Good morning!

Here’s a sentence I bet you didn’t have on your BINGO card for me to say this morning: I feel bad for municipal politicians.

Sure, they make baffling decisions at every turn, tie the province up in red rape and make getting anywhere by land or sea virtually impossible, but that doesn’t mean they deserve to be abused.

I feel for them! There was a time when being an elected official or a journalist meant accepting that not everyone would agree with you. That’s showbiz (aka democracy), dolls! But what it was never supposed to mean was accepting threats, intimidation, personal attacks and harassment as part of the job description.

A recent CBC report on escalating harassment faced by Nova Scotia’s municipal politicians hits particularly close to home for me. Not because I sit around a council table (I’m way to bossy for that), but because I know what it feels like to put yourself out there, ask difficult questions, challenge people and then discover that doing your job can make you a target of threats and verbal assaults.

And that is precisely the problem.

People working in public life, like journalists or politicians, are human beings first—with families, private lives and feelings. Of course, criticism is fair game. Politicians should be questioned, journalists should be challenged, and nobody is entitled to universal applause. But there is a world of difference between disagreeing with someone's work and launching personal attacks, threats or intimidation.

Social media has given everyone a platform, but it seems to have convinced a few that a keyboard is a licence to abandon basic human decency. The nastiest voices often seem to be the loudest, like this guy who thought it was fair game to comment on my appearance:

A 2025 Canadian Municipal Barometer survey found that 63% of local politicians surveyed had experienced some form of harassment. That's not a handful of thin-skinned people complaining about an unpleasant email; it's a serious problem.

I don't believe anyone entering journalism or public office should expect an easy ride. Scrutiny comes with the territory, but fear should not. And the consequences are much bigger than hurt feelings. When elected officials are intimidated into silence, when journalists become reluctant to ask questions and when good people decide public service simply isn't worth the personal cost—we all lose.

If we want accountable politicians, independent journalism and functioning democracy, maybe we should start by remembering that the people doing those jobs are just fallible human beings.

Imagine walking into your cushy job at the accounting firm and having some asshole tell you that you’re stupid, a whore, an old man-hating hag or—a fate worse than death—have abnormally large ears. Wouldn’t feel great, would it Todd?

Think about THAT today in the safe confines of your cubicle.

Love, light and large lobes!

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

p.s: There will not be a Coast Daily on Wed, Nov 11 as we remember those who fought for our freedom. Lest we forget.

Today: 🌤️ 7°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 5°

Next Day: 🌤️ 6°

7-day forecast

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

Sangeeta Raju believes that dance is more than an art form. It is a connection to her ancestry, a way of understanding her identity and an opportunity to bring people together through culture and movement.

The Halifax-based dance artist has spent much of her life exploring the relationship between dance, culture and community. Now, through her growing practice and newly established classes at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, Raju hopes to introduce more people in Nova Scotia to the traditions of Indian classical dance while creating a welcoming space for people to learn, connect and express themselves.

😡 A 31-year-old man was arrested as part of an investigation into suspected drink tampering in downtown Halifax over the weekend at Durty Nelly’s—a woman become ill after consuming a drink a man gave her and staff administered Narcan to the unresponsive woman.

🛣️ A busy intersection in Halifax is set to reopen this weekend—the municipality says the intersection of Bayers Road and Oxford Street will reopen by the end of the day Sunday.

🎉 Russell Brand was sentenced Monday to 10.5 years in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others—Judge Joel Bennathan told Brand that he showed a “casual and arrogant disregard” for women.

⚡ The new entity tasked with managing Nova Scotia’s electricity grid in the interest of ratepayers says it will take the reins away from Nova Scotia Power in the spring of 2028—the Houston government called for the creation of the non-profit Independent Energy System Operator (IESO) in 2024

💆‍♀️ Sometimes a regular facial isn’t enough. Body Works Med Spa & Wellness face treatments are comfortable, downtime-free, results-producing – and 50% off in November.*

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Step back into 1957 for an after-hours evening of history, storytelling, snacks, Garrison beer and trivia!

Take on the identity of an immigrant arriving at Pier 21 from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Hungary or Italy. Follow the journey across the Atlantic and experience what it was like to start a new life in Canada.

Then, head to Garrison Brewing for delicious bites inspired by all four countries, a beverage and a fun trivia night to put your knowledge to the test.

Ready to travel back in time? Purchase your tickets today and join us for this one of a kind experience!

📱 Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender admitted a robotext the party sent out last week was rushed and missed the mark—the robotext message was sent out to Nova Scotians on Friday regarding the proposed AI data centre in Point Tupper.

💸 Melissa Marsman—president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour—says the province's current minimum wage rate of $17 an hour isn't enough—suggesting it should be $30 an hour.

🚨 A 38-year-old man from Port Hawkesbury has been arrested on drug-trafficking charges after RCMP reportedly seized cocaine, crack cocaine, and suspected fentanyl—a 63-year-old woman from Mackdale was also arrested and will face drug trafficking charges.

🐼 There was no shortage of characters, costumes and cosplay at this year’s Hal-Con convention—it was a record-breaking year for the sci-fi and fantasy convention with 17-20,000 attendees.

💉 In many Nova Scotia communities, people are seeing more hard drugs being done in the open—police say a federal policy change is one reason the drug problem is shifting dramatically, leaving officials with different ideas on how to tackle the issue on the ground.

🏚️ Longtime social advocate Sharon Brown Ross is among those calling on Halifax to preserve the former home of Nova Scotia’s first Black doctor, along with an adjacent property—Ross grew concerned about the future of Dr. Clement Ligoure's North Street home after seeing nearby buildings boarded up.

🪧 The chants of nearly 1,000 Nova Scotians drowned out the rain in downtown Halifax Saturday as residents took to the streets to protest a proposed artificial intelligence data centre—protesters gathered in front of the provincial legislature at noon, taking up an entire block of Hollis Street before marching through the city’s downtown core.

🩺 A new interactive, online health atlas of Nova Scotia aims to make demographic, health, social and environmental data more accessible and understandable to decision-makers, researchers and the general public.

🍺 For Nova Scotia's craft breweries, winter brings a lull no one looks forward to in an already difficult time—earlier this year, the industry was reeling from what one veteran brewery owner called an "unheard of" number of closures.

You know you need support, but the cost of counselling feels like another burden you can't carry. Your mental health shouldn't have to compete with your financial responsibilities. Affordable counselling options exist, and finding the right support may be more possible than you think. Because your wellbeing matters, too.

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

🗓 Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution: Join the jury as you witness every twist and turn, weighing the evidence and experiencing the trial as though you were part of the jury itself. Often considered Agatha Christie's most accomplished play, this spellbinding drama coils tighter with every revelation, keeping you guessing until the final moment. | Nov 5-21 | $20 |

🗓 Remembrance Day Ceremony: Join the community in honouring Canada's veterans, active service members, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice at a Remembrance Day Ceremony. Held annually on November 11, ceremonies provide an opportunity to reflect, remember, and pay tribute to the courage, service, and dedication of those who have served in times of war, military conflict, and peacekeeping missions. | Nov 11 | 

🗓 Danse: C'est la Vida: Set to the sunny rhythms of French and Spanish songs, Liesbeth Kiebooms and David Walther's dance duo humorously celebrates the unforgettable moments of la vida (life). C'est la vida is a poetic story where dance, laughter, and les émotions intertwine with hip-hop, mime, and circus arts. | Nov 12 | 7:30pm | Free |

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

🚢 The Algosolis tanker arrived in Halifax from Sarnia at 3:15am.

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

➡️ The Tropic Hope container vessel departs Halifax for West Palm Beach at 6pm.

🥐 Morning at Public means fresh-baked pastries, great coffee, and naturally fermented bread coming out of the ovens. Stay for lunch.

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🚴 For many cyclists in the city, the bicycle is placed into storage when the clocks move forward and the evening comes sooner. The chilly winter weather doesn't help matters much, either. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with Trueman about the upcoming ride and its purpose.

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