Happy Friday, Halifax.

I wish this week had a happier ending, but as we all see the news about the province's budget cuts, it’s difficult to focus on anything else.

One of the consequences is cuts to the arts sector, as well as the culture and tourism sectors. As CBC reports, the Association of Nova Scotia Museum is devastated by the cuts, hoping that community-based funding will pull through despite these challenges. Book publishers who benefited from $700,000 through the publishers assistance program will also have to find new avenues for funding as that gets the axe.

We’ll have a story next week about arts funding cuts, but for now, let this be known: we are nothing without the arts. It informs every part of us: our identity, our culture, and our lifestyle. This isn’t frivolous. This is a form of erasure. Many artistic and cultural institutions will perish because of this government, and Nova Scotia will be worse for it.

Take care of yourself and have a good weekend.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

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

The 2026 Winter Olympics and the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) prove that women's hockey is growing. Whether it be the gold medal game between Canada and the US, or the PWHL exhibitions that had Halifax fans fighting for a team of their own, the sport has been on a positive upswing.

However, opportunities for women are still scarce, and the new adaptation of Youngblood understands this.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with Alexandra McDonald, who plays Jessie in the new Youngblood film, about her connection to the character and the advancements in women’s sports.

🪓 $110,000 in cuts are coming to two programs associated with the mass casualty event in 2020—a program for those seeking trauma-informed care is getting cut by 10 percent while another program targeting unmet mental health, grief, and bereavement needs in northern Nova Scotia will see a $40,000 reduction.

🏢 Halifax regional council may now be able to raise development-related fees after the province says it will no longer stand in the way—a freeze has been active since 2023, with Halifax having some of the lowest development fees amongst Canadian cities.

📃 The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers say the appealed Social Workers Act was done without any consultation or notice—social workers will now fall under the same policies that cover doctors, nurses and counselling therapists.

🎭 Don't Miss Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Neptune Theatre. When the drinks hit, the tea spills... on stage February 27 - March 15.*

🛸 It's a cosmic clash of science-fiction titans in Symphony Nova Scotia's Star Wars vs Star Trek! Hosted by Jonathan Del Arco. THIS WEEKEND.*

*Sponsored Post

Innovation, beauty, music, movement – don’t miss an incredible evening with celebrated choreographer, Vanessa Goodman, and Pulitzer Prize winning musician, Caroline Shaw! Live Art Dance, in partnership with suddenlyLISTEN, presents “Graveyards and Gardens”, a mesmerizing dance piece and concert in one.

This highly anticipated work showcases collaboration at its finest, with Vanessa’s incredible responsiveness and dance skill melding with Caroline’s breathtaking soundscape to create a nuanced and intimate investigation into memory. This is definitely one not to be missed. Tickets are limited – get yours today!

⚡ The federal government is lending developers of the Mersey River Wind project $206 million to develop 33 wind turbines and distribute electricity across the province—the federal energy minister says this could power over 50,000 Nova Scotian homes.

🏛️ The provincial government is creating a new legislative seat in the current riding of Inverness by splitting it in two, with the new riding called Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay—this is following a recommendation made by an electoral commission earlier this year and will be the fourth protected Acadian seat in the province.

🏥 A Halifax couple lost their baby after two referrals for an emergency ultrasound were allegedly lost by the IWK Health Centre—the IWK is using a digital record keeping system rolled out by the province which the union says has been frustrating for staff.

In March, French speakers and cultures are celebrated: c’est le mois de la Francophonie! Alliance Française presents a vibrant lineup of events in Halifax: cinema for International Women's Day, French conversation during Speak-Dating, an official ceremony on March 20, and a French play with English captions.

Speak and Celebrate French!

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

🗓 Yuk Yuks Halifax presents Shannon Laverty: Saskatchewan’s own Shannon Laverty takes the stage alongside fellow comedian Joze Piranian. | Feb. 27-28 | 8PM | $25+|

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads vs Saint John: Watch your hometown heroes take on the Saint John Sea Dogs at the Scotiabank Centre. | Feb. 27 | 7PM | $29.25 |

🗓 Jimmy Rankin’s Kitchen Party: Folk icon Jimmy Rankin is joined by JP Cormier and Catherine MacLellan in this fun-filled performance at Casino Nova Scotia. | Feb. 28 | 8PM | $71.40+ |

🗓 Taste Asia Lunar Edition: A culturally-centered celebration rooted in the Lunar calendar. Experience food, art, performances and storytelling at Alderney Landing. | March 1 | 11AM |

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads vs Remparts de Quebec: Watch your hometown heroes take on the Remparts de Quebec at the Scotiabank Centre. | March 1 | 3PM | $27.25 |

🗓 Neptune Theatre presents: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: A dark comedy about a young couple who are drawn into toxic games that climax in a moment of devastating truth telling. | Feb. 26-March 15 | $33+ |

🗓 Dine Around 2026: All of February, stop into specific restaurants across the province for special prix fixe menus for every taste and every budget. | Feb. 1-28 |

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

➡️ The One Hawk container vessel departed Halifax for New York at 3:30am.

➡️ The MSC Yang R container vessel departs Halifax for Montreal at 5am.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Star container vessel arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 5:20am and departs for New York at 4pm.

🚢➡️ The One Maneuver container vessel arrives in Halifax from Algeciras at 5:45am and departs for New York at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Thalatta vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Southampton at 5:55am and departs for New York at 6pm.

🚢 The Solar Melissa tanker arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 7:15am.

🚢➡️ The Nolhan Ava container vessel arrives in Halifax from St Pierre at 8:15am and departs for Argentia at 6pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container vessel departs Halifax for St. John’s at 9pm.

Two of history’s most famed female pirates sit awaiting execution for their crimes.

Swashbucklers Anne Bonny and Mary Read, plundered and outfought their male counterparts before being captured. Clashing sword fights and sharp-as-a-blade humour bring these historical figures to the stage to explore what a life well lived truly is. Purchase tickets here.

🧁 The Bao Journey has a new dessert dropping—Japanese Chiffon Lava Cupcakes! Soft and fluffy with a rich lava center. Comes in three flavours: custard, chocolate and matcha.

🥪 Try WaveFoods’ Vegan Chop Cheese! Made with chopped beyond beef, vegan cheese, lettuce, pickles, crispy onions and guacamole.

💔 This weekend, I had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking with artist, DJ and podcaster Israel Ekanem for My Blackout podcast. This was a rare moment of good health, as I have been struggling for months with complications and chronic pain related to abdominal adhesions. Talking to Israel was a joy. He asked complex and nuanced questions about my work as an advocate and activist. We talked about the written word and its importance as a form of healing. We discussed the ways in which we engage in political discourse, advocacy work, and showing up in community in the ways that are needed. We also talked about pain.  Contributor Liz LeClair talks about the politicization of victims and how it contrasts government action in this new op-ed for The Coast.

💸 Nova Scotia’s debt is expected to climb despite cuts in the most recent provincial budget—opposition leaders are calling out Premier Tim Houston’s government for adding about $10 billion to the province’s debt since coming into office.

⚖️ Two teens have been formally charged with sexual assault after a hockey hazing ritual in the Truro area—police say they were both 14 when perpetrating the assault last October.

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