🗞️ New art show puts you in the spotlight

Today, on As The World Turns, I mean, at SaltWire…

Postmedia did a chef’s kiss of a job using all kinds of words to say absolutely nothing about what the plan is for SaltWire—Atlantic Canada’s largest chain of newspapers—now that the $1M purchase of the company has finally gone through.

The CEO of Postmedia met with SaltWire employees yesterday and then made himself available to the media where he did an excellent job of reassuring exactly nobody by saying such concrete things as “I can’t say for certain right now,” “when we have more information” and “allowing for efficiencies.” 

He went on to say that he promised to build a model that is stable and viable for the future. Ummm, for who? I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say…him.

On Thursday morning, the union representing editorial staff at the Chronicle-Herald reported that four of its members—three editors and one reporter—have been laid off. This comes just days after the St. John’s Telegram printed the final edition of their daily paper (allegedly they are moving to a weekly).

It’s certainly a sad time for Atlantic Canadian media, but the good news is that WE aren’t going anywhere and our goal is—and always will be—to bring you local journalism. Real local. From real locals. If you can, please consider supporting us by becoming a Coast Insider so we can keep doing what we do. For you!

Have an amazing long weekend!

– Julie and The Coast Team

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 22°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 22°

Next Day: ⛈️ 22°

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.

ARTS + CULTURE

New art show puts you in the spotlight

Two things I did not expect to have happened as I rolled up to The Craig Gallery in Alderney Landing this week: to walk a red carpet and to receive an award (albeit one I gave myself).

But that’s the experience everyone will get at Celine Gabrielle’s new art show, “I’M A WINNER/LOSER BABY”—a playful installation that challenges our conception of success and how that ties to our identity and sense of self.

“In pop culture and in the media, we’re always fed this idea of do more, be more, be more successful. It’s like whatever we do, it’s not enough. And I want to challenge that idea. What even is ‘enough,’” says Gabrielle.

You begin by walking a short red carpet while lights flash in your eyes as a soundtrack alternates between cheering and jeering, capturing the fickle nature of life in the limelight. Some days they love you, some days they hate you. That’s showbiz, kid.

The Coast’s Julie Lawrence visited The Craig to check out the show and talk with artist Celine Gabrielle about her inspiration behind this super cool and innovative new work.

🤔 Need To Know

🗞️ The Coast Daily won’t be publishing on Labour Day Monday. We hope you also get the day off, and we’ll connect again on Tuesday.

🚨 Two more people have been charged in connection with the murder of 16 year-old Ahmad Maher Al Marrach in April outside of the Halifax Shopping Centre.

🏙️ Halifax Regional Municipality’s 2024 election nominations are officially open for potential mayoral and council candidates.

📱 A survey conducted by Narrative Research this month found 89% of respondents in Nova Scotia support a cell phone ban in schools.

🇨🇦 Explore A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada, a new myth-busting exhibition that reveals a history many Canadians don’t know about.*

🎭 This is the FINAL WEEKEND of Shakespeare by the Sea this summer! Alice in Wonderland The Musical, Twelfth Night, and Unrehearsed Macbeth! Get seats now!*

🌊 Don’t miss your last chance to experience Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend at the Museum of Natural History. This beautiful exhibit at closes on September 2, 2024.*

🧑‍🌾 Meet the farmers who grow our food on Open Farm Day, Sunday, September 15th. Check out our participating farms and plan your adventure today!*

*Sponsored Post

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EDUCATION

 Back to school will suffer from teacher shortage warns new teachers’ union president

At the beginning of August, Peter Day began his two-year term as the new president of the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union, which represents over 10,000 active members. These are public school teachers from Pre-Primary through to Grade 12, and special education teachers. 

Day tells The Coast that beginning his presidency feels “very similar to heading to a new school for the first time—it’s exciting, scary and all of the emotions in one.” Counting his time in school as a student and his 22 years as a teacher, Day says, “this is the first September in 41 years that I’m not going back to school—but I’m very much looking forward to this year.” 

NSTU members will return to the classroom next week on Tuesday Sep. 3, just two days before students return to school on Thursday. “I can say with assurance that teachers and members of the NSTU are excited to have students come back and they want what's best,” says Day. “We all want an amazing school system, and by listening to the experts—the teachers and the specialists that work with the students every day—we can make some positive improvements.”

The Coast’s education reporter Lauren Phillips spoke with Day about what his focus is for the new school year.

🗞️ In Other News

🚨 Police arrested three people during a weapons complaint at the Westin Nova Scotian hotel in downtown Halifax on Wednesday night.

👮 Halifax Regional Police says it continues to investigate the death of Jason MacCullough 25 years after he was murdered.

⚖️ The trial of a Halifax-area pediatric dentist—charged with physically assaulting children through his practice over a 50-year period—is still scheduled to proceed this fall despite a last-minute change in lawyers.

🌪️ Waterspouts have been spotted on the waters of Eastern Canada this summer, with one boater claiming he saw one off the coast of Quebec last week.

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Experience the Delight of Agricola Open Street Sunday!

Experience Agricola Open Street Sunday on September 8th! Explore the bustling street market, savor local cuisine, and enjoy live entertainment. Agricola Street will be closed to traffic from Cunard to Almon Street, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate in the heart of Halifax!

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

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

🗓 2024 Halifax Fringe Festival: This annual atlantic performing arts festival spans 11 days with over 60 productions, performing over 300 individual performances, at over 14 venues! Head to thecoast.ca every day of the festival to get that day’s schedule. | Aug 28-Sep 8 | From $29

🗓 Hope for Wildlife's Annual Open House: Get a once-a-year "behind-the-scenes" look at the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility with tours of the medical facilities, access to the bird and mammal nurseries, recovery units, marine unit and giant flight cages! All funds raised go to support Hope for Wildlife's efforts to help injured and orphaned wildlife in Nova Scotia. | Aug 31 | Noon | Donations welcome

🗓 1st Annual Eastern Shore Art Walk: This family-friendly event brings together an eclectic mix of local artists from Lake Echo to Sheet Harbour, each showcasing their unique style and flair. Stroll through the museum's charming grounds, discover new favourites, and enjoy an afternoon of art, community and connection. | Aug 31 | 1pm  

🗓 The Fabulously Rich—The Tragically Hip Tribute: Don’t miss this tribute band, bound together by our profound appreciation for The Hip's music and committed to honouring Gord's legacy and contributions. | Aug 31 | 9pm | $20

🗓 Shakespeare By The Sea presents The Unrehearsed MACBETH: Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedy will be brought to life like you’ve never seen it before and never will again. For this one-night-only performance, SBTS’ actors learn only their own lines, design their own costumes, and embrace the chaos of live performance where anything can (and will!) happen! | Sep 1 | 7pm | From $15

🗓 Back-To-School Food Truck Rally: This exciting lineup features a variety of local food trucks and vendors including Maverick's Donuts, Smokeinstein, Roll on Two Chimney, The Purple People Feeder, Millers Popcorn and Giggles Food Truck. Whether you’re craving savoury dishes or sweet treats, there’s something for everyone.  | Sep 2 | Noon

🗓 Halifax Wanderers Home Game: Come cheer on the home team as the city’s mens pro soccer team takes on York United FC at the Wanderers Grounds | Sep 2 | 4pm | From $29

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 4:30pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🛳️ The CB Pacific oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Albany at 6:40pm.

🛳️➡️ The Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 9:30am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🛳️➡️ The Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship arrives in Halifax at noon and  leaves for Canadian seas at 10pm.

🛳️➡️ The Atlantic Sun container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm and  leaves for Liverpool at 11pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥕 Get your vegetable fix with the Roasted Heirloom Carrots at Brooklyn Warehouse: basil whipped mascarpone, endive, strawberry vinaigrette and fresh basil.

🐐 The Goat Cheese Fritter Salad at Morris East just might be the G.O.A.T. Think crunchy herb crusted goat cheese balls, marinated golden beets, candied walnuts, pickled red onion, mixed greens, olive oil and balsamic dressing.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🪧 Even though the ongoing strike by Halifax’s librarians might indicate otherwise, the city of Halifax is supposed to be a great place to work. The HRM’s bureaucracy frequently wins awards as one of Canada’s top 100 employers. So what’s up? The Coast’s Matt Stickland has an in-depth look at why Halifax librarians went on strike this week against a city that does not follow its own labour policies.

🏒 One is a Canadian hockey player trying to make it big, in part to win the attention of his alcoholic father. The other is a Ukrainian hockey player, who wishes to bring his father to Canada and away from the war. Both junior A players have the same goal: to make the NHL draft. The Draft is a two-person play written and directed by Scott Andrew Christensen and presented during the Halifax Fringe Festival at Neptune Theatre’s Imperial Studio on Argyle Street. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with the director and cast of The Draft ahead of the show’s debut.

That’s it!

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