🗞️ July preview

Oh hey Halifax,

Well, P Diddy got off on the most serious charges and won’t spend the rest of his life in prison, and so I’m not really sure what to do or say. I feel so utterly disgusted and defeated for all the women and men involved—as I’m sure you do—so let’s just compartmentalize that and focus on something we can control: protecting ourselves from raccoons.

Hope for Wildlife gives us the following tips to avoid a raccoon ruckus this summer:

• Raccoon proof your house - Make sure your attics, basements or any other enclosed dark spaces are blocked off because mum raccoons love having babies in them.

• Make sure your green bin is closed up tight.*

• Keep your garbage tidy and make sure it’s all enclosed in strongly tied bags.

• If you haven’t already done these things and now have a raccoon family living in some dark and cozy part of your home, disrupt the peace by shining a bright light at them and playing loud music in hopes that mum will get uncomfortable/annoyed and move on.

• If you somehow manage to trap a mom and babies, give Hope for Wildlife a call.

• For the rest of us, when you get viciously attacked by a hoard of raccoons while trying to trap them, seek immediate emergency medical attention.

*I once had to evict a raccoon that was squatting in my green bin for weeks and it was a very hissy and unpleasant experience that involved just tipping and running for my life.

That’s it! Here is some raccoon-themed nightmare fuel to keep you motivated:

Have a great day! 🦝

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

P.S. Apparently those e-bikes and scooters are NOT free. There is a standard rate of $1 to unlock one and then $0.35 per minute of use—which makes it even more confusing that there are so many teens on them. Thank you readers for the correction!

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 27°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 26°

Next Day: ☀️ 27°

7-day forecast

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

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

CITY

Every big show happening in Halifax in July 2025

From jazz to buskers, July is festival season in the city. 

As always, The Coast has you covered with everything that’s going on so you can plan your month to the max.

🤔 Need To Know

🌁 Drivers can expect overnight disruptions on one of the city’s harbour bridges this week—the MacKay Bridge will be closed to Dartmouth-bound traffic starting at 8pm Wednesday and will reopen at 5am Thursday. The same closure will happen Thursday night as well.

👀 A Nova Scotia RCMP officer is facing yet another sexual assault charge—Cst. William McNutt has been suspended without pay since January 2024 after being charged last year with multiple counts of sexual assault, and now another charge was laid against the accused last month.

⚖️ A 41-year-old Halifax man who admitted to killing his mother in a “fit of rage” last year could be released on parole in less than 10 years—Jonathan William Pinsky pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on April 7 and was sentenced Wednesday morning to life in prison.

🍿 Sackville's Summer Movies in the Park are back! Free, family-friendly films on the big screen—bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and enjoy a great night out.*

🎉 On July 12, Gottingen Street transforms into a vibrant hub of music, art, and community spirit! Everyone's invited to join the festivities at the Gottingen Street Festival!*

🦈 Dive into Monsters of the Abyss, on now ‘til Sept 7! Explore prehistoric and modern aquatic predators. Don’t miss it!*

*Sponsored Post

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LIFESTYLE

Halifax designer champions love and self-expression through fashion

For designer John Michael-Brewer, fashion has always been more than fabric and thread; it's been a form of resistance, storytelling, and healing. 

Michael-Brewer, the Cape Breton-born creative, is gearing up to debut his new project: a bridal collection named Bubè, inspired by his own wedding and his partner, and rooted in the belief that love transcends all labels.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has more about how the designer behind the Drunk Gurl brand is celebrating authenticity and raising funds.

🗞️ In Other News

🏛️ The Nova Scotia government’s plan to change the way policing is done across the province by ensuring forces meet a standard and by integrating more police into communities is being met with mixed reviews.

🇨🇦 Canada Day has an even more special meaning this year for a group of people who received their Canadian citizenship—a total of 51 people from 18 different countries took part in a citizenship ceremony Tuesday held at the Canadian Museum of Immigration.

🚒 The cause of a house fire in Lower Sackville remains under investigation Wednesday morning—when crews arrived Tuesday night, they found heavy flames on the exterior of the single-storey home, which had begun to spread inside.

⛪ A tentative agreement has been reached between the Atlantic School of Theology and its faculty association—averting a strike that had been set to begin Monday.

🏚️ A Halifax tenant has spent almost a decade trying to get her landlord to fix a flooding issue in her apartment, but feels she is no closer to a solution and believes the residential tenancy system has no teeth.

SPONSORED BY QUINPOOL ROAD MAINSTREET DISTRICT ASSOCIATION

Halifax Mural Festival returns to Quinpool Road

From July 5–13, Quinpool Road becomes a canvas for the Halifax Mural Festival! Experience the energy as artists paint bold, new murals live. With creative vibes, eye-catching art, and a festival atmosphere, this is a colourful celebration of community and culture you won’t want to miss.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Neptune Theatre's Mamma Mia!: On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you'll never forget! | July 1 - Aug 31 |

🗓 Kiwanis Mother Goose Festival: Head to Downtown Dartmouth for a free event that’s fun for the whole family! Activities include bouncy castles, puppet shows from Maritime Marionettes, nursery rhyme friends, farm animals, digging for treasure and so much more. | July 5 | 10am | 

🗓 Halifax Mural Fest: The event will span all of Quinpool Road with at least 8 new murals being added. Big Reveal Day will be on Saturday, July 12 from 11am to 3pm with free entertainment featuring face painters, magicians, clowns, a caricature artist, sidewalk sales and much more.| July 5-13 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Box Endurance container ship leaves Halifax for Kingston, Jamaica at 1am.

🚢 The Oceanex Sanderling container ship arrives in Halifax from St. John’s at 7:20am.

➡️ The John J Carrick barge leaves Halifax for Hamilton at 8am.

🚢 The Nolhan Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 8:15am.

🚢 The One Monaco container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 3:45pm.

🚢➡️ The Zuiderdam cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 8am and leaves for Canadian seas at 4pm.

➡️ The MSC Anya container ship leaves Halifax for Montreal at 5pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍕 New pizza alert! The pizza of the month at Morris East is The Canadian: bacon, pepperoni and mushrooms. 

🦞 It sounds too good to be true, but Agricola Street Brasserie has Lobster Bacon Poutine on the menu: fried, cheese curds, rich gravy and tender lobster.

👀 In Case You Missed It

💸 Tucked into the corner of Oxford and Coburg, Tart & Soul Café has long been a fixture in Halifax’s south end — known as much for its giant cinnamon buns and ethically-sourced coffee as its cozy atmosphere, cross-stitched David Bowie, and famously eclectic playlists. Tart & Soul is a safe and welcoming space for many in the community. Now, the beloved café is asking for the community’s help. The Coast’s Liz LeClair has more on how you can help keep this very sacred Halifax space alive and running.

✏️ Illustrator, designer, and now comic series creator, Robert Batuo Mbu, has spent the better part of three decades wielding a pencil like his own personal wand. The Halifax-based creative is turning heads with Orakl: The Legend of Akung, a newly launched comic series that brings together Afro-futurism, healing, and long-overdue conversations around men’s mental health. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with Mbu—a nominee for this year’s Innovative Business Owner of the Year award—about how the comic is more than just a creative endeavour, it’s a personal mission. 

That’s it!

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