🗞️ Shovels in the ground

Hi Halifax 👋

Many of us have the people of Jamaica in our hearts today as a Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm, cut through the nation yesterday. Ahead of the storm, experts have said it may be the worst hurricane Jamaica has ever seen.

According to an article from CBC, the storm has gone through a period of rapid intensification, a phenomenon that has lead the region experiencing stronger, more intense storms every year. Melissa was one of the fastest intensifications on record, being declared a Category 5 hurricane Monday morning. The storm is also moving slowly over the country, meaning that it will more chances for heavy rainfall.

Climate change has an impact on storms like this becoming more devastating. Melissa is as strong as it is in part because of the warm ocean waters, which are two or three degrees warmer than usual near the Caribbean. This allowed Melissa to undergo a swift storm development as it slowly tore through the region. A report from Climate Central suggests that human-made climate change has made these types of conditions 900 times more likely to occur—an absolutely devastating increase.

Keep Jamaica and other impacted countries in your thoughts today as they recover from this brutal storm.

Best,

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 12°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 14°

Next Day: 🌧️ 17°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS

Construction underway on new Clayton Park–Fairview junior high

Fencing is up and construction equipment has arrived at the site of the new Clayton Park–Fairview School, marking the official start of a project families in the area have been waiting years to see.

Early site work began two weeks ago, including clearing, grading, and installing underground services. The nearby sports field will stay open to the public while construction continues.

The Coast’s Emily Edwards delves into the plan for the new school.

🤔 Need To Know

🚨 A youth is facing child pornography charges after taking part in an extremist group online—police say the group called 764 glorify serious violence and cruelty and is often used by predators.

🥫 Food Bank Canada’s latest report on food insecurity shows a 10% increase of food bank use in Nova Scotia—43,421 people visited food banks in one month, and a third of those visitors were children.

🚓 An 18-year-old allegedly attempted to bribe an officer after a single vehicle crash in Lower Sackville—the man refused to take a breathalyzer test before trying to give the officer money to leave, says police.

🍕 Freeman’s is a Halifax Landmark! Keep them on top & vote for them in the Coast’s Best Late-Night Food. Mama Mia, get the pizza!*

🌯 The donair was invented in: a. Toronto, b. Calgary, c. Halifax? Discover the surprising histories of Canadian foods we love and more in eat make share: a taste of immigration exhibition until Jan 2026.*

🍔 Love The Pint? Prove it! From bold bites to legendary pub classics, every dish hits the spot. Vote The Pint for Best Pub Food in the Best of Halifax!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY BENJAMIN BRIDGE VINEYARDS

Savour The Season at Benjamin Bridge

Nestled just an hour from Halifax in Nova Scotia’s scenic Gaspereau Valley, Benjamin Bridge invites guests to unwind and explore the region’s most celebrated wines.

As the weather cools, the winery transforms into a cozy retreat, offering fireside tastings and breathtaking valley views. Visitors can drop in for wine service on the open-air terrace or book a unique guided experience. With its welcoming atmosphere and family-friendly setting, Benjamin Bridge is the perfect destination for a relaxed afternoon or a memorable tasting with friends.

Visit benjaminbridge.com to plan your visit.

BEST OF HALIFAX

Get your votes in for the Best of Halifax 2026

🗞️ In Other News

🚨 A youth is being charged in connection to a bomb threat at the Halifax Shopping Centre last weekend—the youth allegedly handed a note to someone saying they had a bomb before leaving, but police determined the threat was unfounded.

🌊 A waterspout was caught on camera after thunderstorms in the province over the weekend—the waterspout could be viewed off the coast of Isle Madame in Cape Breton on Saturday afternoon.

⚖️ A Nova Scotian who killed a convicted murderer in a New Brunswick prison was sentenced yesterday—both men were serving life sentences for murder convictions.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Creative Minds: Gordon Sparks and Jordan Bennett: Mi’kmaw artists Gordon Sparks and Jordan Bennett speak on the themes in their art, such as land-based inspirations and traditional Indigenous tattoo culture. Held at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. | Oct. 30 | 7:00PM |

🗓 Outloud Karaoke With Candi: Experience this Night of the Living Dead-themed karaoke at the Roxbury. | Oct. 30 | 10:00PM |

🗓 Music from the Maritime Conservatory: Musicians from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts will play at the Peggy Corkum Music Room as part of the Chamber Players Series. | Oct. 29 | 7:30PM | From $20

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The MSC England container vessel arrives in Halifax from Sines at 5:45am and departs for Montreal at 5pm.

🚢 The Ezra Sol tug arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 6:15am.

🚢➡️ The CMA CGM Paranagua arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 6:15am and departs for Antwerp at 11pm.

🚢➡️ The Koi container vessel arrives in Halifax from Colombo at 6:45am and departs for New York at 11:45pm.

➡️ The Norwegian Prima cruise vessel departs Halifax for Canadian seas at 8pm.

➡️ The Mersey Venture factory fishing vessel departs for Canadian seas at 9:15pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍅 It’s not a sandwich, but it’s still delicious! Larry’s Sandwiches in Dartmouth is serving tomato soup with cheesy garlic bread as their sandwich of the week.

🍟 The ultimate game-time food is here. Watch the World Series with a plate of The Stubborn Goat’s steak house loaded fries—house cut, tenderloin, smoked mushrooms, blue cheese, caramelized onions and horseradish aioli.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏛️ Last week, Premier Tim Houston unceremoniously removed two members of his cabinet. One of them was Becky Druhan, MLA for Lunenburg County and the now-former Minister of Justice—notably, the only person with a law degree to hold that portfolio under Houston’s leadership. This shake-up came right after the shortest legislative sitting Nova Scotia has seen in generations, just eight days long. In that time, the government tabled a ridiculous omnibus bill that lumped together everything from changing bar security regulations to a concerning amendment to the Crown Lands Act. I think it is fair to ask whether Houston’s method of “getting things done” is actually reckless, and more importantly, whether it’s creating deeper divisions within Houston’s caucus. Opinion writer and gender-based violence activist Liz LeClair gives her thoughts on Houston’s recent cabinet shuffle.

🏛️ MLA Becky Druhan, the former minister of justice, has officially left the governing PC Party to become an independent—sources say she turned down a portfolio switch during the recent cabinet shuffle.

🚨 RCMP arrested a suspect after an incident in Waverley prompted an emergency alert on Monday—the alert noted an armed man inside a home on Waverley Road, asking residents to seek shelter.

That’s it!

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