Happy Friday Halifax, we did it!

I’m quickly approaching my 7th sobriety birthday and I have learned a lot of lessons since putting the plug in the jug. One of the most important things is that we build self-esteem by doing esteem-able acts. Selflessness and self-sacrifice for others really helps you feel good about yourself and your place in the world.

If you’re looking for something that you can do to help, why not consider rolling up your sleeves and giving blood?

Donations at Canadian Blood Services typically dips in the summer as donors go on vacation and get sidetracked—with cottaging, beaching and generally collecting melanoma—but the agency says reserves right now are even lower than usual and without a reversal, is not sustainable for patient care.

With numbers dwindling since the beginning of June, the organization is making a plea for Canadians to give and have made more weekend appointments available. And guys, your blood will have an immediate positive impact: blood has a shelf life of just 42 days, so aid donations made today will quickly make their way to a patient.

If doing something super easy to SAVE LIVES is just not something you’re into because you’re a complete sociopath, let me sweeten the pot by telling you they give you cookies and juice. I’m sure even Ted Bundy loved cookies.

And I beg of you: don’t come at me with all the reasons YOU personally can’t give blood—I know those exist because I barely make the weight criteria myself. If you can’t, you can’t. But if you can, please just do it.

I’m obviously O-negative—the universal donor and therefore, of course, the most attractive, popular and sought after. This is O-neg if it were in high school…

But if you have a less cool kind of blood—like theatre kid blood (I’m looking at you AB-negative) —that’s fine too because donors of all blood types are needed to replenish supplies and keep pace with hospital demand.

Appointments can be booked at blood.ca, through the GiveBlood app for Android or Apple, or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE.

All the love and light!

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

Today: 🌤️ 23°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 27°

Next Day: 🌤️ 25°

7-day forecast

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

When I opened Instagram on Monday night and saw the screenshot saying that a person cycling had been killed in Halifax, I felt deeply sad, but I was also angry. Many people I know and care about have been advocating for safe cycling infrastructure for years. And still, people are dying on our streets.

The Halifax Cycling Coalition was registered as a non-profit society almost two decades ago in 2008 after a person cycling was killed on Barrington Street in Downtown Halifax. Since then, they’ve been advocating, providing educational opportunities, and offering community building events to facilitate safer cycling in the city.

Meghan Doucette—a member of The Halifax Cycling Coalition—shares her thoughts on the importance of cycling infrastructure with The Coast.

⚠️ A 67-year-old Pictou County man is facing charges following a child sexual abuse investigation and police believe there may be other victims—anyone who believes they may’ve been victimized by Nelson at anytime is encouraged to contact police.

🇨🇦 Tim Houston says the country needs to focus on what it can control like major projects, opportunities, diversifying trade and getting rid of interprovincial trade barriers—which he likened to "Whac-A-Mole.

🚨 Police in Halifax have laid a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of a North Preston man last year—29-year-old of Cole Harbour was arrested Wednesday in connection with the murder of Jayden Tynes.

BRAVO: Festival For Young Audiences, a four-day event celebrating the magic of live performance for children ages three to 12, this sensory-friendly, inclusive and accessible lineup is Halifax's newest annual festival at the Bella Rose Arts Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 13-16, 2026.

Showcasing TEN high-quality theatre, music, dance, puppetry, storytelling, and interdisciplinary performances created especially for children, BRAVO: Festival For Young Audiences will honour the excitement of being part of a live audience, with bold visuals, playful characters, and imaginative storytelling that spark curiosity, creativity, and emotional connection.

Buy tickets for individual shows or get a pass for the entire event, this festival is designed for the whole family to enjoy.

As independent magazines experience renewed momentum worldwide, Halifax’s growing fashion industry is preparing to add its own voice with the launch of Valentina, a new independent lifestyle and fashion publication dedicated to showcasing Atlantic Canadian talent.

The magazine, launching July 25, arrives amid a broader shift in media consumption. A 2026 Reuters Institute study found that 51 percent of people aged 18 to 24 pay more attention to individual creators than traditional news brands, while fashion industry observers have pointed to a resurgence of independent print publications as readers seek curated, collectable editorial experiences.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva speaks with the founders of Valentina about the new magazine.

🚔 The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is rolling out new visual designs for its front-line police vehicles later this summer—it’s the first time RCMP vehicles have received a new look in over 30 years.

🏛️ The premier and seven other cabinet ministers were absent from Thursday’s cabinet meeting and there were no acting ministers to take questions from the media in their place—the Houston government appointed 21 PC MLAs to act as ministerial assistants, which came with a $16,000 increase to their base salary.

🏠 Nova Scotia’s public housing waitlist has more people on it now than when a new agency was created to manage the service four years ago—but the head of the agency says that number is not the best way to measure progress.

⚡ Three Atlantic provinces are considering the creation of a new Maritime electricity system operator—the commitment is part of a broad memorandum of understanding signed by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

🚨 Halifax police are investigating a violent home invasion in Dartmouth—the suspect reportedly forced his way into the home and assaulted and threatened the victim with a gun.

🪲 It’s a great day for gardeners—entomologists are hot on the trail of a possible parasite of the Japanese beetle in Nova Scotia that could help keep the population of the destructive bug in check.

🎤 A musical duo in St. John’s is still buzzing after a chance encounter allowed them to share the spotlight with an industry legend Kesha at a hotel bar—the pop star sang a song with them about one hour before she took the stage on her own.

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

🗓 Nova Multifest 2026: Enjoy the colour and excitement of live shows, feast on culinary delights, sip cold beer from a local brewery, shop for one-of-a-kind gifts, fireworks to remember and experience cultural demonstrations and exhibits from around the world. The festival proudly showcases Nova Scotia’s vibrant cultural mosaic through music, art, displays, and delicacies representing communities from across the globe. | July 24-26 | Free |

🗓 Pop Up @ The Village Taphouse: Shop local, eat some tasty local snacks and sip some seriously tasty local brews. | July 25 | 4pm | Free admission | 

🗓 Neptune Theatre Presents RENT: In 1996 Jonathan Larson took the world by storm with the Tony Award & Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical RENT. The story of a group of young artists living a bohemian life in New York City's East Village. Full of anthemic rock tunes, heartbreaking ballads, and lyrics that inspired a generation, RENT is a cultural phenomenon you do not want to miss. | July 7 - Aug 30 | From $30 | 

🗓 Hatrick at ROX Live: Besides how incredibly talented these guys are, they don’t take breaks! From the moment they start playing until the end of the night, the music keeps going, the dance floor stays full, and the entire room is having an amazing time! Hatrick knows exactly how to keep a crowd entertained. Expect incredible guitar solos, wicked bass lines, fabulous drums, great songs and nonstop energy. | July 24 and 25 | 10:30pm | $5 cover |

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

🚢➡️ The ZIM Virginia container vessel arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 5:20am and departs for New York at 6pm.

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

🚢 The Algoscotia tanker arrives in Halifax from Sydney (Cape Breton) at 8:30am.

🚢➡️ The Elene general cargo vessel arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 9:45am and departs Halifax for St. Pierre at 6pm.

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

🚢 The MSC Kilimanjaro IV container vessel arrives in Halifax from Sines at 4:45pm

➡️ The Crown Princess cruise vessel departs Halifax at 6pm.

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

🚢 The Algoma East Coast tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 10:40pm

🍺 The most fun good deed you’ll do this week: Goodwill Trivia at Good Robot (Robie Street). Comedians, prizes, beers, non-alcs, burgers, $1-per-drink donations to nonprofits.

🦞 Salt Yard Social invites guests to skip the roll and enjoy a Maritime classic with Lobster Garlic Fingers, packed with coastal flavour perfect for sharing!

🌅 Authentic Latin flavours meet the Halifax waterfront. Order online to skip the line, then collect your fresh Salt + Sol bites and enjoy!

*sponsored

🎸 Halifax has never been short on musical talent. The album releases from Halifax-based artists so far this year are proof of just how versatile this city’s musicians are. From rock releases that demand you shout along to mellow records that beg your ears to listen close to every word, there is something for everyone in our local music scene. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer lists a few of his favourite local albums released in 2026.

📽️ Only nine Canadian cities can show you Christopher Nolan’s three-hour adaption of Homer’s The Odyssey exactly as it was filmed—and Halifax is one of them.

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