🗞️ Federal politicians messing with municipal politics

Good morning Halifax,

You know what I really needed? Something new to be horrified about. My anxiety wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders with the general state of the world, but don’t worry, it is now.

A Cape Breton woman made a TikTok video defending a transgender rights advocate that made her the target of online hate (shocker). The bullying intensified when the video was shared and criticized by an account with more than seven million followers. Her name was even posted on a doxing website.

So, she did what any of us would do, which is shut down her social media and try to move on with her life. But then she started getting text messages and phone calls from haters—and so did her family members—even after she changed her number.

And that’s because one of those bullies was a customer service agent for her cell phone provider—Bell Mobility. That’s right, THE CALL WAS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE! This person was checking her customer file for updates and passing that information along to people in a private group chat.

Anyways, she’s suing Bell and I have lost complete faith in humanity and everything is terrible. But you have yourselves a wonderful weekend—the weather looks great! 😺☀️😺

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧️ 24°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 25°

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.

CITY

Councillor Cleary backstops HRM’s failed strategic plans

Thanks to Liberal member of Parliament Andy Fillmore talking to some of his constituents about municipal politics, the Transportation Standing Committee started with a lot of public speakers about the city’s ongoing water main replacement around Coburg Road.

Part of this work includes building a mixed-use pathway on Coburg Road, because it will save the city a lot of money and is in line with multiple strategic plans. Fillmore also wrote a letter to the committee asking them to reconsider this fiscally responsible municipal infrastructure building. 

The Coast reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office asking if Fillmore’s meddling in the municipal bikeway was on behalf of the federal Liberals but did not receive a response in time for publication. 

Several members of the public spoke in favour of the city finally doing some good governance and long-term planning and building. And some other members of the public like a doctor who lives near Coburg, argued that the city should keep the roads as dangerous as they are in the name of public health. This doctor argued that narrowing roads slows emergency vehicles, but this is not true. 

After the public speakers finished, chair of the committee Pam Lovelace reminded everyone that they all talked about something that’s not actually on the agenda and not likely to change since construction has already started.

The Coast’s Matt Stickland was at the meeting and has more on the Coburg Road infrastructure issue as well as everything that was covered on the actual meeting agenda.

🤔 Need To Know

🏥 As the number of patients without a family doctor in Nova Scotia continues to grow, Nova Scotia Health will make calls to the more than 160,000 people on the waitlist to check in and see if they still need a primary care provider.

🛴 As e-scooter use grows in major cities across Canada, ER doctors say they’re seeing ‘devastating’ injuries—adding that wearing helmets and wrist guards and avoiding speeding are essential for staying safe.

🍦 Cool down this summer with special frozen treats in Downtown Halifax! Ice cream, milk shakes, popsicles, and more! Find your new favourite treat here.* 

*Sponsored Post

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Crowther & Brayley online auction

Bidding opens on August 2nd featuring art from Maurice Cullen, Dusan Kadlec, Bruno Coté, Anthony Law, René Hébert, John Cook, Pegi Nicol MacLeod, Hal Ross Perrigard, Jack Humphrey, William Yorke, John Little. 

Plus estate jewellery, luxurious carpets, Lorenzen mushrooms & pottery, sterling, campaign chest, c.1835, Deichmann & Nita des Barres pottery, and musical instruments.

EDUCATION

Police remove students from inside Dal administrative building Tuesday, without dismantling encampment

On Tuesday July 23, Students for Liberation of Palestine Kjipuktuk members held a joint press conference beginning at 4pm with faculty supporters and student union presidents inside an administrative building behind the student encampment at Dalhousie University (Dal). Speakers and supporters stayed inside after the conference wrapped.

At 5pm, SLPK members began asking for help from rally-goers in holding the doors open to the Henry Hicks building as they stayed inside. The doors were held open by supporters as some rally-goers moved towards a teach-in at the encampment, while others stayed in the main lobby of the building. 

Dal security guards appeared in the hallways flanking the coalition members but didn’t attempt to interfere. 

Just after 7pm, several Halifax Regional Police (HRP) officers arrived at the building and asked students to vacate the building, which they did without incident. There was no attempt by officers to interfere with the encampment and no charges were laid. A few hours later, the encampment remained, students were out of the building and the police had left. A Dal security liaison walked around the group wearing a bodycam saying he was there to make sure campers were fine. 

The conference was held in response to a recent statement from Dal.

The Coast’s education reporter Lauren Phillips has more on this story as students vow to stay put despite the university cutting power to the encampment.

🗞️ In Other News

🔥 The devastating wildfires and deadly flooding that plagued the province last year have resulted in $490 million in insured losses—according to a report released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada yesterday.

💰 A judge has ruled that a stash of cryptocurrency belonging to a N.S. man convicted of murder means he won’t be receiving free legal aid for an appeal.

👀 A Canada women’s soccer team staff member has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand women’s soccer team.

🌿 Two women were arrested at Halifax Stanfield International Airport earlier this week after four suitcases of marijuana were discovered in outbound luggage—containing 140 lbs of pot.

🥀 The B.C. couple whose remains recently washed ashore on Nova Scotia’s remote Sable Island have been identified as 70-year-old James Brett Clibbery and his 54-year-old wife, Sarah Packwood.

🩺 Opposition leaders accused the Houston government of withholding the latest figures reflecting the number of Nova Scotians on the need-a-family-practice registry—the online portal is showing figures that are now almost two months old. 

🌧️ As Canada’s premiers discussed housing, health care and their contentious relationship with Ottawa during meetings last week in Halifax, many of them remained consumed by climate change-related natural disasters—that have escalated since they returned home.

⚖️ The mental health of a 16-year-old who stabbed two people at CP Allen high school was the subject of a sentencing hearing, but details about his medical history were immediately banned from publication.

🚰 Despite cancelling the direct sellers permit to Atlantic Environmental Systems, the province says customers who bought water systems after 'aggressive' sales pitches must still honour contracts and pay for the equipment even if they don’t want it.

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

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

🗓 Stonebrother Live: Get ready to unleash your inner headbanger because Stonebrother is coming to rock your world. It’s gonna be loud and it’s gonna be wild. Don’t miss out on an epic rock show! | July 26 | 8pm | $5

🗓 Oceans of Pride Dance Party: Featuring a concert-level JBL VTX sound system, club lighting and upgraded lasers, this is one night of dance & house music you won't want to miss! Headlining this nautical-themed event will be, for the first time to Atlantic Canada, Billboard chart-topping superstar DJ/producer Joe Gauthreaux (NYC)! DJ Aris (Halifax) will open for this very special night of vocals and beats. | July 26 | 9:30pm | From $35

🗓 Nova Zero by Benjamin Bridge Pop-Up: Celebrate the launch of the newest non-alcoholic innovation. Inspired by Nova Scotia’s iconic wine, Nova 7, Nova Zero is a groundbreaking non-alcoholic experience delivering the unmistakable characteristics that have made its namesake a symbol of the East Coast. Stop by the pop-up for freebies, a chance to win prizes, receive exclusive offers, chat with the winemaker and team, and be among the first to taste the new Nova Zero. | July 26 | 2pm

🗓 Africville Reunion: Celebrate the annual Africville Reunion, an opportunity to learn about Africville's rich history and continue its legacy. | July 26-28

🗓 Dinostories in Halifax: The Villains Theatre is returning to Halifax for a special presentation of Dinostories: 3 Prehistoric Fairy Tales, performed and written by Noella Murphy and Dan Bray, with original music by Justin Gregg and Ranke de Vries! Join us at Point Pleasant Park for this hilarious family musical! | July 27 | 1pm | Pay what you can

🗓 LatinFax Festival 2024: Celebrate Latin heritage and recognize the remarkable contributions of the Latino community to Canadian culture, including music, dance and food. | July 27 | 5pm | Free

🗓 Halifax Beatlemania: Travel through time, from early Ed Sullivan to Let it be, you’ll get all the hits. Experience this live Beatles show through all eras of their career, performed on stage by The Liverpool 4 with the same high energy, impeccable musicianship, showmanship, fun, and humour. | July 27 | 8pm | $38.47

🗓 Jamaican Association of Nova Scotia 11th Caribbean Diaspora Multicultural Celebration: Join us in celebrating the music, food, dance, culture and traditions of the Caribbean. | July 28 | 12pm

🗓 Halifax Tides FC Argyle Street Olympics Viewing Party: It’s time to support our Canadian Women's National team as they defend their Olympic gold medal against host nation, France. Join the Halifax Tides FC for their Olympic viewing party and enjoy the action on two big screens placed in front of the Convention Centre on Argyle Street. | July 28 | 3pm

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🛳️➡️ The Amethyst Ace vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Emden at 6:10am and leaves for Jacksonville at 12pm.

🛳️➡️ The MSC Sines R container ship arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 6:15am and  leaves for London at 12pm.

➡️ The CB Pacific oil/chemical tanker leaves Halifax for Quebec at 1pm.

➡️ The Augusta Luna container ship leaves Halifax for Villagarcia at 10pm.

🛳️ The Stavanger Pride oil/chemical tanker arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 10:15pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍕 Last chance for romance at Morris East as they say goodbye to The Canadian at the end of July: fully loaded with tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, red onion, cremini mushrooms, soppressata, bacon, maple drizzle and parsley.

🍺 New beer alert! 2 Crows Brewing Co. just launched the new Jamboree Blackberry and Apricot: loaded with blackberry and apricot purée, sweetly tart with a fresh apricot finish. Available in cans and on tap at the Brunswick Street location.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏳️‍🌈 Since the Halifax Pride Parade on June 20, news outlets have reported that a group of pro-Palestine protesters demonstrated during the event. While some call this a hijacking of a day meant to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, others see it as standing in solidarity with people who, like many in the queer community, are faced with the full brunt of someone else’s hatred. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer spoke with protest organizer and Canadian Federation of Students Nova Scotia chairperson Alexina St. Pierre-Farrow on why they demonstrated during the Halifax Pride Parade.

🎧 NEW EPISODE - HFX Votes 2024: In this episode, Matt and Céo Gaudet—a former member of the Regional Watersheds Advisory Board—take a deep dive into what the city of Halifax has lost in losing its independent environmental oversight. Listen now.

🗳️ Halifax residents are being encouraged to make sure they are registered to vote ahead of this fall’s election by verifying they are on the elector list.

🌊 Emily Churchill—A N.S. nurse—says she “doesn’t think of herself as a hero” after running into the ocean to save a 12-year-old girl who ended up getting caught in a rip current.

That’s it!

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