🗞 Halifax doesn't have enough infrastructure

Good morning!

Still looking for weekend plans? Check out our events suggestions below and find out what’s happening around town over the next few days. We’ve also got an updated list of every big show coming to Halifax (and beyond) in 2024 for you to peruse.

– Alyssa

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧 5°

Tomorrow: ❄️ 1°

Next Day: 🌧 2°

7-day forecast

🚗 Driving today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

CITY HALL

Everything you need to know about HRM council’s Jan. 9 meeting

City council did a lot of big things at Tuesday’s meeting, including:

• Passing the Halifax Common Master Plan

• Giving the street navigator program multi-year funding

• Approving the 30-storey tower at Spring Garden and Robie

• Boosting the Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society’s funding

But then we also discovered the city doesn’t have enough infrastructure to meet the needs of the people who live in the HRM, and the Department of Public Works is causing the downfall of Halifax. This is not a malicious overthrow of HRM’s municipal government, but instead a slow erosion of the HRM’s legitimacy fuelled by good intentions and bad assumptions.

Read more about this in the full council report at The Coast.

🤔 Need to know

🐻 The province wants your opinion on adding a potential bear-hunting season in the Spring.

🎶 Live Music Alert: Original ambient jazz, folk, and classical compositions by two artists with Caribbean and African roots. Celebrate the sounds of African Heritage month!*

🕺 Shake off your winter blues with Live Art Dance! With vibrant dance presentations from hip-hop to contemporary ballet, we have something for everyone!*

*Sponsored Post

MUSIC

Wintersleep returns to Marquee Ballroom this May

It’s been five years since indie rockers Wintersleep have been onstage together in Halifax. That hiatus ends May 11, when the JUNO award winners behind “Weighty Ghost” and “Amerika” take to the stage at the Marquee Ballroom. The band that got their start in Halifax in the early 2000s—playing the likes of the Seahorse Tavern before moving to Montreal, making it big-time on late-night television and moving back to Nova Scotia again—will play a hometown show for the first time since Mar. 30, 2019.

Coast reporter Martin Bauman has all the details on the show and the reunion, along with where to get tickets. (They go on sale today.)

🗞️ In Other News

🏒 A Nova Scotia couple has set up a hockey program for children in Parrsboro who previously had to make the long journey to Amherst to enjoy the sport. 

⛺️ A large number of the unhoused population in Halifax has chosen to remain at their encampments following a tour of the new temporary Halifax Forum shelter. 

☕️ Java Blend Coffee Roasters has announced it has laid off staff in order to keep its doors open. Read its official statement here.

🏆 Halifax filmmaker Ben Proudfoot has landed himself another Oscar nomination in the Best Short Documentary Category for his docu-film “The Last Repair Shop.”

🚨 Five members of Canada’s 2018 junior hockey team are facing sexual assault charges and have been asked to surrender themselves to police in London, Ontario.

🏅 The province has announced the 13 recipients of this year’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medals.

SPONSORED BY LIVE ART DANCE

Live Art Dance presents Rock Bottom Movement

Live Art Dance presents the Toronto-based company Rock Bottom Movement. Dora Mavor Moore Award winners for ensemble, choreography and overall production-winning artist, Rock Bottom is known for its absurdist dance-theatre that audiences rave about. Come see something playful, on January 27th at the Spatz Theatre get your tickets TODAY!

🗓️ Things To Do: Weekend Planner

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

Thursday, January 25

🗓 African Heritage Month Opening Night Celebration: Stop by the Halifax Central Library and kick off the start of African Heritage Month in Halifax with special programming including a live musical performance, refreshments and an overview of this year’s theme | Jan. 25 | 7pm-9pm | Free

🗓 Sip n' Shuck 2024: Hotel Halifax is hosting this year’s Sip n’ Shuck—an evening of oysters, seafood and award-winning wine | Jan. 25 | 7pm | $115 

🗓 Allie Bennett Live: Master musician Allie Bennett will perform a free show at The Carleton this week. Make sure to reserve your table for the event by emailing [email protected] | Jan. 25 | 6pm | Free cover

Friday, January 26

🗓 The Music of Queen: Symphony Nova Scotia along with Jeans ‘n Classics and Sountrax will be performing a show dedicated to the top hits of legendary band Queen | Jan. 26-28 | 2:30pm & 7:30pm | $40-$80

🗓 Ice Festival: The annual Downtown Dartmouth Ice Festival kicks off this week. Enjoy some local winter fun like attending an ice carving workshop, live music, street curling and more | Jan. 26-28 | 9am-10:30pm | Free

🗓 Spontaneity Improv Showcase: Check out the Spontaneity Improv Company’s monthly showcase with a lineup of impressive improvisers ready to take the stage with the help of audience suggestions | Jan. 26 | 7:30pm | $11.98

Saturday, January 27

🗓 Live Music: Salt + Ash has a must-see lineup of live music acts this week. Stop by and listen to tunes from local artists Jesse Patrick and Mike Dalton while also enjoying some local brews at happy hour prices | Jan. 26 & 27 | 10:30pm | Free cover

🗓 Rainbow Skate: The Youth Project and Queer Hockey NS are teaming together for an inclusive Rainbow Skate at the Emera Oval this week for individuals 14+. Hot chocolate will be provided! | Jan. 27 | 4-6pm | Free

🗓 Catch a Lacrosse game: The Halifax Thunderbirds take on the Rochester Knighthawks at the Scotiabank Centre this weekend | Jan. 27 | 7:30pm | $26.25. 

Sunday, January 28

🗓 Cantonese Opera: Head to the Halifax Central Library for a traditional Cantonese Opera performance including singing, string instruments and martial arts | Jan. 28 | 2:30pm-4pm | Free

🗓 Hockey night in Halifax: The Halifax Mooseheads take on the Cape Breton Eagles at the Scotiabank Centre this Sunday | Jan. 28 | 3pm | $24.25 

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings

SPONSORED BY HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY

HFXGO is now available!

You can now buy your Halifax Transit fares anytime, anywhere. Visit halifax.ca/hfxgo for details about our new app!

👀 In Case You Missed It

• It’s National Non-smoking Week. This year is dedicated to raising awareness around the dangers of vaping in youth.

• See all the nominees for the 2024 East Coast Music Awards at The Coast.

• Nova Scotia has officially marked the start of African Heritage Month. This year’s theme is "Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians.”

• Police are asking for public help in locating 68-year-old Robert James Tennant who was last known to be in Halifax in December.

That’s it!

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