🗞️ Dr. ChatGPT, M.D.

Good morning Halifax,

This message is for me just as much as it is for you: We need to stop diagnosing ourselves online and/or asking robots what’s wrong with us. And I think it’s a fundamental truth that we all understand, yet the call of the internet is so strong that we have collectively lost the power of choice in the matter. 

I’m pregnant and I’m too ashamed to even admit on this platform the kinds of questions I’ve crowdsourced on Reddit (ok, fine, I asked if babies can be born with frog’s legs because I had a dream about it and…just, whatever). And it’s extra dumb because I just read page after page until I find ONE person who once experienced a symptom like mine and then I’m like…

@tenabreegs

Anyone else obsessed with the “I knew it” lady right now? #karensoftiktok #iknewit #myfavorite

(Except for the frog legs thing 🐸)

But now people are taking it a step further and asking ChatGPT for medical diagnosis and researchers out of the University of Waterloo have concluded that can be “dangerous”.

The chatbot was asked a series of open-ended medical questions based on scenarios modified from a medical licensing exam. The findings were strikingly bad; only 31% of ChatGPT’s responses were deemed entirely correct, and just 34% were considered clear.

In one example, the chatbot confidently diagnosed a patient’s rash as a reaction to laundry detergent. In reality, it was caused by latex gloves—a key detail missed by the AI—which had been told the patient studied mortuary science and used gloves (aka was a serial killer).

The researchers are not suggesting we stop using it altogether, but just understand that there’s an excellent chance it will be wrong. Plus, they face zero consequences if they’re wrong and actually it’s more YOUR fault than anything, which is my least favourite thing.

I know this is all annoying considering it’s virtually impossible to even get a real life human doctor and if you have one, they’re like “how’s 16 weeks from now?” and you’re like “but I’m itchy NOW, I could be dead by then.”

I never said I had all the answers, so just try to stay healthy and safe out there!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 21°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 26°

Next Day: ☀️ 26°

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.

JUNE PREVIEW

 Every big show happening in Halifax in June 2025

It’s time to party like it’s 2010! June in Halifax is a full throwback, from Jessie Cruickshank’s comedy special to Nickleback, to The Killers—the lower waisted the jeans, the better.

The nostalgia is as high as the vibes with the shows hitting Halifax in June.

As always, The Coast has you covered with everything that’s happening in the city this month.

🤔 Need To Know

🥀 The head of the search-and-rescue team looking for signs of two young children who went missing in rural Nova Scotia a month ago have found no new evidence as of Sunday afternoon—which marked the second day in the renewed search in the dense woods near their home.

📮 Canada Post has rejected a request from the union representing about 55,000 of its workers to send their ongoing labour dispute to binding arbitration.

🧑‍💻 The CEO of Nova Scotia Power says the company believes it knows who stole customer information in a recent ransomware attack—but can't disclose that information as the company's investigation is ongoing.

🎭 Hop on the ferry for Eastern Front Theatre’s annual STAGES Festival this week! Featuring the premiere of ZUPPA’s new show, The Final Recordings of an Almost Extinct Bird.*

🎟️ Help support Nova Scotians experiencing food insecurity AND get the chance to win with Feed Nova Scotia’s Spring 50/50!*

🖊️ Poetry Reading - The Carleton, June 4, 7pm. Featuring NS&Atlantic Book Award-nominated poets Alice Burdick, Clare Goulet, Annick MacAskill, Johanna Skibsrud, and Bren Simmers.*

🎶 Scotia Festival takes a virtuosic journey through the 20th century, with sumptuous music by Debussy, John ("Red Violin") Corigliano, and Bartók. Don't miss it!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY JAM'S BURGERS & SHAKES

Tuesday = free eats for kids

Jam’s Burgers & Shakes is serving up daily deals cooler than a varsity jacket on prom night! But the real MVP? TUESDAYS—when kids eat FREE with any regular combo purchase. It’s a total touchdown for busy families lookin’ to treat their little champs without the hassle.

Here’s the full playbook:
🍔 Monday: BOGO burgers!
🥤 Wednesday: Free shake upgrade with any combo!
🧅 Thursday: Free upgrade to rings or poutine!
🍟 Friday: Free fries with any burger!

Cruise into 8 Jam Lane and score big with throwback vibes, all-star eats, and weekday deals that’ll make you feel like the homecoming king or queen—no pep rally required.

LIFESTYLE

This local cookie company is doing more than just baking

Nova Scotia Cookie Co., a proudly woman-owned business, is taking the humble shortbread cookie to international heights, one lighthouse-shaped treat at a time.

Founded by entrepreneur Jenna Ross, the Nova Scotia Cookie Co. is as much about community and connection as it is about confections. 

The company’s signature cookie—crafted in the iconic shape of a lighthouse—is inspired by the beloved Peggy’s Cove landmark. But these cookies are more than just a sweet souvenir. They represent the values of Nova Scotia: resilience, warmth, and community.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with founder Jenna Ross about how the women-run and owned Nova Scotia Cookie Co. is helping the local community one sweet treat at a time.

🗞️ In Other News

🧠 The province’s health minister says an expanded “pathway” will help improve access to psychiatric assessments and consultations across Nova Scotia—the Mental Health and Addictions Program will improve access for people referred by their primary care provider.

🧳 Halifax Regional Municipality is making a big comeback—securing high metrics for tourism performance post-pandemic—according to the latest report from Discover Halifax.

🏛️ A former teacher at an exclusive private school in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley is facing allegations of sex offences against a youth more than two decades ago—Roderick Alexander MacDonald, 48, has been charged with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault.

🚽 Halifax Water's treatment facilities have returned to normal operations after diverting millions of cubic metres of wastewater into Halifax harbour and the Bedford Basin.

🛌🏻 A patient safety advocate says the number of reported bedsores in Nova Scotia hospitals is on the rise—adding part of the problem is a lack of staff to help identify and prevent pressure injuries from developing or worsening.

🚨 A 30-year-old Dartmouth man has been arrested and charged with sexual offences against a young victim police say was known to him.

SPONSORED BY 1440 MEDIA

Our Culture, Clarified—Every Week

Every week, 1440 hands knowledge-seekers a guided tour through a single social current. We stitch together history, data, and expert voices so you don’t just witness change—you understand it. One concise, fact-first read turns surface headlines into the deeper “why” that satisfies your curiosity and keeps your worldview expanding.

Join For Free Today

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Matthew Collins - I Made Some More Paintings: These landscape paintings are freely and organically constructed with an emphasis on colour and mark making. Collins loves the raw, natural, ever changing seascapes and often finds himself returning to them time and again. However, the way the painting is executed holds more value to Collins than the subject. Regardless of what or where he is painting, he believes the manner in which the paint is handled should be a novelty for the viewer in and of itself. The artist's use of exaggerated colours and several different painting methods is an attempt to achieve this end result. | June 3-24 | 

🗓 Dancing with Pride - Workshop Series: For those with little to no dance experience, join this 4-week introductory ballroom dancing series in a safe space that celebrates all bodies, abilities and identities. This class will include basic steps and partnering to a mix of music across genres and styles. No partner required! You may lead or follow in this class - whichever role makes you feel the most comfortable. | June 3, 10, 17, 24 | 8pm | Donation ($15 recommended) |

🗓 Lebanese Cedar Festival: Come out to celebrate, promote and foster the Lebanese culture and traditions that have become so integral to Canada’s multicultural mosaic. The Cedar Festival is an opportunity for families and groups of all ages to be together to experience the culture and heritage in a fun, free, and safe atmosphere! | June 5-8 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢 The MSC Sagitta III container ship arrives in Halifax from Boston at 6:15am.

🚢 The MSC Rochelle container ship arrives in Halifax from Mundra, India at 11:15am.

🚢 The Contship Cup container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 6:20pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🐟 Get an elegant bite, fresh from the sea with the Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon at aFrite: fresh Atlantic salmon, chickpea puree, baby potatoes, charred tomatoes, stew green beans, fennel pickled black rice. 

🍖 Braised and glazed to perfection, the new Beef Short Rib at Water Polo is pure satisfaction: honey-miso demi, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes and glazed carrots.

👀 In Case You Missed It

📷 Blair Bartlett has always had an eye for beauty, first as a fashion industry insider in his younger years, and now as a rising star in the world of photography. The Halifax-based osteopath and photographer is making headlines after being featured on Photo Vogue — a platform for artists from every background and region to showcase their work worldwide on Vogue — for the eighth time. The Coast’s fashion and style guru Warren D’Silva has more with Bartlett.

🏢 Two apartment buildings in Halifax's north end with more than 120 units between them are being converted into condominiums—and the owners say it's because operating the properties as rentals has become financially impracticable.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading The Coast Daily today.

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Haligonian.

And before you go, let us know: