We’re back, Halifax. 

It’s a new year, but so far, there’s nothing very happy about it.

Halifax police are investigating three deaths that are connected—two of which they say were homicides resulting from intimate partner violence—in the city on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. 

Since Oct 18, three murder-suicides involving couples have been reported by police in Nova Scotia—in each case a man killed his female partner before taking his own life. One was in Yarmouth, and the other two occurred in suburban Halifax.

In September, the Nova Scotia legislature (under what can only be described as duress) adopted a bill declaring domestic violence an epidemic in the province, in response to a recommendation from the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting rampage that began after the killer brutally assaulted his spouse.

Nova Scotia has the highest rate of intimate partner violence of any province in Canada, with over 30% of women reporting being physically or sexually assaulted by their partner. But it seems like the term “epidemic” is just semantics for premier Tim Houston because a total of exactly nothing has been done to address it since September, and all of the parties were crickets on the issue during the election. 

My dad always says that if you want something done right, do it yourself (which, btw, has probably contributed greatly to my control issues/low level OCD), and it looks we need to pull together and do just that in 2025, Halifax.

Continue to watch this space for action you can take to help end gender-based violence in our province and take care of yourselves and each other.

– Julie 💜

Today: 🌨️ 1°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ -1°

Next Day: 🌨️ -8°

7-day forecast

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

Years before Aaron Williams and RC Shaw became published authors, each with a pair of books under their belt, the friends and former University of King’s College classmates had a fever-induced idea one night. It was the winter of 2017. The two were rooming together in New York City for a weeklong authors’ residency. Williams was jet-lagged, and Shaw was sick as a dog. They were supposed to pitch their book ideas to agents the next day. But neither could sleep. So, they talked about the books and writers they loved instead.

“We started joking about having a podcast,” Shaw tells The Coast.

Flash forward seven years, and what started as a lark has come true: Williams and Shaw are the new co-hosts of Further Reading, a podcast about the craft of writing. In its third season, the King’s-backed project puts writers in conversation with other writers—from bestselling authors to debut novelists—to learn the secrets behind their stories.

The Coast’s Martin Bauman chats with the two about finding their groove as hosts.

💸 The Nova Scotia government has announced it is indexing income assistance to address rising living costs—more than 37,000 Nova Scotians receiving income assistance will see their payments increase by 3.1% this year.

🇨🇦 Explore A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada, the first national exhibition that reveals a history many Canadians don’t know about.*

🚔 A man who barricaded himself inside a home in the Porters Lake, N.S., area Thursday morning has died—investigators have not said how the man died or released his identity.

🎟️ Live Art Dance is excited to announce the inaugural Winter Wishes, Dreams Come True, Luxury Staycation Raffle. This winter you and a friend could win a Downtown Halifax Staycation valued at over $3,000.*

🦅 Golden eagles are not usually found in the Maritimes, and Hope for Wildlife is waiting on good weather to return this special bird to the skies—it was found on Greys Road in Belle River, PEI, grounded and unwilling to fly, but now seems healthy and strong.

🌼 Advanced Laser Hair Removal at Bloomfield Beauty Bar: Inclusive & effective. Free patch test, and for a limited time: 50% off your 1st session! Call (902) 402-8390.*

*Sponsored Post

From funding musicians like Maggie Andrew and Jah'Mila to tattoo artists like Dion Kaszas to cultural events throughout the year, Support4Culture impacts your Nova Scotian community and looks to local talent. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for updates all year long.

The station that began as a student radio club celebrates 40 years on the FM dial this February—with a party and a call-out for memories. 

What started as a radio club in 1964 began broadcasting five years later from what was then the brand-new Dalhousie Student Union Building, but that broadcast was just within the building’s speaker system. 

Ten years later, the club became CKDU and aired through a closed circuit into Dal’s student residences before landing on the FM dial on Feb 1, 1985, after the students voted to make it so, at 97.5 FM. In 2006, the station increased its broadcasting power and moved to the new frequency of 88.1 FM—where it can be found today. 

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips has more on the 40th birthday of the campus-and-community radio station that has become a local institution.

👀 Police continue to investigate the disappearance of Zachery Lefave four years after he was reported missing—on Jan 1, 2021, Yarmouth RCMP launched its investigation after it was reported Lefave did not return to a New Year’s Eve gathering he had attended earlier that evening with friends.

🎓 Cape Breton University is slashing its budget by up to $20M because of a federal cut in the number of international students allowed—CBU president David Dingwall said the restriction means 1,200 fewer international students this year.

🐳 North Atlantic right whales should live well past 100 years, but threats to the endangered species—including from commercial crab and lobster fishing—have cut their lifespan to a fraction of that, according to a recent study.

👶 Theodore and Charlotte are the most popular baby names in Nova Scotia for 2024, according to figures released Monday by the provincial government.

Tony's World Famous Donairs has been crowned Halifax's Best Donair, cementing its reputation as a local icon!

Known for its signature sweet sauce and perfectly spiced meat, Tony's is a family business of almost 50 years and has become a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists. This accolade celebrates its long-standing tradition of delivering the best of Halifax's favourite comfort food.

Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks from 2024 that are about to wrap:

🗓 Disney's Frozen Presented by Neptune Theatre: When newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally sets off an eternal winter in the town of Arendelle, her younger sister Anna (along with her friends Kristoff, Olaf and Sven) goes off on a thrilling adventure to find her sister and save the kingdom. | Closes Jan 5 | From $40

🗓 Exhibition—Worlds of the Night: Have you ever wondered what happens when the sun sets, and the world falls asleep? Uncover the mysteries of nocturnal creatures, learn how humans and animals adapt to darkness, and discover the incredible science that thrives under the cover of night. | Closes Jan 5 | $17.50

🗓 Exhibition—A History Exposed: For many, Canada’s connection to slavery is the Underground Railroad. Little-known by Canadians is what happened before the Underground Railroad when, for over two centuries, the majority of Black people in Canada were slaves. Slavery played a significant role in the early settlement of Canada and its legacy can be seen and felt today. Discover the experiences of enslaved Black people in Canada through individual biographies and archival records. | Closes Jan 5

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

➡️ The CMA CGM Roosevelt container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 3am.

➡️ The MSC Lisa container ship leaves Halifax for London at 3am.

➡️ The Atlantic Star container ship leaves Halifax for Liverpool at 3:30am.

🚢 The IT Infinity offshore supply ship arrives in Halifax from Brattvag at 11:30am.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker leaves Halifax for Canadian seas at 12pm.

🚢 The NYK Constellation container ship arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 3:20pm.

➡️ The Oberon vehicle carrier leaves Halifax for New York at 4pm.

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

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Zim Asia container ship arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 6:20am and leaves for Argentia at 6pm.

🍄‍🟫 Dive into the ultimate comfort food with the Lasagna Con Funghai al Tartufo at The Bicycle Thief: silky handmade pasta, wild mushrooms and creamy truffle bechamel topped with Parmigiano perfection.

🧁 Re-up on that Holiday sugar fix with the weekly features at Layers Cupcakes: cranberry oatmeal cookie, cinnamon sugar soft pretzel and/or chocolate peanut butter dip.

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