🗞️ Safety concerns around Halifax Pride

Hello Halifax,

Another day, another tourist offending an entire nation. 

Earlier this week, this woman groped a famous statue in Florence and then—to add insult to…groping—she posted the photos on Instagram! In one photo she’s kissing the poor thing and in the second, she’s bent over it as if performing a lewd act.

The statue is a replica of a 16th-century work by Italian sculptor Giambologna and stands on a public street corner near the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The original sculpture is made of bronze and is housed inside the National Museum of Bargello.

The locals are rightfully pissed and demanding a crackdown on obscene tourist behaviour. One bystander said that if roles were reversed and he’d defaced the Lincoln Memorial, “they’d give me the electric chair.” And, I mean, where’s the lie? 

(Note: we don’t know for sure that the woman was American, but I love the assumption.)

Really this just serves as a reminder that no matter how hot and/or naked the statue is, it’s not worth an international scandal.  Even if it is for the Gram 📷

Have a safe and restful weekend,

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 27°

Tomorrow:☀️27°

Next Day: 🌦️ 26°

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 + OPINION

Halifax Pride is here and alleged attackers of a same-sex couple are still out there

It has now been almost a month since Emma MacLean and her partner Tori were harassed with homophobic slurs and then attacked physically by a group of men in the early morning hours of June 23 on Argyle Street.

Since The Coast last reported on the attack and the couple’s quest to get answers from police, they have received no further update on their case. It has been radio silence. When we reached out for an update as to whether any arrests have been made, Const. John MacLeod—public information officer with the Halifax Regional Police—said “the incident remains under investigation, and I do not have any additional information above what has previously been publicly provided.”

The lack of action is concerning to people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. One reader—Nadine L.—perfectly captured this sentiment in an email to The Coast.

“Many queer people are following this story from across the country with deep concern for the lack of care, investigation, follow up, accountability and arrest in this case,” she said. “It seems to have been treated with complete carelessness which sends a very big message right now with rising homophobic and transphobic sentiments. Many queer people are concerned for our safety.”

Halifax Pride events started yesterday, and knowing that there is a group of men out there that seem to have no qualms about verbally and physically assaulting a same-sex couple certainly puts safety under a bright spotlight in the city.

When asked about potential elevated safety measures in light of the attack, Const. MacLeod said: “It is not our practice to provide specifics of operational deployment of officers, but I can tell you that we will have officers at a number of the events coming up this week.”

Very reassuring.

Organizers for Halifax Pride did not respond to repeated requests for comment about working with police to ensure the safety of attendees of Pride events, but Fiona Kerr—operations manager with Halifax Pride—told CBC in an interview that they are proceeding “full steam ahead.”

HRP did say that if someone does find themselves exposed to behaviour that is offensive, threatening or intimidating, they are  encouraged to report it to police to investigate so they can determine if criminal offences have occurred. 

Const. MacLeod added “Halifax Regional Police takes incidents motivated by hate toward a specific group very seriously.”

Oh really? Tell that to Emma and Tori.

_{Julie Lawrence / The Coast}

🤔 Need To Know

👀 Speaking of the HRP, police are asking for the public’s help as they continue to investigate a shooting in Halifax’s north end, where a 39-year-old suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

🥛 Two people have died after an outbreak of listeriosis triggered a national recall of Silk brand almond milk, coconut milk, almond-coconut milk and oat milk.

SPONSORED BY SUPPORT4CULTURE

Support4Culture proudly supports NS Museums

Support4Culture is a designated lottery program that supports arts, culture and heritage in communities across Nova Scotia including the Avon River Heritage Museum and other important cultural sites. Learn more.

CITY COUNCIL

Halifax spent $208,572 to offer three foreign workers private sector jobs

Sometimes, like when it comes to housing, Halifax’s city council cares a lot about not straying into what is provincial jurisdiction. Sometimes, like when it comes to labour, Halifax’s city council is more than happy to waste our tax money on things that are under provincial jurisdiction. 

At Thursday’s Community Planning and Economic Development standing committee meeting, councillors got an update on the Skilled Talent and Recruitment Pilot Program. 

For $208,572 the city hired someone to reach out to local businesses, develop a recruitment strategy, and then travel to various international job fairs to try and find foreign workers to fill jobs that Canadians aren’t filling. The presenters told the councillors that they had some challenges, like the fact that our cost of living is high, taxes are high and wages are low. And that even if people did get hired for a job, they would have nowhere to live. But at the end of the day three people got a job offer—although there’s no data on whether or not the people accepted the job. Our taxes paid $69,524 per job offer to undercut Canadian labour. 

Councillor Tim Outhit told the presenters that this was a pilot project and that generally pilot projects are trying to achieve something. He wanted to know what we were trying to do and if we achieved it. The presenters answered that all the city can do (because neither labour nor immigration is municipal jurisdiction) is to promote the city of Halifax, so as a result they didn’t really accomplish anything. 

The Coast’s Matt Stickland has more on what happened at Thursday’s meeting of the Community Planning and Economic Development standing committee.

🗞️ In Other News

🏠 The province has signed a 10-year agreement with Ottawa that will provide $318M in the first five years to municipalities to address infrastructure priorities—especially housing.

🚨 Halifax police have charged three people—including two teenagers—in connection with a shooting in Dartmouth early Wednesday morning. A house was struck but there were no reported injuries.

👀 A digital forensic expert testified that he was unable to find any voyeuristic images on the cellphone of Matthew Douglas Moriarty—the Halifax-area school teacher accused of spying on women in a public washroom last summer.

💸 Canadian parents are getting a top-up in child benefits on Friday amid growing cost-of-living concerns. They will now receive a maximum monthly payment of $648.91 for each child under the age of six—an increase of 4.7% from 2023.

🗳️ Some people are voicing concerns that Andy Fillmore is keeping his federal Halifax seat—and taking a federal salary—while campaigning for mayor and gathering donations.

✈️ Air Canada has been ordered to pay a local family of five who were separated on what they describe as a “traumatizing” flight last year.

⚖️ A 58-year-old Nova Scotia man who was charged last year with 27 offences related to creating child pornography, sexual assault and firearms is now facing additional charges.

🇨🇦 Former public safety minister Marco Mendicino is calling for the creation of “protective zones” around political constituency offices to shield members of Parliament from an increase in threatening behaviour.

SPONSORED BY ART GALLERY OF NOVA SCOTIA

New Exhibitions at the AGNS

It’s time to kick the conventional this summer at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia! New exhibitions including the 2023 Nova Scotia Art Bank Purchases Exhibition, which showcases a wide range of works by 17 Nova Scotian artists, and Léopold L. Foulem: Reshaping Function, which brings together ceramic works that challenge expectations and definitions of form, style and functionality. 

Plus, with Mitchell Wiebe: VampSites, Denyse Thomasos: just beyond, Maud Lewis and more the AGNS is a must-see this summer!

Open daily 10am-5pm and free admission all day on Thursdays this summer until 9pm. The unexpected awaits so plan your visit to the AGNS today.

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

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

🗓 Shakespeare By The Sea presents Twelfth Night: Shakespeare’s most complete comedy returns to Point Pleasant Park this summer in a high-energy production full of laughs, sighs and music. Inspired by Vaudeville Theatres of the early 20th century, eight actors take on some of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters in this fast-paced, hilarious version of the classic. | July 19-20 | From $10

🗓 2024 Halifax Pride Festival: This annual festival features over 150 community and Pride organized events celebrating the history, culture, activism and perseverance of the queer community. | July 18-28

🗓 Craft Nova Scotia Summer Market: Find unique gifts, high-quality crafts, pottery, heirloom homewares, jewellery and a few special guests from our friends at Taste Nova Scotia. | July 19 | 4pm

🗓 Drag Dinner & Bingo At Halifax Shopping Centre: Hosted by the iconic Deva Station this, event will include live performances by Deva, Steph Peaks and Izzy Limpwrist. | July 19 | 6:30pm | $10

🗓 Halifax Gay Men's Chorus: This is the music that ignites us, empowers us and fuels us to keep going—to shine our light and share our flame! Come out for an out-of-doors free performance that celebrates the very YOUniqueness of one another. This is the place where everyone's included and worthiness is not up for debate. | July 19 | 5:30pm

🗓 David Myles - Live at the Shore Club : With two Junos to his credit, David Myles has established himself as a world-class entertainer with an uncanny knack for dispersing profound truths about the human condition through dynamic songwriting. | July 19 | 9:30pm | $50.54

🗓 2024 Nova Multifest: Get ready to embark on a thrilling journey of cultural discovery. This vibrant celebration promises to be a melting pot of traditions, flavours and rhythms, bringing together communities from around the world in a dazzling display of unity. | July 19-21 | Free

🗓 Daniel Woodrow “Fully Traumatized Comedy Tour” Ft. Clare Belford & Travis Lindsay: Was it the Homeschool, being raised by white parents, his love of solo travel? Maybe even that botched kidnapping? Daniel draws from his unique background to provide a fresh perspective on racial humour, mental health and everyday life. | July 20 | 8pm | $20

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Contship Art container ship leaves Halifax for Kingston at 12:30am.

➡️ The One Opus container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 3am.

🛳️ The Nolhan Ava arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 7:30am.

🛳️➡️ The MSC Mia Summer container ship arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 6:15am and leaves for London at 5pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍩 ‘Tis the season at Total Donut Solutions…the Christmas season that is. Why not celebrate early with the Christmas in July half dozen: two eggnog, two brown butter bourbon and two gingerbread.

🍅 New appetizer alert! Fresh bruschetta joined the party at Spring House Market: grilled ciabatta garlic bread topped with fresh tomatoes and onion, tofu feta and balsamic reduction.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🍺 Breweries around Atlantic Canada are pumping out beer like water, with the exception of one that is actually pumping out water like beer. The Oland Brewery in the north end of Halifax will now add canned fresh drinking water to its production line so that it’s ready and waiting in case of an emergency. It’s part of Labatt’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the community. The Coast’s Julie Lawrence talked to Wade Keller—Labatt’s  director of corporate affairs for Atlantic Canada—about the how and why of water production in the Halifax brewery.

🏛️ On a muggy Wednesday morning that promised high temperatures in the afternoon, Halifax’s auditor general turned up the heat early in council chambers at the Audit and Finance Standing Committee. AG Andrew Atherton put the city’s feet to the fire yesterday as he dropped two reports, the Management of Business Continuity Audit and the Enterprise Risk Management Audit. The Coast’s city hall reporter Matt Stickland has more on what these two AG reports had to say about HRM’s emergency readiness.

That’s it!

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