🗞️ Halifax gets a shake-up

Happy Monday Halifax,

I hope you feel empowered having exercised your democratic freedom this weekend (more on that later).

Sometimes, when things feel more bleak than usual, the thought that always helps pull me through is “at least we’re not in Florida”. Because you know, guns and “don’t say gay” and burning books.

But then a couple of parents got all upset about a presentation in a school about gender identity and I’m like, this feels very Florida-esque and at first I thought, “well, maybe they were too young and parents want to have those conversations at home first”, but then I found out that it was Grade 9 and I mean…come on.

So basically there was a presentation at a Halifax-area school that focused on sexual identity, gender diversity and relationships. And that in itself pissed some parents off. But what really set them off was that the presenter was asked to share their social account (by a teacher, by mistake) and then teens saw “adult things” like a banana hammock at a Pride event and I mean, whomst among us?

The whole thing is just so icky and hate-coded and poses a lot of questions about what kind of curriculum should require consent…if any. Kids are looking at their parents for how to feel and react and I feel sad that this is the example being set for them.

If you feel uncomfortable in a conversation about gender identity and equity, maybe you’re in exactly the right place.

In any event, let’s spread extra love and light today out there!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 21°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 19°

Next Day: ☀️ 19°

7-day forecast

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

HFX VOTES 2024

Halifax gets a shake-up

It has been 12 long years since Halifax headed to the polls and picked a new mayor and the consensus seems to be “out with the old, in with the new.”

Waye Mason is a very familiar face to HRM and while many thought that his experience and tenure might help him make the leap from District 7 councillor to mayor, it was not to be as Andy Fillmore made off with over 40% of the vote—and was projected to be mayor only an hour and a half after polls closed. 

Fillmore—a city planner before he entered federal politics in 2015—has criticized the municipality for allowing new homeless encampments, and campaigned on pledges such as speeding up building permit approvals and improving the flow of traffic.

In the end, it wasn’t even close. Mason came in second with about a quarter of the vote, with Pam Lovelace rounding out the top three.

Fillmore said he plans to “hit the ground running” as mayor, and said he looks forward to working with some fellow new faces around the council table.

Speaking of new faces, Janet Steele defeated incumbent Iona Stoddard for the District 12 seat, Laura White is taking over Mason’s District 7 and Nancy Hartling picked up the win in District 13.

Meanwhile, John A. Young takes over for Lisa Blackburn in District 14 and Jean St-Amand is stepping into Tim Outhit’s former post in District 16—both Blackburn and Outhit chose not to re-offer this year.

It’s not all new faces, however, as longtime District 6 councillor Tony Mancini scored an overwhelming victory over his opponent Lori Ogden. Sam Austin, Cathy Deagle-Gammon, Becky Kent, Trish Purdy, Patty Cuttell, Kathryn Morse, Shawn Cleary and David Hendsbee will all return to city hall for another stint.

☑️ If you found The Coast’s coverage of the municipal election helpful and want to keep up with how and what the new council is doing, consider becoming an Insider Member and get access to Matt Stickland’s exclusive weekly City Hall Insider newsletter.

🤔 Need To Know

🏛️ With speculation of an early provincial election call mounting, Liberal leader Zach Churchill and Premier Tim Houston both suggested that the other was a liar looking to mislead the public in pursuit of votes.

🌳 Celebrate Walking Trees, by Marie-Louise Gay, with a Tree Parade to the Public Gardens, and help plant seven new saplings as part of AfterWords Literary Festival, November 2.*

👻 Haunted House, Escape Room, Spiritual Readings and more — Alderney Landing's Bluenose Ghosts Festival brings the thrills to Dartmouth! Visit on select nights until October 31.*

🖼 Mosaic for Mental Health runs October 17-29 at The Craig Gallery with over 1200 original artworks for sale online. Support CMHA Halifax-Dartmouth Branch social programs. *

🦅 Africville Museum celebrates the next generation of environmental thinkers and doers. Come view and vote on your favourite scarecrow October 19-26*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY NOCTURNE HALIFAX

Thank you for making Nocturne a success!

Nocturne Microcosm has been a great success. Thank you to the incredible sponsors, artists, volunteers, and attendees; this festival wouldn't have been possible without your support.

Any feedback is welcome using this form. Those who provide feedback will be entered to win a Nocturne Prize Pack!

EDUCATION

Jeff Arsenault and Katherine Howlett re-elected as French school board trustees in HRM

As of noon on Sunday, Oct. 20—the day after election day—Katherine Howlett and Jeff Arsenault had received enough votes to be re-elected as French school board trustees representing Halifax on the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP). 

According to the Halifax Municipality’s unofficial election results, Howlett has 3,985 votes, and Arsenault has 2,568 votes to hold spots one and two, ahead of the other candidates, Jean-Philippe Bourgeois, who has 1,946 votes, and Marc Pinet, who has 1,818 votes. 

Howlett, Arsenault and Pinet ran as incumbents, acclaimed in 2020 when the CSAP board had 18 members and three trustee seats in the HRM. Bourgeois was running for the first time. 

This election, two seats were up for grabs in the HRM for the CSAP’s new board of 13 members across the province’s 10 electoral districts—and Howlett and Arsenault have them. 

The Coast’s education reporter  Lauren Phillips spoke to the winners on Sunday to get their reactions.

🗞️ In Other News

🚔 The RCMP and Halifax Regional Police are investigating two suspicious deaths that occurred in Enfield Friday—upon responding to a wellbeing call, police found two deceased people in the home and the deaths are being treated as suspicious. 

💙 A new study out of the University of Ottawa shows transgender and gender diverse people are nearly three times as likely to experience depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and social phobias compared to cisgender people.

🚨 Halifax police are investigating a sudden death at a Walmart Saturday night—details have yet to be released, but Walmart indicated the person who died was an employee.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Magra’s Journey - Elder Debbie Eisan: Debbie Eisan is an Ojibway Anishinabe kwe from Batchewana First Nation, and was born in Sault Ste Marie. Eisan will share personal experiences and stories that have shaped her identity, from her youth, military career and community involvement, to her current work today and the cultural thread that has been woven throughout her life. | Oct. 22 | 6:30pm 

🗓 Beat Beethoven: Beat Beethoven presented by Benjamin Bridge is a unique 7.5KM race against Beethoven’s classics, performed live by Symphony Nova Scotia. While music will be amplified on course, the objective of this event is to make it to the finish within 50 minutes, before the orchestra completes the movement, to experience it for yourself—live. | Oct. 23 | Noon | $80

🗓 Urban Rappelling with Over the Edge: Take in incredible views of the Halifax Harbour with this heart-pounding attraction. Technicians safely guide participants through a thrilling event where they will scale down 11 floors of the Westin Nova Scotian hotel. | Oct. 24 | Noon | $200

🗓 La Dolce Vita - A Celebration of the Culture, Food and Wines of Italy: Indulge in the epitome of Italian gastronomy and culture at this event, which is not just a wine-tasting; it's a meticulously curated experience that promises to tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the heart of Italy. | Oct. 24 | 6:30pm | $150

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🛳️➡️ The Garnet Ace vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Newark at 5:55am and leaves for Baltimore at 4:30pm.

🛳️➡️ The Tropic Lissette container ship arrives in Halifax from Saint Thomas at 6:15am and leaves for West Palm Beach at 11pm.

🛳️➡️ The Emerald Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7am and leaves for Canadian seas at 3pm.

➡️ The Zim Pacific container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 7:30am.

🛳️ The Acadian oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 3:40pm.

🛳️ The Crystal Serenity cruise ship arrives in Halifax from Canadian seas at 7pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🌶️ Celebrate…anything with the Fiesta Fries at CHKN Chop: fries, cheese sauce, jalapenos, banana peppers, salsa, cilantro, sour cream.

🍩 New cake alert! The Dulce de Leche Confetti Donut cake is in the case at Layers Cupcakes: chocolate cake with layers of dulce de leche, chocolate buttercream and a middle layer of ganache, covered in chocolate buttercream and topped with house-made chocolate dipped confetti donuts.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎤 The thing you need to know right off the top is that the Legere family is different. Essentially, they are the modern day von Trapps, but with wine. So it’s no surprise that now—20 years later—the siblings are still performing together. The Coast’s Julie Lawrence caught up with old friend Stewart Legere to talk about what audiences can expect from the sibling double-headliner.

🥫 As food costs rise and lines at food banks become longer in every corner of the province, the umbrella organization that supports them is cancelling its traditional Christmas programming— and redistributing the money in a more equitable manner.

🚨 The RCMP is asking for the public’s help in investigating 'suspicious incidents' of women being followed by men in HRM.

That’s it!

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