🗞️ The shame game

Happy Friday Halifax,

Justin Trudeau gave us all the ol’ it’s not you, it’s me speech as he bid a final farewell to Canadians in a video message. The now former prime minister invoked my all-time favourite break up line, “you’re great and shouldn’t change.” 

K, thanks bro. We aren’t planning to.

Today, after days of behind-the-scenes preparation, the transition of power between Trudeau and Mark Carney will be formally completed. Carney will be sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister and unveil what is expected to be a substantially smaller cabinet than Trudeau’s current roster of 36 ministers. 

I’m obsessed with the fact that Trudeau is leaving his post with his popularity at a 12-month high. When people decide they like you way more now that you’re leaving, that can’t be considered good news, can it? Imagine being at a party and everyone is talking about how much they hate you and then you decide to leave and everyone’s like ‘thank god, actually, she’s not so bad after all. I like her!” 😳

Time and perspective will more clearly define Trudeau’s legacy, but in the meantime, bring on the change and let’s hope we can stand strong 🦫

Have a safe and restful weekend,

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 9°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 10°

Next Day: 🌤️ 13°

7-day forecast

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

SEX + DATING

Haligonians share their most memorable Walks of Shame

Raise your hand if you’ve been there: It’s the morning after, and you’re still dressed in the same clothes you wore last night. You’re not at home. Last night’s pursuit of a good time has left you looking and feeling like a snowbank in March—a little haggard, ready to melt into a puddle and in dire need of a good shower. 

The “walk of shame” is a near rite of passage for many of us, at one point in time or another. (Not that there’s any shame in it, either.) And judging by the responses you shared in The Coast’s annual Sex + Dating Survey, it’s an experience most of us Haligonians have survived—even if we’d like to forget all about it. Read on at your own risk.

🤔 Need To Know

🔥 Wildfire season begins this weekend as temperatures continue to rise—HRM says that while burn restrictions are in effect year-round, more restrictions will be in place that people should be aware of.

🖋️ Nova Scotia cancelled its first contract with an American company as part of the plan from Premier Tim Houston to push back against what he calls “illegal Trump tariffs”—Houston says the province was reviewing all contracts with American businesses and would cut ties wherever possible.

⚖️ A 19-year-old woman accused of attacking a young boy on a downtown Halifax street has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment to see if she can be held criminally responsible on a charge of attempted murder.

🍀 Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Spring Garden Businesses! Enjoy festive specials, unique giveaways, and vibrant events. Join us for a weekend of fun and community!*

🎶 The Musical Journey of Neil Diamond featuring Jay White. This powerful concert experience is not only a feast for the eyes and ears, but for the heart.*

*Sponsored Post

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EDUCATION

Dalhousie student union launches fundraiser so Palestinian students can study in Canada

The Dalhousie Student Union is hoping to raise $30,000 to help Palestinian students affected by genocide continue their studies in Canada. Launched this week, the DSU’s new fundraising campaign is one of the biggest in the union’s history. 

The goal is to support 15 Palestinian graduate students in getting matched with professors and research opportunities at Dal and other universities across Canada so they can continue their studies.

“Student unions have long been at the forefront of such initiatives,” says DSU president Mariam Knakriah. “They stood up for Black Lives Matter. They stood up for the MeToo movement. They have been advocates, not just for students, but for people around the world, and they hold so much power.”

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips talks to Knakriah about the campaign’s purpose and partnership, ahead of its campus event this Friday.

🗞️ In Other News

🏘️ The federal government announced it will spend more than $11.7M to improve the efficiency and longevity of more than 490 homes in the HRM.

🏆 Anne Murray’s impact on music will be celebrated at this year’s Junos with a lifetime achievement award—organizers say the East Coast music legend becomes the first artist to get the top honour since its creation in 1989.

🩺 Fewer Nova Scotians are waiting for a family doctor—the number of people on the Need a Family Practice Registry has dropped to 95,875 as of March 3, down from 104,324 in mid-February.

📱 The mother of a severely disabled Nova Scotia man has been ordered to pay a former nurse $60K in damages for defamatory online posts that a judge says were aimed at destroying the nurse's reputation.

💰 More than $100K in counterfeit Canadian currency has been seized in a joint operation between the Canada Border Services Agency and the Nova Scotia RCMP—the investigation began earlier this year when CBSA officers halted suspicious shipments that were sent from China.

🗯️ Nova Scotia’s Opposition leader is calling on the public to make their voices heard on a series of contentious government bills—including legislation to lift a ban on fracking and uranium mining.

🛒 A major developer is shutting down rumours that a Costco is coming to Middle Sackville—Armco Capital Inc. says speculation on social media is false after a confidential site plan circulated online, leading many to believe a large retailer had committed to the area.

SPONSORED BY HALIFAX BURGER BASH

10 Days. 150+ Burgers. Endless Deliciousness.

From April 3-12, Halifax’s tastiest tradition returns! The Coast’s Annual Halifax Burger Bash presented with Garrison Brewing brings you 150+ unique burger creations from your favourite local spots. Whether you crave the classics or something totally outrageous, there’s a burger for you. 

See the lineup and start planning! 🍔➡ www.burgerbash.ca

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

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

🗓 Little Shop of Horrors Presented by Neptune Theatre: Feed me Seymour! Seymour is an awkward young man living in a tough part of town. He is broke and works for a cranky old man at a flower shop. Seymour is in love with a local girl named Audrey. One day, after a meteor shower, he discovers a talking plant that he names Audrey II, but soon finds out the plant is an alien that wants to eat human beings. | March 11-May11 | From $40

🗓 Halifax Thunderbirds Lacrosse: Come cheer on the home team as they take on the Saskatchewan Rush at Scotiabank Centre. | March 14 | 8pm | $26.25

🗓 Halifax St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl Party: Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day 2025 at Halifax’s Biggest and Hottest Bar Crawl! Voted Halifax’s BEST St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl for 3 years in a row, this isn’t just any night out—it’s the ultimate St. Paddy's celebration where you and your friends can create unforgettable memories. | March 14 | 7:30pm | $14

🗓 Puppets and Improv Workshop: This dynamic and hands-on workshop combines the playful art of puppetry with the spontaneity of improv to unlock new creative possibilities for performers and storytellers of all levels. Whether you're an actor, a writer, a teacher, or simply someone looking to break free from creative blocks, this workshop is designed to help you think on your feet, connect with your inner storyteller, and discover the power of improvisation through the unique lens of puppetry. | March 15 | 1:30pm | $45

🗓 Alan Doyle with special guests Tim Hicks and Fortunate Ones: Alan Doyle performs at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax with special guests Tim Hicks and Fortunate Ones. | March 15 | 7:30pm | From $63

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The CMA CGM Norma container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo, Sri Lanka at 5:45am and leaves for New York at 4:30pm.

🚢➡️ The Zim Virginia container ship arrives in Halifax from Valencia, Spain at 6:20am and leaves for New York at 6pm.

➡️ The Vivienne Sheri D container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 4pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 6pm.

➡️ The Lake Tazawa vehicle carrier leaves Halifax for New York at 6pm.

🚢 The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 8pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍨 March break treat alert! Morris East has vanilla ice cream, sprinkles and wafer cookies—sometimes the simplest things are the best! Available for a limited time because March break calls for something sweet.

🥐 The croissant of the week at Two If By Sea is the Kinder Bueno: filled with hazelnut pastry cream, dipped in milk chocolate, drizzled with dark chocolate ganache and topped with mini Bueno bar.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🇨🇦 Now that Mark Carney has been chosen as our prime minister designate, prepping to take over from Justin Trudeau, the national scene is threatening even more to get in the way of Halifax’s byelection. Political pundits are pushing Carney to call a general election soon, before parliament even starts up again on March 24. And political common sense (if that isn’t an oxymoron) says Carney should do it. The Coast asked the three Halifax candidates a very simple question about general election timing. And got two very simple answers back.

🎤 Ava Val might well be one of Canada’s funniest touring comics. The 36-year-old Drag Heals star and former This Hour Has 22 Minutes writer has won over crowds on CBC’s The New Wave of Standup and at Just For Laughs, San Francisco’s Sketchfest and the Halifax Comedy Fest, among a slew of other festival stages. Now Val is bringing her stand-up show back to Halifax next month. And as The Coast reports, with a transphobic Trump administration south of the Canada-US border spurring renewed debate about gender identity, her message couldn’t be timelier.

That’s it!

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