🗞 British naval secrets in the harbour

Good morning!

How about a throwback to start your Thursday: Would you ever, or did you ever, hoedown at the Dartmouth waterfront?

Check out this photo the municipality shared of a 1970s Summer Cultural Series event at the waterfront as part of its #12DaysofArchives series.

– Alyssa

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ❄️ -1°

Tomorrow: ❄️ -2°

Next Day: ☀️ -7°

7-day forecast

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

FLOATING SECRETS

About that British naval support ship in Halifax Harbour

What’s an offshore support vessel with ties to the Royal Navy—and potentially its secret service—doing at the HMC Dockyard? If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Halifax waterfront, you’ll have spotted the SD Victoria stationed at the jetty near Casino Nova Scotia. The ship arrived from Portsmouth, UK on Dec. 27.

As visiting ships go, the Victoria’s appearance in Halifax is a rare one. The Coast’s Martin Bauman dives in for this week’s harbour report—which also ventures into Irish rock bands, Brazilian cocktails and the midnight sun in Canada’s far north.

🤔 Need to know

💰 Nova Soctia’s minimum wage is set to increase to $15.20 on April 1.

🏠 Effective January 3, the rent cap in Nova Scotia now sits at 5%. That’s more than double the previous 2% rate, which was put in place as a COVID relief measure back in 2020.

🍼 Instant baby formula Nutramigen A+ LGG Hypoallergenic has been recalled in Canada due to a possible microbial contamination. Read the full recall here.

🗞️ In Other News

🌲 Need a place to dispose of your Christmas tree? Hatfield Farm in Hammonds Plains is recycling this year’s festive trees by turning them into goat chow.

🚔 Halifax Regional Police released the results of its 2023 Operation Christmas campaign, a program meant to reduce impaired driving through the holiday season. A total of 47 drivers were charged with “impaired driving-related offences.” Check out the full release here.

🎭 The Bus Stop Theatre’s executive director, Sébastien Labelle, recently announced he’s leaving his role. He tells CBC why.

🧑‍⚖️ A former Acadia Divinity College student who attended from 1989 to 1991 claims she was sexually abused by a professor at the school, Rev. Dennis Veinotte, and has filed a lawsuit against the institution.

💊 Three people are facing charges after drugs and drug paraphernalia were found during the search of a North Kentville home. 

🧐 Researchers with the Highland Village Museum in Iona are conducting a study to find out how Gaelic language and culture has shaped Nova Scotians today.

🚨 A province-wide arrest warrant has been issued in Nova Scotia for Windsor man John Allan Russell Warner, who allegedly broke the conditions of his parole.

💔 Read the heartbreaking 80-year-old story of the father and son who served in the West Nova Scotia Regiment during WW II, but only one returned home.

SPONSORED BY LEAH SKERRY

Lizard of Pause: A circus dance comedy for everyone!

Halifax, mark your calendars! Award-winning choreographer Alyssa Martin and circus artist Leah Skerry present "Lizard of Pause: GIRLY EPIC" January 18 and 19. This unique circus dance production, accompanied by original music from harpist Ellen Gibling and composer Benjamin Shapiro, promises a whimsically funny journey through Dorothy's self-discovery. Get your tickets now!

🍩 Coast Polls

In honour of its 60th anniversary, Tim Hortons has announced it's bringing back four retro doughnuts for a limited time starting January 10.

🗓️ Things To Do: Weekend planner

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

Thursday, January 4

🗓️ Queer Trivia Night: The Duke’s Public House is hosting a general trivia night for the 2SLGTBTQ+ community and its allies tonight. Gather your team of 3 to 6 people and head down for a Thursday of questions and drinks | Jan. 4 | 6pm | $7 per person 

🗓️ Six Star Revue: In the mood for some live music? Stop by The Local for some R&B, funk and soul tonight | Jan. 4 | 8pm | No cover

Friday, January 5

🗓️ Stand-Up Comedy: Laugh your way through the first Friday of the year with Comedians Kyle Barnet and Brandon Michael at Elle’s Bistro | Jan. 5 | 8pm | $14.11

🗓️ Free AF Fridays: The Seahorse Tavern is bringing back Free AF Fridays in 2024 with the first event happening on January 5. There will be cheap beer and music provided by DJ aniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiita | Jan 5 | 11pm | Free cover

🗓️ My Chemical Romance Tribute: Join The Kids from Yesterday for a night of classic My Chemical Romance hits performed live at Gus’ Pub | Jan. 5 | 10pm | $10 

Saturday, January 6

🗓️ Athletes for Palestine: Join a bike ride of solidarity with Gaza para-cycling team the Gaza Sunbirds in a show of peaceful support “for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine.” The 6km ride will begin at Victoria Park and also act as a fundraiser for the Gaza Sunbirds and the Middle East Children’s Alliance | Jan. 6 | 2pm | Free 

🗓️ Live Music at the Seahorse Tavern: Shayfer James takes a night off from writing his new album to perform solo at the Seahorse Tavern | Jan. 6 | 8pm | $16.58

🗓️ Hockey Night in Halifax: The Mooseheads take on the Moncton Wildcats at the Scotiabank Centre this weekend | Jan. 6 | 7pm | $25.25

🗓️ Needle Niche: Looking for other stitchers in the area? Stop by the Tantallon Public Library this weekend for a free morning of stitching, sharing patterns, advice and most importantly, good company | Jan. 6 | 10-11:30am | Free 

🗓️ Public Skate: Looking for a way to get out on the ice this weekend? The Zatzman Sportsplex hosts free public skates (no reservation needed) every Saturday until March 31 | Jan. 6 | 12:30-1:20pm | Free 

Sunday, January 7

🗓️ Cinderella: Catch one of the closing shows of the retelling of this childhood classic at Neptune Theatre | Jan. 7 | 2pm & 7:30pm | $43-$105 

🗓️ Funds through food: After raising $1,300 during a sale back in December, Ramblers cafe will be hosting another Bake Sale for Gaza. Stop by and try a treat provided by a variety of local bakers while supporting Pal Gaza, a non-profit that helps bring food to communities in Gaza | Jan. 7 | 4-6pm | Free admission

🗓️ Sunday Signing: Dartmouth author Lindsay Ruck will be at Open Book Coffee this weekend for a signing of her debut young readers novel My Favourite Colour | Jan. 7 | 1-3pm | Free 

🗓️ Gongfu Tea Tasting: Hey, tea enthusiasts! The Eastern Tea Bar is having a Gongfu Tea Tasting where you’ll be served three to five different types of tea and educated on the history and production of each steep | Jan. 7 | 4pm | $34.50

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings

👀 In Case You Missed It

• Meet the Halifax couple who kayaked 400 kms from the city’s north end to Cape Breton

• Czechia made a third-period comeback to eliminate Canada 3-2 in the world junior hockey championship.

• Happy 2024—your Nova Scotia Power electrical bill is probably going to be around 6.5% more this year.

• Every big show coming to Halifax (and beyond) in this fresh new year.

That’s it!

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