🗞 Halifax represents at UN climate summit

EDUCATION

Dr. Anya Waite goes to COP28 to “influence the global dialogue”

What insights into climate change does the ocean hold? What solutions can it offer for life on a warming planet? None if we don't have the means to listen.

Dalhousie-based Ocean Frontier Institute—OFI—is opening up global conversations on ocean observation during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change—COP28. The conference runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dr. Anya Waite is the scientific director and CEO of OFI and a professor at Dalhousie. She is also a panellist at COP28.

Waite says the oceans have absorbed 90% of the heat and almost 30% of the carbon that has been emitted into the atmosphere. "The ocean has done all that work for us. We need to know how much longer that work is going to continue."

Waite says reducing emissions is most important because "it's 100 times more expensive to pull carbon dioxide out of the air once it's there than it is to not admit it in the first place.” The Coast spoke with Waite to find out more about what local knowledge she’s taken to Dubai.

COP28's public webcast and schedule can be found here.

Need to know

❄️ Here are the most recent municipal service updates following the winter weather these past few days.

🚍 The first electric Halifax Transit bus has arrived. Check it out here and keep your eyes peeled on the streets for a glimpse of it in the coming months.

🏆 ICYMI: Best of Halifax results are up! Find them here at thecoast.ca.

📝 Did you know: The researchers at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 can help trace your family’s arrival history? Free with admission.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY LIVE ART DANCE

Live Art Dance presents Lydia Zimmer

Live Art Dance presents Creative Nova Scotia Award-winning artist, Lydia Zimmer. With this show, is the contemporary dance choreographe’s launch of her brand new company—Zimmerdans!

“One crow sorrow, two crows joy, three crows a letter, four crows a boy, five crows silver, six crows gold, seven crows a secret, never to be told.” (from the Magpie Rhyme) — The Devil’s Intervals, inspired by this and other dark nursery rhymes builds a magical and eery world. Like a haunted house peeled open, the work is brought to life through multiple vignettes danced by thirteen talented dancers.

December 8th & 9th at the Sir James Dunn Theatre. ✨

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY ART GALLERY OF NOVA SCOTIA

Free Access for all Nova Scotians at AGNS

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is offering free admission to all Nova Scotians until January 14, 2024. This pilot project aims to remove financial barriers, increase access to the arts, and help build healthier communities. Explore all the exhibitions on view, including Generations: The Sobey Family & Canadian Art.

In other news

🛴 The Halifax Regional Municipality is now permitting e-scooters on certain trails. Find the complete list of trails here.

🏠 In an attempt to protect more unhoused individuals from the winter weather, volunteers have purchased and donated ice-fishing shelters. Global News has the story. 

🧑‍⚕️ Government-funded long-term care facilities, Nova Scotia Health and the IWK will now only be able to hire travel nurses for a maximum of 180 days following a newly announced provincial change.

🪧 Pete’s Frootique workers are entering their third week of strike and there appears to be no progress made to getting them better wages and benefits.

🌲 Are you looking for a place to buy a real Christmas tree in the HRM? Find some recommendations from locals in the comment section of this Halifax Events post. Or if you want to get your hands dirty, check out one of the many U-Cut Christmas tree farms around Halifax.

🌎 Yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

🏆 Check out the winners of this year’s Tourism Award of Excellence and Pineapple Awards presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia.

SPONSORED BY THE GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL

Nate Bargatze LIVE in Halifax!

Join the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Halifax at the Garrison Grounds to catch Nate Bargatze’s signature Southern charm LIVE in the great outdoors. Tickets on sale Friday December 8th for the wildly hilarious Nate Bargatze, Gerry Dee and Derek Stroup in Halifax on August 9, 2024. 

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS

Will $1.4 million fix the police scheduling problem?

Halifax Regional Police’s acting chief Don MacLean has a scheduling problem. It’s a big scheduling problem. A $1.4 million scheduling problem. But it can’t be fixed by the $1.4 million Halifax’s Board of Police Commissioners is recommending council give him, a decision the board made at its Nov. 29 meeting, the culmination of a series of frustrating BOPC budget meetings.

Read the full meeting recap at The Coast.

Sure things

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

🗓 The Halifax Explosion book launch: Dalhousie history professor Dr. Afua Cooper will be at the Halifax Central Library for the book launch of her The Halifax Explosion—a poem marking the tragedy the explosion had on the residents of Halifax. | Dec. 5 | 6:30pm | Free.

🗓 Halifax Concert Band Christmas concert: Join the Halifax Concert Band for an evening of Christmas favourites at St. Agnes Church. | December 5 | 7pm | Donation at door.

🗓 Trivia Night: East Coast Queers is hosting multiple trivia nights this week at Brightwood Brewery and The Duke’s Public House. Don’t forget to wear your ugly holiday sweater! | Dec. 6 & 7 | 6pm | Free.

🗓 Paul Murphy: Catch Wintersleep’s Paul Murphy at The Seahorse Tavern this week following his new POSTADATA album. | Dec. 7 | 9pm | $21.85.

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings.

Shop talk

🐕 East Coast Dog is turning 1 and is celebrating with a party on Dec. 16 from noon to 4pm. The community and their human friends are invited to come and enjoy some cupcakes, photo shoot opportunities and in-store sales.

Eat this

🍽️ The Seaport Social has announced a special holiday menu available Dec. 23-25 from 4-10pm. The set 3-course meal will cost $65 per person. Reservations are required so make sure to call in!

🍦 Springhouse Market now has candy cane and egg nog-flavoured vegan ice cream tubs in stock.

Shop this

🥐 LF Bakery’s Christmas pastry boxes are back! Orders must be put in by Dec. 18 by filling out a form in-store.