🗞️ New buy local program untested

Hey Halifax,

It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity that’ll get ya! 

I’m sorry, I had to say it at least once this summer to prove just how big of an a-hole I truly am. But also, apparently the reason we earthlings are so uncomfortable in the humidity is because science and it’s actually borderline interesting.

So, our bodies are complete divas and like to stay at a balmy 37 degrees. When it’s hot outside or we workout or we humiliate ourselves, our bodies start to sweat—which is just water and salt coming out of millions of glands.  As that sweat evaporates into the air—turning from a liquid to a gas—it takes some of that heat from your body and as a result, cools you down. 

BUT when it’s humid, the air has more vapour in it and when there’s more moisture in the air, your body can’t sweat as easily and instead of evaporating into the air, your sweat just sits on your skin making you feel all uncomfortable. 

Basically, the whole point of this is just to let you know that, according to a meteorologist, we’re all “wearing human air”—and I really don’t know what to do with that information.

You’re welcome! 😅

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 25°

Tomorrow: ☁️ 26°

Next Day: 🌤️ 28°

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.

EDUCATION

Dal reopens campus after multi-day closure due to pro-Palestinian encampment removal

Dalhousie University reopened its Halifax campuses yesterday, after Monday’s unexpected shutdown following the police removal of a group of pro-Palestinian students who had camped on the Studley quad since May. 

Halifax Regional Police were called to the university to remove campers from the Kenneth C. Rowe Management building Monday around 4pm. Campers went to the building when Dal Security removed their encampment on Dalhousie’s Studley quad; the camp was named Al-Zeitoun University by the coalition—Students for the Liberation of Palestine Kjipuktuk (SLPK)—who lived there for 78 days. 

When police arrived on Monday afternoon, officers walked protesters out of the building and guarded the doors. One of the camper/protesters, Owen Skeen, president of the student union across town at NSCAD, was identified by an officer and informed that, effective immediately, he was banned from Dalhousie campus for six months, and that he would be charged if he were to return to Dal during those months. Protesters dispersed shortly thereafter and no arrests were made Monday. 

The entirety of Al Zeitoun University was dismantled, removed and disposed of by Dal Security and private security guards by 5pm, including a library, art works and a vigil that had been set on the lawn for children killed in Gaza.

The Coast’s education reporter Lauren Phillips has been providing in-depth coverage on the pro-Palestinian encampment, and has more on the removal.

🤔 Need To Know

💙 Days after gunfire broke out at the Africville reunion in Halifax, advocates are calling on police and politicians to do more about gun violence in the city.

🎭 Bring the whole family out for Alice in Wonderland The Musical in the beautiful Point Pleasant Park, presented by Shakespeare by the Sea! Get your seats TODAY!*

🏊‍♀️ The HRM is advising the public that Cunard Pond Beach in Spryfield is unsafe for swimming—just hours after it reopened.

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY SUPPORT4CULTURE

Support4Culture proudly supports the music industry!

From local music festivals to local artists, see the impact Support4Culture makes here. Learn more.

NEWS + OPINION

Final report on Nova Scotia Loyal program reveals current model was untested

While some cheer for the opportunity to earn more Scene points and Air Miles, others remain confused about the Nova Scotia Loyal program.

Announced on Tuesday, July 23 at the Fundy Trail Sobeys in Truro, the Nova Scotia Loyal program seeks to supply national grocery chain Sobeys and the provincial liquor corporation with the means to promote local goods using an “enhanced procurement policy, branding to showcase local products and incentives for Nova Scotians to buy local.”

The incentive? For one week a month, Sobeys customers can collect extra Scene points when they purchase local products. NSLC customers will receive bonus Air Miles when they buy eligible alcohol products during “specified promotional periods” beginning Sep. 30.

For some, this program is a far cry from premier Tim Houston’s 2021 campaign promise, when he sought to have customers be able to buy local goods and collect points that could then be used to pay for provincial services, such as licence renewals.

Although any big box or independent store can pick up the Nova Scotia Loyal branding, and the economic development minister hopes to later include other grocery titans like Walmart and Loblaws, the points program is currently exclusive to Sobeys and NSLC and their respective loyalty programs.

This has left some to wonder who this program is loyal to—the national grocery chain currently under investigation for limiting retail grocery competition, or local producers and their valued customers.

A report obtained by The Coast, coming from an access to information request from the NSNDP, gives some insight into why the program took the turn that it did. The caveat is that the research for the program that is now in place is either unavailable or wasn’t done at all.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer digs into the report and how the Nova Scotia Loyal program could have been very different.

🗞️ In Other News

🎓 Atlantic Canadian universities are worried about the big drop in foreign student enrolment expected this fall because of caps imposed by the federal government. NS schools have accepted fewer than 4,000 international students for the upcoming year—down from 19,900 last year.

💗 A new Dalhousie study found most workers supporting women experiencing violence indicated their work was more distressing during the pandemic—when rates of violence against women were higher.

📱 Nova Scotia is adding nearly 30 telecommunication towers across the province in what the government calls the “largest ever investment in cellular infrastructure.” Rogers will upgrade 27 existing sites and connect them to their 5G network. The government also plans to spend $18.6 million to add 27 new telecommunication towers to unserved areas.

😸 The provincial government says eight more seats at the Atlantic Veterinary College will be set aside for Nova Scotians starting this fall.

⚽ FIFA has dismissed an appeal from the Canadian women’s soccer team to have a six-point penalty deducted in the wake of a drone-spying scandal.

⚖️ The Crown and defence are miles apart in their sentencing recommendations for convicted sex offender Michael Lynn Wentzell.

🛥️ RCMP say a three-day patrol of Grand Lake resulted in a ”very concerning" number of charges, tickets and warnings for a variety of offences, dozens of them alcohol-related.

👟 Navigating Bayers Lake by foot will soon be safer thanks to a new sidewalk that will branch off Chain Lake Drive—connecting pedestrians with Walmart and Superstore among other businesses.

⛺ Homeless encampments in the Halifax area are dealing with overcrowding—even with additional designated sites—as the number of people living on the streets has surged to approximately 600.

SPONSORED BY HALIFAX TRANSIT

Service Changes

Starting August 26, 2024, changes are coming to Halifax Transit bus routes and schedules. 

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 A History Exposed—The Enslavement of Black People in Canada: For many, Canada’s connection to slavery is the Underground Railroad. Little is known about what happened before that when—for over two centuries—the majority of Black people in Canada were slaves. Discover the experiences of enslaved Black people in Canada through individual biographies and archival records.The exhibition opens with a special event on Emancipation Day. | Aug 1 | 1:30pm | Free

🗓 Impro Comedy Show @TheBoardRoomCafe: Improvised comedy inspired by board games off of the shelves of the Board Room Game Cafe. Third Bridge improv team consists of the talented improv instructors and professional performers of Spontaneity Improv Company. | Aug 1 | 8:00pm | $17.31

🗓 Dartmouth Festival Series—Crescendo Festival: Don’t miss this event designed to turn up the volume on Black music artists and put a spotlight on our talented music community. Crescendo is a hub that will create space for other Black Music artists to engage from across Atlantic Canada. | Aug 3 | 6:00pm | Free

🗓 By The Pound Thrift at IKEA Halifax: Forget about price tags! Find vintage gems, classic staples and more, all priced by weight. Plus, every purchase supports By The Pound’s mission to keep clothing out of landfills and promote a circular economy. | Aug 3-4 | 10:00am

🗓The Deck Box Magic the Gathering Commander Fest: Welcome to commander fest where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter! This casual event with prizes awarded by completing a Commander BINGO card. Everyone can change their deck every round so be sure to bring your craziest combos, tailored tribals. ascetic aggro or manic midranges. | Aug 3 | 1:00pm | $50

🗓Dartmouth Natal Day Road Races: This is the 118th edition of the Dartmouth Natal Day Road Races that consist of 2-mile and 6-mile events, run on a 2-mile loop through historic downtown Dartmouth. The course starts and finishes in front of the 250-year-old Christ Church on Ochterloney Street, and is followed by a reception and awards presentation. | Aug 5 | 8:15am | $25

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The One Hawk container ship leaves Halifax for Port Everglades at 4:00am.

🛳️➡️ The Bakkafoss container ship arrives in Halifax from Portland at 8:15am and leaves for Argentia at 3:00pm.

🛳️➡️ The Atlantic Sail container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 5:20am and leaves for Liverpool at 3:30pm.

➡️ The Acadian oil tanker leaves Halifax for Saint John at 6:00pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥟 There are some big menu changes on the horizon at Brooklyn Warehouse and as a hint, they’re encouraging us to get the delightful Pork and Pickled Dumplings while we still can.

🍓 There’s a new summer dessert at Side Hustle Snack Bar: white chocolate cremeux, strawberry rhubarb compote, strawberry cookie crumble and elderflower.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🍷 John McLarty owns and operates Planter’s Ridge Winery—an artisanal winery located in Port Williams, NS—and was in the meeting on January 5 when government officials told vintners that they were planning on subsidizing the commercial bottlers. A move that—if it were to go forward—would, in McLarty’s opinion, devastate the Nova Scotia wine industry. Julie Lawrence spoke with McLarty about the subsidy, the government’s decision to pause it and the impact it could have on the local wine industry.

🚨 Halifax police are still searching for two gunmen who exchanged shots in a crowd of people during the annual reunion that brings together former residents and their descendants of Africville.

🦈 As warning signs are posted at some Nova Scotia beaches this summer, one expert says the white shark population making a big comeback in Atlantic Canadian waters is a signal of population resurgence—not climate change.

That’s it!

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