Good morrow Halifax,

I consider myself lucky to have grown up in the last generation where kids didn’t have access to the internet. Don’t get me wrong, by high school I was dialing up to catfish my fair share of grown men on AOL chat groups, but the internet was not as omnipresent as it is for today’s youth.

Children First Canada released its annual report on Tuesday, presenting findings on the top 10 threats to childhood every year since 2018. For the first time, the “Raising Canada: The state of the nation’s children” report named online harms as the number one threat.

Their full list of threats to childhood includes:

Online threats
Unintentional preventable injuries
Violence against children/child abuse
Poverty and food insecurity
Poor mental health
Vaccine-preventable illnesses
Bullying
Systemic racism and discrimination
Limited physical activity and play
Climate change

Experts say that from AI-powered toys and excessive screen use in the earliest years to social media, gaming, messaging apps, online sexual exploitation and AI chatbots, children are growing up in a digital world that was not designed with their safety, rights, and healthy development at its centre.

Ok, prepare yourself to be gagged (because I honestly am in shock) by this statistic: according to the report, Canadian adolescents now average seven or more hours of screen use per day—nearly four times the national guideline.

The online threats are also connected to the other harms facing children, including poor mental health, declining physical activity and play, bullying, racism and discrimination.

On top of that, I was today years old when I learned that violent online groups exist that lure youth through platforms like Discord, Roblox, Minecraft or Twitch, and coerce them into violent and abusive behaviours. Victims are groomed into sharing intimate images, which are then used for sexual extortion and blackmail.

Guys, we need to unplug the youth and make them play the way we did when we were younger. One year I spent an entire summer just digging a hole in a neighbour’s backyard. I packed a lunch to go to work and everything. We never did make it to China, but I didn’t end up sex trafficked, bullied, blackmailed or depressed.

This just cements for me that homeschooling Poppy until she goes to Harvard where I will be her college roommate is the only responsible choice.

Love and light!

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

Today: ⛈️ 21°

Tomorrow: ☀ 20°

Next Day: ☀ 21°

7-day forecast

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

As the fields around Nova Scotia begin to give their late-summer produce, the flavours at Vessel Meats are changing, too.

For Brianna Hagell, owner and operator of the Dartmouth butcher shop, the weeks between the end of summer and Thanksgiving are an opportunity to bring the province’s harvest into the products her team makes in-house.

That means locally grown jalapeños, fermented hot peppers, tomatoes and other seasonal produce are finding their way into Vessel’s sausages and prepared products.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva delves deep into everything about Vessel Meats.

🇺🇸 The United States will completely bar the import of certain Canadian goods— including motorcycles and alcohol—after President Trump issued a new round of executive orders on Tuesday evening.

💸 Tim Houston says officials are talking with companies that could be most impacted by the trade war with the US to determine how the government could help—the province announced a $50M contingency fund last year that could be used to address the impact of tariffs, but that the fund has yet to be tapped.

🇨🇦 Join the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and Tribal Fusion Art for a unique hands-on Indigenous Glass Art Experience. Purchase tickets here.*

🍷 Fall is calling. Explore NS’s stunning vineyards, sip award-winning wines, enjoy delicious local food, and experience the magic of harvest season with us.*

🎭 NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK ONLY: Iago vs Hamlet, Lou Reed’s Magic and Loss, and Metal Box. Catch all these limited-run Fringe performances before they’re gone!*

*Sponsored Post

Live Art Dance’s 2026-2027 season energizes connections between dance communities here, across the country, and across the world! Three terrific shows – one local, one national, and one international – come together to create a vibrant voyage through the world of contemporary dance.

From Pratibha Arts’ Paratopias; to The Woods Hip Hop Company’s WOODS XV; to By a Thread from Australia’s One Fell Swoop, Live Art Dance continues to push onwards. Buoyed by the strength of art and community, this is a season packed with dynamism, artistry, excitement, and incredible dancing. Don’t miss the chance to experience it – get your tickets today!

🔌 A new piece of legislation introduced to the Legislature Wednesday could lead to a new “Performance-Based-Regulation model”—designed to ensure Nova Scotia Power’s earnings are tied to utility reliability.

🇨🇦 Canada’s counter-tariffs on U.S. goods have spurred a fresh flood of retaliatory measures, but retail experts say there will be a short lag before shoppers see price increases on store shelves.

🎞️ Nova Scotia has two new studios as its film industry builds momentum—sitting on a 20-acre, tree-lined plot of land 30 minutes from Halifax, the studio location can accommodate TV and movie productions.

🩺 The CEO of Accelerate Nova Scotia says the newly created agency could grow this year—but some MLAs continue questioning the reason for the agency's existence.

🚨 Halifax police responded to reports of a robbery at the Sobeys on 6990 Mumford Road on Sept 4—the man assaulted a staff member, stole an unknown amount of money and threatened security with a hammer, before riding away on a bicycle with the money.

⛺ A Halifax human rights lawyer says the government is virtually "kicking people when they're down" by blocking those with disabilities who live in tents from receiving a monthly income assistance supplement.

⚖️ An appeal has been filed in the case of a Nova Scotia RCMP officer who was acquitted of sexual assault—last month, a judge found Const. William McNutt, 41, not guilty of two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident that happened in July 2019.

This fall, the red carpet rolls into the heart of Halifax! From September 16–23, the Atlantic International Film Festival lights up Cineplex Park Lane with award-winning films from Atlantic Canada and around the world. With special events citywide, make it a night out—before or after the show—on Spring Garden Road!

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

🗓 Hatrick: Hatrick is taking over the Crown Royal Stage for two nights of live music!Get ready for fantastic guitar solos, amazing bass lines, powerhouse drumming, songs like Free Bird, and all the classics you know and love! Hatrick does not take breaks—it’s a whole night of nonstop music to keep you dancing from start to finish! | Sept 11 and 12 | 10:30pm | $5 | 

🗓 Festa Italiana Halifax: Experience a taste of Italy at Festa Italiana Halifax, a vibrant celebration of Italian food, culture, and community in Halifax’s Little Italy. Enjoy homemade favourites including gnocchi, lasagna, arancini, Italian sausage, and sweet treats like cannoli and tiramisu, alongside wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, language lessons, and family-friendly activities. | Sept 11 and 12 | 

🗓 FamFest Atlantic: FamFest Atlantic is a family-focused festival in downtown Dartmouth that proudly “doesn’t suck for parents.” This two-day event features live music, dance, theatre performances, magic, arts and crafts, food vendors, the Parent Olympics, a kids’ used book fair, and plenty more for all ages. Expect quality live music from national and regional artists, high energy variety shows, and interactive performances. | Sept 12 and 13 | $25 | 

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

🚢➡️ The Scenic Eclipse cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 8am and departs at 11:59pm.

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

🚢➡️ The Norwegian Jewel cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 9:30am and departs at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Norwegian Breakaway cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 10:30am and departs at 7pm.

🚢 The Algoma East Coast tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 10:40am.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Sea container vessel arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 11:50am and departs for Liverpool at 11pm.

➡️ The MSC Sagitta III container vessel departs Halifax for Saint John at 4:30pm.

The White Buffalo (aka Jake Smith) brings his concert tour to Marquee Ballroom on Sunday September 20th with guest Clever Hopes. Featured in the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack, don't miss an evening of full of raw emotion, folk storytelling and blues-rock intensity. Get your tickets!

🍸 Meet us on the roof. Agricola Street Brasserie's rooftop patio is serving summer dinners, cold drinks, and North End neighbourhood vibes. 

☕️ Good news, dessert-lovers! Tiramisu is waiting at Sketti & Ball Co., with creamy layers, coffee-soaked goodness and plenty of reasons to save room for dessert!*

🍞 Newfoundlanders have been doing this for generations. Good Robot Robie now has fried toutons with sea salt butter and molasses.

*sponsored

🧘 Halifax police have arrested a man they describe as a “serial shoplifter” for allegedly stealing from Lululemon several times over the last year.

🚨 A construction company that was owned by a 50-year-old Halifax-area man who was at the centre of a major RCMP drug investigation is now being scrutinized by the Canada Revenue Agency for an alleged illegal tax scheme.

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