🗞️ Girl's got a stiffy

Good morning Halifax,

When I make even the slightest mistake at my job, you guys are never shy to let me hear about it loud and clear. I won’t lie, the words can be hurtful, but I know you, dear readers, have very high standards which I always try to live up to.

The truth is: We all make mistakes at work. Yes, even you, Chad. And Brad. It’s just that some mistakes aren’t as public as others.

But I can guarantee that none of the mistakes I have made (or hopefully will make) will have the impact of the clerical error made by this federal employee who put the N.S. legal status of a woman and her daughter at risk.

Diana Calderon—originally from Colombia and immigrated to Canada from Peru in 2022—says Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada informed her on Aug. 6 that it had rejected her work permit, because her employer of about two years—Nova Scotia Health—did not pay a $230 compliance fee.

A fee that actually was paid.

The letter she received from the feds was also directed to her 14 year-old daughter, saying that she was no longer permitted to go to school in the country because of her mother’s work permit. Calderon has been driving her daughter to school just to see her friends at recess and lunchtime because she hasn’t been allowed to attend.

They were given 90 days from the rejection—until Nov. 4—to go through the costly process of reapplying for a work permit, or be forced to leave the country.

Nova Scotia Health thankfully looked into the issue and found out that it was a clerical error on the part of the federal government and everything is getting resolved, slowly but surely. But this is such a scary situation. 

Definitely puts some of my type-o’s into perspective, huh? I kid, I kid.

Love and light!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 22°

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 22°

Next Day: ☀️ 16°

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.

NEWS

Halifax entrepreneur to pitch AI, immigration plan at G20

Halifax’s Max Medyk will represent Canada at the G20 summit this week, where he plans to propose a measure aimed at enhancing the country’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence and productivity, starting in the immigration sector.

Medyk, who has navigated immigration systems in Ukraine, the United States, New Zealand and now Canada, knows the barriers firsthand.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with Medyk about his plan for the G20, where he’ll propose how Canada can catch up to the world in AI literacy.

🤔 Need To Know

⚖️ Police have charged a man in connection to six antisemetic graffiti messages found in Halifax over the weekend—31-year-old Gezim Topalli was arrested at his home in Halifax on Tuesday and was scheduled to appear in provincial court on Wednesday to face a number of charges.

🚨 Following a four-year investigation into allegations of dozens of sexual assaults at a provincial youth correctional facility, the RCMP laid charges against a Dartmouth man—Donald Douglas Williams, 75, is facing 66 offences following the investigation of sexual assault at Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville.

👀 The cause of Monday's fire that severely damaged a four-storey apartment building in Middle Sackville remains under investigation—an update Wednesday from HRM said there is no estimated timeline for completion of the investigation into the blaze at Sunset View Apartments.

🐑 Choose your own farm adventure! On September 21st, Open Farm Day, twenty farms will open their gates, orchards, barns, hives, and more, for curious visitors like you!🚜 Plan your day-trip with our interactive map!*

🕺 Live Art Dance Announces its 2025-26 Season! This year our season traverses the breadth of what contemporary dance can be. Get your tickets today!*

❤️ Love Stubborn Goat Gastropub? Nominate them for Best Pub Food, Best Caesar, Best Brunch, Best Burger and Best Fries in this year’s Best of Halifax Awards, before September 30th!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY MEET YOUR FARMER

Road Trips, Real Farms, and Real Stories.

🚗 Snacks packed? Playlist queued? Get ready to hit the road! Open Farm Day includes 18 farms, 2 livestreams, and endless things to explore. 🐑🍯

On Sunday, September 21, participating farms will open their gates for the 25th anniversary of Open Farm Day. This free event connects curious visitors with the farmers, producers, and growers everyone depends on.

Every farm is a little different. A full list of farms is available on the website, along with an interactive map to plan a day that’s part road trip, part field trip, and part real-life choose-your-own-adventure.

Whether it’s a family outing or a foodie trip with friends, Open Farm Day welcomes everyone to explore and connect with the people behind the products they love.

MUSIC

Loviet is finding a sound to call her own on new single “Stiffy”

If you’ve had the chance to see Loviet live, you would know that she carries the energy of a '90s era alt rocker who couldn’t care less about what you think of her. In other words, she’s cool. Really cool.

Loviet, based in both Halifax and Toronto, is becoming a touring tour-de-force, frequently tackling gigs and festivals nationally and internationally. Her backlog of indie pop-rock is sweet with a hint of spice—tracks with a dose of longing and a dash of attitude.

Yet, an essential question has been stuck in her mind: Is this the music she envisioned herself making?

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with the alt-pop icon about transitioning into a pop-punk sound on her newest single, “Stiffy”.

🗞️ In Other News

🌾 The future of the grain elevator at the Port of Halifax is in jeopardy as the port continues with an ambitious expansion aimed at growing its cargo and cruise ship businesses.

🎭 Neptune Theatre in Halifax has announced its shows for this year’s upcoming season—after wrapping with sold out shows to “Mamma Mia,” artistic director Jeremy Webb unveiled some of the other shows audiences can expect.

💂 Four men were arrested on Tuesday after a series of images of Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew were projected onto the external walls of Windsor Castle ahead of the U.S. president’s state visit to the U.K.

🏗️ Halifax is seeing record levels of apartment construction, but there continue to be challenges with building housing—according to a report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

SPONSORED BY NOCTURNE HALIFAX

📣 Call for Volunteers! Nocturne: Ground

Calling all night owls and art lovers! 🦉 🖼️

One of the best ways to experience Halifax's annual Art-at-Night festival is to come out and lend a hand!

Learn more about all of Nocturne's volunteer opportunities by filling out a volunteer registration form today!

SPONSORED BY THE THEATRE ARTS GUILD

A Comedy that Pops the Lid off 1968!

Five housewives attend what should be an ordinary evening of plastic containers and polite small talk. But as the cocktails flow, secrets unravel, and frustrations boil over, the party spins into chaos filled with outrageous laughter and surprisingly honest revelations.

Tickets: TAG

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Jim Bryson at Café Lara: Jim Bryson is a National Folk Award nominated Canadian Singer-Songwriter and Record Maker. He has released a number of recordings in all kinds of popular formats and in places all over the map. His most recent release is 2022’s “Country Wifi”: a hushed pile of beautiful whispers and gently considered lyrical ruminations. | Sept 19 | 8:00PM | 

🗓 Open Water 2025 Exhibition: Over 40 new watercolour paintings will be on display in this exhibition, organized by the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour, this annual juried show highlights works primarily from Canada. Past shows have featured Maritime artists Gary McFarland, Poppy Balser and Ron Hazell, among others. | Sept 12 - Oct 2 | 

🗓 Hypnotist Jason Cyrus LIVE: Prepare to be amazed! The extraordinary showman Jason Cyrus is back, bringing you Beyond Limits, the hottest stage hypnosis show in Canada. Having mesmerized audiences across the country, Jason delivers a high-energy spectacle that will leave you spellbound. But it’s more than just laughter—Jason’s unique blend of hypnosis and motivation creates an inspiring, high-energy experience. He empowers volunteers and audiences alike, leaving everyone uplifted and wanting more. | Sept 20 | 7:30PM | $66.50 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The Skogafoss container vessel arrives in Halifax at 8:15am from Portland and depart for Reykjavik at 3pm.

🚢➡️ The EEMS Traveller cargo ship arrives in Halifax port at 9:30am and depart for open sea at 2pm

➡️ The Endeavor research vessel leaves Halifax for Rhode Island at 10am.

🚢➡️ The Insignia cruise ship arrives in Halifax port at 10am and will depart for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🚢 The MSC Salina III container vessel arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 10:45am.

🚢➡️ The Enchanted Princess crusie vessel arrives in Halifax at 1pm and departs for Canadian seas at 9pm.

➡️ The CMA CGM Andromeda container ship departs Halifax for New York at 3pm.

➡️ The Algoberta oil tanker leaves Halifax for Nanticoke at 3pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥪 Larry’s Sandwiches and Sides in Dartmouth has introduced a new lunchtime favourite: a classic Roast Beef Sandwich, made with slow roasted eye of round from Vessel Meats, Matheson Food Company’s own beef spice, honey dijon, horseradish mayo, provolone cheese and carmalized onions.

🥞 Get into fall with Almonak’s fluffy blueberry pancakes, topped with a lemon mascarpone. You can also pair it with a flight of mimosas for you and your friends.

👀 In Case You Missed It

💬 The labour disruption at Dalhousie University is over, according to the university’s board and the Dalhousie Faculty Association. But we can’t ignore the time (and money) that students lost out on. According to a press release from the Dal Student Union, each week that classes are cancelled represents about 7% of the semester—as a result, students are holding a rally to ask the university for tuition refunds based on time lost already this year. So, we asked you—should Dalhousie students be getting a refund for each day the faculty remains locked out? Head on over to The Coast to see the official results and read our favourite comments.

😳 A massive photograph of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has appeared on the lawn outside Windsor Castle, ahead of the U.S. president’s second state visit to the U.K. on Tuesday.

🚨 Regional police have laid charges against a 36 year-old man in connection with a shooting in the north end on Friday evening—one man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

That’s it!

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