🗞️ Dear Tim...

Good morning Halifax,

Imagine needing something really desperately—like something super vital—and being told that your request will go to the “top of the list” of some random government bureaucracy to take care of. Would you be left feeling….optimistic?

I would literally rather count on anyone else for help than some random subsection of the provincial government—notoriously the slowest moving institution on planet earth, except maybe this one, but it would be close:

But that’s what’s happening to the poor tenants of a Halifax apartment building that have been without power for two full weeks now. Two. Weeks. But not to worry, Jill Balser—the minister responsible for the Residential Tendencies Act—says the tenants will be given “priority” at the provincial office that enforces tenancy laws.

Balser said the government is concerned by the situation but she didn’t give specific details on how the province would solve the problem. And in the most amazingly non-committal, circular quote of all time, she said: “We want to be able to find a positive resolution for these particular tenants and the way in which we can do that is through the residential tenancy program.”

Also, it’s pronounced “I don’t care.”

NDP MLA Lisa Lachance rightly called bullshit on this one, saying that Balser has to do more than offer tenants the services of a tenancy case officer—adding “she’s known that these tenants are living without power for more than two weeks; it’s wrong for her to push the issue back on these tenants rather than actually helping.”

It is wrong and my heart goes out to these people. Is there a community centre in the area that can at least offer these people hot showers?

Love and light to all!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 20°

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 23°

Next Day: ☀️ 20°

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.

OPINION

An open letter to the Premier from a trauma therapist and gender-based violence activist

Abusive NDAs are not neutral tools. They are rooted in colonial, patriarchal, and coercive practices that silence survivors, protect those in power, and prevent accountability. They strip survivors of choice and autonomy, reproducing harm rather than fostering safety, dignity, and justice.

As a province, we know too well the devastating impacts of violence that is ignored, normalized, or excused. The abusive use of NDAs compounds this harm by creating system-induced trauma, institutional betrayal, and a culture that perpetuates gender-based violence.

Kristina Fifield—certified therapist, and gender-based violence activist—sees first-hand the damage NDAs do to survivors each and every day.

Read her open letter to Tim Houston, urging the premier to  reconsider his position and take time to critically reflect on the abusive use of NDAs in our province.

🤔 Need To Know

🎾 The Davis Cup World Group I tie between Canada and Israel will be played in a closed venue this weekend in Halifax—Tennis Canada says the decision was made in consultation with the International Tennis Federation due to “escalating safety concerns” flagged by local authorities and national security agencies.

🦠 Nova Scotia’s health authority says there was a measles exposure at the QEII emergency department—there are now a total of 61 cases of measles across the province, but the risk is considered low as most people are protected by vaccination or previous infection.

🪧 Dalhousie University’s board of governors and a union representing nearly 1,000 professors, librarians, instructors and professional counsellors continued their conciliation talks yesterday as a lockout nears the three-week mark.

💃 Live Art Dance Announces its 2025-26 Season! This year our season traverses the breadth of what contemporary dance can be. Get your tickets today!*

🍻 The Pint offers the pub staples you’d expect—wings, burgers, fish and chips—but there are more elevated options too ~ Mark DeWolfe, The Coast*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY MEET YOUR FARMER

Cows, crops and more. For curious folks.

What if your Sunday drive involved cows, sheep, or maybe even a goat with a sassy smile? What about a picnic in a farmer's field, or a selfie session in an orchard?

On Sunday, September 21, Open Farm Day is celebrating 25 years of your curiosity. Participating farms are opening their gates to show you what they do!

Think of it as a real-life choose-your-own-adventure: will you learn why orchards are in rows, sample honey fresh from the hive, or meet a farmer whose tractor drives itself? Whether you’re looking for a family adventure, a foodie field trip with friends, or just craving fresh air beyond the city, this is your invitation to learn and explore.

Grab the interactive map and start plotting your perfect Open Farm Day adventure.

🗞️ In Other News

🏆 The Halifax Convention Centre has been named the “world’s greatest” convention centre by a TV show that highlights outstanding companies’ products and services from around the world—and now it's putting the spotlight on the venue in Halifax.

🧑‍🦱 Two new integrated youth services sites will offer better access to mental health and social services support—The Anchor Youth Space Halifax will offer walk-in support for people aged 12 to 25, including counselling, peer support, mental health and wellness. 

🌁 Halifax Harbour Bridges has issued $4.67M  in refunds to MACPASS holders as it closes more than 177K accounts—the tolls on the Macdonald and MacKay bridges ended in March.

🐕 Waggin' Wheels is a new mobile dog gym in Halifax that comes right to your door—the business helps dogs exercise safely in the heat of summer or in the dead of winter, while also getting pups to run as fast as they can for some canine cardio.

🍺 Oland Brewery—whose portfolio includes historic Maritime beers Oland Export, Schooner and Alexander Keith's—is considering leaving the province to set up somewhere it can operate more cheaply, blaming looming rate hikes from utilities and other rising costs of business.

🍂 Fall foliage could be less colourful this year as trees in the Maritimes are changing colours and losing leaves earlier due to the dry conditions.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 French Tour: In partnership with Alliance Française Halifax, you’re invited you to join a guided tour of the exhibition Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way in French at the Art Gallery of NS. Founded in 1903, Alliance Française Halifax is a Canadian not-for-profit association dedicated to the promotion of the French language and of French speaking cultures.| Sept 11 | 5:30pm | Free |

🗓 Takashi Hilferink // VACANT POSSESSION: Vacant possession describes the ideal condition in which a new tenant or property owner inhabit a residence: free from occupants, belongings, and other encumbrance of the past, such that they can fully and neutrally occupy the new dwelling. But every home has its ghosts. One cannot encounter a place empty of its past. Parents come to understand this quickly: the host of ambitions, inheritances, and unresolved issues of our own childhoods can brace - or break - the next generation. | Sept 12-Oct 11 | Free |

🗓 Cassie & Maggie: Kick off Party for Maritime Heritage Festival: Everyone is invited to the inaugural Maritime Heritage Festival, a free, family-friendly weekend of events and activities. The festivities happen along Halifax’s waterfront, transforming the Maritime Heritage District, from our museum and historic ship, CSS Acadia to Sackville Landing and HMCS Sackville! | Sept 11 | 5:30pm | Free |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢 The Algoscotia oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Corner Brook at 12:16am.

🚢➡️ The Morning Cello vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Southampton at 5:55am and leaves  for New York at 3:30pm.

🚢➡️ The Island Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7am and leaves for Canadian seas at 4pm.

🚢 The Gotland container ship arrives in Halifax from Moa at 7:15am.

🚢➡️ The Liberty of the Seas cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7:30am and leaves for Canadian seas at 5pm.

🚢➡️ The Seabourn Sojurn cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7:30am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

➡️ The APL Dublin container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 11:45am.

🚢 The Atlantic Sky container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm.

🚢 The Nolhan Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 6:15pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🌶️ The Canteen is bringing a little bit of spice to the Sandwich of Week: thinly shaved beef, smoked poblano pepper crema, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, feta on warmed naan bread.

🍝 Take your taste buds on an Italian adventure at Mappatura Bistro with the Aglio e Olio: olive oil, garlic, pepperoncini, chiles, pomodoro, pangrattato, grana.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🧑‍💻 An International Baccalaureate teacher who spent decades working abroad has launched an online school after struggling to find a teaching job in Nova Scotia. “I had been thinking about an online school for over five years, and tutoring students beyond any barriers”, said Jason Bogart in an interview with The Coast. The result? Corestone Tutors, an online teaching platform that aims to support students with tutoring and university counselling. Warren D’Silva has more with Bogart on his experience and inspiration for delving into a new and innovative new teaching platform.

🏆 Want to give your barber, cat groomer or tattoo artist the ultimate tip? Nominate them for Best of Halifax recognition. The city’s original consumer choice award is an instantly recognized sign of success with hundreds of categories—and the BOH winners attract a lot of attention all year round. Or think YOU are the best in your business? We love that confidence! Nominate yourself; there ain’t no shame in the game! Hop on over to The Coast and start nominating today!

That’s it!

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