🗞️ Housing horrors

Good morning, Halifax 👋

If you’ve read my writing before this week, you may know some of my interests include music, video games, and human rights. I wish I could drop the last one, but until people stop infringing upon others’ right to exist, myself and many others are in the unfortunate position of having to advocate for causes that are so clearly important.

One part of that fight that has been a focus of mine on a local level is housing rights and tenants rights. Nova Scotia’s tenancy rules, in my opinion, have gotten worse over time. I recall writing last year that the provincial government made it easier for tenants to get evicted. I also remember getting emails from upset landlords who refused to see how new legislation, and the government ignoring certain loopholes—looking at you, fixed-term leases—could be damaging to renters of all kinds: young people trying to get started in adult life, elders who are looking to live comfortably, low-income families pinching pennies, and newcomer families who are seeking a fresh start.

I am passionate about this issue, and so it infuriates me to see that tenants in Toronto are facing eviction notices for unpaid rent despite paying their rent in full. This is, more than likely, a tactic used by landlords to bypass Ontario’s rent cap, which normally allows landlords to increase rent by a maximum of 2.5% annually. However, if the unit is empty, they can avoid that rent cap and adjust the rent price however they see fit, and since only a fraction of people facing eviction notices will bother taking it to the tenancy board, landlords can get away with this unpunished.

As both a renter and as someone who cares about my fellow human beings, this scares the hell out of me. In Nova Scotia, we have all heard of cases of renovictions occurring only for landlords to paint a wall and trim and throw the apartment back up on an online marketplace. Is it possible we will see landlords try this here? Are they doing this already?

With the new legislative session, we saw our provincial government include more rights for domestic violence victims in the Residential Tenancies Act. That is unequivocally a good thing, and I applaud the PC Party for doing this. I am, however, saddened to see that boarders were removed from the Act, allowing anyone who shares a kitchen and bathroom with their landlord to be excluded from provincial tenancy rights. As Dalhousie Legal Aid has put it, it’s one step forward and two steps back.

If you’re a tenant, I encourage you to read up on your rights. If you’re a landlord, I hope that you’re a good one. If you’re a government official, give me a call—I’ve got some ideas for you to consider.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend.

Best,

- B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧️ 22°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 20°

Next Day: ☁️ 21°

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.

FOOD + DRINK

Tribute, Mystic, Rabble: Air Canada recognizes three Atlantic restaurants

There is a long tradition of companies benefiting from travel by giving out culinary awards. It makes sense. How many of us judge our travel experiences by the quality of the food we enjoyed?

The Michelin Guide is undoubtedly the world’s most recognized authority on restaurants, with its coveted one-, two- and three-star ratings regarded as globally recognized standards of excellence. Once the bastion of white linen establishments, the list now embraces a broader concept of fine dining. While its focus has widened globally, in Canada, Michelin is limited to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, sponsored by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, is similarly famous but restricted to a rarified group of restaurants few of us could ever imagine, let alone afford, eating at.

Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants awards, by contrast, are uniquely Canadian. They don’t confine themselves to Canada’s big three cities, nor discriminate by province, though there is a tendency to lean urban over rural. Although glitzy city-based restaurants often soak up the glamour, Canada’s food story is written not just in urban towers but also along our rocky coastlines, on the main streets of small towns and through farm-to-table experiences from the farms themselves.

The Coast’s food expert Mark DeWolf tells all regarding three great Atlantic Canadian restaurants who have earned Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants award.

🤔 Need To Know

🚒 The province is starting their own firefighter training program, says the emergency management minister—this comes after an audit had shown firefighter safety was at-risk at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School, where a Truro firefighter died in 2019.

🏫 Families in Halifax’s North End are voicing their frustration after years of waiting for an elementary school that has yet to be completed—the school was supposed to open this September after a delay in 2023.

🏠 New legislation from the provincial government will allow municipalities to reduce taxes when homes are destroyed by natural disasters—this is one aspect of the Municipal Modernization Act introduced on Thursday.

🎭 Neptune Theatre Co-Presents: Lisa Nasson’s MISCHIEF: Between mystical visits, her uncle’s store, and a fight for change, Brooke must reconcile two worlds. Don’t miss this powerful local Halifax story. MISCHIEF · Sept 23–Oct 12, 2025.*

🍻 Great food! Great drinks! Great times! Nominate The Pint for Best Pub Food in the Best of Halifax Awards. Nominations close Sept 30.*

🎼 Take a break from your routine. Join Symphony Nova Scotia for their 2025-26 season. From Beethoven and Mozart🎻 to Disney and Star Trek🖖! This orchestra will leave you captivated and ready for more. 🎵*

🍝 Sketti & Ball Co. was crowned Best New Restaurant in 2025, now help them win Best Italian, Best Cocktails, Best Gluten Free Options, Best Desserts and Best Fries. Nominations close September 30!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY PRISMATIC ARTS FESTIVAL

Prismatic Arts Festival: Sept 26th to Oct 5th 2025

Discover something new at Prismatic 2025!

Halifax comes alive with bold performances by Indigenous artists and artists of colour from across Canada and beyond.

Some highlights include:

• Pisuwin – a powerful Wolastoq story-ballet set to the music of JUNO winner Jeremy Dutcher

• Sorry For Your Loss – Maōri artist bringing theatre from New Zealand in both English and ASL, breaking barriers and expectations for access in performance

• Bear Grease – the cult classic Grease with an Indigenous twist

• Jah’Mila with Symphony Nova Scotia – reggae soul meets symphonic sound in a one-of-a-kind concert

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

🗞️ In Other News

📬 The federal government is allowing Canada Post to end door-to-door mail delivery to individual addresses and close some post offices—this is to stabliize its operations and restore financial footing, according to the feds.

🚨 Police charge a man with a slew of weapon and drug offences after discovering the man unresponsive in a vehicle—Braydon McNeil, 24, appeared in Halifax provincial court on Wednesday.

👮 Halifax RCMP are requesting additional funding to hire more officers—the Mounties want to hire nine new officers, including two for its intimate partner violence unit.

SPONSORED BY STUBBORN GOAT GASTROPUB

Nominate Stubborn Goat Gastropub for Best Brunch

Stubborn Goat Gastropub has been serving the best brunch in Halifax for over a decade! Their award-winning caesars are just $6 during brunch. 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!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 A Taste of the Underground: Halifax’s hidden live arts venue is letting the cat out of the bag just this once. Experience surprise performers in the style of a speakeasy. Ticket purchases will let you know where to go. | Sept 26 | 9:15PM | From $35 |

🗓 Yuk Yuks Halifax presents JJ Whitehead: Cole Harbour hero JJ Whitehead presents a hometown show at Yuk Yuks Comedy Club. Splitting his time between Los Angeles and the United Kingdom, Whitehead has appeared at festivals worldwide, wrote for the Jim Jefferies Show, and won a BBC New Comedy Award. Albert Coombes hosts while Travis Lindsay features. | Sept 26-27 | 8:00PM | $25 |

🗓 Magnetic: World Music Festival: This weekend-long celebration of music features amazing artists of incredible calibre, including headliners Dom Dolla, 21 Savage and The Kid Laroi. Come and experience the largest multi-genre music festival in Atlantic Canada. | Sept 26-28 | From $178 |

🗓 Sorry For Your Loss: Experience Cian Parker’s story about growing up on the mean streets of Aotearoa (New Zealand) with a dad that’s only sometimes there. Watch how Parker reclaims her heritage after learning of a family she never knew existed at this Bus Stop Theatre performance. | Sept 26 | 2:00PM and 8:00PM | From $19.73 |

🗓 Séan McCann - The Great Big Canadian Road Trip: Founding member of The Great Big Sea takes his Great Big Canadian Road Trip to the Sanctuary Arts Centre in Dartmouth. Come experience music, connection, and so much more. | Sept 26 | 6:30PM | $51.11 |

🗓 BOW’T TRAIL Rétrospek by RD Créations: Rhodnie Désir creates a conversation between the past and present with her choreography. A need to transcend her origins has led her to research the Americas (Martinique, Brazil, Haiti, Canada, Mexico and the United States) and immerse herself in African cultures and rhythms of the peoples who were taken to these lands. Supported by majestic rhythms, experience the power of her body enveloped by video projections: an illustration of the memories of those that have inspired her. Held at the Sir James Dunn Theatre. | Sept 26-27 | 7:30PM | From $20 |

🗓 Golden Girls The Laughs Continue: Come out and see the Golden Girls in all of their glory. Sophia is out on bail after running a drug ring, Blanche and Rose have founded a sex app for seniors, and Dorothy is trying her best with help from her young love-interest. They never stopped being your friend, so make sure to pay them a visit at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. | Sept 26-28 | 7:30PM | From $44 |

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads vs Saint John: Watch the hometown heroes take on the Saint John Sea Dogs in these regular season games at the Scotiabank Centre. | Sept 26-27 | 7:30PM | From $27.25 |

🗓 Halifax Tides FC vs Vancouver Rise FC: Watch the Halifax Tides take on the visiting Vancouver Rise FC at the Wanderers Grounds. | Sept 27 | 3:00PM | From $32.66 |

🗓 Float at the Prow Gallery: The Prow Gallery is proud to announce the opening an exhibition showcasing the vibrant and thought-provoking works of local artists. Inspired by the theme of "Float," this exhibition explores themes of weightlessness, fluidity, and the movement of both physical and emotional landscapes. | Sept 18-Oct 10 |

🗓 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 |

🗓 Neurodivergent and Spectrum Friending Event: Come out and meet with fellow neurodivergent folks in your community at the Pink Piano Cafe & Lounge in Lower Sackville. This is an 18+ event. | Sept 27 | 4:00PM |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The Siem Cicero vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Emden at 5:55am and leaves for Baltimore at 5pm.

🚢 The Algoluna oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Sarnia at 6:15am.

🚢➡️ The Allura cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 6:30am and departs for Canadian seas at 4pm.

🚢➡️ The Bakkafoss container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 7:15am and departs for Argentia at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Norwegian Getaway cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 8:30am and leaves for Canadian seas at 8pm.

🚢 The Atlantic Sun container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship departs for Argentia at 5pm.

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

🚢 The Zoitsa Sigala carrier ship arrives in Halifax at 11:15pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥧 Have your next brunch at the Cheeky Neighbour Diner and experience their apple pie on a croissant waffle. The best thing about it? It can be a breakfast or a dessert!

🍨 In the mood for a tasty treat this weekend? Check out Bar Kismet’s melon sorbet, served with frozen yogurt.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎵 Customer Service’s newest music video is a hilarious drag-fueled accompaniment to an emotional track full of longing and a tinge of hope, and it feels like a balance only they can strike. The Halifax-based emo band released their single “Never Meant To” on Sept. 10 in the lead-up to their third EP, If You’re Here, You Must Be Fine. The song itself features mid-west riffs, an energetic chorus contrasting low-key verses, and lyrics about flicking through old memories and dredging up ancient feelings. It’s another fantastic showing from the band, and it’s only elevated by its music video. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with the members of Customer Service about their new single and music video, as well as their upcoming EP.

⛵ A former member of Nova Scotia’s Olympic sailing training program is suing Sail Nova Scotia and Sail Canada for a sexual assault that occurred 2024—her lawyer says the governing bodies failed to take the matter seriously.

⚖️ A Dartmouth man pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault, extortion and uttering threats—Jason Bernard James, 51, is an employee of the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

That’s it!

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