🗞️ N.S. food insecurity rates highest in country amid Loblaws boycott

Good morning Halifax!

Did you know that May 5 is Red Dress Day?

It all began as an art installation that hung hundreds of empty red dresses in public spaces to remind people of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women and girls lost because of gender-based violence.

The goal of Red Dress Day is to honour and bring awareness to the thousands of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people who have been subject to disproportionate violence in Canada.

Because it falls on a Sunday this year, MSVU is holding Red Dress Day events on Friday and will feature guest speaker Denise Pictou Maloney—the daughter of Annie Mae Aquash who was murdered at 30 years of age.

Check out all of the details about Red Dress Day at MSVU.

Wear red to show your respect, love and support.

Hope to see you there!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌥️ 16°

Tomorrow: ☁️ 10°

Next Day: 🌤️ 14°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS

The Hunger Games: Nova Scotia’s food insecurity rate stands in stark contrast to Loblaws’ profit margins

Statistics Canada released the Canadian Income Survey for 2022 last week and the news was bad—albeit unsurprising—for Nova Scotia. 

The poverty rate was the highest of any province in the country. In fact, we have passed pre-pandemic levels of poverty with a rate increase of 13.1% in 2022 from 8.6% in 2021—a 52% jump in a year. In addition, food insecurity for Nova Scotians was the highest in the country as well, with 7.3% of people missing meals, reducing intake or going day(s) without food. 

And while Nova Scotians have less money in their pockets and food in their pantries, grocery giant Loblaws Ltd. reported increased profit margins in Q1—3.4% in food retail sales—bringing the national conversation about exorbitant food prices to a fever pitch.

A boycott targeting Loblaws-owned stores is gaining momentum online, with thousands of shoppers taking their money elsewhere for the month of May. The boycott, organized on Reddit, has reached more than 60,000 members.

Boycott organizers have already acknowledged many Canadians will be unable to participate, given the lack of alternatives for groceries and other services in some communities.

Luckily, we have some alternative options in this city (and beyond) if you are compelled to support the boycott (let us know in our poll).

🤔 Need To Know

🏫 HRSC says bomb threats in three schools “unfounded and incredibly disruptive.” Millwood High, Halifax West and Park West all dismissed students early after threatening messages were found.

🚨 Police are asking for the public’s help finding a man they say is armed and dangerous. David John Campbell was last seen around Gaston Road in Dartmouth Tuesday morning.

🎥 Support4Culture is a proud supporter of the Screen Nova Scotia Awards, recognizing the excellence in the NS film industry. Learn more.*

*Sponsored Post

EDUCATION

Are you happy? New podcast from King’s students tests three simple ways to help those who answer ‘No’

If you could improve your overall happiness, wouldn’t you? What if it meant daily work? Probably still worth a shot. 

Based on that notion, five journalism students at the University of King’s College have created a podcast, called If It Makes You Happy. Over a three-episode series they ask volunteers to test out daily “happiness interventions,” which are small habits meant to ground them in their bodies, and to report how they’re feeling after two weeks.

What they tested is not new advice, it’s classic: exercise, time in nature and guided meditation. But now listeners can follow along as volunteers engage with these classic practices in a way that helps demystify them for others, and possibly push through the paralyzing sensation of wanting and trying to feel better but feeling alone in taking the first step.

If It Makes You Happy is packaged into three 20-minute episodes, designed to be swallowed all-in-one, says co-host and producer, Raeesa Alibhai. 

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips caught up with her on her 13-plus hour drive back to Ontario following the wrap-up of her classes in early April.

🗞️ In Other News

🏛️ An independent committee released its first progress report on how governments and the RCMP are responding to the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that claimed 22 lives.

📱 The province could have a new school cellphone use policy in place for September. Education Minister Becky Druhan says consultations with partners are underway.

🏥 A N.S. man spent a week and a half in a Cuban hospital after he was told there were no beds available in the province. 

👶 The YWCA Halifax asked the provincial government for $3M to build a much-needed inclusive child-care centre for kids with disabilities. A year later, they are still waiting for a response.

🗳️ The Atlantica Party Association of Nova Scotia voluntarily deregistered as a political party because it was unable to find volunteers.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Halifax Wanderers vs. CS St-Laurent: Cheer on Halifax’s pro soccer club as they compete in the opening round of the Canadian Championship, with a chance to play Toronto FC on the line. | May 2 | 7pm | From $26

🗓 Portrait of the Artist as an Essential Worker (Reception & Artist Talk): Textile artists Sarah Mosher and Hannah Genosko spent the COVID-19 pandemic as essential workers at the NSLC and Canada Post. Those experiences feed into their quilted collaboration, combining printmaking and textiles to “dig deeper into the ‘essential’ label where art and work don’t often intersect.” | May 3 | 5-7pm | Free

🗓 Books & Brews Adult Book Fair: Head to Good Robot’s Robie Street taproom this Sunday and browse offerings from the King’s Co-op Bookstore, Venus Envy, House Full of Plants, Novel Tea, Tiny Tarot and Jaw Pottery. | May 5 | noon-4:30pm | Pay what you can (proceeds support Books Beyond Bars)

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

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍕 New pizza alert at Morris East! For the month of May, try the lemon chicken pizza: lemon aioli, herbed chicken, roasted shallots, goat cheese, lemon zest and crispy pancetta.

🍺 BYOB light ale is back for the season at North Brewing. The classic summer beer has a light body profile and a touch of corn, with an ample dose of fresh lemon and lime zest.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏫 Students at Halifax West High near Clayton Park as well as Millwood High in Middle Sackville have been dismissed early two days in a row this week in response to written threats of potential explosive devices. 

🗨️ One of the year’s biggest volunteer-led events returns this weekend. On May 4 and 5, nearly 20 Jane’s Walks will take place all over Halifax and Dartmouth. We’ve got you covered with all the Jane’s Walks happening this weekend—including the ones you won’t want to miss.

That’s it!

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