Good morning!

Energy Wizard Tim Houston has waved his magic wand in an effort to get Nova Scotia back into fracking. You know, that terrible drilling practice that decimates the environment which the province placed a moratorium on in 2014 that was lifted last year.

The latest news on the topic is Houston telling reporters that a decision is coming down the pipeline on fracking bidders. Dalhousie University has found seven potential bidders for Houston’s oil and gas dreams, offering $24.2 million out of a $30 million total for incentives to attract companies to the province.

I think what frustrates me most about this is the lack of care done in community engagement. In what little they’ve done, Houston has labelled those protesting the province’s decision on environmental basis as complainers, not speaking for the majority of Nova Scotians. And yet, those are the people that are turning up.

To think that Houston’s government tore our province apart for pennies to give to oil and gas companies is already a stab in the heart. The earplugs in their ears is the twist of the knife.

Paint your signs and take to the streets, people.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: ⛈️ 12°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 20°

Next Day: ☀ 21°

7-day forecast

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

There's one belief that drives Ben MacDonald and Mitchell Hurley forward.

“Art is the heartbeat of Halifax," says MacDonald. "With the current art funding cuts, it only makes it more difficult for our industry to grow. I think it’s important to have a community that stands together and utilizes one another.”

Co-founders of Halifax-based media collective Takeover Productions, they work to strengthen the city’s creative community from the ground up while arts organizations across Nova Scotia continue to navigate funding cuts and uncertainty.

The two young Haligonians say their goal is simple: create opportunities for local artists, musicians, and creatives to be seen while building spaces where the arts community can connect, collaborate, and grow together.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva speaks with Takeover Productions about how they’re supporting the local arts community with their media business.

⚖️ A Manitoba teen is facing a conspiracy to commit murder charge after an investigation into two schools targeted by him and a teen girl from Bridgewater, one in Manitoba and another in Nova Scotia —the 15-year-old girl is also facing similar charges.

⚕️ Nova Scotia Health says the need-a-family-practice registry dropped by around 1,700 last month, leaving 60,139 people on the list—the opposition recently criticized the government for claiming people were off the registry too early into the assignment process.

💼 Job offers extended to refugees by a continuing care organization in Nova Scotia have been rescinded—these job opportunities were positioned by Northwood, with 18 refugees impacted by the cut.

🇨🇴 “Bogotá” comes to Kjipuktuk/Halifax! Andrea Peña’s long anticipated and highly celebrated work arrives May 20th, presented by Live Art Dance. Get your tickets today!*

🪉 “Coastal Currents” is back! Another joyous celebration of Atlantic dance creators, presented by Live Art Dance and Kinetic. Get your tickets today!*

*Sponsored Post

Enjoy authentic cultural sharing from Indigenous artist hosts, who will weave teachings, traditions, and personal insight into the creative process. Package includes museum admission, a personal tour of Welcome to Turtle Island installation, and a hands-on Mosaic Glass Art workshop grounded in Mi’kmaw, Anishinaabe and Anisininew teachings. Starting June 9th!

📖 The Halifax municipality is looking to phase out funding for library support and social workers across the Halifax Regional Centre for Education over five years—this is expected to be implemented by Aug. 31, 2031.

⛴️ Bay Ferries Ltd. says their ferry between Nova Scotia and Maine has almost 17,800 reservations for the sailing season—this is 5,000 more bookings than they had last year, with 85 percent of passengers being U.S. visitors.

🪧 The long-term care worker strike is into its fifth week with no deal in sight—two more long-term care homes joined the strike on Thursday.

Audiences are loving 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙬 with seances, mistaken identities, and real ghosts, this comedy is delightfully absurd, and entirely heartwarming.

You'll laugh, you'll be spooked, and you'll leave appreciating love just a little more.

On stage until May 24th.
Tickets start at $25

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

🗓 YukYuks Presents: Chris Gordan: With experience at Just for Laughs and NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Gordan will leave you in tears with his infectious goofiness. | May 15-16 | 8PM | $25+|

🗓 TGIF at The Carleton with Dance Band Rec Room Jams: The right way to start your May long weekend. Get ready to dance at The Carleton on Friday night. | May 15 | 8PM | $11.40 |

🗓 Dan Mitchelmore Presents Stand Up at the Roxbury: Join comedians Chris Hale, Liam Godson, Drusilla Connor, and Sam Bartol at this guaranteed night of hilarity. | May 16 | 7:30PM | $10 |

🗓 NovaFest 2026: Atlantic Canada’s leading festival for young and emerging artists, featuring a host of local talents. | May 16-17 | 7:30PM | $25+|

🗓 Drag Pageant 2026: A dazzling showcase of Atlantic Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, hosted by Vanity Station and Anna Mona-Pia. Happening at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. | May 16 | 7PM | $23.50+|

🗓 Halifax's Monthly Vintage Market: Vintage records, books, decor, glassware, collectables, clothing, and more at this monthly market. Taking place at the Halifax Curling Club. | May 16 | 10AM | $2 |

🗓 East Coast Cider Festival 2026: Atlantic Canada’s largest cider celebration, presented by Curated Food & Drink Magazine at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. | May 16 | 1PM, 6PM | $49.75+ |

🗓 Sunday Soundbath with Rezound: Rezound uses voice, instruments, percussion, and electronics to explore tonality and expression in a candlelit space washed in projections. Takes place at the Presbyterian Church of St. David. | May 17 | 7PM | PWYC ($10 recommended) |

🗓 ByBlacks Restaurant Week 2026: Celebrate the best of Black Cuisine in Halifax with discounted meals or a Prix Fixe menu. A great opportunity to explore delicious food from participating restaurants. | May 11-17 |

🗓 The Ghost of Violet Shaw: The Eastern Front Theatre presents this Victorian-era farce featuring a family dealing with their supposed curse. | April 28-May 24 | 2PM, 7:30PM | $25+|

🗓 Neptune Theatre: Come From Away: This musical about the experiences of Gander, NL residents during the September 11 attacks is playing at the Neptune Theatre. | March 31-June 21 | $40+|

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

➡️ The Algosolis tanker departed Halifax for Sarnia at 4:30am.

🚢➡️ The Bakkafoss container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 6:20am and departs for Argentia at 2pm.

➡️ The Ocean Seeker research vessel departs Halifax at 3pm.

➡️ The Silver Arctic container vessel departs Halifax for St. Pierre at 3:30pm.

🥪 Try out Larry’s Sandwiches SOTW: the Beef Tongue Birria Panini, in collaboration with Tulipan. Made with braised beef tongue, guajillo chilli adobo, mozzarella cheese, onions, and cilantro on a pressed sub bun.

🍕 The Stubborn Goat Gastropub is rolling out a whole host of new summer creations for your taste buds to enjoy: fresh mac and cheese, oven-baked pizzas, and a few fan favourites to top it all off.

🎶 Nova Scotia’s indie rock legends Wintersleep have been together for over 20 years. For bands that have survived as long as Wintersleep, there’s always a question about whether or not they have the same drive as they did when they started. Are the ideas still flowing? Is the chemistry present? Do they still sound interesting? These questions often boil down to one all-encompassing yet reductive query: are they still good? If Wintersleep's new record Wishing Moon is proof of anything, it’s that the band’s well is far from dry. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with Wintersleep’s Loel Campbell about the new album, their recent touring and how a band can survive for so long while still sounding so good.

💰 The provincial government left a third of its home heating rebate budget unused ($11 million) while turning down 18,000 applicants—54,000 households were approved for the program with $22 million spent at $400 per household.

🛩️ The province has contracted four water bombers and a co-ordinaton plane from New Brunswick’s Forest Protection Ltd. in time for wildfire season—the government is paying $6.5 million to have the planes until September and includes pilots, staff, housing and maintenance.

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