of an “unexpected downshift” into the first gear that could cause loss of vehicle control.

🎶 Feel the rhythm at the TD Halifax Jazz Fest! Dive into incredible music, vibes, and community spirit. Don't miss out on this summer's coolest beats!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY JOHN HUMPHREY CENTRE FOR PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Taking action on gender-based violence

If you have used or provided services that support people affected by Gender-Based Violence in the last four years, consider answering a few questions about your experience. This survey will help strengthen an important sector and make Gender-Based Violence services more inclusive for all. 

EDUCATION

First in workplace violence, last to the table

Stop me when you disagree: Workplace violence is not appropriate. Disproportionate workplace violence is not appropriate. Those being disproportionately harmed should be included in a discussion about ways to address and prevent workplace violence. 

Those deciding on appropriate witnesses to include in the conversation about violence in public schools showed their disagreement with that last statement on Wednesday, June 19 at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting that was called to discuss the auditor general’s recent report, Preventing and Addressing Violence in Public Schools.

That morning, 5,000 school support workers with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) were unrepresented at a table of six witnesses. 

Teachers were at the table, through the president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) Ryan Lutes. Administrators were at the table, through the chair of the Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia (PSAANS) Scott Armstrong. 

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) was at the table, through both the deputy minister Elwin LeRoux and the executive director of student services and equity, Annie Baert. Regional centres for education were there, through Halifax Regional Centre for Education’s (HRCE) executive director, Steve Gallagher, and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) executive director, Michel Collette.

And technically CUPE school support workers were there—standing outside the meeting’s front doors holding signs disputing their exclusion from the meeting before moving inside to sit silently as members of the public behind the row of six speakers discussing their daily working conditions.

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips has more on why CUPE school support workers are disappointed and frustrated at being left out of provincial conversations on school violence.

🗞️ In Other News

🛍️ A Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey of 139 members revealed 80% don't expect to see an increase in revenue this summer—blaming the rising cost of living. 

🦈 Atlantic Shark Expeditions launched a new shark cage experience which gives people a chance to get up close and personal with the ocean’s most feared predator.

⛴️ Several Alderney ferry crossings were cancelled due to “situations”—according to Halifax Transit.

🏢 While the proposed 13-storey building on Lake Micmac would come with beautiful views for its tenants, current residents are worried about the impact a highrise would have on the lake—including possible runoff, large shadows, wind issues and the disturbance harming local animals.

✈️ The federal government is spending up to $8.3M on a project to increase international and domestic flights at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

🎓 83-year-old Ken Clark—a mover and shaker in TV news—was the oldest graduate of Dalhousie this year.

🌿 Nova Scotians bought more legal cannabis last year than the year before—sales went up 8.9% to a total of $121M.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Alison Mitchell - Serious Flowers Opening Reception: This show challenges the idea that botanical artwork must be simplistic in concept. Inspired by the rich tradition of rug hooking in Nova Scotia, vibrant thrift store vases, and a flourishing South Shore garden, Mitchell hand dyes Atlantic Canadian yarn from Canada's oldest woolen mill to vibrant colours. | June 27 | 5pm | Free

🗓 Supernova Market on the Waterfront: Enjoy an unforgettable day of shopping in the marketplace on the foundation wharf, with vendors from all across Atlantic Canada. The container stage will be booming with live music. | June 29 | 1pm | Free

🗓The Underground - Summer Lovin' Edition: Welcome to an immersive live performance evening in the style of a speakeasy. The performers are a surprise til the last minute, the venue is a surprise until 24 hours in advance. Phones are turned off upon entry and the audience experiences live art in unexpected places. | June 29 | 8pm | $40

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Gotland general cargo ship leaves Halifax for Villagarcia at 12:30am.

🛳️➡️ The Vivienne Sheri D container ship arrives in Halifax from Portland at 1:15pm and leaves for Reykjavik at 4pm.

➡️The Pyxis Theta oil tanker leaves Halifax for Antwerp at 6pm.

🛳️➡️ The SFL Composer vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Emden at 3:25pm and leaves for Davisville at 11pm.

🛳️ The Atlantic Sail container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm.

🛳️ The Vega Vela container ship arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 5:15pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍺 This Saturday, Battery Park Beer Bar is celebrating all things IPA with their second annual IPA Day! From tropical juicy delights, to tongue rattling resin-y west coasters, to easy peasy day time session ales, they’ll have all the greats from your favourite brewers and some brand new releases too.

🥭 Try the new Mango Sticky Rice Ice Cream Sando at Studio East: coconut crispy rice, fresh mango, French vanilla ice cream and sesame.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🍁 Your Guide to KANA’TA: Canada Day 2024: According to HRM, this year’s Canada Day program was developed in close collaboration with Indigenous communities and is bursting with programming that honours the traditions of the Mi’kmaw Nation and celebrates pan-Indigenous communities that call the municipality home. The Coast has you covered with the full schedule of Canada Day events in Halifax.

🗳️ NEW EPISODE: HFX Votes 2024: In part two of the Halifax Votes Transit episode, Matt sits down with Reece Martin of RM Transit to help explain some of the choices Halifax Transit is making. For example, in the previous episode, It's More Than Buses' Douglas Wetmore proposed that Halifax Transit would be better served by switching to a headway bus service instead of a scheduled one. Martin explains why a transit service would want to use headway, and also what a headway is. 🎧 Listen now

🚒 A weekend house fire in Bedford has left a neighbourhood shaken and is raising concerns about HRM’s population growth and how it affects firefighters’ response times.

🛕 Halifax will be home to the first-ever South India-style Hindu temple in Atlantic Canada. The temple’s grand opening is set for October, when idols of the Hindu deities will arrive from India.

That’s it!

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