🗞️ Out of touch much?

Morning Halifax,

First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Tim Houston for his feigned outrage over the Nova Scotia Power hike. It sure made us all feel like you're on our side; not even a little bit performative (she says dripping with sarcasm).

The chef’s kiss of the whole statement was the premier calling the electricity utility “out of touch.”

Ohhhhhh the hypocrisy!

This coming from a man that is so out of touch that he won’t do anything to protect women in the province—from gender-based violence or from the abusive use of NDAs. He won’t show his face at a rally, he won’t acknowledge it’s a problem, and all we see from him are performative actions like giving drop in the bucket funding to advocacy and support organizations.

Tim Houston says we have been “betrayed” by Nova Scotia Power. Well, women in this province have been feeling betrayed by you sir, for your lack of action in the full year since his government declared such violence an epidemic. 

Since Oct. 18, there have been seven women killed in Nova Scotia whose deaths are connected to their male partners, and in one case, the father of a victim was also killed.

Yesterday in a presentation to senior provincial officials, the associate deputy minister with the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women said that the government’s commitment needs more than money—it needs action. 

What does that action look like? Education, training, accountability measures, a community-wide approach that allows advocacy groups to work together rather than compete for funding.  It requires a complete cultural shift.

I keep hearing from readers that there is nothing the premier can do about this epidemic, but that’s categorically untrue—he has been told over and over what needs to be done by the people working in the space, but he continues to just ignore the core issues and stipend money from the budget as an—again—performative strategy to make it look like he cares.

“Out of touch”? You can point that finger at Nova Scotia Power all you want, but there are three more pointing right back at you.

Have a great day out there.

Love and light!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 26°

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 22°

Next Day: 🌤️ 26°

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.

BEST OF HALIFAX

Get your nomination on for Best of Halifax 2026

Think your favourite coffee shop or sushi spot is one of Halifax’s best? Nominate it! We’ve got loads of categories for bars, restaurants and their staff, and the places that get the most nominations now move on to the final BOH ballot this fall. 

Want to give your barber, cat groomer or tattoo artist the ultimate tip? Nominate them for Best of Halifax recognition. The city’s original consumer choice award is an instantly recognized sign of success with hundreds of categories—and the BOH winners attract a lot of attention all year round.

Or think YOU are the best in your business? We love that confidence! Nominate yourself; there ain’t no shame in the game!

Hop on over to The Coast and start nominating today!

🤔 Need To Know

🔍 The mayor of Halifax is being investigated for possibly breaking the city's code of conduct, after an independent consultant decided complaints he had misled the public about governance at city hall had merit.

👀 The RCMP in the Halifax area is appealing to the public for information as it investigates a reported shooting and vehicle fire in the municipality—officers were called to reports of shots fired on Cherry Brook Road at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday.

🏠 Nova Scotia officials say despite the wildfire still raging out of control, a number of those who have been forced to evacuate due to the wildfire in Annapolis County will be allowed back into their homes.

🦉✨ Calling all night owls and art lovers! Experience Halifax’s Art-at-Night festival—volunteer with Nocturne! Fill out a volunteer registration form today!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY HARNOIS ÉNERGIES

Harnois Énergies is hiring!

Harnois Énergies is looking for its next Business Development Manager in the Atlantic division, for Halifax and its surrounding areas, to grow its retail network and negotiate key contracts.

What Harnois Énergies offers:

• Generous vacation program

• Performance-based bonus structure

• Competitive benefits package

• A strategic role at the heart of the network

Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field

• 5+ years of experience in business development or B2B sales

• Ability to communicate in French is an asset

• Strong communication and negotiation skills

Apply online today! (mettre un code QR vers l’offre d’emploi - Careers at Harnois Energies)

CITY

New nonprofit launches to help Halifax keep its growing creative talent

Over the summer, musicians busked on the waterfront, dancers rehearsed in borrowed studios, and models did test shoots around the city. From the Halifax Fringe Festival, The Mills Halifax Fashion Week to the Supernova Market, the city is increasingly carving out a reputation as a hub for creative talent. 

Now, a new nonprofit wants to help make sure that momentum lasts. 

The Creative Community Impact Association (CCIA), a federally incorporated organization, officially launched on Sept. 1. Its mission is to support artists, cultural workers, and mission-driven creatives, ensuring they have the resources to thrive in Halifax and beyond.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has more on how the new initiative aims to support artists and cultural workers as the city builds its reputation as an arts hub.

🗞️ In Other News

🥪 Thousands more students will be able to access lunches at schools this fall thanks to a program expansion by the province—the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is returning to all elementary, middle and is expanding to junior high schools with easier ordering and new menu options.

🚨 The former Nova Scotia fire chief who was removed from his post after the death of a snowmobiler in February is now facing charges for impaired driving and obstructing a peace officer in New Brunswick. 

🚚 Public Works Minister Fred Tilley indicated in a letter last month that his government plans to do away with an agreement that ensures a certain number of local trucking contractors are used on road-building jobs. 

⚖️ It will be early next year before the province's decision to impose a sweeping travel ban in Nova Scotia woodlands gets tested in court—lawyers for the Canadian Constitution Foundation were in Nova Scotia Supreme Court to set dates for its challenge to the ban.

🍴 The Upward Kitchen and Café was created to ensure everyone in Halifax’s north end has access to affordable and healthy food—Giving back to the school system is part of what they do, and they are implementing farms to grow their own food.

SPONSORED BY EASTERN FRONT THEATRE

Coal Bowl Queen comes to Dartmouth September 11-21

A basketball tournament, a pageant queen and a decades-long mystery...

The hilarious and heartbreaking new play by Richie Wilcox, Coal Bowl Queen is set around New Waterford’s most celebrated community event: the legendary Coal Bowl Classic basketball tournament.

Tickets start at $25. Volunteers see the show for free!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 First Thursday's Monthly Market: First Thursdays is Halifax’s monthly evening market bringing together over 40 local makers, artists, vintage curators, and food creators under one roof at Park Lane Mall. It’s a place to discover something special, meet the people behind the products, and enjoy a lively, welcoming atmosphere—rain or shine. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect gift, treating yourself, or just enjoying an evening stroll, First Thursdays is a little slice of Halifax charm you won’t want to miss. | Sept 4 | 4:00pm | Free |

🗓 The Little Fishers Club: This registered, not-for-profit organization began with a small group of parents who recognized the benefits of teaching Children how to fish, Now, entering its 14th season, it has blossomed into a busy summer-long experience, bringing children and families from HRM (and beyond!) together to experience the joy of fishing. | Sept 5 | 8:00pm | $25 |

🗓 Festa Italiana Halifax: This is your opportunity to experience HRM’s ‘Little Italy’ – two days filled with Italian food, culture, language and more food! The Italian Canadian Cultural Association opens its doors and offers a space for everyone in our community who wants to experience “La Bella Vita!” (The Good Life). | Sept 5-6 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The YPL Yangshan container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 3am.

🚢 The CSL Tacoma arrives in Halifax from Port Manatee, FL at 6:21am.

🚢➡️ The Volendam cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 8am and leaves for Canadian seas at 5pm.

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

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

🚢➡️ The Enchanted Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 1pm and leaves for Canadian seas at 9:30pm.

🚢 The Oceana container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 3:20pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍕 New pizza alert! The pizza of the month at Morris East is The Tipsy Tomato: house-made vodka tomato sauce, mozzarella, feta, paremessan and a kiss of chili heat.

🧁 Layers Cupcakes has the perfect lunch break treat for your back to schooler: chocolate cookies and cream, cinnamon bun, strawberry shortcakes and so many more!

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎞️ The Atlantic International Film Festival is celebrating its 45th anniversary this September with a weeklong program of screenings, panels and parties — and a strong focus on homegrown talent. The festival, running Sept. 10 to 17 at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane, will showcase 108 films from Canada and around the world. Thirty per cent of the selections come from Atlantic Canada, with five Nova Scotian filmmakers among those featured in key festival slots. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with Lisa Haller—director of programming and interim executive director—about what audiences can look forward to in this year’s line-up.

✊ Walking away from Can’t Buy My Silence that group didn’t mean walking away from the cause. Quite the opposite. This fall and winter, I’m doubling down on advocacy work here in Nova Scotia and across Canada. The fight to ban NDAs doesn’t belong to one group or one leader—it belongs to every survivor who has been silenced by perpetrators, institutions, and the legal system itself. Read more in another searing opinion piece by Coast contributor Liz LeClair.

That’s it!

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