🗞️ Heat up Halifax

Inhale (1,2,3,4) exhale (1,2,3,4),

I’m already a woman on the brim and this story has pushed me right over the edge; there is a very special place in hell for people who mess with seniors.

Halifax police are looking for two men suspected of being involved in a series of frauds committed in the HRM. And while I’m generally not into public shaming campaigns, I’m going to make an exception this one time. Here is what these a-holes look like ⬇️

According to police, the suspects are believed to be a part of an ongoing scam where a caller poses as a family member claiming they were arrested and need bail money. Another person claiming to be from the legal system then becomes involved in the call and informs the victim they need to pay money to have their relative released.

In all recent incidents, the suspects made arrangements to pick up the money by going to the victim’s home, meeting them elsewhere or having the victim send the cash in the mail or with a courier service.

@queendianna27

#middlefinger #teachemyoung #polishremoval #polish #kids #funnykids #oops

Halifax, consider this a rallying cry: We must protect our nanas! If not us, then who? Take a few minutes today and call that special boomer in your life and let them know that they need to be alert and on the lookout for these scams. 

Have a safe and restful weekend!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌨️ -4°

Tomorrow: ☀️ -6°

Next Day: 🌨️ -3°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS

What’s next after Halifax Water’s second boil water advisory in seven months?

Two days after Halifax Water issued a boil water advisory for roughly 200,000 residents across the HRM, the utility says it’s safe to drink water from the tap again. 

The advisory, which initially covered all residents serviced by the Pockwock water treatment facility—and included all of peninsular Halifax, along with large swaths of Bedford, Middle and Lower Sackville, Timberlea, Spryfield, Fall River, Waverley, Windsor Junction, Hammonds Plains and Herring Cove—had been in effect since Tuesday morning after a power failure at the facility. Halifax Water lifted the advisory Thursday at 9am. 

The advisory’s lifting brings an end to a ripple of unexpected closures and delays earlier this week, from some small businesses and daycares closing, citing unsafe drinking water, to the QEII Health Sciences Centre postponing roughly more than 100 surgeries and endoscopies.

As The Coast’s Martin Bauman reports, Halifax Water’s power failure—its second in seven months—has prompted multiple calls for an investigation, from the mayor’s office to the province’s utility review board.

🤔 Need To Know

🇨🇦 Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste says he has the money and the signatures he needs to join the federal Liberal leadership race—if he makes the deadline, Battiste will become the only First Nations candidate in the race to replace Justin Trudeau, and the first Indigenous candidate ever to be in the running to become prime minister of Canada.

🍴 Dine Around Halifax is back! From Feb 1-28, enjoy exclusive menus for $10-$60, with dine-in, takeout and delivery options. Support local and savour the flavour!*

🏘️ With temperatures dipping well below zero and biting wind chill expected into the weekend, community organizations across Nova Scotia are ramping up capacity to help more unhoused people come inside.

🍻 Cheat Code: Beat the Friday rush hour and hang out with friends at The Pint for an After Work Social. Happy Hour & 50% off apps.*

💰 Halifax financial campaign documents from the recent municipal election reveal how much money candidates for mayor and council raised—and from whom.

🌔 Be part of Nocturne! Our annual Call for Submissions for Beacon and Low Sensory projects are now open. Apply by April 7th!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY STEELE FORD LINCOLN

Canadian e-vehicle rebates end next week 🚗🤯♻️

The federal program giving Canadians money to buy electric vehicles has abruptly ended, threatening a market seen as a key part of our country's climate ambitions. Last week, the federal government ended the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program, as funds ran out due to the program’s popularity.

Fret not, our eco-conscious advocates! For a very short time—we’re talking only a week—you can still grab up to $8,000 in savings on EVs and PHEVs at Steele Ford Lincoln.

Here’s how: Start with up to $5,000 in new Ford Canada EV rebates plus up to $3,000 in NS provincial rebates and then tack on additional exclusive offers from Steele Ford, like 0% financing.

These combined special rebates will end January 31 😢. Visit the EV specialists at Steele Ford (3773 Windsor Street, Halifax) or hop online to get your search started now, before the EV rebates are gone forever.

SURVEY

Let’s turn up the heat Halifax!

Looking for some naughty, anonymous fun on these cold winter days? 

Every year hundreds of Haligonians take the time to spill their saucy secrets on dating sisters and bedroom fantasies in The Coast’s Sex & Dating survey, and this week we launched the 2025 edition.

The survey is anonymous, so there is absolutely no need to hold back. The answers will be collected and then highlighted in February. Any identifiable information we find submitted in the answers—accidentally or purposefully—will be edited out at our discretion in order to preserve privacy.

From swiping to sexting, nothing is off limits—take the 2025 Sex & Dating Survey now.

🗞️ In Other News

👀 Police are investigating after a man with a gunshot wound was dropped off at Dartmouth General Hospital around 9:30pm Wednesday—the 23-year-old is now in stable condition.

🚨 Indigenous leaders in Nova Scotia are urging premier Tim Houston to sit down with them and share the green energy and natural resource plan he issued in a memo to Progressive Conservative caucus members on Wednesday—the memo outlined Houston’s priorities for growing the green economy and expanding the development of natural resources, such as the mining of critical minerals like lithium.

🚔 Mounties have arrested a youth in connection to an incident involving an airsoft pistol in a Middle Musquodoboit school—the youth shot another youth in the hand, causing minor injuries.

🩺 A new clinic aimed at luring foreign-trained doctors to work in Nova Scotia has begun to recruit patients and could be treating thousands of people by next year—the Halifax-area clinic is called PACE, which stands for Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence.

⛪ A Cape Breton couple accused of sex crimes involving a preteen girl denies the allegations—claiming they are the victims of people who don't share their religious beliefs.

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

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

🗓 Controlled Damage Presented by Neptune Theatre: Controlled Damage explores the life of Canadian civil rights icon Viola Desmond. Her courageous act in a Nova Scotia movie theatre in 1946 sparked a ripple effect that still resonates today. Viola Desmond was an ordinary woman thrust into extraordinary circumstances by an unyielding and racist world. Despite the personal cost to herself and her loved ones, she never gave up. | Jan 14-Feb 12 | From $33

🗓 Halifax RV Show: This event is a must-attend for RV enthusiasts across the region, drawing passionate travellers and adventurers from far and wide to the Halifax Exhibition Centre. Whether you're seeking a spacious motorhome or a cozy camper, this show has it all, offering an extensive selection to suit every preference and budget. | Jan 23-26 | $12

🗓 The Music of The Who with Symphony Nova Scotia: The Who is one of the most iconic bands of the 20th century, with their distinctive blend of punk, rock, mod and pop music. Now, the Symphony pays homage to The Who’s greatest hits of all time. Don’t miss this thrilling symphonic salute with perennial favourites Jeans ‘n Classics and Symphony Nova Scotia. | Jan 24-26 | From $48

🗓 Divert NS Presents Ocean Action Day: ​Dive into a day full of excitement, discovery and action in the newly refreshed Divert NS Ocean Action Zone. Have you ever wondered about the impact of microplastics on our oceans or how everyday waste influences the environment? Discover how you can make a powerful difference for our blue planet and learn innovative ways to protect it! | Jan 25 | 9am | $17.50

🗓 South End Vintage Market: ​Whether you’re a student looking for some new-to-you room decor, or a Haligonian looking to kick-off your year of buying local, the South End Vintage Market has something for everyone! | Jan 25 | 11am | $2

🗓 While We Wait: The award-winning, local theatre company Gale Force Theatre's most recent offering for children and their adult follows the year in the life of a young girl named Leo, as she discovers a magical garden shed. How do we face unwanted change? What can the natural world tell us about presence, control and connection if we watch and listen? This delightful piece features live scoring by percussionist Erin Donovan, tabletop and shadow puppets, and is an enchanting introduction to live theatre. | Jan 25-26 | From $10

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢 The Zim Atlantic container ship arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 6:20am.

🚢➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 7:15am and leaves for Argentia at 6pm.

➡️ The One Wren container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 12pm.

🚢 The MSC Silva container ship arrives in Halifax from Lome at 4:15pm.

🚢 THe NYK Rumina container ship arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 4:20pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

➡️ The Zim Atlantic container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍟 Dig into the ultimate in weekend indulgence at CHKN Chop with the Double Smoked Bacon Poutine: fries, cheese curds, peppercorn gravy, caramelized bacon, double smoked bacon lardons.

🐔 Speaking of chicken, try the Sweet Buffalo Heat at Rinaldo’s: buttermilk fried chicken, honey buffalo sauce, lettuce, crispy onions, ranch, cheesy garlic bread.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🇨🇦 As a politician, Andy Fillmore has good timing. He rode a wave of federal Liberal popularity to become the Halifax riding member of parliament in 2015, and he resigned as an MP last September before the Liberal train could derail completely and ruin his chances in Halifax’s mayoral election. And Liberal leader Justin Trudeau? His timing’s not so great, and it’s getting in the way of the mandatory byelection to fill Fillmore’s former seat in parliament. With the Halifax riding at risk of getting forgotten in the shuffle, The Coast’s Kyle Shaw pulls out a calendar and the Elections Act to figure out when the byelection could be.

🎤 Julie Kim is having a moment. From sold-out theatre shows with comedian Ronny Chieng to writing gigs with Run the Burbs and Kim’s Convenience, the Toronto-born, Vancouver-based stand-up comic is becoming one of the most in-demand funny people in Canada these days. This spring, she’ll headline a show in Halifax at the Bus Stop Theatre. The Coast’s Martin Bauman catches up with Kim to talk about finding her voice and why her East Coast trip will be a full-circle moment.

That’s it!

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