Good morning!

Before we get into the news of the day, I wanted to check in with you all regarding the Halifax Music Festival happening this weekend.

Unfortunately, I will be unable to make it due to Truro’s Pride Parade being on the same day, but if I had to go to either of the two nights, I know my answer.

However, I’m sure your opinion differs, and as a little bit of Friday fun, I want to see who is winning the popularity war amongst our readers: Halifax Music Fest’s Friday lineup, or the Saturday lineup?

Whether your going or not, let me know in the poll below which you prefer.

We’ll tally the votes next week and let you know the results. Till then, have a great weekend and stay safe out there!

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: 🌤️ 24°

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 19°

Next Day: 🌧️ 23°

7-day forecast

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

When Halifax singer-songwriter Jah'Mila takes the stage in England next month, she will be carrying both her Jamaican heritage and the support of a Nova Scotia community that has helped shape her career.

The JUNO-nominated artist will perform July 2 and 3 with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra at The Grange Festival in Hampshire, England, marking her first orchestral performance outside Canada.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva talks with Jah’Mila about her international orchestral debut in England and the reasons behind her performance.

🌿 Attorney general Scott Armstrong announced new fines under the Cannabis Control Act— this includes fines for people under 19 who possess cannabis, for purchasing cannabis outside of the NSLC, and further fines for selling cannabis illegally.

✈️ A flight bound for Halifax from Newark had to take an emergency diversion after the captain appeared to have been suffering a seizure and was incapacitated—one passenger described the plane as violently swerving.

⚖️ The Bridgewater teen charged for planning an attack on a nearby school is facing a new charge of counselling someone to commit an indictable offence, on top of charges of uttering death threats and conspiracy to commit murder—the teen was allegedly working with another in Manitoba to plan violent acts at their respective schools.

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⚕️ The province’s chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Strang, is set to retire in December 2026—Strang has worked with the province since 2007, leading the province through both H1N1 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

⚖️ Kathryn Pentz, a former senior Crown attorney, is being accused by the province of wasting tax payer money in a lawsuit she put forward against the government and the Public Prosecution Service—the lawsuit alleges director Rick Woodburn put her on administrative leave without giving her a reason and demoted her.

🚗 A 20-year-old man was arrested for impaired driving after a crash in Fall River on Wednesday night—police found a Honda Civic off of Sutherland Drive and administered a breathalyzer.

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

🗓 Spontaneity Improv June Showcase: An evening of improvised theatre with some of Halifax’s best improvisors. Talented performers, no script, scenes and games made up on the spot, inspired by audience suggestions. | June 26 | 7:30PM | $17.31 |

🗓 Soapbox Science Halifax: Fun discussions and demonstrations on scientific topics, celebrating women and non-binary scientists. Taking place at The Wave on the Halifax Waterfront. | June 27 | 11:30AM |

🗓 Singing by the Sea: Halifax Jazz Fest and Build Nova Scotia bring the Big Sing experience to the Halifax Waterfront. | June 27 | 1PM |

🗓 Dartmouth Yard Party + Pop Up Market: Local vendors, live music, food trucks, local brews, and a bubble party. Shop with local creators while you enjoy the festivities at Burnside Brewing. | June 27 | 12PM |

🗓 Mat Hughes at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall: The amazingly talented pianist Mat Hughes performs his energetic and existential piano pop hits with special guest Emilea May. | June 27 | 7:30PM | $22.50 |

🗓 Alexander Gallant Album Release: Alexander Gallant celebrates the release of his new album ‘The Prince of Birchy Head’ in this special performance at the Sanctuary Arts Centre with special guest Andrea Cormier. | June 26 | 7PM | $26.24 |

🗓 Musical Improv Workshop: Sophie Nadeu hosts this musical improv workshop where you can learn to make spontaneous songs come alive. | June 28 | 10:30AM | $39 |

🗓 Tattoo Festival Performances: The Bundeswehr Ceremonial Band from Germany and the Scots College Old Boys Pipes and Drums band perform at the open street party on Portland Street in Dartmouth. | June 28 | 2PM |

🗓 Dartmouth Players Presents Sinners by Norm Forster: A fast-paced comedy about a moral scandal in a conservative small town, performed by the Dartmouth Players at the Stairs Memorial United Church. | June 11-27 | 7:30PM, 2PM | $20 |

🗓 Gusto Italian Food and Wine Festival: The flavours, culture, and spirit of Italy is coming to Halifax with this vibrant celebration with special menus participating restaurants, food and beverage tastings, and more, all in support of Feed Nova Scotia. | June 22-28 |

🗓 ICF Masters Canoe Sprint World Championships: The International Canoe Federation holds this event for adult and veteran paddlers in Lake Banook. | June 25-27 |

🗓 Halifax Music Fest: Weezer. The Chicks. Jimmy Eat World. Shaboozey. Dashboard Confessional. Blue Rodeo. Silversun Pickups. The Barr Brothers. There’s something for everybody at this year’s Halifax Music Fest at the Garrison Grounds. | June 26-27 | $177+|

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

🚢 The CSL Tacoma bulk carrier vessel arrived in Halifax from Tampa at 12:51am.

🚢➡️ The Bakkafoss container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 8:15am and departs for Argentia at 5pm.

🚢 The Algoscotia tanker arrives in Halifax from Sydney (Cape Breton) at 11:30am.

➡️ The Novus offshore supply vessel departs Halifax at 12pm.

🚢➡️ The MSC Eleni container vessel arrives in Halifax from Sines at 12:15pm and departs for Montreal at 11pm.

🚢➡️ The Elene general cargo vessel arrives in Halifax from Providenciales at 12:15pm and departs for St. Pierre at 11pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container vessel departs Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

➡️ The Morning Cecilie vehicle carrier departs Halifax for New York at 10pm.

🧇 The Better in Boxes bistro is serving brunch favourites all weekend, with signature drinks, french toast, focaccia, you name it. Open Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am-3pm.

🍟 Add a little pickle with your fries at Stubborn Goat. Their Pickle and Parmesan Loaded Fries feature truffle salt, fresh dill and chives, cracked black pepper, parm, dill pickles, crispy fried pickle chips, fried capers, garlic dill aioli, and lemon zest.

🗳️ Nova Scotia’s PC Party has picked up another seat. On Tuesday, a byelection was held for the new riding of Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay—the 56th seat in the house of assembly, bringing premier Tim Houston’s party up to 43 seats. The NSNDP hold nine, the Liberals three, with one independent. The results are as follows: PC candidate Claude Bourgeois garnered 48.76 percent of the vote. The Liberal candidate, Denis Cormier, was runner-up with 40.04 percent. Trailing behind were NDP candidate Trevor Poirier at 9.57 percent and Green Party candidate Nik Boisvert at 1.63 percent.

💸 Halifax councillor Shawn Cleary says it’s too early to say whether or not mayor Andy Fillmore should step down after the auditor general revealed four transactions from the mayor’s office that didn’t follow the municipality’s policy—two of the legal expenses, Fillmore says, were related to code of conduct complains last year, amounting to more than $7,500.

📃 The federal immigration minister spoke on a wave of citizenship document recalls that were triggered for an unknown reason last week—she says the department is investigating the issue, which is apparently impacting those who received citizenship under a law that allows people born before Dec. 15, 2025 to claim it if they have a direct ancestor.

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