🗞 A motion picture star arrives in Halifax

SHIPPING NEWS

A major motion picture star arrives in Halifax Harbour this week

How’s this for a riddle: What film star has shared the silver screen with the likes of Salma Hayek, Pierce Brosnan, Woody Harrelson and Don Cheadle—all in the same movie?

Coast reporter Martin Bauman has the answer in this week’s harbour report, along with a week full of delayed ship arrivals and another packed slate of cruise ships.

Need to know

🧑‍⚖️ Natasha Angelique Danais was found guilty of obstruction and assault yesterday pertaining to an incident that occurred with Halifax police officers at a 2021 housing protest.

🗣️ The RCMP has announced its plans to apologize to the African Nova Scotian population for its former use of street checks.

🕺 Live Art Dance presents Bboyizm! A hip-hop show of dazzling flips and tricks about the vulnerability of being an aging dancer. Get your tickets today!*

*Sponsored Post

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY SYMPHONY NOVA SCOTIA

Natalie MacMaster joins Symphony Nova Scotia

In 1995, the Symphony, Natalie MacMaster and Scott Macmillan came together to share music across Nova Scotia. Close to 30 years later, the magic is back. "We're going to pick up right where we left off," says Macmillan, "and have two fabulous nights of entertainment!" October 28 and 29. Get your tickets.

COUNCIL

How Halifax spent $11 million on fencing

Wednesday morning, the HRM’s audit and finance committee met to find out just how dire the city’s financial situation is.

City staff told the committee that first quarter reporting shows Halifax is expecting to be out approximately $20 million due to climate change—and a municipal public service that’s incapable of dealing with climate emergencies.

Chief financial officer Jerry Blackwood and his staff also explained to council that, although they do expect to get this money back from the provincial government, it won’t be for years—maybe decades—until the city sees it. During the conversation, staff revealed that the HRM hasn’t gotten money back from the province for damages caused by Dorian in 2019 because they didn’t apply for it.

Read Matt Stickland’s full council recap at The Coast.

In other news

💰 A new Halifax venture fund that plans to invest in "agricultural biotech" has closed its first $20M.

👮 345 bags of cannabis were seized from a container in the Halifax port heading to the Caribbean last month.

🇺🇸 The American consulate in Halifax is marking its 190th anniversary!

🏒 Hammonds Plains native Brad Marchand was recently named captain of the Boston Bruins.

⚽️ Councillors are weighing in on the pros and cons of proceeding with the plans for a $40 million permanent Wanderers stadium.

⚠️ Peggys Cove patrol officers had to intervene to prevent dangerous behaviours an average of 25 times a day in the past year.

🩺 Working with an expired contract for 3 years, Nova Scotia Health Administrative workers are ready to strike.

🧑‍🚒 Michael Seth, head of Cape Breton Regional Municipality fire service, has stepped down.

DUELLING DEMONSTRATORS

Counter-protesters outnumber anti-queer movement in Halifax

Bénédicte Wiggett is an educator with 30 years of experience who, until recently, was vice-principal of an elementary school in Nova Scotia. She is also a parent of a child who identifies as gender fluid and queer. For both reasons, she takes issues of education around sexual orientation and gender identity—a field known as SOGI or “sew-gee”—seriously.

When she heard about a national anti-SOGI movement with a presence in Halifax on Wednesday, Sept. 20, she responded by organizing a counter-protest called “Education Saves Lives/L’éducation Sauve Des Vie.”

Yesterday morning, a few dozen members of the Million Person March Halifax protest arrived at the steps of the Grand Parade in downtown Halifax. Handmade signs read “Groom Dogs Not Kids”, “Secrets Hide A Nefarious Curriculum”, “A.B.C. not S.E.X.” and “Protect Childhood Innocence,” while others waved Nova Scotia and Canadian flags.

Around the cenotaph and occupying the northeast half of the square, counter-protesters outnumbered the marchers 2:1. The counter-protest side included members of various 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy groups and allies in Halifax, like Education Saves Lives/L’éducation Sauve Des Vie.

Read the full story and interview with Wiggett at The Coast.