🗞️ Portapique anniversary brings sombre reflection

Good morning,

Today’s a sombre day in our province: The four-year anniversary of the Portapique mass shooting that killed 22 Nova Scotians and prompted protests for an official public inquiry that would investigate how and why the tragedy occurred.

In the four years since Apr. 18, 2020, we saw the Mass Casualty Commission formed, field criticisms about delays and produce a final, seven-volume report. We read WhatsApp messages showing an RCMP leader calling an officer’s request for post-trauma recovery a “circle-jerk.” We saw the RCMP lay charges against the killer’s common-law spouse, whom he had attacked on Apr. 18, prompting a larger discussion about femicide, misogyny and victim-blaming.

Four years do little to erase the memory. If there’s anything to hold onto, it’s how Nova Scotians came together in the aftermath of tragedy. May we always remember that we’re stronger together—and may we never see another tragedy like the one of four years ago.

– Martin

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 10°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 13°

Next Day: 🌧️ 9°

7-day forecast

🚗 Driving today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

BUSINESS

Cruise season is back in Halifax—with newer anti-pollution rules. But how much has changed?

As cruise ships go, the Viking Octantis—arriving today in Halifax—is a relative minnow among whales. With room for 378 guests, its passenger load could fit 11 times over within the 4,485-passenger MSC Meraviglia—the largest cruise ship set to visit Halifax in 2024. But even the Octantis, small as it may be, poses a weighty question to Halifax’s municipal council: How much pollution is the HRM willing to accept in the name of tourism dollars?

The Port of Halifax expects to see as many as 375,000 tourists in 2024. Those passengers will arrive on 204 cruise ship visits between Apr. 6 and Nov. 3. Both figures represent an uptick from 2022 and 2023, when Halifax saw 234,000 and 301,000 passengers, respectively.

Cruise season represents big business for the HRM: According to the Halifax Port of Authority, which will oversee the arrival of every ship this year, the cruise industry accounted for roughly $136 million flowing into Halifax and the surrounding area in 2022. (The numbers haven’t been crunched for 2023.) And it’s an industry Halifax would like to see grow: A declassified municipal report from Feb. 2024 shows the HRM sees “potential for cruise facilities” in Dartmouth, too, as part of a “revitalized” waterfront.

But for all the money cruise ships represent to Halifax, the industry’s ripples are felt in other ways, too: Critics argue cruise ships are not only more carbon-polluting than any other standard form of travel, they’re also an active threat to our oceans and the many species within them. And while Canada has taken steps to address some of the industry’s pollutive effects, The Coast reports, environmentalists say our country still lags behind its peers.

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SPORTS

Halifax Wanderers seek first win of CPL season on the road in Vancouver

It wasn’t the start Patrice Gheisar had been hoping for—though it sure felt familiar enough. On Saturday, Apr. 13, despite a performance in which the Halifax Wanderers held the lion’s share of possession, set pieces and scoring chances, Gheisar’s side found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline against a familiar opponent: Pacific FC. On the road in Langford, BC, the Wanderers kicked off their 2024 season with a new-look squad and plenty of opportunities to avenge their first-round 1-0 playoff loss to the Tridents from last October.

Instead, that vengeance will have to wait for another day. For the fourth time in the Wanderers’ six years in the Canadian Premier League, they opened their season against PFC—and came away without a win. But if the goals were lacking in Saturday’s 1-0 loss, there were enough reasons to believe that a win is coming soon.

And as the Wanderers prepare for a late-night clash against Vancouver FC tonight, The Coast reports, Gheisar says his Wanderers are as hungry as ever.

🗞️ In Other News

⛴️ The union representing Halifax Transit’s ferry operators says low staffing levels are leading to burnout.

💰 Nova Scotia’s finance minister says he’s “optimistic” that Ottawa’s newly-unveiled federal budget—which includes $6B in housing infrastructure funding—“will bear fruit” in the province.

📺 Nova Scotia’s Mattea Roach is set to appear in the Jeopardy! Masters tournament, premiering in May.

🎬 The shot-in-Halifax series Sullivan’s Crossing returns to TV this weekend.

🤝 Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have struck an agreement for upgrading the Chignecto Isthmus.

🧑‍🎨 Get your tickets for two weeks of artistic Mayhem! Attend NSCAD University’s year-end showcase events, where students from fine arts, design, film, fashion, and craft unleash their creative talents.*

🍴 Join Saltscapes East Coast Expo this weekend! Explore East Coast's finest at interactive demos, food samplings, and live entertainment. Get tickets today!*

🧑‍🚒 Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency celebrates National Volunteer Appreciation Week by thanking volunteer firefighters across the region. This week, remember to thank a volunteer firefighter.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY LIVE ART DANCE

Dynamic Works by Atlantic Dance Creators

Live Art Dance and Kinetic are thrilled to come together to co-present “Coastal Currents”, a platform that shines a light on the amazing dance talent that exists in our region! Now in its second year, “Coastal Currents” features short works from Atlantic choreographers, bringing wonderfully rich and nuanced work to Kjipuktuk/Halifax audiences.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Funny Pages Festival: The annual kids’ book festival returns to Halifax for three days of readings and workshops this week. | Apr. 18-20 | Times vary | Free

🗓 Red Like Fruit: Halifax playwright Hannah Moscovitch’s newest work wraps up its run at the Bus Stop Theatre. The play “interrogates the many contradictions and complexities of complicity, consent, patriarchy and traumatic memory in the post-#MeToo era.” | Until Apr. 21 | Showtimes vary | From $20

🗓 Halifax Celtic Festival: Celebrate Celtic language and culture this week with free music and dance performances, along with language and dance workshops. | Until Apr. 21 | Times vary | Free

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍨 North end favourite Dee Dee’s has a “smash series” flavour of Mini Egg cookies, with a portion of proceeds going to the Parker Street Food Bank this month.

🥐 French pizzeria Lou Pécou has a cream-filled, almond-flaked Paris Brest pastry that looks merveilleux.

🥟 The Halifax Brewery Market’s Empanada Shop is mere weeks away from opening its first brick-and-mortar at the corner of Salter and Granville streets.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏒 The Halifax Mooseheads fired head coach Jim Midgley and assistant Liam Heelis after the QMJHL team’s first-round playoff exit.

🎵 Halifax-based singer Bahamas announced a hometown show for his Bootcut tour this October. Catch all the big shows coming to Halifax in 2024 here.

That’s it!

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