Good morning!

It’s May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day.

When American workers took to the streets of Chicago in 1886, striking in support of an eight-hour workday, police sent to disperse the protest were instead complicit in the deaths of four workers and in injuring over 150 people after a bomb was thrown by an unknown party.

Workers’ rights have not been without bloodshed, and as much as May Day is a celebration of how far these rights have come, it is also a reminder that we don’t make progress without protest.

These days, the eight-hour workday seems like a pipe dream for most. For some, getting by means working two or three jobs, the result of a gig-based economy that keeps both hours and wages low to ensure companies continue to maximize profits.

I am one of these people. Even with five years of post-secondary education and nearly five years of journalism experience, I still have to work two jobs if I want any chance at owning a home, having a wedding, or paying off my student debt.

Some people refuse to accept it, but these are extremely dark times for workers. Not many people are working eight hours a day. Most are working more for less pay. You can sugarcoat this as a “choice”, but when the cost-of-living is beyond what most can afford, working more becomes a necessity.

So, this May Day, think about how we can improve our conditions. Not just for ourselves, but for the people around us.

Happy Friday. See you all next week.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: 🌧️ 11°

Tomorrow: ☀ 14°

Next Day: 🌧️ 7°

7-day forecast

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

Halifax’s biggest labour and arts festival is back for another year.

The Mayworks Festival is both a celebration and a protest. It’s many artistic works present a mosaic of diverse and complex working-class issues, inspired by the May Day from which the festival gets its name.

“Art is inherently political,” says assistant festival director Jake Planinc in an interview with The Coast. “I think what Mayworks does is bring it to the forefront. I don’t think that you can be creating art in a vacuum. No matter what kind of art you’re making, it’s going to have a political context that it exists within.”

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with Planinc about the Mayworks Festival and all it has to offer.

⚕️ The NSGEU is calling on Nova Scotia Health to pause its rollout of the One Person One Record system province-wide after workers at the IWK reported issues with the system—a survey released by the union shows over 80 percent of respondents are experiencing job impacts due to its introduction.

🛣️ Some drivers are calling on the province to repave Highway 103 due to potholes that make driving to Halifax hazardous—the government says they plan to patch up the holes on the highway over the next couple weeks once work on Highway 102 is complete.

⚖️ One of the four teens involved in the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Ahmad Al Marrach has been sentenced to 18 months in a youth detention centre—the teen instigated the fight that eventually led to Al Marrach’s death.

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🚓 Four men have been charged in the vandalism of six police vehicles left overnight at a protest in Potlotek First Nation on April 2—officers left their vehicles on the premises of a cannabis storefront they raided after protestors blocked the roadway.

🛢️ Inceptio Oil and Gas, a U.K.-based energy company, has won a bid to explore for oil and gas in Nova Scotia waters—Inceptio had successfully bid in 2023 but had been vetoed by the federal-provincial joint regulator.

🔍 The RCMP are asking people with verifiable tips on the disappearance of Jack and Lilly Sullivan in rural Pictou County last year to step forward—they say it is still being investigated as a missing persons case, not a criminal matter.

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

🗓 Jane’s Walk Halifax: Get outside and connect with people on these guided neighbourhood walks all around Halifax. | May 1-3 |

🗓 Two Asians One Mic Comedy Show: Comedians Bonggun Kim and Robert Peng will leave you laughing as they make a tour stop at Halifax Live! | May 1-2 | 8PM | $30+|

🗓 Rare & Fine Wine Tasting: Elegant wines, some rarely seen in Nova Scotia, paired with live music and light hors d’oeuvres. Part of the Savour Food & Wine Festival. | May 1 | 2PM-9PM | $126.19+|

🗓 Halifax Crafters Society - Spring Market 2026: A weekend of handmade treasures, local talent and one-of-a-kind finds. Art, jewelry, textiles and more. Taking place at the Light House Arts Centre. | May 2-3 | 10AM |

🗓 The Curio Collective Vintage Pop Up at IKEA Halifax: 20 vintage and antique vendors, all in one place. | May 2-3 | 11AM |

🗓 NS Wildlife Carvers & Artists 34th Competition and Show: Come and watch incredible carvings and interact with artists, as well as view some how-to demos. Taking place at Cole Harbour Place. | May 2-3 | 8AM, 9AM |

🗓 Jenn Grant - Queen of the Strait: Cradled by the Waves: One of Nova Scotia’s most celebrated folk singers is performing at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in support of her new album. | May 2 | 8PM | $36.75+|

🗓 Halifax Battle of the Atlantic Parade: A ceremony will be held at Point Pleasant Park in remembrance of the longest battle in the Second World War and the 4,500 Canadians who gave their lives. | May 3 | 10AM | $36.75+|

🗓 My father’s experience in the Merchant Navy: The story of Louis E. Wren and his experiences during the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War, told by his son and author Chris D. Wren at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. | May 3 | 1PM |

🗓 Radiant Ground: New Paintings by Marilyn McAvoy: Local artist Marilyn McAvoy’s new collection is on display at The Prow Gallery. | April 14-May 8 |

🗓 The Ghost of Violet Shaw: The Eastern Front Theatre presents this Victorian-era farce featuring a family dealing with their supposed curse. | April 28-May 24 | 2PM, 7:30PM | $25+|

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

➡️ The Leo A. MacArthur tug departs Halifax for Sorel at 5am.

🚢➡️ The Pictor arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 6:15am and departs for Argentia at 4pm.

➡️ The Algoma East Coast tanker departs Halifax for Saint John at 7am.

🚢 The Largo Energy tanker arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 9:45am.

🚢➡️ The Silver Arctic container vessel arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 1:15pm and departs for St. Pierre for 7pm.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Sun container vessel arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm and departs for Liverpool at 11pm.

🚢 The MSC Kilimanjaro IV container vessel arrives in Halifax from Sines at 4:15pm.

➡️ The Morning Lady roll-on/roll-off vessel departs Halifax for New York at 4:30pm.

🚢 The BBC Amber container vessel arrives in Halifax from Corpus Christi at 11:15pm.

🍛 2 Doors Down is serving a delicious, veggie-packed Curry Cauliflower, amde with red curry roasted cauliflower, thai yellow coconut curry, carrots, sweet potato, peas, potatoes, crispy chickpeas, lime, toasted sesame seeds, chili oil, cilantro, thai basil and toasted cashews.

🍦 Dee Dee’s Ice Cream is serving up Creamsicle ice cream: classic vanilla with an orange drizzle that’s bright and creamy.

👠 Designers from Halifax to Toronto are set to bring a mix of sustainability, global influence, and self-expression to Prince Edward Island as PEI Fashion Weekend returns May 1 and 2. Now in its fifth season, the event has grown from a pandemic-era idea into a regional platform connecting emerging and established designers from across Canada and beyond. Founder and director Julia Campbell said the event began in 2020 at a time when much of the fashion industry had slowed. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva speaks with Campbell about PEI Fashion Week and its representation of Atlantic Canadian fashion brands.

🏛️ The opposition criticized the province on what it means to be taken off the need-a-family-practice registry—the government has been counting people who have been matched with a provider but haven’t had any appointments, which has left some MLAs concerned about Houston’s government taking credit for work that has yet to be be done.

🏭 The vice-president of the IESO argues that Nova Scotia needs the two gas power plants considered for development in Pictou County due to an energy problem that will surface from getting off of coal while electricity demand increases—Pictou County’s government asked Premier Tim Houston to pause the project, but Houston denied the request.

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