🗞️ Feeling scammed

Happy Halloween Halifax! 🎃

In the spirit of spookiness, I’m going to tell you a ghost story that my Nana told me when I was way too young to hear it, that has literally seeped into my spinal fluid and haunts me to this day.

For a bit of context, my Nana also fed me frozen margaritas and let me watch Pretty Woman before my eighth birthday. She also taught herself how to use a Mac in her ‘70s and published a 1000-page hardcover book on the history of Western Shore, Gold River and Martin’s Point. She was not to be doubted.

The story goes like this…

She was a teenager in Western Shore and one of her good friends was preparing to get married to another local boy. It was the middle of winter, and—as was often the case—the couple chose to take a short cut to the church for the rehearsal dinner by walking across the frozen pond in the middle of town rather than walking all the way around.

What they didn’t know was that the temperatures had risen ever so slightly that week, making the ice in the middle of the pond more slushy than solid. Nobody can say for certain which of the couple went through first, but in an attempt to save each other, both fell through the ice into the frosty water and died.

The church—already decorated for the wedding—instead became the venue for a heart-wrenching double funeral. The same guests who should have been gathering to celebrate instead held each other in mourning. 

As the minister was delivering a closing prayer, gasps could be heard throughout the congregation. Heads whipped around to see what all the commotion was about and–as Nana tells it—they saw two pairs of wet footprints slowly walking up the aisle towards the altar 👰🏻👻.

Be safe out there tonight!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 18°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 18°

Next Day: ☁️ 5°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS + OPINION

“I don’t feel secure, I feel scammed”: Rent-in-advance scheme is troubling tenants in Halifax

Property management company Olympus Properties has been accused by Dalhousie Legal Aid Service of requiring money from potential tenants in advance of providing a lease—an action DLAS says is contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act.

In an Oct 29 press release, Dal Legal Aid says they have heard from multiple tenants who have been asked to pay a damage deposit, along with last month’s rent, before they have been provided a lease to sign. Section 6 of the RTA states that, “No person shall demand, accept or receive, from an individual who may, or applies to, become a tenant of that person, a sum of money or other value in consideration of or respecting the application by the individual to become a tenant of that person.”

In an acceptance letter acquired by Dal Legal Aid written on Olympus Properties letterhead, it states: “To secure the unit,” tenants are required to pay a security deposit “IN ADDITION TO THE LAST MONTH RENT TO BE HELD IN TRUST.” The total of security deposit and rent is to be e-transferred to Olympus within six hours of receiving the letter. The letter reads, “Once your Security Deposit is received, we will prepare and sign the lease.”

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over the allegations made against Olympus Properties.

🤔 Need To Know

🏪 Nova Scotia’s labour department has lifted a stop work order at a Halifax Walmart where a young woman was found dead in a walk-in oven—but a Walmart spokesperson said that the store on Mumford Road would remain closed until further notice.

🥼 Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill says his party will build 20 new collaborative care centres and expand services at 20 existing health clinics if elected—saying that they are efficient ways of connecting patients to primary care.

🎤 Sarah McLachlan is postponing her 30th Anniversary tour of her album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy due to health concerns—the Canadian singer says she is “devastated to make this announcement.”

🗳️ Speak now or forever hold your peace! Best of Halifax voting closes this Sunday Nov 3. Don't miss out, vote!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE THEATRE

Legends, Star Stories and Dance

shalan joudry's Winter Moons celebrates ancestral survival through the winter months.

Through stories and dance, this beautiful dance-theatre piece follows the teachings of L'nu (Mi'kmaw) fire keepers carrying an ember through the winter season, and how they survived the harsh realities of living off the land in a long ago Mi'kma'ki winter.

If the fire keepers are able to keep the ember going until the Spring Equinox, there is a celebration to honour them and the return of spring.

With choreography by Sarah Prosper.

Tickets start at $25 (fees and taxes included).

On stage at Neptune Theatre from November 12-24. Book Today.

EDUCATION

Have your say in the provincial school code of conduct update

Nova Scotia’s School Code of Conduct Policy is overdue for an update. Six years overdue, to be exact, writes the Auditor General’s report from June, Preventing and Addressing Violence in Nova Scotia Public Schools. The report contained several recommendations related to updating the code of conduct, all of which the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, or EECD, agreed to. 

At an announcement in early October, minister of education Becky Druhan told reporters that a draft of the new code of conduct policy would be shared in the coming weeks. On Thursday, Oct 24, the department shared a draft of the policy with school staff, families and school communities—for consultation here—along with a draft of the province’s first Guide to Unacceptable Behaviours and Responses. The online portal to comment anonymously on both closes Nov 17. 

So, does the draft of the new code of conduct policy fulfill the recommendations made by the Auditor General’s report? The Coast’s Lauren Phillips has the answer.

🗞️ In Other News

🔥 Nova Scotians—including the province’s top politicians—are continuing to express outrage after four people showed up at a Halloween dance at the North Sydney Firefighters’ Club dressed in Ku Klux Klan costumes.

💙 The Maritime Sikh Society—the organization helping the family of a young employee who was found dead in a Halifax Walmart store—says her brother and father are headed to Canada.

⛺ A pair of recent shootings near encampment sites in two Maritime cities—including one in Halifax Monday night—is concerning those who work with the unhoused population that crime could be on the rise within these sites.

🚢 The Department of National Defence says maritime extraction training is scheduled to happen the first week of November—the training exercise will focus on getting simulated patients off of marine vessels in Halifax Harbour.

🛂 According to RCMP, a 43-year-old Nova Scotia man is facing child pornography charges after a child sex doll was seized in Hamilton—a search warrant executed at his residence seized more child sex dolls and other evidence of child pornography and smuggling. 

⚖️ The governing council of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society has voted to accept the recommendations in a new report on how to better address systemic racism in the province’s legal community.

SPONSORED BY THE ITALIAN MARKET

Halifax’s Most Loved International Grocer!

In Halifax's North End, the Italian Market serves as Atlantic Canada's largest Italian grocery store. For over 30 years, its shelves brim with imported delights, alongside a café, deli and pastry shop.

This November, students showing ID and this ad can enjoy 10% off. Vote for The Coast's Best International Grocer.

🗓️ Things To Boo

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

🗓 Halloween at the Fairview Farmers’ Market: With over 25 vendors, it’s the perfect time to pick up those last-minute goodies, plus they’re making it extra special for the little ones—dress up and trick or treat with the vendors! | Oct 31 | 4pm | Free

🗓 Trick or Treat Bar Crawl 2024: Introducing Halifax's FIRST Halloween bar crawl! Trick and treat your way through the hottest spots in Downtown Halifax along with your team. | Nov 1 | 9pm | $20

🗓 Christmas at the Forum: Back for its 46th year, this beloved event brings together an exciting and festive celebration of handmade crafts, local art and delicious food. As one of Canada's largest craft shows, this event has become a cherished holiday tradition in Halifax, attracting thousands of visitors each year. | Nov 1-3 | $12

🗓 Geoffroy—Good Boy Tour: The Montreal-born songwriter and producer takes the next step internationally with his fourth full-length LP—Good Boy. Almost 10 years on from his first release, this blends organic instrumentation and electronic elements into a bright and rich album filled with diverse sounds, a collection of songs that moves beyond the brooding depth that has defined recent works. | Nov 1 | 8pm | $29 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The MSC Nadriely container ship leaves Halifax for Freeport at 2:30am.

🛳️ The Augusta Luna cargo ship arrives in Halifax from Moa at 7:15am.

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

🛳️➡️ The Vivienne Sheri D container ship arrives in Halifax from Portland at 8:15am and leaves for Argentia at 1pm.

🛳️➡️ The Enchanted Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 9am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🛳️ The CSL Tacoma bulk carrier arrives in Halifax from Burlington at 11:21pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍄 Enjoy some comfort food as the temperatures dip with the Chicken and Mushroom Ravioli at Black Sheep, only on the “at home” menu: homemade pasta filled with braised chicken, mousseline and cremini mushrooms, white wine sauce.

🧀 Nothing beats the Crispy Mac and Cheese from Dilly Dally Cafe: red pepper romesco, smoked paprika breadcrumbs, grilled broccolini.

👀 In Case You Missed It

⏰ Falling back and springing forward. This phrase gives people either great anticipatory pain or no feeling at all. Whether to keep daylight saving time (DST) around or ditch it completely for a consistent time is one of the most non-controversial controversies of our time. We polled our readers once more to see what they think, and The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over the results while looking at the pros and cons.

🏫 Over 5,000 education workers—including teaching assistants, custodians, bus drivers, early childhood educators, librarians and cafeteria workers—could go on strike as early as mid-January if bargaining over key issues breaks down. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) NS, representing school support staff across eight provincial education sectors, voted 94% in favour of a strike mandate last Thursday, Oct. 24. The Coast’s education reporter Lauren Phillips spoke with CUPE president, Shelley McNeil, about why the snap election means reaching a deal between CUPE and the province is on hold.

🏥 Three women are laying bare their battles with Nova Scotia's health-care system amid years of suffering with debilitating and life-threatening conditions—leaving them feeling dehumanized and abandoned.

🚨 Police in Halifax say a 17 year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being hit by a school bus in a marked crosswalk in Dartmouth on Tuesday morning.

That’s it!

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