What’s up with all the ships bypassing Halifax Harbour?

SHIPPING NEWS

What’s up with all the ships bypassing Halifax Harbour?

In normal circumstances, the 39,938-tonne Vayenga Maersk container ship would stop in Halifax on its cross-Atlantic voyage from Montreal to Bremerhaven, Germany—only this week, it’s skipping Nova Scotia altogether.

That it’s doing so isn’t altogether unusual—from time to time, shipping lines omit port calls to make up for delays or scrap stops if demand dwindles—but the Vayenga Maersk isn’t the only vessel veering away from Halifax Harbour this week. And the underlying causes link Halifax’s shipping port to a bevy of global issues, from industry-wide labour unrest to the ongoing effects of COVID-19 to ports facing “critical capacity” challenges.

That’s a story that merits more depth than what today’s column offers—and one for another day on The Coast—but it’s a theme to watch for in the coming weeks.

Need to know

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny with a 30% chance of showers in the afternoon. A high of 6C and a low of -3C.

📣 The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is this August, Halifax! More announcements coming soon!*

🏕 Get your summer plans in order! Reservations for Provincial Parks in Nova Scotia will start to become available Apr. 4 and continue to roll out through Apr. 6.

🎶 Sunday at 2pm Cecilia Concerts and the Halifax Central Library present a free sensory-accessible concert with Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds and pianist Jennifer King.*

*Sponsored Post

TOGETHER WITH NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES 2023

The Games are coming - Join our legacy

The largest sport and culture event in Atlantic Canada’s history will be coming to Kjipuktuk in only a few months! Take part in this once-in-a-lifetime event by volunteering at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, Jul. 15-23. Learn, share, and grow with cultures from across Turtle Island and show 5,000 Indigenous youth athletes some of that East Coast hospitality.

Learn more at NAIG2023.com/opportunities.

On The Coast

In other news

🏡 Wabanaki Two Spirit Alliance is moving forward with its plans to build a transitional housing project in the city thanks to recent government funding.

🛒 What do you think of the newly announced federal grocery rebate? A lot of Nova Scotians seem to have conflicting opinions.

🏗 At surface level, the HRM’s plans to fast-track housing are a good thing. However, experts are raising concerns over the consequences of developing too rapidly.

🦞 Halifax startup Marine Thinking has developed technology that has the potential to track down lost lobster traps and gear that are dangerous to ocean life.

🚨 A 51-year-old man has been charged after Halifax homeowners found him inside their residence.

🗣 The Province has announced Peter MacAskill as CEO of the new Crown corporation Invest Nova Scotia.

🏖 Unfortunately, due to damage from Fiona, the Pictou Lodge Beach Resort won’t be opening this summer.

🌊 What would it take to get you to jump into the harbour? Watch this video of someone diving in to save a toy for a dog waiting on the steps.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY

Applications have opened for the inaugural Youth Poet Laureate program!

This is an opportunity for young poets (aged 12-21 at the time of application) to hone their writing skills, receive mentorship, and engage with others on issues that resonate with their peers across the municipality. Applications will be accepted until 5pm on Apr. 1.

Learn more and review the application guidelines at Halifax.ca/PoetLaureate.

📸 Coast Cam

Each week, we showcase a different photo from across the HRM and invite readers to share their best guess about where it was taken.

Any idea where this week’s Coast Cam was taken? Reply back and tell us!

Things to do

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

🗓 Every One Every Day program opening: Join Every One Every Day for an afternoon of celebrating the opening of its spring program and Halifax’s diverse cultures and identities | Apr. 1 | 10am-3pm | Free.

🗓 Hello Spring: Halifax Brewery is hosting a spring market featuring pop-up local vendors | Apr. 1 | 8am-10pm | Free.

🗓 Video Game Trivia: Round up your team! Serpent Brewing is hosting a video game-themed trivia night | Apr. 2 | 6:30pm | Free.

🗓 Bunny Hop Market: Mic Mac Mall is hosting a market with an Easter bunny photo-op and more than 50 local vendors to shop from | Apr. 2 | 12pm-5pm | Free.

🗓 Ballad of the Motherland: It’s your last chance to catch this Neptune Theatre show before its run ends | until Apr. 2 | 2:00pm & 7:30pm | $33-$63.

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings

Where to eat & drink

🍺 Tilted Tap Bar & Grill: If you’re looking for good beer and pub food Tilted Tap Bar & Grill in Dartmouth has you covered. If you visit before Apr. 1 make sure to try out the pub’s Burger Bash offering: The Tiltanator!

🇬🇷 Ela!: In the mood for Greek? Check out Ela! a Greek tavern with locations in Bayer’s Lake and Dartmouth Crossing.

🍴 Windsor Street Diner: One of Halifax’s newest offerings is The Windsor Street Diner on Windsor Street between Chebucto and Quinpool. Head here for some tasty traditional diner food and all-day breakfast.

Local specials

🍷 It’s wine Wednesdays at Durty Nelly’s! After 4pm bottles are $20 each.

🍗 In the mood for wings? Upstreet BBQ Brewhouse is offering 50% off its crispy wings plus $5 pints all day long.

🐣 Looking for a quick and discounted Easter meal? Maria’s Bar & Pantry is offering Easter meal kits for 2 ($68) or 4( $125) people that include lamb and beef meatballs, slow-roasted porchetta, smashed new potatoes, green beans, pasta salad and easter egg cheesecake cups.

Have a local special we should feature? Reply back and let us know!