Meet JupiterReign, local star on the rise

EDUCATION

Truth and Reconciliation Day in Halifax prioritized learning and listening

Inside the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre on Saturday, Sept. 30, a crowd of all ages wore orange and listened to stories from residential school survivors and their families. Saturday marked the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Halifax and across Canada. The day’s event focused on healing through storytelling alongside cultural activities geared towards young people, including button making, beading and medicine pouch making.

Speakers shared stories of intergenerational trauma inflicted by the forced removal and deportation of Indigenous children to church-run and government-funded residential schools. They mentioned, too, the legacy of centralization in the province—a 1942 policy of the government’s Indian Affairs department to relocate Indigenous families to just two reserves: Eskasoni and Shubenacadie, known today as Sipekne’katik.

Read more from Lauren Phillips at The Coast.

Need to know

🧒 The province is looking for public input on the Children and Family Services Act. In-person feedback sessions are being held across Nova Scotia.

🌉 The MacDonald Bridge will be closed for maintenance tonight starting at 7pm until 5:30am Friday morning.

🏅 The province has announced the 2023 Order of Nova Scotia Recipients. Among them is Halifax journalist Stephen Kimber, who was the inspiration behind The Coast and won his first Atlantic Journalism Award for a Coast story.

🛍️ Fall is the perfect time to stroll—and shop—in Downtown Halifax. From big name stores to curated boutiques, you’ll be sure to find something special.*

🤖 The countdown has begun with less than 23 days until Hal-Con. Hurry, tickets are flying off the shelves! Saturday is already SOLD OUT. Secure your spot for the ultimate experience!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

Journey Through Southeast Asian Refugee Stories

Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 for Hearts of Freedom - Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees, a new exhibition open until December 3. Hearts focuses on the incredible stories of Southeast Asian refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and the impact of the Vietnam War, the Lao Secret War, and the Cambodian Genocide which forced millions to flee their homelands and seek safety in other countries. These courageous refugees risked their lives, journeyed to different host countries, and travelled thousands of miles to Canada.

The exhibition tells the stories of these survivors, in their own words and through their unique perspectives, adding to the fabric of the Canadian history of immigration.

On The Coast

The results are in from yesterday’s poll

Do you still use Twitter?

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes, my Twitter habits haven't changed. (8%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yeah, but I use it less. (14%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Nope, and I haven't replaced it. (20%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, but I've switched to a different platform (Mastodon, Threads, etc). (5%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I never used Twitter. (53%)

In other news

🐻 As the city grows, bear sightings may become more common—some Halifax-area homes have even received black bear awareness tags.

🫶 Here’s how Nova Scotia’s youth can access gender-affirming care.

🏒 A new minor league hockey rule is trying to create more privacy by recommending players arrive at the arena already wearing the base layer of clothing that’s underneath their equipment. If they don’t arrive with this layer, they’ll be asked to change in a closed stall.

⚠️ A senior Pictou couple were recently the victims of a scam costing them $22,000. Here’s what to look out for to prevent this from happening to you or someone you know.

🫄Wondering how much it costs to raise a child in Canada? Here are the numbers according to Statistics Canada.

MUSIC

North Preston R&B artist JupiterReign embraces her star turn

JupiterReign is having a year to remember. Eight months on from releasing her debut Intergalactic EP, the soft-spoken North Preston R&B artist—otherwise known as Thaydra Gray—is enjoying a star-touched moment of her own: The 27-year-old is in the running for four African Nova Scotian Music Association Awards, including Rising Star and Artist of the Year. (The awards are announced tonight in a live ceremony at the Light House Arts Centre.) On top of that, she’s been tapped to perform at Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth (Nov. 2-5), where she’s nominated for African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year.

The buzz has Gray’s name being mentioned in the same breath as industry stalwarts Jah’Mila, Kayo and O’Sound, as well as fellow up-and-comer Maggie Andrew.

Ahead of tonight’s awards ceremony, JupiterReign speaks with The Coast about her rapid ascent, growing up in church choirs and making music with feeling.