🗞️ Shooting for the green

Happy Friday, Halifax 👋

To round out our week, let’s chat about what might be my least favourite sport: golf.

I actually don’t mind the idea of golf. It seems like a relaxing time, after all—slinging back beers with your buddies while you all fail to hit a ball into a hole. Sounds fun to me.

My problem with golf lies more with the environmental aspect. Golf courses not only often require the land for the course being torn up and replaced with golf sod, but they also require a high amount of water, lots of pesticides and, of course, energy to keep all the systems of a golf course running. I would also imagine habitat loss would be an issue, as well.

If you like playing golf, that might all be cool with you. What really gets me is the natural beauty that is lost for the sake of “pretty grass to hit ball into hole.” I’m quoting one of my golfer friends there.

This could be the case for West Mabou Beach in Cape Breton. This provincial park is home to a large sand beach and dune system. According to the provincial parks website, it’s also a great place for birding and cross-country skiing in the winter

And, of course, Cabot Golf wants to turn that natural beauty into another plain, green strip for people to whack balls. While the provincial government had previously told them not to bother submitting a bid, it seems they’re now open to the idea—perhaps so the MLAs can all have a game together after wrapping up their fall session early. While the area is currently protected by law, there’s no saying laws can’t be changed to let it happen, leaving locals understandably upset.

Personally, I wouldn’t put it past Tim Houston’s government to throw another golf course at Cabot Golf. In their minds, the tourism it would generate might offset their poor budgeting. It just sucks that residents and tourists alike will lose such natural beauty to a second-rate sport.

Plus, the hockey season has started again, so who needs golf anymore? Go Leafs!

Happy Thanksgiving, folks.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 13°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 17°

Next Day: ☀️ 15°

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.

FOOD + DRINK

Devour! set to take a bite of Montréal in Wolfville

Fifteen years ago, Devour! The Food Film Fest began as a small but spirited idea: pair the stories we tell on screen with the flavours we love on our plates. Today, the world’s largest food film festival celebrates a milestone with a week that feels like a love letter to Canada’s culinary present and to the filmmakers who keep our appetites curious. From October 20 to 26, Wolfville welcomes an all-star cast from Montréal, a slate of foodie films, and enough pop-ups, markets and dining events to make even the most seasoned festival-goer loosen their belt a notch or two.

The Coast’s food critic Mark DeWolf goes over what folks can expect from the festival in Wolfville.

🤔 Need To Know

🏡 A total of 197 affordable homes will be preserved in Dartmouth and Truro through a nearly $7 million in provincial grants to the organization Rooted—the units will remain affordable for a minimum of 30 years, says the government.

🏛️ Halifax councillors say the province is trying to tidy up its own mess in designating Halifax an interim planning area—changes introduced by the province were already included in Halifax’s regional plan that was shot down by the municipal affairs minister.

🔥 Evacuees from the wildfires near Lake George in Kings County were allowed to go home on Thursday—officials say the wildfire has changed from out of control to being held.

🍻 Escape to The Pint this Friday! Enjoy cold drinks, delicious food, and amazing vibes on Argyle. Gather your friends and kick off the weekend the right way!*

🥧 Looking for last-minute Thanksgiving eats and treats? Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet has got you covered—find your favourite products at local retailers across the HRM!*

🧑‍🚒 Charge up for Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11. Learn more about lithium-ion safety and enter one of our contests for children and adults for a chance to win some exciting prizes!*

💰 Registered non-profits and charities serving African Nova Scotians/African descent can apply for funding through the Anti-Black Racism Grants Program. Apply online by October 31, 2025.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY AFTERWORDS LITERARY FESTIVAL

Where writers and readers meet!

Find your new favourite author at AfterWords, Saturday November 1 to Sunday November 9. More than fifty writers will come together in venues around Halifax for on-stage interviews and conversations, panel discussions, readings, workshops, parties, and more.

Have brunch with David A. Robertson and Jesse Wente at The Carleton, explore the imaginary worlds created by a dozen Kid Lit authors at the festival’s annual Kids’ Day/Journée jeunesse, hear authors like David Bergen, Shani Mootoo, Sue Goyette, Billy-Ray Belcourt, katherena vermette, Elamin Abdelmahmoud, and Andre Alexis in conversation. Plus, New York Times bestselling author Brandon Taylor returns to AfterWords, in conversation with Stewart Legere.

Tickets are on sale now.

🗞️ In Other News

👩‍⚕️ Bookings are now open for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in Nova Scotia—starting yesterday, people could book to get their shots with family doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacies, public health offices and mobile units.

🌉 New data shows collisions are down by 43% on Halifax-Dartmouth bridges since the tolls were removed while traffic volume has gone up—this information comes from Halifax Harbour Bridges, the Crown corporation who operate the bridges.

💵 A new report shows half of Atlantic Canadians are within $200 of not paying their bills—one-third of those surveys believe they have cut everything from their monthly budget that they possibly can.

SPONSORED BY NOCTURNE HALIFAX

This year's limited-edition Nocturne Gin Smash by Propeller Brewing available now!

Crafted by Propeller Brewing, the Nocturne Gin Smash is made with local Steinhart East Coast Gin, and comes wrapped in a custom can design by Alex MacAskill (@midnightoilprintdesign).

Available at Propeller Brewing and select establishments. Get your hands on one today!

The perfect pairing for Nocturne: Ground, October 16-19!

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE

There’s still time to see MISCHIEF!

"This show touched every point it needed to in every way it could. It honoured history and its effects on people in the present and future in a mindful way. We cried, laughed, and sat on the edge of our seats. The set was amazing and effects were something we talked about all the way home."

Full of truths, gentle humour, family connections, and just a little civil disobedience, MISCHIEF is catching the attention of Halifax audiences and bringing in rave reviews… but the show must close this Sunday!

MISCHIEF is on stage until October 12, and limited tickets are available. Book yours today.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Climate Art and Activism: An evening of art and action. Facilitated by Solacene co-founders Alicia and Aaron, motivated by a love of science communications and the arts. The event will include a hands-on workshop about the power of art in climate activism as a tool for empowering and enacting change; as well as a photo exhibit and short film premiere. At the end of the night, everyone will go home with a handmade zine all about the intersection of art and the ocean. | Oct. 11 | 6:00PM |

🗓 Fall Harvest Kitchen Party: Gather on the farm for a four-course gourmet farm-to-table meal, crafted and hosted by Kitty Teerling, featuring our own farm-raised bison with a touch of German flair. Celebrating the season, our land and the joy of gathering together. | Oct. 11 | 6:00PM | $99 |

🗓 Comedy Night at The Woodside Tavern: Join us at Dartmouth's oldest bar for a night of stand up comedy featuring comedians who have performed at Just For Laughs, written for This Hour has 22 Minutes, and can be heard on Sirius XM and more. Headlining is Martin Edwards. | Oct. 11 | 8:00PM | $10 |

🗓 Book Signing Event - Lisa Brideau & Rose Sutherland: Lisa Brideau (Adrift, Sourcebooks) and Rose Sutherland (A Sweet Sting of Salt, Random House) will be available for casual conversation and book signings at Indigo Dartmouth. | Oct. 11 | 1:00PM |

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads: The Halifax Mooseheads take on the Moncton Wildcats at this hometown game. It will be 90’s Night so make sure to dress the part. | Oct. 11 | 7:00PM | From $29.25 |

🗓 Float at the Prow Gallery: The Prow Gallery is proud to announce the opening an exhibition showcasing the vibrant and thought-provoking works of local artists. Inspired by the theme of "Float," this exhibition explores themes of weightlessness, fluidity, and the movement of both physical and emotional landscapes. | Sept 18-Oct 10 |

🗓  Nocturne Collective Exhibit at Teichert Gallery: Artists were invited to use “Ground” as a metaphor for their process, representing the spaces they inhabit and their personal experiences within the gallery space. The Collective Exhibit emphasizes both individual experience and a sense of community and familiarity. Each artist submitted a statement outlining their process and the connection to the Ground theme. | Oct. 3-25 | 10:00AM |

🗓 Bluenose Ghosts Festival Haunted House: The Bluenose Ghosts Festival is an annual immersive Halloween festival held at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It’s a living tribute to the folkloric work of Dr. Helen Creighton, whose book Bluenose Ghosts (first published in 1957) collected supernatural and ghost stories across Nova Scotia. | Oct. 4-31 | 6:30PM | Free-$15 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The CMA CGM Moliere container vessel departs Halifax for Veracruz at 6am.

🚢➡️ The Norwegian Getaway cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 6:30am and departs for Canadian seas at 7pm.

➡️ The Leeway Odyssey research vessel departs Halifax at 9am.

🚢 The Atlantic Star container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 11am.

🚢➡️ The Azamara Quest cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 11am and departs for Canadian seas at 6pm.

➡️ The Lars D container vessel departs Halifax for Mariel at 3pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container vessel departs Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🚢 The Algoluna oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Nanticoke at 9:15pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container vessel departs Halifax for Argentia at 11:59pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥪 Larry’s Sandwiches has a Thanksgiving special that can’t be beat. Sliced turkey, savoury stuffing mayo, cranberry and apple mostarda, cloth-bound aged cheddar and fresh arugula.

🐖 This could be your last chance to grab Vessel Meat’s molasses ham before the Thanksgiving weekend. Made with molasses, juniper and coriander before the ham is rinsed and netted. Get your orders in while you can!

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎵 As the leaves turn colour and fall from the trees, it’s no surprise to any of us that the summer is over, and that’s a shame. There were so many opportunities to take in the sun while listening to some old faves or new releases, and there were so many great concerts that we couldn’t even begin to count. However, even with a chill in the wind, nothing stops our favourite artists from taking to the stage. So, to ensure you don’t trap yourself at home until next summer, we’re going to count down some local concerts that you can check out. Summer may be a great time to take in all the music, but artists work year-round, so find a show that feels right for you and get out there. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer lists some highly anticipated concerts coming to Halifax during the fall season, from Mac DeMarco to The Beaches.

🚨 A second man has been charged in relation to the antisemitic graffiti found in Halifax last month—three of the six instances were written on synagogues.

🐋 Marineland says the remaining 30 belugas from it’s closure in Ontario should not be sent to a sanctuary in Nova Scotia—this comes after the federal fisheries minister denied the company’s request to sell them to buyers in China.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading The Coast Daily today.

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Haligonian.

And before you go, let us know: