Good morning!

The East Coast Music Awards are taking place this weekend in Sydney.

As much as I would have loved to be there in person, there’s too much on my plate to make it all the way to Cape Breton. However, I want to take a second to wish good tidings to all the artists heading over there, and best of luck to those up for an award or two.

We’ll have some coverage next week on the music awards—namely, the winners—but one thing I’m hoping to hear from attendees is how the organization has changed to better suit the artists it’s meant to serve.

Last year, I had the chance to speak with former CEO Blanche Israel about the organization. From the research I had done, the conversation I had with Blanche, and with artists throughout Nova Scotia, there have certainly been questions on if the East Coast Music Association has had the best interests of artists in mind. In the past, there was a lot of money being spent on contractors, and not a whole lot being spent on the artists who need it most in our current cost-of-living crisis.

On a personal note, I also despise the idea its founding director has stated about the ECMAs celebrating “commercial success” over anything else, a term that has become more and more meaningless in the ridiculous and wacky world of music streaming domination.

I’m curious to see what artists think of the whole thing upon returning. If you are one of those artists, please feel free to reach out. Otherwise, I will watch from afar and continue to celebrate the incredible talent of Atlantic Canadian artists.

Best,

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

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Next Day: 🌤️ 20°

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🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

Finding the comedy within cultural clash.

That's the thesis statement of Normal Scotia, a show about two Indian immigrants working at a curling club in Halifax, living their lives while encountering the unique oddities of Canadian Maritime living.

Created by Charles Wahl and Amarpal Dhillon, this workplace sitcom follows the lives Shiv (Ishan Sandhu) and Manish (Akshay Shirke) as they attempt to comprehend the wacky ways of Nova Scotia. The first season saw the duo contend with several cultural differences, compared and contrasted: arranged marriages, diets, and even the way Maritimers give directions.

The second season, available now on Bell Fibe TV1, takes the premise even further.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with creator Charles Wahl and star-turned-writer and director Akshay Shirke about the second season of their workplace sitcom.

🚨 Nova Scotia RCMP have charged 29-year-old Cody Reid Palmer with first-degree murder in the death of 61-year-old Steven Boudreau—Boudreau was reported missing from Hopewell, Pictou County, though police said on Thursday his remains had been recovered.

🚗 Public works minister Fred Tilley promised that traffic congestion in Halifax will improve with time—Tilley also mentioned the province is asking the feds to help out through their public transit fund, which could help fund an inter-municipal transit service.

🔥 A wildfire in the Lake Echo area is now under control according to the Halifax firefighter’s union—the city’s deputy fire chief says crews were called around 1:40pm on Wednesday after a passerby saw flames above the trees just outside of the Jenking Boulevard area.

🎭 RENT at Neptune Theatre. We are Over The Moon to tell you that single tickets for this summer's production of 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 are on sale NOW!*

🛋️ Curious about therapy but unsure where to start? A conversation can help you explore support, ask questions, and find the right fit for you.*

🚌 May service changes: Halifax Transit has implemented service changes on May 18, 2026.*

🩰 Live Art Dance presents “taqəš and Other Works”, a stunning evening of dance from award-winning Ballet Kelowna! Don't Miss out – get your tickets today!*

*Sponsored Post

Live Art Dance presents “taqəš and Other Works”, a stunning evening of dance from award-winning Ballet Kelowna!

Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe’s compelling “taqəš” is set to the music of Jeremy Dutcher and draws from classical ballet; contemporary dance; and traditional Coast Salish, Grass, and Hoop Dance. Combine this with Alyssa Pires’ “Vestiges” – a striking commentary on the search for true connection – and Guillaume Côté’s fun and frolicking “Le Carnaval des Animaux”, and you have a stunning programme full of power, fluidity, history, and beauty.

It’s an evening of mesmerizing movement brought to you by Live Art Dance. Tickets are selling fast – get yours today!

🔍 An independent watchdog found RCMP mishandled every aspect of a sexual assault-turned-murder case involving a Nova Scotia woman—police dismissed the woman’s plea for help which eventually lead to her murder on Sept. 17, 2017.

🚔 Three separate collisions have led to three men charged with impaired driving in HRM—the three collisions happened during the span of Monday and Tuesday.

🌡️ A century-old heat record was broken this week in Halifax as the Shearwater area of HRM broke a temperature of 28.4 C on Wednesday—the previous record was 25.6 C.

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

🗓 YukYuks Presents: Adam Delorey: The man keeps talking, and you keep laughing. Adam’s brand of hometown humour is as unique as it is funny. | May 22-23 | 8PM | $25+|

🗓 2026 Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibition: The art of Japanese flower arrangement is fully explored in this multi-day exhibition at the Tantallon Public Library. | May 22-23 | 9AM, 10AM |

🗓 Spontaneity Improv: Combo Show: This musical improv-cross-improv comedy night will have you laughing out loud. Taking place at the Bus Stop Theatre. | May 22 | 7:30PM | $17.31 |

🗓 Biodiversity Day at Discovery Centre: Learn all about life on Earth on this special day at the Discovery Centre. | May 23 | 9AM | $17.50+|

🗓 Jigsaw Puzzle Competition: Compete with your crew of puzzlers for prizes, all in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. Taking place at the IKEA Halifax Community Space in Dartmouth. | May 23 | 1PM |

🗓 Vintage Paper Show 2026: 60+ vendors available at this special market within the Maritime Hall at the Halifax Forum. | May 23 | 10AM | $5 |

🗓 Echo: A Choral Festival: Nine Nova Scotia choirs, all in one place. Taking place at the Kiwanis Grahams Grove Community Building in Dartmouth. | May 23 | 2PM | Donation

🗓 East Coast Amusements Fair: The fair is coming to Dartmouth! Experience heart-pounding rides like the Zipper or Tilt-A-Whirl or get a good look of the city from the top of a Ferris wheel. | May 21-25 |

🗓 The Ghost of Violet Shaw: The Eastern Front Theatre presents this Victorian-era farce featuring a family dealing with their supposed curse. | April 28-May 24 | 2PM, 7:30PM | $25+|

🗓 Neptune Theatre: Come From Away: This musical about the experiences of Gander, NL residents during the September 11 attacks is playing at the Neptune Theatre. | March 31-June 21 | $40+|

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

🚢➡️ The MTM Amsterdam tanker arrives in Halifax from Albany at 5:40am and departs Halifax for the United States at 10pm.

🚢➡️ The Glovis Countess merchant roll-on/roll-off vessel arrives in Halifax from Balboa at 5:55am and departs for Newark at 1pm.

🚢➡️ The Silver Arctic container vessel arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 8:15am and departs for St. Pierre at 3:30pm.

🚢➡️ The Pictor container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 8:15am and departs for Argentia at 6pm.

➡️ The Leeway Odyssey research vessel departs Halifax at 12pm.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Sky container vessel arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm and departs for Liverpool at 11pm.

➡️ The Mersey Venture factory fishing vessel departs Halifax at 4pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container vessel departs Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

➡️ The Algoma East Coast tanker departs Halifax for Charlottetown at 8pm.

🍹 Cafe du Port has introduced their summer lineup of delicious, thirst-quenching drinks for you to try—take a sip at their downtown Halifax location.

🥪 Larry’s Sandwiches and Maria’s Pantry have joined forces on the ultimate sandwich of the week: the Maria’s Pantry Mortadella. Caramelized onion, pistachio, and honey condiment complimented by garlic and lemon aioli, fresh mozzarella, arugula, and mortadella on a house-made bun.

🗝️ On a quiet stretch of Tower Road in Halifax, a small wooden box filled with colourful keychains has become an unexpected source of joy for neighbours, students, and passersby alike. The Halifax Keychain Library, created by Jemma Arthur, operates on a simple idea: take a keychain, leave a keychain, or simply stop by and enjoy the experience. But for Arthur, the project is about far more than trinkets. “I just wanted to create sort of like a joy spot in the community,” Arthur says. “A place where people can exchange trinkets and keychains.” The Coast’s Warren D’Silva speaks with Arthur about her kind, community-driven initiative.

🏛️ Halifax mayor Andy Fillmore delivered his 2026 State of the Municipality address on Wednesday, focused on transportation, housing delivery, and the city’s fiscal discipline—he noted the fed’s investment in the defence sector and Halifax’s continuing growth as a moment that needs to be met with “disciplined leadership, modern systems, and a relentless focus on delivery.”

📬 An incident of racist graffiti on a Bedford mailbox has left residents concerned about the racist backlash in Canada considering global events, specifically the anti-immigration policies of the United States—the graffiti has since been removed.

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