🗞️ How about this heat?

Good morning!

Did you know that today marks one of the most important moments in the annals of Halifax history? That’s right! On this day—at around 3:30pm—I came into the world at the old Grace Maternity Hospital. I arrived two weeks late—a nod to my chronic procrastination, but also an early display of my understanding of social graces. Fashionably late is always in style.

But this year definitely hits different after the sudden death of my husband and most favourite person. I know I’m not alone in experiencing debilitating grief—or in beginning to understand how the calendar can become a minefield. 

Birthdays, death days, holidays, and anniversaries—they can be hard to handle. Most of us don’t know what to expect when they start creeping up. Will it be a day of remembering our loved one fondly? Will it be a day of remembering the pain of their loss? Can any holiday ever feel the same again? Will I ever be the same again?

It’s way too soon for me to be able to answer any of those questions, but I guess today will be a start.

The shitty part about life is that few of us will make it through without losing someone we love. Grief—it's been said—is the cost of love. The yearning and sadness we feel after someone dies is the price we sometimes pay for the close relationships that we treasure. Grief is just love with nowhere to go. At least that’s the thought that’s helping me get through today.

For any of you experiencing the kind of grief I am, I just want you to know that I see you and I empathize with you. And that’s different than sympathy—which feels way more like pity than anything else. And I can’t think of anything worse than pity.

I love this explanation of the difference between empathy and sympathy from sociologist Brené Brown:

Love and light today and always!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 29°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 21°

Next Day: 🌤️ 23°

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.

CITY

Looking to bring home a pet in Halifax? Here’s what you need to know

As workdays get longer and personal schedules fill up, many prospective pet owners are turning to low‑maintenance companions that provide affection without overwhelming care needs.

While getting a pet is rewarding, employees at the Pet Valu on Quinpool urge people to “not just get a pet for the aesthetic.” 

From hamsters to reptiles, The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke to local pet experts about the best companion options for professionals and students, and how 'low maintenance' doesn't mean 'no-maintenance'.

🤔 Need To Know

🚴 Two councillors are giving their thoughts ahead of today’s return of bike lane talks at regional council—District 14 Councillor John Young says he’s not sure yet if he’ll support Mancini’s motion while District 11’s Patty Cuttell says she’ll be open-minded on this motion.

🏫 A Nova Scotia mother says her son was denied his right to an education when he was told to stay home from school for two weeks due to behavioural challenges related to his autism spectrum disorder.

🥀 A Bedford family is reeling after a three-year-old boy died after being struck by a vehicle—Maverick Brown was playing soccer in his backyard with his older brother and other neighbourhood children on Friday evening.

🍻 We’ll say it again: The Pint isn’t just any old pub — it might be serving some of the best pub food in Halifax right now. Bold flavours, no shortcuts, and a kitchen that’s clearly levelled up.*

🌿 Welcome to Bayers Park I & II! Spacious, affordable living in Halifax’s West End. Near major transit routes with complimentary laundry facilities, parking, and discounts for seniors and essential workers.*

🌟 Now renting at The Paramount! Located on South Park Street, enjoy upscale amenities, in-suite laundry, and walkable access to every Halifax summer event. Live central!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY PURPLE COW INTERNET

You'll wish you switched sooner

At Purple Cow we like to keep things simple, like our prices. When we started six years ago we offered internet starting at $60 per month. Today, it still starts at $60 with no promotional offers that fall off, no rate increases, and no contracts. No weird hoops to jump through.

We’re local. We’re quick. And we keep it simple.

Follow the link to get your first month FREE on us so you can try us out at no risk to you.

The only thing painful... is realizing you could’ve done this months ago

🗞️ In Other News

🏘️ Officials with Dalhousie Legal Aid Service say the results of recent freedom of information requests heighten long-standing concerns they've had that the provincial government affords them less access than it does the group that represents Nova Scotia's landlords.

🚔 A Nova Scotia RCMP officer charged last year with multiple counts of sexual assault is now facing an additional sexual assault charge for an incident that's alleged to have occurred while he was under investigation for previous misconduct.

🛩️ Screening at Halifax Stanfield Airport will be quicker this summer with the addition of new CT technology—the Airport Authority has added a fifth security screening line—up from four—in anticipation of the busy summer travel season.

⚒️ A Nova Scotia man says he is worried after getting a phone call about uranium exploration from his provincial member of the legislature—PC Melissa Sheehy-Richard called him Friday night to ask if the province can use a road on his property to access land needed to allow exploration.

⚖️ Two men charged with first-degree murder in the death of Myra Johnson’s son, Anthony Johnson, have been sentenced — and now with both behind bars, she says her family can finally begin to heal.

⚖️ A former bouncer at the Halifax Ale House—Alexander Pishori Levy, 39— accused of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death following an incident on Christmas Eve 2022 has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

SPONSORED BY QUINPOOL ROAD MAINSTREET DISTRICT ASSOCIATION

Halifax Mural Festival Returns to Quinpool Road

Get ready for a splash of colour! The Halifax Mural Festival returns to Quinpool Road from July 5–13, continuing to transform the street into a vibrant outdoor gallery. Watch artists live in action, explore stunning new murals, and celebrate creativity in the heart of Halifax. A must-see summer event!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Bedford Days 2025: Bedford Days kicks off on June 26 with a Seniors Dinner hosted by the Bedford Lions Club, featuring a meal, bingo, and silent auction in support of the local food pantry. The festivities continue with a family-friendly Summer Reading Kick-off Party on June 27 and a vibrant Coastal Makers Market on June 28, along with other community socials and evening events. Highlights on June 30 include Glow’s Fun Land, a robot-themed kids’ party, and an outdoor screening of The Wild Robot. Celebrations culminate on Canada Day, July 1, with pancakes, amusement rides, live entertainment, a beer fest, and a fireworks finale at DeWolf Park. | June 26 - July 1 | 

🗓 12 Tides: Wines of Nova Scotia invites you to celebrate the release of the 2024 vintage of Nova Scotia's Signature Wine, Tidal Bay. With 16 Tidal Bay wines to try —the most to ever be released in a single year - this event is one you won't want to miss. | June 27 | 7pm | $85 |

🗓 Harland Williams: Canadian icon Harland Williams is set to bring his unique brand of comedy to Halifax for one night only! You may recognize him from films like Half Baked, Dumb & Dumber, and his appearances on Kill Tony. | June 27 | 7pm | $45 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The AS Felicia container ship leaves Halifax for Kingston, Jamaica at 1am.

🚢➡️ The Eagle II container ship arrives in Halifax from Moa, Cuba at 7:30am and leaves for Villagarcia de Arousa, Spain at 10pm.

🚢➡️ The Grande Congo container ship arrives in Halifax from Salerno, Italy at 8am and leaves for Baltimore, Washington at 3:30pm.

🚢 The Oceanex Sanderling container ship arrives in Halifax from St. John’s at 8:20am.

🚢 The MSC England container ship arrives in Halifax from Sines, France at 10:20am.

🚢 The One Macinac container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo, Sri Lanka at 10:45am.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍊 This week’s feature donut at Total Donut Solutions is Orange Vanilla!

🐷 Local comfort food just simply tastes better. Try the Oulton’s Cider Braised Pork Belly at 2 Doors Down: fennel BBQ sauce, panko-crusted mac and cheese pave, market vegetables, chipotle aioli, corn relish.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🇮🇹 At the root of Italian food culture is the concept of “less is more” and allowing ingredients to shine—a philosophy that has historically been a challenge for North Americans to embrace. Perhaps it’s our “more is more” attitude that pervaded society through the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. But that’s changing in Halifax. From Lower Water Street's Sapori to Agricola's aPria Café, The Coast’s Mark DeWolf has more on how Italian food has evolved in our city.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading The Coast Daily today.

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Haligonian.

And before you go, let us know: