🗞️ Opinions are like a$$holes

Hey Halifax,

I don’t know where most of you work or what you do, but I’d like you to imagine that every single day, you open your email to find that strangers have written to tell you that you’re disgusting, unprofessional, stupid, incorrect and my personal favourite “should be ashamed of yourself”. 

That would be insane, right?

But that’s what happens to me—and hundreds of female journalists like me—every single day. It’s a tough and emotionally taxing part of doing this work that, frankly, some days it feels like it’s not worth it. That instead of having strong opinions, I should just water down everything I say in an attempt to appeal to every single reader.

If readers insist that I’m a man hater, should I just stop writing about it when women are murdered by their partners? If readers insist I’m a leftist woke “idiot” should I stop writing about climate change or the Trump administration?

The opening section to this newsletter, for example, is generally just that: My opinion. If you have a different one, great! That’s what public discourse is all about! But why do you get to disagree with me by calling me names, discrediting my voice and—ultimately–causing emotional burnout?

And I know what some of you are thinking: If you say things in a public space, be ready for criticism. And I’m all for you disagreeing with me, but what I didn’t know when I first started this job was how taxing the vulgar hate can be. Hate that says way more about the reader than it does about me.

My opinions are based on my experience. If I’m tough on the police, it’s because I have lived experience of abuse. If I’m tough on CEOs or political leaders, it’s because of my experience with men in power. My opinions based on my experience are just that: Mine. 

But the thing is, I can’t stop. And I won’t. And Liz LeClair in her latest op-ed piece for The Coast has put into words exactly why I can’t. And neither can she. 

Love and light out there!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 25°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 27°

Next Day: 🌤️ 27°

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.

NEWS

Upcycled reusable shopping bags hit the Halifax Fashion Week runway

A local designer who turns discarded shopping bags into runway fashion is preparing for his debut at Halifax Fashion Week, with a bigger dream in mind: a museum dedicated to wearable art.      

Victor Agara, a Nigerian-born artist and founder of the emerging brand VOLLTEGA, has caught attention in Nova Scotia with his colourful and unconventional designs made from shopping bags from Sobeys, Walmart, Dollarama, and others.

Construction worker by day, Agara went viral after one of his videos—showing off fashion made from discarded grocery bags—earned over 42,000 views. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has more with this visionary artist.

🤔 Need To Know

🚲 Regional councillors voted to rescind the recent approval of a bike lane that would have turned a downtown street into a one-way road after the decision drew the ire of the premier—councillors voted 11-5 in favour of rescinding the Morris Street bike lane.

🌲 The Nova Scotia government introduced restrictions on activities in forests amid “tinder dry” conditions across the province—Tim Houston said travel and recreational activities in the woods will not be allowed after 4pm on Tuesday.

📮 Labour experts say another postal service strike is unlikely after unionized Canada Post workers rejected their employer’s latest round of offers in a forced vote and the parties mull their next steps.

🍻 The Pint isn’t just a pub — it’s Halifax’s unofficial flavour HQ. No shortcuts, just bold bites, cold pints, and good times on tap. Come for the food, stay for the vibes.*

🎶 Don’t miss free concerts at Sullivan’s Pond Park. The Dartmouth Sunshine Series continues Aug. 10, 17, 24 and Sept. 1. Bring a chair and enjoy.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY HALIFAX COUNTY EXHIBITION

Hoofin' It to the Halifax County Exhibition

Free your inner farm kid—your love for rural spaces and real experiences! The Halifax County Exhibition is traditional, welcoming country fair. Discover 2 action-packed show rings, artisan demos, incredible live music, a classic midway, and hilarious contests that’ll get you off the stands and into the game! Daily Schedules online!

🗞️ In Other News

⚖️ A Nova Scotia man's sexual assault conviction has been overturned because his case took too long to go through the justice system—Jamal Zaki was charged with sexual assault on April 13, 2022. 

🍾 The NSLC's decision to pull American alcohol from its shelves means it has to warehouse almost 600,000 units of booze as part of the province's response to the ongoing trade war with the United States.

🔌 Nova Scotia Power is requesting additional time to file monthly reports on the cybersecurity attack that compromised the personal information of hundreds of thousands of customers earlier this year—the first report was due Aug. 1.

🚒 A provincial audit of the Nova Scotia Firefighters School shows “appalling” results of a lack of safety, seriousness and planning—according to the government.

🚰 Halifax Water is asking its customers to use less water, saying the voluntary conservation measures are necessary due to a prolonged period of low precipitation—the utility says water levels in its supply areas have not been replenished.

⚖️ An American woman who planned to take part in a mass shooting at the Halifax Shopping Centre 10 years ago has been denied full parole—Lindsay Souvannarath, 33, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to life for her part in a plot to stage a Valentine's Day massacre in the food court of the mall in 2015.

SPONSORED BY SPRING GARDEN AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Spring Garden's Children Festival

Get ready, Halifax! 🌟 Laughter will soon echo through Victoria Park as kids chase mascots, their faces painted like tigers and unicorns. Music fills the air, games spark joy, and families come together to celebrate.

The Spring Garden Area Business Association’s 11th Annual Children’s Festival is back — and it’s set to be more magical than ever! 🎉

Don’t miss the fun on August 30, from 11 AM – 2 PM!
Free, family-friendly, and full of unforgettable moments.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Great Outdoors Comedy Festival: Get ready to laugh under the open sky! Join us as we showcase an incredible lineup of comedic talent—ranging from local gems to superstar headliners—all in the stunning backdrop of our beloved parks and communities across the nation. Come for the jokes, stay for the scenery, and let the good times roll! | Aug. 7-10 | 

🗓 Canadian Chamber Choir and Sherryl Sewepagaham with special guest Jeff Reilly: The Canadian Chamber Choir is celebrating 25 years of powerful live performance and community-building through choral singing. This August, they’re bringing that celebration to Nova Scotia—the province where it all began, when the founding singers first came together as members of the National Youth Choir of Canada. | Aug. 8 | 7pm | From $25 |

🗓 Halifax Live Comedy Club Presents - An Evening with Chad Anderson: Chad’s comedy reflects his own personal experiences including fatherhood and tragedy as well as subjects ranging from social media to racism. He’s been featured multiple times on CBC’s The Debaters and was a cast member in Mary Walsh's Canada It's Complicated. His debut album, Live at Wee Johnny’s was released in 2020 and can regularly be heard on SiriusXM. | Aug. 8 and 9 | 7pm | $20 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The MSC Iniya V container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 2am.

➡️ The Algoma East Coast container ship leaves Halifax for Charlottetown at 4am.

🚢➡️ The Majestic Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7am and leaves for Canadian seas at 4pm.

🚢➡️ The Lars D container ship arrives in Halifax from Mariel, Cuba at 7:15am and leaves for Mariel, Cuba at 6pm.

🚢 The Volga Maersk container ship arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 10:15am.

🚢 The Atlantic Sky container ship arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 3:20pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🌶️ This week’s hero special at Rinaldo’s is The Jalapeno Popper: buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, cream cheese and cheddar sauce, pickled jalapenos and creamy cole slaw.

🐑 New dish alert! The Braised Lamb Shank Milanese is on the menu now at 2 Doors Down: slow cooked in white wine and tomatoes, served with market vegetables, saffron risotto and parmesan.

👀 In Case You Missed It

💬 Tim Houston has now said that his government is looking at strengthening mayoral powers—saying there’s a disconnect between the needs of residents and the recent decisions taken by Halifax council. A few weeks ago I decided to ask the smartest people I know—you guys—whether the mayor should have more power. And you did not hold back! You never do. But in the end, it wasn’t even close. Have a look at the official poll results and read some of our favourite comments on this issue over at The Coast. 

👜 A cultural gem has opened its doors in the heart of downtown Halifax. The Silk Route, located at 1477 Birmingham St., is more than a boutique—it’s a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship and deeply personal storytelling. Founded by Halifax local Cailean Jan, the store honours her husband’s Kashmiri roots through a carefully curated collection of artisanal goods made by family-connected craftspeople in the region. The Coast’s resident fashionista (and reporter) Warren D’Silva spoke with Jan about her inspiration for items produced by traditional methods and the launch of an exclusive leather bag collection.

That’s it!

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