Oh hi Halifax, didn’t see you there…

I’ve long been a critic of youth on e-scooters; they scare me and I’m not ashamed to admit that. They weave in and out of sidewalks, drive at full speed down the wrong side of the road, never wear helmets (which I thought was illegal) and to top it all off, they throw them in a heap when they’re done with them so every corner looks like a garbage dump.

And before you go all “but Julie, you can’t blame teenagers for everything. That’s BIASED”. Just stop because you know teenagers don’t have enough frontal lobe to handle the responsibility of an e-scooter. Deep down, you know.

It’s so bad that pediatricians are urging better tracking of e-scooter and e-bike injuries after a report shows a “significant number” of severe injuries and deaths among youth who used them last year.

The report—released by the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program—showed data from a survey of pediatricians in 2025. It showed 48 cases of serious injuries or deaths reported. These included 26 cases of hospitalizations lasting more than two days and 12 ICU admissions.

People don’t associate these devices with fatalities, but as the usage of these death machines increases—which doctors can tell by the number of kids coming in with minor or moderate injuries—then the number of fatalities will also go up.

And guess what? E-scooters were the most used device reported among the injuries or deaths.

And if you are a human in the world, it shouldn’t come as a shock to you that most of the injuries are head injuries. Every teenager I see is cruising—sometimes while looking at their phone—with the helmet around the handle bars. Oh, and we also have one of the lowest age limits for riding these things in the country at 14.

I wouldn’t confidently let a 14-year-old water my lawn or cat sit. And I’m sure the one that YOU have is very different and super special. I’m so sure.

According to the experts, there’s no amount of regulations that will make these safe and no amount of educational campaigns to get everyone to be aware of the potential risks. We have to really start at the absolute top and design a safer vehicle and create standards that mandate that across the country.

Good-luck with all of that.

Until then, keep your GD head on a swivel or you will be taken out by one of these lunatics. OR—and this just came to me—what if we put our thing down flip it and reverse it and consider walking helmets. I need my brain intact; it’s all I have.

Love, light and look both ways!

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

Today: ⛈️ 24°

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 25°

Next Day: ☁ 24°

7-day forecast

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

It is a tough week to be provincial energy minister Marco MacLeod.

In what might be his first (and potentially last) real public bout as a politician, MacLeod has been accused of perpetuating harm against women by way of rap songs he recorded sometime between 2009 and 2013, which were published to streaming services in 2023.

Since the story first broke by Frank Magazine last week, both activists and organizations have called out MacLeod's lyrics for being misogynistic and violent towards women—and have been calling for his resignation in the aftermath.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer discusses why people are worked up about MacLeod’s former music career.

🚧 This week there are lane closures for road maintenance; some areas could be down to a lane and others could be alternating over the next few weeks—here is some road work to keep in mind this week.

🦕 Before extinction, dinosaurs fought to survive! Dinosaur Exploration 2 is a sequel to the hit 2024 exhibit, featuring some of your favourite dinosaurs.*

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Some days, your mood shifts before you even know why. You may feel irritable, flat, overwhelmed, or simply not yourself. Instead of immediately trying to fix the feeling, get curious about it.Ask yourself: What has been taking up my energy lately? Am I getting enough rest? Have I been carrying something without giving it much attention?

Mood changes can be useful signals that something needs care, connection, rest, or a different approach. Even small actions: getting outside, talking with someone, or changing your routine can help. And when a difficult mood sticks around or starts affecting everyday life, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Your Counselling offers practical, supportive counselling when you’re ready.

🐔 A faulty extension cord is being blamed for a shed fire last week at a farm near Lunenburg where 10,000 chickens died last month after someone broke into a barn and deliberately turned off ventilation fans.

🆘 The province is doling out more than $800K to regional emergency management organizations—including one in HRM—that help people prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

⚖️ A legal expert says there were red flags during the investigation leading to a Nova Scotia man's wrongful conviction that should have helped prevent it.

🏛️ A group representing Nova Scotia’s university teachers says it’s concerned the government is taking more control over which academic programs get funded—legislation passed last year links university funding decisions to the government’s social and economic priorities.

🪶 Nova Scotia Health is working on a province-wide smudging policy that will guide health-care workers to support Mi'kmaq or anyone who wants to carry out the cultural ceremony in their facilities.

😶‍🌫️ A 42-year-old former correctional officer has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to smuggle a cannabis concentrate known as shatter into a northern Nova Scotia jail for an inmate.

🏠 A new affordable housing strategy for Halifax aims to keep supporting the non-profit sector—but staff say it is not a perfect fix for the broader issue of high housing prices in the city.

🌡️ 'It was unbearable' say Halifax tenants as they call for indoor temperature cap—HRM says it is investigating potential approaches to addressing indoor heat.

Genesis Halifax invites drivers to experience luxury differently. With sophisticated design, innovative technology and impressive performance across its lineup, Genesis offers an elevated approach to every drive. Discover what sets Genesis apart and experience a new standard of luxury, right here in Halifax.

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

🗓 Forever Young - A Tribute Production to Classic Hits: Get ready for an unforgettable evening of live music and entertainment as Oakwood & Seaside Productions proudly bring to the stage another spectacular show performing the greatest hits from four incredible decades of classic favorites!  | Aug 18 and 19 | 7pm | $25 |

🗓 Halifax County Exhibition: A long-standing summer tradition, the Halifax County Exhibition is a classic four-day country fair celebrating agriculture, community, and family fun. Featuring livestock shows, live music, artisan demonstrations, competitions, midway rides, and hands-on activities for all ages, this “Family Fun Fair” offers a lively mix of entertainment and rural heritage in a welcoming, community-run setting. | Aug 19-22 | From $10 |

🗓 East Coast In Water Boat Show: Instead of walking past boats parked on trailers, you can step right aboard the latest models at the dock. Throughout the two days, visitors can explore marine exhibitor booths, enjoy live music, and settle in on the waterfront patio with food and drinks from Saltbox Brewery. It's a relaxed, welcoming day on the water for boating enthusiasts, families, and anyone who loves the coast. | Aug 20-21 | Free |

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

🚢➡️ The Jamaica container vessel arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 5:20am and departs for New York at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Contship Cup container vessel arrives in Halifax from New York at 5:20am and departs for Kingston at 6pm.

🚢 The Triumph Ace container vessel arrives in Halifax from Philadelphia at 5:55am.

🚢➡️ The Norwegian Jewel cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 6am and departs at 1pm.

🚢➡️ The Norwegian Breakaway cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 7am and departs at 4:30pm.

🚢➡️ The Volendam cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 8am and departs at 5pm.

Steele Wheels is both a family-friendly space to spend an afternoon and a premier venue for any corporate or private event. With over 100 vehicles and exhibits, a café, theatre area, and an arcade and open year-round, Steele Wheels offers a one of a kind walk down memory lane.

🍕 Public's Fig & Pig pizza combines bacon lardons, figs, arugula, and hot honey on handcrafted dough. Sweet, savoury, unforgettable.

🌯 “Perfect beer food.” Good Robot Robie’s Giant Burrito (1.25 lbs!) is getting rave reviews. A full pound of burrito, available for a limited time.

🍕 Move over, Pizza Corner, it's now Pizza “Around the” Corner, where Sketti & Ball Co. is serving up serious new fresh pizzas! Halifax's New Landmark.

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🎮 After seven years with Ubisoft, George Greer was shocked to learn of the layoffs that left him and 70 others out of a job when the multinational video game corporation shut down its Halifax branch in January 2026. Not even a full year later, and Greer has launched his new independent studio, besszong, and is in the midst of developing the company's first project: a comedic multiplayer camping game called Out of Office! The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with Greer about besszong’s first video game, Out of Office!

⚠️ Costco Canada is warning shoppers about a recall involving certain yogurt products that may contain mould—the recall affects both The Greek Gods’ Honey Yogurt and Organic Yogurt Plain items, both sold in two 650-gram containers.

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