🗞 The first container ship derby is here

Good morning!

It’s almost time to find out whether we can look forward to early spring or endure another six weeks of winter—if you believe in the tradition of Ground Hog Day that is.

Shubenecadie Sam will be back in action bright and early on February 2 at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. In preparation, check out The Coast’s deep dive into the history of the holiday and the (slightly) morbid background of Nova Scotia’s infamous rodent.

– Alyssa

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ⛅️ -3°

Tomorrow: ❄️ 1°

Next Day: ❄️ 1°

7-day forecast

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

SHIPPING NEWS

The first container ship derby of 2024 is here. Who will win?

In The Coast’s very first harbour report—Feb. 6, 2023—I made an offhand joke about the high seas drama involved in two container ships with the same itineraries scheduled to arrive in Halifax at the same time. It had all the makings of a good race—which is to say, it was the kind of scenario to which Uncut Gems’ Howard Ratner would’ve said, “let’s fucking bet on this.” And then it happened again. A month later, The Coast’s highly official, not-at-all-made-up “Trans-Atlantic Throwdown” was born when two ro-ro/vehicle carriers were due to arrive on the same day from Southampton, UK. (“We’re going to need to make a championship belt, aren’t we,” I wrote.) But since then, any container ship derbies have been few and far between. Until now.

Folks, we have ourselves another race: This Saturday, Feb. 3, two giant ships are barrelling in on Halifax Harbour from the distant shores of Antwerp, Belgium.

Read Martin Bauman’s full harbour report at The Coast.

🤔 Need to know

🗳️ Nominations are now open for the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award of Excellence for l’Acadie and Francophonie. 

🩺 Twelve thousand Nova Scotians now have access to their medical records through the YourHealthNS app thanks to a new government pilot program. 

📱 Did you know Halifax Transit now has a mobile fare payment app called HFXGO? You can purchase Halifax Transit tickets and passes directly from your smartphone or mobile device using HFXGO today!*

⛺️ Already thinking about summer? Provincial parks have announced that campsite booking for the 2024 season will roll out April 3, 4 and 5.

*Sponsored Post

🗞️ In Other News

🧾 The HoCo bill is in: The unsanctioned Dal Homecoming party back in October that happened in Halifax’s south end cost $82,000 to police. 

📄 The final report of the Nova Scotia inquiry into the 2017 Lionel Desmond murder-suicide case is finally being released. 

✈️ Travel numbers were up at Halifax Stanfield in 2023, but still didn’t reach the pre-pandemic numbers of 2019. 

🥊 Local boxer Custio Clayton is back in town for his debut professional fight. 

🧑‍⚖️ A former Halifax-area principal accused of sexual assault during an incident that took place in the 1990s has pleaded not guilty. 

🎤 Matt Mays has announced the dates of his summer shows at the Shore Club. Tickets go on sale February 2 at 10am for the four mid-August shows. 

🧤 The Parker Street Food & Furniture Bank is having a Winter Warmup on February 6, where they will be distributing winter coats and accessories on a first-come, first-served basis.

🤝 Now hiring

Looking for work?

• Aquatic organizer with the Halifax Regional Municipality

• Inclusion coordinator & inclusion support staff with the Halifax Regional Municipality

• Physiotherapist at Strada Health

• Server/bartender at Oxalis Restaurant

• Peer recruiter at AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia

• Brand integration lead at IWK Foundation

• Part-time taproom staff at Lake City Cider

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Magnificent Mozart: Symphony Nova Scotia will take the stage, led by conductor Barbara Dragan, for a repertoire celebrating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at Alderney Landing | Feb 2 | 7:30pm | $40-$45

🗓 The Homecoming: Custio Clayton, as mentioned above, returns to Halifax for his first professional boxing match at the Scotiabank Centre | Feb. 2 | 7pm | $32.50-81.75

🗓 Future of Funny II: Spend your Saturday at The Bus Stop Theatre’s artificial intelligence comedy showdown where you decide who’s funniest | Feb. 3 | 8pm | $25

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

Dine Around: Halifax’s annual Dine Around starts up tomorrow and will run until February 29. It’s the perfect way to explore Nova Scotia’s food scene without breaking the bank. 

Last Chance: Today’s the last day to stop by Morris East and try their Veganuary Special pizza: A vegan delight topped with mozzarella, cremini mushrooms, spinach and caramelized onions. ⁠

New flavour alert! As promised, here is Dee Dee’s new ice cream: Love it or hate it, Cinnamon Heart.

🛍️ Shop Talk

Thrift Market: Propeller Tap Room is hosting a Scotia Thrift Market stocked with vintage finds this weekend, February 4 from 11am-4pm.

Valentine’s Day Market: If you’re in the mood to celebrate Love Day this February stop by The Brewery by Quinn’s first-ever Valentine’s Market featuring local vendors, tarot readings and more!

👀 In Case You Missed It

• Take The Coast’s 2024 anonymous Sex & Dating Survey.

• Halifax was hit with its first nor’easter of 2024. Check out what the city looked like under this week’s blanket of snow.

• Find out how Atlantic Canada could be negatively impacted by the recently announced cap on international students.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading The Coast Daily today ❤️ 

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