🗞 Nocturne takes over Halifax

ARTS & CULTURE

Everything you need to know about Nocturne 2023

One of the biggest weekends of the year in Halifax is here. Nocturne—the self-described “independent, free, contemporary art festival” that has brought Haligonians together under the night sky since its founding in 2008—is back for another year of public art installations and events. This year’s festival arrives jam-packed with exhibitions ranging from live artist panels to pottery programs to literary treasure hunts.

Here at The Coast, we know it can be hard to keep tabs on everything—especially when you’re wandering around the city at night.

Think of us as your guiding hand in the dark.

Need to know

💲 The Alderney Gate Library is hosting the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program for a free tax clinic on Oct. 18 from 1-4pm.

🌈 Check out an art show displaying sculpture, pottery, film and photographs created by artists involved in the Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia pottery program!*

🚨 Halifax police are warning of the release of Gamon Jay Leacock, who was convicted of sexual assault and is considered a “high-risk offender.”

🧑‍🚒 This year’s Fire Prevention Week™ campaign is “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™.” Take the quiz and enter our contests to win some great prizes!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY SALTSCAPES EAST COAST EXPO

Saltscapes East Coast Expo Oct. 27 to 29!

Step into the pages of Saltscapes Magazine at Saltscapes East Coast Expo - Where Harvest Greets the Holidays, and experience the best of East Coast crafts, drinks, food and more! October 27 to 29 at the Halifax Exhibition Centre. Get your Tickets Now!

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE THEATRE

Murder For Two

Officer Marcus Moscowicz is a small town policeman with dreams of making it to detective. One fateful night, Marcus gets the chance to prove his sleuthing skills.

With two actors, 13 characters and one piano, this witty whodunit is a blend of classic musical comedy and madcap mystery.

On stage at Neptune Theatre October 17-November 5. Get Tickets

In other news

😬 Natural resources and renewables minister Tory Rushton has announced the Atlantic Loop is no longer in the picture when it comes to the province's 2030 renewable energy targets.

🏠 Nova Scotia plans to spend $7.5 million on temporary affordable housing units this winter.

🎯 Hear from Brooke Martell, the Cape Breton teen who just returned from competing in the World Cup of Darts in Denmark.

🖼️ Speaking of Denmark, a Nova Scotian artist who decided to make art with Legos during the pandemic now has his work displayed in a Danish gallery.

🌡️ It was a warm September. According to CBC most areas of the Maritimes experienced temperatures 2 to 3 degrees higher than average.

🧑‍⚖️ New provincial legislation will see opioid companies held “accountable for their actions,” opening up the possibility of legal action as Nova Scotia joins a national lawsuit.

🗣️ More support has been announced for publicly funded French first-language education programs.

HOUSING

Province’s housing power grab fails smell test

Yesterday morning, Nova Scotia's minister of municipal affairs and housing gave a press conference announcing his government is planning to take a bunch of power away from the city. John Lohr said the proposed changes to the municipal charter and other legislation will take the shackles off developers who have been held back by city hall’s red tape, leading to a lot of new housing, quickly, to ease Halifax’s housing crisis.

Nevermind that changes are already underway in the city’s bureaucracy, and development approval times in the HRM have been going down as a result. When Lohr was asked why those changes weren't enough, and why his government needed to make its own changes, he gave an answer with a lot of words but no substantive information.

There are a lot of things about this provincial announcement that don't make sense, and Lohr was unwilling or unable to provide answers to journalists' questions at the press conference. Which means it's time for some journalistic legwork.

The Coast will be publishing a detailed look about Lohr’s proposal in the days to come, which will attempt to explain the ramifications of these changes. Right now, this policy change smells funky in a way that requires more investigation. But it's too early to tell if it what we’re smelling is a delectable blue cheese, or some Grade A 🐂💩.

– Matt Stickland