🗞 Haligonians share their sexy secrets

Good morning!

Yesterday’s thoughts on the state of journalism amid industry layoffs prompted quite the response among Coast readers. (If you became a Coast Insider member in response, thank you! There were more than a few of you.)

Roughly 16% of you who answered yesterday’s Coast Daily poll felt Canada needed to stop bailing out legacy news outlets and instead support independent newsrooms, while another 16% argued in favour of a stronger public broadcaster. Around 11% feel Facebook and Google need to pay their due, while more than half of you who responded feel that we could do with all the above—and more still.

From there, opinions were split: Some argued that journalists need to “stop sensationalizing the news,” while others highlighted the important role of journalists who “counter the explosion of ‘misinformation’” that exists today.

Others laid the blame in the media industry’s higher offices:

“We need to stop giving money to publicly traded media companies that value executive pay and stock price above the quality of their news content,” one Coast reader wrote.

Here’s our promise to you, as we continue to navigate the waters of this industry and its challenges (and opportunities): All of us at The Coast care deeply about this community, and about telling stories that matter. (And yes, sometimes, telling stories that are just plain fun—as you’ll read in today’s issue.) And we’ll keep doing it.

– Martin

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌨️ -5°

Tomorrow: 🌨️ 0°

Next Day: ☁️ -4°

7-day forecast

🚌 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures. As of late last night, the city is asking people to avoid unnecessary travel because of the storm, and Halifax Transit bus service is suspended until 8am.

PILLOW TALK

The results of The Coast’s 2024 Sex + Dating Survey are here

Just as February means three-foot snowbanks and a Tim Houston scrum leads to unfortunate soundbites, Valentine’s Week in Halifax can only mean one thing: The Coast’s annual Sex + Dating Survey results are here—and as usual, the responses more than deliver.

Hundreds of you took the time to spill your saucy (and 100% anonymous) secrets on dating disasters and bedroom fantasies. More than half of respondents this year were women, and just under a quarter were between the ages of 25 and 35. More than one in four say they’ve had group sex, and one in six say they’ve had sex outdoors in Halifax in the past year. (About a quarter of respondents wished they had.)

Read all the best survey replies on The Coast, from one-night stands to first-date faux pas to Haligonian hotties and everything in between.

CITY OVERHAUL

Mike Savage announces he won’t seek re-election as Halifax’s mayor in October

For the first time in 12 years, Halifax will have a new head honcho this fall. In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, HRM mayor Mike Savage announced he will not be seeking re-election this October.

Savage has held the post since 2012. And even though the long-running Halifax mayor says it was the best job he’s ever had, he’s ready for a break. The Dartmouth-raised politician says it’s time to plan for a life after being mayor.

🗞️ In Other News

⛺ Some unhoused residents at Halifax’s tent encampments are packing up as a deadline looms for them to vacate by Feb. 26—but others still don’t know where to go during the housing crisis.

🏠 Meanwhile, one federal housing advocate is calling on all levels of government to act in response to what she describes as a “life and death” situation.

👨‍🎨 Kids and teens can make their own Pokémon cards, make games, and wearable tech at PD Day Camps at The Art Space. Learn more here.*

🔎 Nova Scotia’s auditor general is questioning the province’s “due diligence” in its decision to buy an unfinished Bedford motel for $34.5M and turn it into a health facility.

✨ Don’t miss the DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN light projection shows on the old Halifax Memorial Library, including the new African Heritage Month show, from dusk to 11pm nightly.*

🥕 A Halifax nonprofit targeting food insecurity has a new permanent home.

*Sponsored Post

SEX + DATING

Thinking ahead: What Halifax wants to try next in sex

It turns out some intimate thoughts are widely shared. Three answers kept coming up repeatedly for The Coast’s Sex & Dating Survey question, “What’s the next thing you want to try?” (Which is good news if you’re interested in ropes, say, or exploring new frontiers—without revealing too much.)

Haligonians had plenty to say when it comes to what they want to try next in the bedroom—or heck, outside of it.

Find out what The Coast’s readers say they most want to try.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Allen D. Crooks: The Halifax photographer gives an “illustrative talk about his art practice, influences and current exhibitions” at the Dalhousie Art Gallery this Thursday | Feb. 15 | 6-7:30pm | Free

🗓 Tevon Tynes Trio: The Carleton’s house band performs a night of covers, original music and solos | Feb. 17 | 9pm | No cover

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads: The Herd host the Moncton Wildcats at the Scotiabank Centre this Sunday as they fight for QMJHL playoff seeding | Feb 18 | 3pm | $24.25

🗓 Hello City: Love Letters: Halifax’s favourite improv troupe performs an evening of sketches inspired by your love stories | Feb. 18 | 7:30pm | From $11.98

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏫 MSVU faculty are on strike after a weekend of bargaining failed to yield an agreement between staff and the university—Coast education reporter Lauren Phillips has more on where the two sides go from here.

💸 Halifax city council has started the process of police reform—but it’s a long road, according to Coast city hall reporter Matt Stickland.

⛺ A Halifax man who was fighting to improve the living conditions of people sleeping rough before he passed could set a precedent, CBC’s Tom Murphy reports.

📝 A medical director is urging Nova Scotians over the age of 50 to complete this one health-screening test when it arrives in the mail.

🚔 Between 2021 and 2023, Nova Scotians lost more than $1.4M to scammers. Now, Nova Scotia RCMP are warning about another rising scam.

⚽ The Halifax Wanderers have signed defender Kareem Sow to a contract for the 2024 season—a return for the 23-year-old, who already suited up for the soccer club in 2021 and 2022.

That’s it!

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