🗞️ Where the sidewalk ends

Okay guys,

I’ve been working very hard to regulate my emotions (aka abject rage) around the Trump of it all because if I don’t, I will break out in hives and be unkind to most men. But he has simply pushed me too far this time.

In one of his most unhinged moves yet, the former president shared AI-generated images suggesting Taylor Swift fans support his campaign. 

First of all, there is an Uncle Sam-esque poster of her that reads "Taylor Wants You to Vote for Donald Trump.” Trump captioned the post "I accept!"—which objectively doesn’t even make sense as a response. He also reposted a series of AI generated photos of women wearing t-shirts that read “Swifties for Trump”—which I firmly believe is at least equivalent to taking the lord’s name in vain.

Meanwhile, over here in reality, speculation is on-going about whether Mz. Swift—who endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020—will make an appearance at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Time will tell! Watch the space for updates ✌️

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ⛈️ 22°

Tomorrow: ☁️ 26°

Next Day: 🌧️ 24°

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.

NEWS + OPINION

The fight for proper pedestrian infrastructure in Halifax continues

Marooned bus stops. Access roads with no sidewalks. Pedestrians forced to walk alongside moving traffic. Safety advocate Martyn Williams is a witness to all of this as he documents the lack of pedestrian infrastructure throughout Halifax that puts people’s lives at risk daily.

Williams has been highlighting sidewalk issues across the city on his social media page, Safe Kjipuktuk. He also sends emails to the city and relevant businesses regarding poor pedestrian infrastructure. 

It’s an uphill battle, of course. Responses from the city and businesses alike can take anywhere from a couple of days to several months—even longer for a solution to be enacted. Williams has seen some positive outcomes from this advocacy, though.

His most recent success came from contacting Choice Properties, a real estate investment fund and a subsidiary of Loblaws, which owns an access road on Chain Lake Drive connecting to the Bayers Lake Business Park. A glance at the road will make the issue obvious to most—the sidewalks near the lights cut off as they come up the access road, with only a thin pathway of gravel for pedestrians. Mobility scooters, strollers and wheelchairs have no choice but to leave the path, sharing the road with oncoming traffic.

Having walked it himself, Williams knows how terrifying the access road could be.

“At the moment, they’ve kind of marked out these three lanes so that when there is a vehicle in each of the three lanes, you’re really squeezed to the sides, and you feel ultra-vulnerable,” he says. “It’s like a vehicle just going towards you, and you’re not quite sure where they’re going to go to avoid hitting you.”

Williams captured photos of pedestrians walking alongside traffic on the access road and sent them to Loblaws, informing them of the issue and suggesting the company implement barriers for pedestrian safety until a sidewalk can be put in. After a phone call with a representative of Choice Properties and multiple follow-ups to ensure a solution was being devised, Williams got word that the company had a plan.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer spoke with Williams about his advocacy and the need for better pedestrian infrastructure in Halifax.

🤔 Need To Know

🚨 Halifax police are investigating the disappearance of a 26-year-old woman who went missing while kayaking on Long Lake on Sunday—Jashansdeep Kaur's kayak, life-jacket and cellphone have been located.

💜 At Purple Cow Internet we think you'll love our No Bull $60 internet. Join the herd to take advantage of our 30-day money-back guarantee!*

🏊‍♀️ Birch Cove Beach in Dartmouth is under an advisory until further notice due to poor water quality as a result of recent heavy rainfall.

🚍 New Halifax Transit fares will take effect on September 1. Please note that September monthly passes with new pricing will be available for purchase at retailers and on HFXGO as of August 20, 2024.*

💡 Power was restored around 7:30am Monday after nearly 3,000 Nova Scotia Power customers were in the dark in Halifax’s north end.

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY UNIVERSITÉ SAINTE-ANNE

Learn French with Université Sainte-Anne

Université Sainte-Anne, with a long history as a major contributor to French language education in Nova Scotia, offers numerous courses. If you are interested in learning French, whether for work or leisure, looking to elevate your skills, or to establish proficiency, we can help!

Our programs, specifically designed for adult learners, are offered multiple times per year and vary in duration.

With the choice between online and in-person learning, whether it is part-time or full-time study, in a group setting or one-on-one, you will be able to find the right program for you and your goals.

Find the right course for you here!

ARTS + CULTURE

 Pollinator and community gardens at Dal to host artist residencies, upcoming show

The Black to the Roots artist residency has officially begun. Six artists were recently selected to curate a group show in a pair of community gardens at Dalhousie University, with the resulting works to be exhibited this October. Both gardens are active growing spaces, allowing artists to rethink the gallery setting and extend community engagement with the works.

The residency and upcoming show came about through the artist-run Black Artist Initiative, collaborating with the Dalhousie Art Gallery and the Community Garden Kjipuktuk to transform both gardens at Dal’s Sexton Campus. 

The BAI group was formed in 2023 by Chloe Bramble, Kawama Kasutu, Ryn Harris and Nailah Tataa.

“We came together to talk about our experiences as artists within the city and just how difficult it was to navigate it alone,” says Tataa. It started with hosting monthly artist-run workshops and teach-ins for and by Black artists at the Wonder’neath Art Society space on Maynard Street, where Kasutu was working. “We try our best to facilitate safe Black spaces where artists can come and get some food and be in community and build relationships with each other,” says Tataa, “so we're not so alone as we navigate the art world—and are able to share skills and resources, as well.”

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips has more on the six artists who will display their work in October for Black to the Roots.

🗞️ In Other News

🚧 After almost getting hit by a car trying to cross a Halifax intersection being reconfigured to accommodate bike lanes, a blind Halifax woman says the city needs to step up its game to improve accessibility in construction zones.

⚖️ The sentencing hearing for the youth charged with stabbing two staff members at Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford resumed on Monday morning—the 16 year-old has pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault.

🔥 A fatal house fire that left one dead in Porters Lake is under investigation by RCMP—police say the building was completely destroyed in the blaze.

🩺 The province’s YourHealthNS app has been updated to include ultrasound reports—beginning with ultrasound results completed after August 5.

🧯 Growing safety concerns at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School have prompted questions about oversight—and some say highlight larger issues with the fire service the province has left unaddressed for decades.

🚆 More than 9,000 workers at Canada’s two major railways could be either on strike or locked out as of Thursday, disrupting supply chains relied upon by many industries.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour: The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour is returning to the Courts at Salter on the Halifax Waterfront. 32 Teams. 5 Days. 80 Action-Packed Games. It’s the beach party of the summer! | Aug 21-25 | $15

🗓 Billy Idol Rebel Yell 2024 Tour: Produced by Live Nation Canada, Idol’s show will include a myriad of hits from across his career with a focus on the landmark Rebel Yell album, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Joining Idol is his longtime backing band, including his lead guitarist and collaborator of over 40 years, Steve Stevens. Canadian Walk Of Fame inductees Platinum Blonde will appear as special guests across all stops, including Friday’s Halifax show. | Aug 23 | 8pm | $49.50

🗓 Rich Aucoin —with DJ sets from Twoo—Live at the Shore Club: Come see Rich Aucoin for his Penultimate Parachute Party Tour! The parachute and interactive show is retiring in 2025 so this is your second final chance to see Rich's famed multi-media crowd-karaoke sing-along dance-party. This year's show is called “New Nostalgia.” Perhaps marking the end of the reboot/remake era, the show celebrates nostalgia while at the same time pleading that we need to make new things or we'll just be in an unending cycle of the same. | Aug 23 | 8pm | $20

🗓 Field Trip to Still Dancing at Ship's Company Theatre : Hit the road to see some theatre! Travel in style in a comfortable passenger bus with wifi and air conditioning. There will be stops along the way so you can enjoy some scenery and snacks, art and animals and ,of course—lunch! All of this will culminate in the main event: a matinee performance of Still Dancing at Ship's Company Theatre in Parrsboro. | Aug 24 | 9am | $95

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Tropic Hope container ship leaves Halifax for West Palm Beach at 7am.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker leaves Halifax for Corner Brook at 2pm.

🛳️➡️ The NYK Romulus container ship arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 10:20am and leaves for Southampton at 10pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🦀 Satisfy your seafood craving with the Crab Ravioli at The Bicycle Thief: fresh crab and mascarpone, wrapped in tender pasta, topped with poached shrimp.

🧁 Nothing pairs better with cupcakes than coffee! Ice cold lattes (spanish and unsweetened) made by East Cup Cafe are now available in-store at Layer’s Cupcakes.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🖼️ The Treaty Space Gallery, a part of NSCAD’s Anna Leonowens Gallery system, has a new and bigger location at 1887 Granville Street that will be open in September. “I'm most excited to transform the new space into, not only a gallery where people can exhibit work, but also an Indigenous Student Centre,” says exhibitions coordinator of the Treaty Space Gallery, Natalie Laurin. The Coast’s Lauren Phillips has more about the news space and what shows we can expect.

💸 Some charities in the province are expressing concern about changes to the online platform Rafflebox—that helps with fundraising—with one animal rescuer calling it a “kick in the stomach.”

⛺ A new designated homeless encampment off Windmill Road in Dartmouth is almost ready, but  nearby residents and business owners are calling for strong safety plans before people move in.

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: