🗞️ The return of leftist nonsense

Oh good morning Halifax,

I’m so happy to be back; I’ve missed you! I am, however, very sorry to the one (male) reader who was absolutely thrilled I was gone, saying the absence of my “leftist nonsense” was a breath of fresh air. Sorry sir, but I’m BAAAAACK!

I feel like I owe you an explanation for abandoning you, dear readers, since you’re probably wondering where I’ve disappeared to.

On the morning of May 6, I got the phone call that we all dread and—in a lot of ways—think only really happens to other people, but never us. It goes like this: “Are you (insert name’s) next of kin? I’m so sorry, we did everything we could, but unfortunately your husband has passed away.”

Ummm, what? I just saw him though. He took his bike to go get a few groceries and was going to be right back…

What followed was a blur of intense pain coupled with disbelief as I was forced to go through the necessities of death. From identifying the body to phone calls to funeral arrangements, the whole thing was the tragedy of my life; and while the pain comes in waves, it never dissipates altogether. Not even close.

On Oct 9, I am expecting a baby girl—this is the first time I’ve said “I am expecting” instead of “we are expecting”—which just stirred an all new sadness I hadn’t yet known existed. While she won’t know her dad in the physical sense, she will hear all about his imagination, creativity, sense of style and intense appreciation for all things beautiful and unique (which, incidentally, is exactly what I anticipate her to be).

All that said, it brings me a sliver of happiness to be back in your inboxes and doing something I actually can control: Connecting with you and bringing you a little joy each day.

Recovering from this loss is going to be a process (I’m told), so if there are days when I’m unable to be here with you, don’t fret, I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. But I wouldn’t count on that happening too much because I really love this job and all of you.

Please take care of yourself and each other out there 💗

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 26°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 25°

Next Day: 🌧️ 16°

7-day forecast

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

ARTS + CULTURE

Putting a spotlight on the mental health of artists

This Saturday, the Von Winkle Gallery will transform into a vibrant, two-level haven of colour, creativity, and community in support of mental health awareness. 

The gallery—located in the historic Halifax Brewery Market at 1496 Lower Water St.—will host an immersive art event from 12-4pm that celebrates expression, unity, and the power of passion in shaping perspectives curated by its owner Jay Merriott.

Merriott says the event is about creating space for a different kind of conversation when we talk about mental health—one that doesn’t revolve around fixing people, but rather, around honouring them.

The Coast’s Warren D’Silva has more with Merriott about the event based on his motto “community health is mental health.”

🤔 Need To Know

🌁 Several overnight closures are coming to the Macdonald Bridge over the next few weeks—the first is scheduled for Wednesday night from midnight to 5am and after that, the closures will continue on Wednesday and Saturday nights into mid-June.

🚨 New data shows that Nova Scotia has the highest police-reported hate crime rate among the provinces—the report notes that the 182% report rate can be blamed—in part—on the dedicated hate crimes unit in Halifax.

🇨🇦 In the speech from the throne on Tuesday—which lays out the new government’s priorities—King Charles said Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government vows to protect Canadian sovereignty by building up the military and redefining the relationship with the United States.

🐔 Wednesdays are heating up at The Pint on Argyle. $6 Diablo pints, half-price wings, and the infamous Deal with the Devil wing challenge make it the ultimate midweek move. Think you're up for it? See you there.*

🕵🏻‍♂️ Authentic Sherlock Holmes radio broadcasts from the 1940s come to life on stage at TAG — complete with live sound effects! May 29 – June 14.*

🔥 Halifax Live is coming in HOT this June! 🔥. We’re talking non-stop laughs with a killer lineup: Travis Lindsay, Brett Forte, Ron Josol, Jared Nathan, and Emily Woods. This is the comedy event of the month — don’t sleep on it!*

🌟 Now renting at The Paramount! Located on South Park Street, enjoy upscale amenities, in-suite laundry, and walkable access to every Halifax summer event. Live central!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY EASTERN FRONT THEATRE

STAGES Theatre Fest brings playful work to Dartmouth

Eastern Front Theatre's annual Spring festival is back this June! With highly-acclaimed programming from across the country, STAGES focuses on bold and innovative new work that pushes the boundaries of what theatre can be.

From free family performances to late night cake tastings, STAGES 2025 offers an incredible lineup of outdoor offerings, experimental film, powerful devised pieces, and playful participatory work from across the country, including the international sheep superstars, Les Moutons, and the world premiere of local darling ZUPPA’s new piece, The Final Recordings of an Almost Extinct Bird. 

STAGES runs June 4 to 8 at Alderney Landing in Downtown Dartmouth.

Tickets available here, starting at $20.

NEWS

Halifax Tides score first goal in an underwhelming start to the season

When the Halifax Tides FC played their first match in April 2025, they became the first professional women’s soccer team based in Atlantic Canada — and one of six founding clubs in Canada’s newly launched Northern Super League (NSL). 

Led by head coach Lewis Page, the team began their inaugural season with a 4-1 loss to Calgary Wild FC on April 26, 2025. Since then, they’ve drawn one match and lost three others, scoring just once (on Thursday against Vancouver) in five weeks of play.

Despite these modest on-field results, The Coast has more on how the Tides’ real end game is building community and inspiring the players of the future.

🗞️ In Other News

🐻 A bear and two cubs were in the Waverley Road area Tuesday afternoon—the Department of Natural Resources responded to the bear sighting as police helped with traffic control.

🚓 The RCMP says hundreds of tickets were handed out to drivers during Canada Road Safety Week in May—nearly 1,000 summary offence tickets were issued, primarily for distracted or aggressive driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

🚨 A 23-year-old man is facing charges after a robbery at the Walmart on Mumford Road—police say the man fled the scene and boarded a Halifax Transit bus, where he was located and arrested.

💡 About five months after the Town of Bridgewater launched a pilot program offering incentives to make energy-efficient upgrades to their buildings, no landlords have taken up the offer.

🛢️ A representative for the Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi’kmaw Chiefs says the provincial government needs to do a better job of consultation as it seeks to develop the province’s natural resources.

🩺 Nova Scotia's internal travel nurse program is off to a slow start, but officials say that's by design—the program, promised by the Progressive Conservatives in the last provincial election and long called for by the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union, launched earlier this spring.

💸 A Nova Scotia couple who said $30K was stolen from their bank account following a suspected case of identity theft will be getting all of their money back from Manulife Bank.

🛏️ A second wing has opened ahead of schedule at a long-term care home in Bedford as 72 residents moved into Moody Hall—a Shannex-operated care home—on April 22.

SPONSORED BY SCOTIA FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

Canadian talent shines at Scotia Festival 2025

Scotia Festival of Music is back with another celebration of Canadian chamber music excellence. From May 26 to June 8, Halifax will host some of the country’s finest classical musicians alongside exciting emerging talent. Featuring everything from beloved classics to bold new works—there’s something for every music lover to discover!

SPONSORED BY THE LORD NELSON HOTEL & SUITES

Book direct. Save more. Celebrate local.

From Wanderers and Tides matches, to TD Halifax Jazz Fest, the Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites puts you in the centre of it all. Book direct and save—their flexible cancellation policy ensures you can plan with confidence. Make a night of it with timeless comfort, elegant rooms, and Halifax’s best events just steps away. 

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Taste Asia 2025: Taste Asia 2025 is back, and you do not want to miss it! A multicultural explosion of flavours, live performances, and unforgettable moments awaits at the Halifax Waterfront! Celebrating five incredible years, this is the biggest, boldest, and most spectacular edition yet! | May 29 to June 1 | 11am | 

🗓 Jon Dore Live in Dartmouth: Named one of "10 comics to watch" by Variety Magazine, Ottawa-born comedian, host, and actor, Jon Dore is renowned for his offbeat humour and unique bait-and-switch style. Winner of the 2023 Juno Award for Best Comedy Album, Dore is a favourite on the comedy club and festival circuit in Canada and the United States. | May 29 | 8pm | $32.20 |

🗓 Foil4All: Following the success of last season, Foil4All is back at the Halifax Waterfront in partnership with the Maritime Museum Atlantic and supported by Sail Nova Scotia and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Don’t wait for SailGP to come back in 2026 to satisfy your need for speed. | May 29-June 2 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The GPO Emerald heavy load vessel leaves Halifax for New York at 8am.

🚢 The Oceanex Sanderling container ship arrives in Halifax from St. John’s at 12:20pm.

🚢 The CMA CGM Laperouse container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo, Sri Lanka at 3:45pm.

➡️ The Marvelous Ace vehicle carrier leaves Halifax for Freeport, TX at 4:30pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥖 When you want to elevate your dinner experience, you should obviously make it French. Bite into the fried pork belly with dijon and herbs at Cafe Lunette and you’ll be magically whisked away to Paris.

🍰 The Bicycle Thief has a dessert designed to steal the spotlight: fresh raspberries, white pistachio and that special gelati finish.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🍹 In just a few days, Halifax will welcome its first alcohol-free bar. The soon-to-open Soberish Bar will join Soberish Mocktail Shoppe, located within Nor’easter Apparel on Agricola Street. Both ventures are the brainchild of Jay Hiltz, who first tested the appeal of non-alcoholic drinks at his Chester clothing store. The success there convinced him to scrap plans for an espresso bar at the rear of his north-end storefront and focus instead on non-alcoholic beverages. The Coast’s food writer Mark DeWolf spoke to Jay Hiltz and other pioneers of the non-alcoholic beverage scene on its rise in popularity in Halifax.

👑 The local artist behind Halifax Henna which brings henna art to weddings, festivals and community events across Nova Scotia has taken on a new project called Henna Crowns. Rajani created the Henna Crowns project where she works with patients in the Sunshine Room at the IWK Health Centre who are receiving cancer treatment. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva talks to the owner of Halifax Henna about her journey and using her art to make a difference.

That’s it!

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