🗞 Halifax's all-new music festival

BLACK HISTORY

4 ways to mark Emancipation Day in Halifax in 2023

Tomorrow marks Nova Scotia’s third annual Emancipation Day—a day to reflect on the history and impacts of slavery in Canada. On that day in 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act took effect across the British empire. It freed over 800,000 enslaved Africans across the Caribbean, South Africa and here in Canada, too.

Halifax’s history is not exempt from slavery’s legacy, either: The port city hosted slaver’s ships, and the last ship to transport Africans to slavery was captained by a Nova Scotian.

Here’s a look at what’s happening around the HRM to mark the occasion—from free art exhibitions, to spoken word performances, to concerts.

Need to know

🗺 Here is a map of the roads that remain blocked in the HRM due to flooding.

🩺 Nova Scotia has announced a new provincial gender affirming care policy to make sure transgender and gender-diverse patients “receive supportive healthcare.”

🦠 The municipality recently warned residents of the dangers that come with being in waters with blue-green algae after closing multiple local beaches to swimming due to the presence of algae blooms.

🚂 The CN rail that had been damaged during last week's storm was repaired and reopened this past Friday.

💰 Today is the last day to purchase tickets for the August 1st draw of the Nova Scotia Healthcare Foundations 50/50 monthly lottery!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY WORLDWIDE FURNITURE

WorldWide Furniture turns 50

WorldWide Furniture is celebrating 50 years of value, 50 years of style, and 50 years of quality! Join the party and take advantage of Retro Pricing, major furniture giveaways, and surprise sales all month long. Shop huge savings on top-brand sectionals, bedrooms, dining rooms, and mattresses. Plus enjoy 50 months of equal payments with no interest. Visit WorldWide Furniture Halifax or Dartmouth for their biggest sale in 50 years!

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY CRESCENDO FESTIVAL

Celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop

In honour of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, Crescendo Fest will host a celebrity interview with Canada's first notable female MC, hip-hop pioneer Michie Mee. Known for her unique rap style of combining reggae and dancehall with hip-hop. With over three decades in the entertainment industry, the Juno and Gemini nominated rapper and actress is not only an inspiration for female musicians but for all artists.

In other news

💔 The victims of the recent historical floods have been identified.

⛴ The Bluenose II celebrated 60 years since it first sailed out of Lunenburg’s Smith and Rhuland shipyard.

🏈 The Toronto Argonauts took on the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Saint Mary’s University over the weekend for this year’s Touchdown Atlantic. The Argo’s took the game 31-13.

🏒 The Mooseheads have hired former NHL player, Jon Sim, as the team’s new Player Development Consultant.

🏠 Tenants at a Dartmouth apartment complex have received eviction notices stating the impending demolishment of their building in order for the new owners to carry out their redevelopment plans. CBC has the story.

🚨A homicide investigation in Lunenburg County is ongoing after a body was found in Parkdale last week.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Michie Mee headlines Halifax’s newest all-Black music festival lineup

Canadian hip hop royalty comes to Halifax this weekend. Rapper and actor Michie Mee—considered one of the genre’s pioneers in Canada, after rising to fame in Toronto’s hip hop scene in the 1980s and 1990s—is set to headline a new festival celebrating Black music in Nova Scotia.

Crescendo Fest is a two-day event “designed to turn up the volume on Black music artists” that serves as part conference, part concert: On Friday, Aug. 4, attendees can meet, network and take part in music entrepreneurship workshops at the Lighthouse Arts Centre, and on Saturday, Aug. 5, the festival will take over the Grand Parade for a free evening concert.

Coast reporter Martin Bauman caught up with Crescendo Fest’s organizer, Micah Smith, and spoke about the need for Black artists to “carve out our own space”—as well as everything you need to know.

Read all about it here.

Sure things

Looking for something to do in the city? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓 Hot air balloon rides: RE/MAX NOVA will be hosting free air balloon rides at Range Park Central in Bedford | August 1 | 7-10am | Free.

🗓 Africville Audio Walking Tour: In honour of the 40th annual Africville reunion check out the new self-guided audio walking tour that explores the history of the African-Nova Scotian community.

🗓 The Argyle Street Kitchen Party: The Argyle Street Kitchen Party is back for another year, this time at Neptune Theatre. Join in on a night of Nova Scotian tradition with tons of singing, dancing and fun | Aug 15-27 | 7:30pm | $33-$60.

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings

Shop talk

🗣 Dilly Dally will be closed over the next few days. It’ll be open and back to regular hours on August 2 at 7am.

Drink this

☕️ Caffè Lucca is on wheels! The Motto Espresso will be popping up at spots around the city this week for all your coffee needs. Check out its upcoming local stops here.