🗞️ Stolen jazz

Hello Halifax,

Warren here today. Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get talked about enough—mental health, especially men’s mental health.

It’s not always easy, right? There’s still that weird social pressure to just suck it up, tough it out, or go have a beer with the boys and move on. And hey—don’t get me wrong—knocking back a few cold ones with your buddies on a patio? Top-tier summer activity. But that’s not the same thing as actually talking through what’s going on in your head.

There’s a huge difference between temporary distraction and real support. Therapy (even the virtual kind) gives you tools to unpack stuff you maybe didn’t even know you were carrying around. It’s like a personal trainer for your brain—minus the sweat. And it matters. Because pretending everything's fine doesn't make it true.

Speaking of healthy brain moves—have you hit the trails lately? Halifax is full of them. Walking through the woods, even for just 30 minutes, does more for your brain than doomscrolling ever will. It’s quiet. It’s green. It’s full of that fresh piney Atlantic air. You can’t stress about emails when you’re dodging tree roots and following chickadees, you know?

Oh—and I did something I meant to start doing once again this summer. I went swimming in Kearney Lake. 10/10 would recommend. The water’s warm enough to be refreshing, but not shock-your-soul cold. Plus, bobbing around in a lake makes you feel like a kid again in the best possible way.

So yeah—I’m definitely trying to make the most of the summer. But also… I’m doing the mental gymnastics of gearing up for my master’s pro project. Anyone else trying to strike that impossible balance between not wasting summer and not procrastinating your future? Same.

Some days I’m at the lake. Other days I’m deep in thought about citations and trying to get sources to respond to me. It’s a weird in-between. The classic Halifax “two seasons at once” energy but in life form.

I’m curious—what do you think I’m working on for my final project? Journalism? Tech? A deep dive into raccoons taking over the HRM trash system? Who knows. But if you’ve got a guess (or an idea), I’d genuinely love to hear it.

That’s all from me for today. Go outside. Call a friend. 

XOXO
Warren 

@warren.n.co

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 32°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 29°

Next Day: 🌧️ 28°

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

Stolen TD Halifax Jazz Festival banner replaced by community college's generous gesture

Organizers of the Halifax Jazz Festival say they were left shocked and heartbroken after discovering their 60-foot festival banner had been stolen, just one week before opening night of the long-running summer event. The banner, which was installed at the corner of Barrington Street and South Street, was taken sometime between the night of Monday, July 7, and the early morning of Tuesday, July 8. The theft, which was reported publicly by festival organizers on social media, prompted an outpouring of concern — and a generous act of support from a local college.

Soon after the theft was made public, the graphic and print production program at Nova Scotia Community College’s (NSCC) Ivany campus stepped in with an offer to reprint the banner — at no cost to the festival. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has the full story here.  

🤔 Need To Know

🏛️ A political scientist says the Nova Scotia government should be cautious as it considers giving mayors more power—authority that could create a “mini American presidency” in communities across the province.

🚨 Some homes in Dartmouth were evacuated on Tuesday morning while police investigated what is being described only as a suspicious item—more information would be released once it’s available.

🏊‍♀️ HRM is advising residents that geotechnical survey work is taking place at Chocolate Lake from Tuesday to Friday this week—a contractor will be conducting the geotechnical survey work in support of the future rehabilitation or replacement of the Chocolate Lake Dam.

🥙 The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says nearly 30 long-term food service employees have lost their jobs due to Nova Scotia Community College switching to a single, provincewide partner.

🦐 We’re still totally obsessed. Those Tequila & Lime Shrimp tacos at The Pint!? Easily one of the best bites downtown Halifax right now.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY TOURISM NEW BRUNSWICK

Experience Festival Acadien de Caraquet

New Brunswick always throws the proudest Acadian party, and you’re invited! Live music, street parades, colourful dancing, and, of course, the raucous Tintamarre are part of the fun. It’s a refreshing dose of cultural energy, August 3–15, in beautiful Caraquet. Get all the details.​

🗞️ In Other News

🧻  Northern Pulp is beginning the process of selling off company assets, five years after shutting down its mill in Nova Scotia—the court-supervised sale process is underway after the company failed to secure funding for a new pulp mill in the province.

🏛️ New legislation is in effect in Nova Scotia that aims to improve the workers’ compensation system—the province says it is one of several steps taken to help workers recover and stay connected to their workplace after a workplace injury.

⛺ Unhygienic conditions, bedrooms without locks and assaults against residents were among the problems plaguing two supportive housing sites in Halifax before the province cut ties with Out of the Cold—the non-profit managing the locations.

💸 A regulatory body has dismissed a complaint by the former president of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party against the province’s auditor general regarding a report she completed last year on the misuse of public funds.

SPONSORED BY PROHIBITION - SMOKING ACCESSORIES

Halifax, Meet PROHIBITION Smoking Accessories

Something just lit up in Nova Scotia—twice. PROHIBITION now has two Halifax-area locations: Agricola Street and Bedford’s Larry Uteck Plaza. Discover premium bongs, pipes, cigars, and streetwear at both shops. Bold design, quality gear, and cannabis culture collide in these must-visit destinations for smoking accessories and collectibles.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Halifax Pride Festival: The 2025 Halifax Pride Festival is an 11-day celebration taking place throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality. This year’s festival will feature over 30 signature festival events and 100+ community organized events. | July 17-27 | 

🗓 2025 Afrifest: Afrifest showcases visual and performing arts and the culture of people of African descent. The festival features artists from many African nations and the Caribbean. Their artistic works include visual arts, drumming, jazz, hip-hop, gospel and spoken word. The festival connects African, Nova Scotian, and other Canadian groups, fostering teamwork and collaboration. | July 17-20 | 

🗓 Neon Dreams - Live at the Shore Club: Frank Kadillac and Adrian Morris became fast friends after Kadillac moved to Halifax and the two quickly started making music together as Neon Dreams. In the years that have followed, the duo has garnered gold (and now platinum) singles, accumulated over 100 million streams, played sold-out international shows after their single “Life Without Fantasies” became a sensation across Europe and South Africa and won numerous Canadian awards—including a coveted JUNO. | July 18 | 9:30pm | $38 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Oceana container ship leaves Halifax for Kingston, Jamaica at 1am.

➡️ The CSL Koasek bulk carrier leaves Halifax for Portsmouth at 4am.

🚢➡️ The Island Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 7am and leaves for Canadian seas at 4pm.

🚢➡️ The Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 10am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🚢 The CMA CGM Symi container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo, Sri Lanka at 3:15pm.

🚢 The MSC Kim container ship arrives in Halifax from Valencia, Spain at 3:45pm.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker leaves Halifax for Nanticoke, ON at 6pm. 

🚢 The Algoma East Coast oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 6:40pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🦪 Try a true delicacy for dinner this week with the Scallops at Water Polo: local scallops, spicy mayo and the perfect crispy bite. 

🍜 Spice up your regular routine at Studio East with the Beef Noodle Ramen: Jakarta beef, 12 hour bone broth, green tea and rice noodles, grilled broccoli, bean sprouts, potato dumplings, ramen egg, chili crisps, fresh herbs.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎨 Flyers taped along Spring Garden Road in Halifax have become quiet calls to action. Watercolour images of flowers, doves, and watermelon slices frame a QR code and an invitation that reads “Nova Scotia Grief and Solidarity Quilt for Palestine.” The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with textile artist and literacy advocate Kelly Bee about how their collaborative project connects artists and activists through textile art while raising funds for humanitarian aid.

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: