🗞️ It's baaaaack!

Good morning Halifax,

Guess what’s back on the docket at city hall? Yup, you got it. Just when you thought it was gone, the Windsor Street exchange is back stronger than a ’90s trend (iykyk).

To recap: 

In June 2019, it was announced that the Windsor Street Exchange—a notorious traffic cluster-f^&k—was going to finally get a major overhaul as part of a multi-million dollar funding announcement by the federal government.

HRM staff did a bunch of versions of the re-design over the ensuing years until…

In January of this year, Halifax council decided to stop the Windsor Street Exchange redesign in its tracks—just months before construction could begin on the multimillion-dollar project supported by all three levels of government. Voting it down 8-6, the main reason for scrapping the whole thing was that—without bus lanes—the city just couldn’t justify the spending.

Oh, also the original $47M  project total had Halifax's share at $10M. That has since jumped to a $150M project total, with HRM making up the difference—bringing the city's share to $53.7M

Then, in February, Halifax Council was like “just kidding” and reversed the decision to scrap the redesign. Councillors approved the original plan they rejected in January as a first phase of the project—with no changes to the original plans and construction to start this summer.

So redesign: back on! With the caveat that  municipal staff start planning a second phase of the project that would widen the roadway to accommodate two-way dedicated transit lanes for a future rapid bus route and allow for separate walking and cycling paths. 

You with me?

Fast-forward to now and a staff report coming to council today recommends that the municipality proceed with the current funding agreement for the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment and use the existing design as an initial phase of the project. So, basically legitimizing the go-ahead decision made in February.

I know, it’s a lot.

Have a great day out there!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ⛈️ 23°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 24°

Next Day: 🌤️ 25°

🚗 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

Spotlighting three female artists at the Halifax Mural Festival

Along Quinpool Road, the air buzzes with the sound of aerosol cans spraying paint, the hum of the soft swish of brushes against brick, the faint scent of paint and the murmur of encouragement shared between artists. 

Two vibrant murals — one a tribute to Nova Scotia’s coastal greens and blues, the other inspired by the joyful messes made by children — are steadily coming to life as part of the Halifax Mural Festival, running from July 5 to 13.

From seahorses to childhood messes, artists paint stories of resilience and environmental awareness, The Coast’s Warren D’Silva features three women to watch at this year’s Mural Fest.

🤔 Need To Know

⛰️ A Halifax woman is raising money for organizations that support women who have experienced sexual assault or are fleeing situations involving intimate partner violence—for every dollar donated to her campaign, Annika Bell promises to climb five floors on a StairMaster machine, until she reaches the equivalent height of Mt. Everest.

🚢 Irving Shipbuilding is facing five occupational health and safety charges stemming from the February 2024 death of a worker during snow clearing at the company's large shipyard along Halifax harbour—the company was arraigned on the charges Monday in Halifax provincial court.

🩺 The Nova Scotia government says more than 20,000 people currently in need of a family doctor will be served by three new “health homes” in the Halifax area.

🧘🏽‍♀️ Free yoga in Victoria Park! Join in every Thursday in July at 12:05 PM. All levels welcome—breathe, stretch, and unwind in nature.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY NORTH END BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Come one, come all!

The 11th Annual Gottingen Street Festival is set to team up with the Halifax Mural Festival and Unity Fest for an exciting event on July 12. This collaboration promises a vibrant day filled with newly unveiled murals, showcasing the creative talents of local and international artists. Residents and visitors alike will have the opportunity to explore these stunning works of art that transform urban spaces into colourful canvases, adding a burst of creativity and culture to the community.

In addition to the mural unveilings, the festival will feature a diverse array of local vendors offering unique products and delicious food. Plus, live hip hop performances by Unity Fest will take place throughout the day, adding a melodic backdrop to the visual feast. 

🗞️ In Other News

⛺ One Halifax councillor is looking to de-designate Cogswell Park as an official encampment location—the motion from Councillor Virginia Hinch, which will be presented to council on July 8, claims that the site is exceeding occupancy limits and is posing a risk to public safety.

🚒 Halifax RCMP have laid several charges against a man after he barricaded himself into a home following an attempted break and enter—officers say the man lit a fire inside the home, prompting fire services to be called. 

🏈 At least 6,000 people paid $50 to secure a season ticket for a CFL franchise known as the Atlantic Schooners—it’s unclear how many were refunded, but some say they never got their money back. 

📷 A Halifax photographer using ChatGPT to transform her images into illustrations is opening up a conversation about the purpose of art in the age of artificial intelligence.

🍻 A new beer garden on the Bedford Highway has reopened after having to close temporarily for failing to meet parking regulations—the Bedford Beer Garden initially opened for a weekend in late June, but closed when the HRM determined it didn't have enough parking spaces.

SPONSORED BY SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA

Play in the park with Shakespeare by the Sea

Atlantic Canada’s longest-running outdoor theatre brings you the return of the smash-hit family musical ROBIN HOOD: The Legendary Musical Comedy, The Coast’s Best Theatre Production 2011/2012. Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT: The Walkabout Experience is a joyful, music-filled adventure that travels through Point Pleasant Park.

Shows running from July 5 to August 31 - Get your tickets NOW!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Alexander Koltakov - Golden Light Over the Bay: This series of paintings—seascapes and landscapes—depicts the shores and ocean views of Nova Scotia. Gold leaf has been incorporated into each acrylic painting, creating a glowing, magical atmosphere of sparkling light on the sky, the clouds, the ocean waves and boats. The opening reception is on June 10 from 6-10pm where you can chat with the artist, take in the show and enjoy refreshments. | July 8-29 | 

🗓 Peggy's Cove Area Festival of the Arts - Opening Night: Community residents and art enthusiasts are invited to attend the Opening Night, hosted at Hubbards Barn. This reception will feature live musical entertainment, refreshments, door prizes and an artwork exhibit. | July 9 | 7pm | $30 |

🗓 K-OS with Andre Pettipas - Live at the Shore Club: K-OS’ inventive sound has been classified as "alternative hip hop," and draws influence from rock, pop, soul, jazz, reggae, R&B, and electronic music. He writes his own material and his albums are largely self-produced. He is joined by an artist best known as the frontman for Andre Pettipas and The Giants. Andre has performed over 150 shows in 2024 across Canada; this is in large part due to his versatility and love for entertaining. | July 10 | 9:30pm | $32 |

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

SPONSORED BY QUINPOOL ROAD MAINSTREET DISTRICT ASSOCIATION

Big Reveal Day on Quinpool

Don’t miss The Big Reveal Day on Quinpool Road — July 12 from 11am to 3pm! Celebrate the brand-new murals from the Halifax Mural Festival with live music, street performances, family fun, and more. Come explore, snap pics, and experience Quinpool like never before. It’s bold, bright, and unforgettable!

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Augusta Luna container ship leaves Halifax for Villagarcia de Arousa, Spain at 12:01am.

🚢➡️ The One Munchen container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo, Sri Lanka at 5:45am and leaves for New York at 11pm.

🚢➡️ The Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Lars D container ship arrives in Halifax from Mariel, Cuba at 7:15am and leaves for Mariel, Cuba at 8:00pm.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Sun container ship arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 8:20am and leaves for New York at 4pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥐 The croissant of the week at Two If By Sea is the Hot Honey: filled with whipped feta and ricotta, Genoa salami, topped with hot honey and a sprinkle of chili flakes.

🍄 New veggie sandwich alert! Skip the meat with the Mushroom Po’boy at Wave Foods inside The Local: buttermilk dredged oyster mushrooms, spicy remoulade, lettuce, tomato, pickle and hot sauce.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🍷 Let’s hope June’s gloom is behind us and barbecue season upon us. For me, half of the pleasure of a great barbecue is the drinks. While I have focused my first articles for The Coast on food and restaurants, my true expertise is the liquid on the table.  While rosés and whites often steal the warm-weather spotlight, I am going to make a case (pun intended) for red. Yes, red wine in summer. The Coast’s food and wine expert Mark DeWolf has some local reds that are perfect for the summer, and some Italian picks too. 

👗 As awareness grows around fast fashion’s environmental cost, Halifax’s thrift and vintage scene is booming. Choosing secondhand fashion is not only wallet-friendly, it’s a powerful act of sustainability. Thrifting keeps clothes out of landfills, supports local businesses, and allows you to express yourself through one-of-a-kind finds. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has got you covered with the best spots to hit up.

That’s it!

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