The Valley is a woman's world

Morning Halifax,

Obviously we all love the Annapolis Valley—it’s autumnal by nature with its All Too Well vibes and apple pie fodder. And now it’s the queen of all municipalities because the smart people of the Valley have elected an all-women council for the first time in history.

Historically, women have been underrepresented in municipal politics. According to a 2023 report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, women represented 31% of all municipal elected representatives in the country. 

But the Annapolis Valley is no stranger to firsts when it comes to municipal elections—in 1984, it elected Daurene Lewis as Canada's first Black woman mayor.

Yesterday a reader called me a “Valley girl” for how I express myself in writing in this newsletter, and although I don’t think she meant it as a compliment, I will certainly be taking it as one! 🍎

Let’s hope this election is a harbinger of savvy voters and strong female leaders.

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 19°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 19°

Next Day: 🌧️ 19°

7-day forecast

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

BUSINESS

All the winners of the 2024 Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards

The fifth-annual Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards saw seven Nova Scotian businesses and business owners honoured at the Halifax Central Library on Oct. 15.

Presented by the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia, these awards celebrate the progress made by immigrant-owned small businesses throughout the province, and how entrepreneurs contribute to innovation, economic growth and job creation.

Adding two categories from last year’s awards—the ISANS Business Volunteer Service Award and the Immigrant Women Entrepreneurship Network Business of the Year Award—the ceremony had even more to celebrate in small business this year.

“Immigrant entrepreneurs are visionaries who bring fresh perspectives and innovation to Nova Scotia,” says ISANS CEO Paula Knight in a press release. “At ISANS, we are committed to fostering their talents and breaking down barriers to create an ecosystem where diversity drives prosperity that contributes to the province’s economic growth.”

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over all seven winners from this year’s Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards.

🤔 Need To Know

🚨 Halifax police say a 19-year-old employee was the victim of a sudden death at a Halifax-area Walmart over the weekend—the store on Mumford Road will be closed until further notice.

🕯 Atlantic Jewish Council presents: The 21st Annual Holocaust Education Week. Join 5 keynote speakers between October 27–November 6. Programs are open to the public and FREE to attend. Learn more.*

🧇 Various frozen waffle products sold in Canada and the US have been recalled after testing revealed possible listeria bacteria contamination at a manufacturing facility in Brantford, Ont.

💃 Live Art Dance presents another compelling season of contemporary dance works! Brave, bold works in this time of change. Get your tickets today!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

Were there slave markets in Canada?

Yes. Enslaved people were sold at auctions in Canada in the 18th century, alongside goods like fruits and liquor. Explore A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada, an exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 that reveals the history through biographies, documents and artifacts.

ELECTION RESULTS

Is council’s major makeover a call for revolution?

The 2024 municipal elections are sending a record number of fresh faces to city council's table. Between new mayor Andy Fillmore and a batch of rookie councillors, eight out of Halifax’s 17 council seats turned over with Saturday’s vote.

That’s nearly half of council, suggesting the voting public has developed an appetite for major change. This could be exciting! But while we’re waiting for the revolution to begin, let’s dig into the results a bit more.

In the race for any seat in any election, an incumbent candidate has natural advantages tilting the playing field their way. An incumbent losing means the established power is getting overthrown—a good barometer of revolutionary sentiment. So how many incumbents were deposed this election? Just two. In District 12 Janet Steele beat one-term councillor Iona Stoddard by a sizeable 1,000 votes, and District 15’s one-term councillor Paul Russell lost to Billy Gillis by 223 votes. Two incumbents also lost in the 2020 election. And in 2016. And 2012. The wind has been blowing the exact same way in Halifax for more than 10 years.

Coast editor Kyle Shaw has more on what’s really bringing change to council.

🗞️ In Other News

🔥 The province saw its least active wildfire season on record this year, following its most devastating season ever—there were only 83 wildfires across Nova Scotia in the 2024 season, well below the 10-year average of 185.4.

🎒 Just a few years after a Rebeccah Raphael came up with an idea to help Nova Scotia students through the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-profit she founded—Youth InspirED—is expanding to other parts of Canada. 

🏛️ The Nova Scotia government has released a code of conduct for municipal politicians across the province that includes 40 guidelines under 14 categories—covering topics from gifts and benefits to how officials should handle confidential information.

🩰 Young dancers in Halifax got the chance to audition for one of the most prestigious dance schools in the country—Canada’s National Ballet School focuses on ballet, but other forms of dance are prevalent during auditions.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Bluenose Ghosts Festival: The spine-chilling tradition continues at Alderney Landing with this year’s iconic haunted house. “Terror Manor” promises to deliver the most electrifying experience yet! This year’s haunted house features horrifyingly realistic settings, live actors and an atmosphere guaranteed to leave even the bravest souls trembling. | Oct 4-31 

🗓 ReJigged Festival: Back for its 15th annual celebration of Celtic music and dance, this year's lineup is not to be missed. Taking place at Andrew's United Church in Halifax, the festival features musicians and dancers who are shaping and defining the landscape of traditional dance and music. | Oct 26 | From $40

🗓 Eastern Front Theatre Presents Bluebirds: Set in Étaples, France, 1918, nurses Christy, Maggie and Bab have crossed oceans to care for wounded Canadian soldiers in the Great War. Despite the terrible injuries they must deal with, they manage to stay hopeful as the dangers of the front draw closer to their hospital. Through it all, the three women find friendship, independence, power and influence in a place where men, once again, are trying to destroy the world. | Oct 24-26 | $25

🗓 50th Skate Canada International: The star-studded line up for the 50th edition of Skate Canada International will feature the reigning world figure skating champions in three disciplines, including pairs gold medalists Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada, three-time women’s world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, and the men’s current world record holder Ilia Malinin of the USA. Come cheer on Team Canada and experience some world-class skating in Halifax! | Oct 24-27 

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Acadian oil tanker leaves Halifax for Saint John at 3am.

🛳️ The CSL Tacoma vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Baltimore at 3:21am.

🛳️ The Norwegian Sky cruise ship arrives in Halifax from Canadian seas at 7am.

🛳️ The Frisian Octa general cargo ship arrives in Halifax from Moa at 7:20am.

🛳️ The MSC Surabaya VIII container ship arrives in Halifax from Colombo at 11:15am.

🛳️ The Silver Shadow cruise ship arrives in Halifax from Canadian seas at 11:30am.

🛳️ The Vision of the Seas cruise ship arrives in Halifax from Canadian seas at 11:59am.

➡️ The Verila bulk carrier leaves Halifax for Amsterdam at 1pm.

➡️ The Crystal Serenity cruise ship leaves Halifax for Canadian seas at 4pm.

🛳️➡️ The Norwegian Gem cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 8am and leaves for Canadian seas at 5pm.

🛳️➡️ The Insignia cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 11am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍳 Enjoy all the breakfast goodness with none of the meat in the Croque Madame at Real Fake Meats: house ham, black pepper and garlic almond gouda, cashew béchamel, runny yolks, fresh chives.

🥪 Enjoy all of the lunch goodness with all of the meat in the Italian Combo at Rinaldo’s: genoa, spicy sopressata, Black Forest ham, arugula, tomato, onion, spicy vinaigrette, sundried tomato mayo on garlic bread with cheese.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🗳️ Katherine Howlett and Jeff Arsenault were re-elected as French school board trustees representing Halifax on the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. The Coast’s education reporter Lauren Phillips spoke with the CSAP election winners to get their reactions.

🏳️‍🌈 A number of parents at Oyster Pond Academy in Halifax pulled their children from class Friday after learning about a gender identity presentation that focused on sexual identity, gender diversity and relationships—all part of the curriculum.

That’s it!

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