🗞️ Hello, Customer Service?

Happy Thursday, everyone 👋

As we reach the latter half of the week, I want to take a second to highlight a story from the other side of the country—one that is especially close to my heart.

In the magical land of Richmound, Sask., resided the Kingdom of Canada, a cult who worshiped the self-alleged Queen of Canada, Romana Didulo, a QAnon affiliate who toured through the country in 2022, declaring herself the rightful ruler of the land. This, of course, attracted followers whose brains must’ve melted out of their heads during the pandemic.

Earlier this month, a police search of the Kingdom of Canada’s conspiracy compound—a decommissioned school—saw Didulo and 15 others arrested. RCMP seized 13 imitation semi-automatic handguns along with ammo and electronic devices. They were released the same day, but Didulo was later arrested around the compound again alongside the compound’s owner, Ricky Manz, for breaching a condition not to contact each other.

That’s all old news at this point. The new bit—and the funniest of it all, in my opinion, is that the school they used as their home base is in utter shambles. Sewage water has overflowed from the toilets and sinks. The pooling began after Richmound’s officials decided to cut water and power to the facility to drive out the cult. The mayor, Brad Miller, says you can smell the stink from 500 feet away if there’s wind.

While I ultimately feel bad for the residents of Richmound, the idea of the Queen of Canada and her loyal followers living in a borderline dump all in the name of their twisted sovereign citizen ideology has me left me cackling. Imagine being so deluded that you can deal with such a terrible smell for so long.

I hope your day is at least marginally better than the residents of Richmound. May the Queen of Stink reign on.

Best,

- B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌥️ 20°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 21°

Next Day: ☀️ 20°

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.

MUSIC

Customer Service proves sadness can be fun with new music video

Customer Service’s newest music video is a hilarious drag-fueled accompaniment to an emotional track full of longing and a tinge of hope, and it feels like a balance only they can strike.

The Halifax-based emo band released their single “Never Meant To” on Sept. 10 in the lead-up to their third EP, If You’re Here, You Must Be Fine. The song itself features mid-west riffs, an energetic chorus contrasting low-key verses, and lyrics about flicking through old memories and dredging up ancient feelings. It’s another fantastic showing from the band, and it’s only elevated by its music video.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with the members of Customer Service about their new single and music video, as well as their upcoming EP.

🤔 Need To Know

⛺ The Cogswell Park encampment has been vacated, according to the Halifax Regional Municipality—the city says the site has begun clean up and will need a period of remediation.

⛏️ The Nova Scotia government is looking to eliminate red tape to encourage more industrial processes while respecting environmental protections—the bill includes allowing provincial officials to remove fees associated with mining projects.

⛵ A former member of Nova Scotia’s Olympic sailing training program is suing Sail Nova Scotia and Sail Canada for a sexual assault that occurred in 2024—her lawyer says the governing bodies failed to take the matter seriously.

🥘 Paint the Plate Night with Prince Churchill. One of-a-kind paint night where food meets art to blend culture, cuisine, and creativity. No experience is needed. Open to all ages.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY SKETTI & BALL CO.

Sketti & Ball Co. Won Best New Restaurant 2025

After being crowned Best New Restaurant in the 2025 Best of Halifax Awards, Sketti & Ball Co. had a phenomenal year slinging pasta on Argyle Street. Help them win Best Italian, Best Cocktails, Best Gluten Free Options, Best Desserts and Best Fries. Too bad there’s no award for biggest mozza sticks!

🗞️ In Other News

🚑 Statistics from a Canadian think tank show nearly 10% of people who go to an emergency room in Nova Scotia leave without treatment—the report says this trend has jumped up nearly 54% since 2019.

🚨 RCMP have arrested a third youth following a home invasion that occurred in Lower Sackville over the weekend—police also seized the irritant used to assault several of the houses’ occupants.

⚖️ A Dartmouth man pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault, extortion and uttering threats—Jason Bernard James, 51, is an employee of the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

SPONSORED BY BUILDING A CULTURE OF RESILIENCE LAB AT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY

Disasters Disrupt Our Communication

The BACOR Lab at Dalhousie University is studying how disasters affect communication and how an older adult–led system can help build Atlantic Canada’s resilience. If you are 60 years of age or older and live in Atlantic Canada, please take a 20-minute survey. 100 randomly selected participants will receive $20 gift card.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Yuk Yuks Halifax presents JJ Whitehead: Cole Harbour hero JJ Whitehead presents a hometown show at Yuk Yuks Comedy Club. Splitting his time between Los Angeles and the United Kingdom, Whitehead has appeared at festivals worldwide, wrote for the Jim Jefferies Show, and won a BBC New Comedy Award. Albert Coombes hosts while Travis Lindsay features. | Sept 26-27 | 8:00PM | $25 |

🗓 Magnetic: World Music Festival: This weekend-long celebration of music features amazing artists of incredible calibre, including headliners Dom Dolla, 21 Savage and The Kid Laroi. Come and experience the largest multi-genre music festival in Atlantic Canada. | Sept 26-28 | From $178 |

🗓 Sorry For Your Loss: Experience Cian Parker’s story about growing up on the mean streets of Aotearoa (New Zealand) with a dad that’s only sometimes there. Watch how Parker reclaims her heritage after learning of a family she never knew existed at this Bus Stop Theatre performance. | Sept 26| 2:00PM and 8:00PM | From $19.73 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The Enchanted Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7am and departs for Canadian seas at 5pm.

➡️ The Algoma Vision carrier departs Halifax for Baltimore at 8am.

🚢➡️ The Zuiderdam cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 8am and departs for Canadian seas at 4pm.

🚢 The Nolhan Ava cargo ship arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 8:30am.

🚢➡️ The Crystal Serenity cruise vessel arrives in Halifax at 9am and departs for Canadian seas at 7pm.

🚢➡️ The MSC Lorena container vessel arrives from Sines at 10:45am and departs Halifax for Montreal at 10:30pm.

➡️ The MSC Santhya container vessel departs Halifax for Montreal at 6pm.

➡️ The STI Queens tanker departs Halifax at 9pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥭 Check out Via Condotti’s brunch menu, including a fresh housemade Açaí bowl, featuring granola, mango, kiwi, banana, goji berries and toasted coconut.

🥐 You’ll want to try this Apple Crisp Croissant from Two If By Sea Cafe in Dartmouth before the week is over. Filled with a mix of brown sugar, cinnamon, and gala apples, topped with streusal and apple spice glaze.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎵 This fall, JUNO-nominated reggae powerhouse Jah’Mila reunites with Symphony Nova Scotia to premiere an electrifying new program, Oct. 3 and 4 at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Radiant Reggae Roots is a brand-new program of original music marking a new chapter for Jah’Mila as she performs popular hits from past albums, including her JUNO Award-nominated debut Roots Girl, along with unreleased tracks from her upcoming album. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with Jah’Mila about her partnership with Symphony Nova Scotia and the celebration they’ll share on stage at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

⚖️ A Halifax driver was handed a four-year prison sentence and a 10-year driving ban for a fatal hit and run in January—the victim was a 21-year-old student who was crossing the street.

👶 A Halifax mom has opened a diaper bank to alleviate the burden for struggling parents—she’s currently accepting donations for diapers of all sizes to go to families in need.

That’s it!

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