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- 🗞️ Drama at the council
🗞️ Drama at the council
Plus, Halifax youth pleads guilty to one of 33 charges in Citadel High incident, two new Dartmouth clinics will help over 6,400 patients and Halifax designer transforms hate into art.
Julie Lawrence
June 18, 2025
Good morning Halifax,
Things are getting bitchy at city hall and I’m so here for the drama.
Some members of Halifax Regional Council are “taking issue” with the province weighing in on municipal issues. Like last week, when Tim Houston sided with Fillmore on his motion calling for all bike lane construction to be halted.
I managed to get my hands on this actual footage of Houston trying to overstep at council:
@cinemaze_ She doesn’t even go here!! 😂 #lindsaylohan #drewbarrymore #meangirls #movieclips #moviescenes
Coun. Shawn Cleary said it feels like “the premier wants to run Halifax,” while others call it “undemocratic.” But one Dalhousie University political science professor says don’t expect the province to slow down when wanting its say on the happenings in Halifax.
When asked to comment on concerns raised by councillors on possible overstepping, Houston doubled down on his support for Fillmore’s motion on bike lanes.
Stay tuned for the next episode on ‘As the Council Turns’.
– Julie
🌡️ Traffic & Weather
Today: 🌦️ 20°
Tomorrow: 🌧️ 20°
Next Day: 🌧️ 20°
🚗 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
Halifax designer transforms hate into art through sparkly, whimsical fashion
📸 Credit: Submitted
For Filipino-Canadian artist and designer Caitlin Coo, clothing is more than fabric and thread. For her, it’s transformation, resistance, and self-discovery. Through her fashion brand Kaidain Ivy, Coo said she has been stitching together identity as she discovered her place in the world. Through her experience she weaves in culture and community, one sparkling garment at a time.
“I like to make very sparkly, whimsical outfits,” said Coo as she juggles preparations for Pride month as well as her upcoming runway show at The Mills Halifax Fashion Week on Aug. 14. “I work with local artists and I love to bring representation for those who are mostly not represented.”
🤔 Need To Know
⚖️ A Nova Scotia youth is pleading guilty to one of 33 charges related to police allegations he threatened to shoot people at Citadel High School—the 16-year-old appeared in court on Monday, pleading guilty to unsafe storage of ammunition.
👩⚕️ The first of two new clinics opened in Dartmouth and, when fully operational, will help more than 6,400 people—located at 230 Wyse Rd., the Dr. Maria Angwin Memorial clinic will offer primary care, gynecology, obstetrics, urology and midwifery.
🔥 Another hot take… Have we talked about how obsessed we are with the food at The Pint lately? Because we’re deep in our classic lobster roll era—pair it with a cold one on their patio, thank us later.*
🌟 Now renting at The Paramount! Located on South Park Street, enjoy upscale amenities, in-suite laundry, and walkable access to every Halifax summer event. Live central!*
🇨🇦 Canada Day at the Museum - FREE admission to the Museum. Explore exhibitions, enjoy live music, scavenger hunt, witness a citizenship ceremony and much more!*
🚌 Halifax Transit’s electric buses are ready to ride! 60 electric buses have been added to the fleet. We’re Ready to Ride toward a cleaner, more sustainable transit system for everyone. The future of Halifax Transit is electric.*
*Sponsored Post
SPONSORED BY NORTH END BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Enchantment Awaits at the North by Night Market
This Friday, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., the North by Night Market will transform The Local's back patio at 2037 Gottingen Street into a vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds!
Amid the warm glow of lights & lanterns, visitors will discover eclectic stalls, each boasting artisanal crafts and unique treasures. Laughter mingles with music as community members gather, forging connections and celebrating creativity. The air buzzes with excitement and the promise of adventure. Old friends reunite, and new friendships blossom under the night sky.
You’re invited to join this evening of magic, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary—a night to remember!
OPINION
Control isn’t care
📸 Credit: Shutterstock
A friend sent me a Substack post by Canadian journalist Nora Loreto titled “Navigating Conflict in Activist Spaces.” The timing was perfect.
I recently made the difficult decision to step away from a cause I deeply believed in. It wasn’t a choice I made lightly. But in the face of conflict—and a refusal by some to be accountable for their actions—it became clear that continuing would compromise my integrity and well-being.
This kind of rupture is all too common in organizing and movement spaces. We pour ourselves into the work, believing in shared values, only to find that when harm happens, too few are willing to do the hard, necessary work of repair and accountability.
Leaving was painful, but also necessary. It’s a reminder that even in justice-centred spaces, we must continually ask: are we practicing what we preach? Are we showing up with care, humility, and a willingness to be called in?
🗞️ In Other News
🏥 The IWK has a new service designed to provide culturally relevant mental health and addictions care to African Nova Scotians called The African Nova Scotian Service—the goal is to deliver care honouring the unique cultural context of the community.
⚒️ The day after West Hants regional councillors voted to request that the province slow down its push for uranium development, Nova Scotia's premier sent the municipality a lengthy list of programs in the area that have received provincial funding in recent years.
🚓 A Halifax police officer will not be charged in connection with a crash earlier this year that sent a man to hospital with serious injuries.
SPONSORED BY PARRSBORO INTERNATIONAL PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
Where Art and Geology Collide
As you read this there are thirty artists interpreting the land, the sea, the architecture, the waterfalls and an abandoned wreck. Out of sixty applicants these thirty were chosen to capture and compete. Saturday evening is when it all comes to a peak. Over $7000 in prizes and international prestige.
SPONSORED BY UNIVERSAL REALTY GROUP
Student Discount at Ridgeway Towers!
📣 🎓 Students! Lock in your new one-year lease at Ridgeway Towers before August 1, 2025 and receive a 10% rent discount!
Enjoy:
🌇 Spectacular city & harbour views
🚍 Direct Metro Transit routes to downtown & universities
🎒 Comfortable, affordable, and connected—student living made easy.
Book your personal tour now.
🗓️ Things To Do
Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks:
🗓 Halifax International Fleet Week: This biennial celebration brings together naval vessels and personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and allied nations. The event features a range of public events such as ship tours, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) information booths, musical performances by the Stadacona Band, a soccer game, and a waterfront drone light show, and more. | June 19-22 |
🗓 Classified with Ria Mae - Live at the Shore Club: With an inherent and candid ability to break down the barrier between performer and audience while leading the vanguard of East Coast hip hop, Classified is one of Canada’s most respected and successful rap artists, producers, and songwriters. He’ll be joined at The Shore Club by Halifax singer-songwriter Ria Mae. | June 20-21 | 9:30pm | $45 |
🗓 3 Bucks Left: Get ready for a night of laughter and unforgettable comedy as legendary Irish group ‘3 Bucks Left’ bring their raucous show to Canada this June 2025! Whether you’re a long-time fan, or new to the world of 3 Bucks Left, this show promises to be a side-splitting experience you won’t want to miss. | June 21 | 7:30pm | $40 |
Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].
⚓️ What’s In The Harbour
➡️ The CSL Tarantau leaves Halifax for Baltimore at 5am.
🚢 The One Meishan container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 10:45am.
🚢 The Nolhan Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 1:15pm.
🚢➡️ The Atlantic Star container ship arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 5:20pm and leaves Halifax for Liverpool at 11:00pm.
🍴 Where To Eat & Drink
🥐 The croissant of the week at Two If By Sea is the Pistachio Crush: pistachio mousse filling, topped with white chocolate drizzle and pistachios.
🍜 Black Sheep is giving its ramen the attention it deserves: freshly house-made ramen noodles, miburi-gakko, soft boiled eggs, toasted nori, bok choy in miso and coconut broth.
👀 In Case You Missed It
🧺 Today is International Picnic Day, and there's no better time to gather your loved ones and enjoy the natural beauty of Halifax. From lush gardens to scenic waterfronts, The Coast has put together a list of some of the city's top picnic spots.
🇨🇦 The federal government’s new “Canada Strong Pass” will provide Canadians and visitors with free entry and discounts at national parks and museums this summer—the tourism initiative will also allow children aged 17 and under to travel for free on VIA Rail when accompanied by an adult.
👁️🗨️ A woman whose daughter is a former resident of a Nova Scotia safe house for survivors of sex trafficking is raising concern.
That’s it!
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