🗞️ Tick-tac-toe

Good morning, Halifax 👋

There’s a very simple way to get me to click on an article. All you have to do is include the word “ticks” in the headline.

As I’ve probably mentioned before, I’m from a rural community in central Newfoundland. I never grew up having to worry about ticks. They never seemed to have been as much of a problem at home as they are here in Nova Scotia. I despise bugs of all kinds, but ones that can possibly transfer diseases are always top of mind, especially since I have a large bobtail cat who likes to go on walks in his harness, primarily to feed on grass.

One headline I read this morning from the CBC gave me a bit of hope as to figuring out the best way to deal with the tick problem in this province. Acadia University will host the only tick research centre in all of Canada. The Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre will focus on breeding ticks, testing repellents and researching the nasty diseases they can transfer.

While it’s a ways off from getting underway, as the centre isn’t opening until Spring 2026 and will need time to build up a stock of disease-free ticks, this is probably the best news I’ve seen regarding the tick population since moving here and discovering the sheer numbers that these little guys come in. Nova Scotia has the most ticks in Canada, and this summer was great for them and terrible for us. I’ve had friends who went for walks in the woods (before the ban, mind you) and came out with legs covered in ticks.

I’ve never had a tick bite me, and I'm really hoping this research centre allows me to keep up this hot streak.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 14°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 16°

Next Day: ☁️ 9°

7-day forecast

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

MUSIC

Here are the 2025 Music Nova Scotia Award winners

Music Nova Scotia's annual Music & Industry awards concluded an energetic weekend of song and celebration in Yarmouth. Capping off Nova Scotia Music Week was the awards brunch on Sunday, Oct. 26, which featured performances from Mi'kmaq folk artist Morgan Toney—who showed off his dancing skills while playing—folk artist Kristen Martell, R&B/folk artist Adina, hip-hop artist Kxng Wooz and singer-songwriter Mo Kenney.

A total of 31 awards were handed out that morning, eight in industry categories and 23 in music. Halifax Jazz Festival, KAYO, Mo Kenney and Terra Spencer all walked away with two awards each, but several award wins held great significance for the artists who won them and the province’s music scene as a whole.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over all of the award winners from last weekend.

🤔 Need To Know

🚌 Halifax bus data shows around 54% of Halifax Transit collisions since 2020 were preventable—there were a total of 4,281 collisions involving buses from 2020 to 2024.

🚨 Five youth have been charged with weapons offences and one adult with accessory after the fact after four youths with gas masks sprayed irritant inside a building earlier this month—one youth victim later brandished a knife at one of the suspects.

👮 A Halifax police officer is facing criminal charges for selling stolen bicycles and other property after an investigation by the provincial police watchdog—Const. Fallon Sarah Clarke is charged with breach of trust, false pretence, obstruction and possession of property obtained by crime valued over $5,000.

🥧 The holiday countdown has started early at Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet. New specials every week - right up until Christmas. Check out the full list here!*

🎤🎶 Vocal powerhouse LaKisha Jones joins Symphony Nova Scotia for a spectacular concert that will have you dancing in your seat to the music of Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and more! November 14&15.*

🍔 At Willy's, all of our fries are fresh cut daily and the burgers made from local beef" Vote Willy's for Best of Halifax!*

🎁 Support local this holiday season with Benjamin Bridge’s curated corporate gifts — premium Nova Scotia wines crafted to impress clients, colleagues, and partners alike.*

*Sponsored Post

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🗞️ In Other News

💡 The public can now have their say on an energy project planned for the Eastern Shore—a European firm is looking to build an industrial plant to produce fuels out of hydrogen and biomass near Isaacs Harbour.

🏥 A new digital tool being developed at the IWK Health Centre seeks to assist patients in documenting their emergency room visits—they can track details about their care and take notes regarding their symptoms, tests and procedures.

⚖️ A man has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years for killing a man and shooting another in Halifax back in 2016—Tyrell Peter Dechamp had been convicted on two other murders before the shooting.

SPONSORED BY CECILIA CONCERTS

Virtuoso Performs Paganini’s "24 Caprices"

Saturday at 7:30, violinist Kevin Zhu performs on the Stage at St. Andrews. A Juilliard graduate mentored by Itzhak Perlman and winner of the Paganini International Violin Competition, he shapes Niccolò Paganini’s “24 Caprices” into a thrilling fiery exploration of mastery and emotion. A live experience not to be missed. Get tickets.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Science, Spirits, and Boos: 19+ Halloween Party: The Discovery Centre is holding an adult-only Halloween party. Dress up, let loose, and explore the Centre after dark. | Oct. 31 | 9:00PM | $34.20 |

🗓 HALIFAX HAUNTED HOP BAR CRAWL 2025: This haunted bar crawl is visiting over four of Halifax’s hottest bars and nightclubs with live DJs at each stop along the way. | Oct. 31 | 7:30PM | $18.18 |

🗓 Neptune Theatre: How the Other Half Loves: Follow the lives of three married couples who are hopelessly entwined through affairs, secrecy, job promotions and dinner parties ending in disaster. Written by Alan Ayckbourn, How the Other Half Loves is a Thousand Island Playhouse production, directed by Jeremy Webb. | Oct. 21-Nov. 16 | 7:30PM | From $33.00 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢 The Algoma Acadian arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 5:40am.

🚢➡️ The NOCC Atlantic vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Balboa at 5:55am and departs for Philadelphia at 1pm.

🚢➡️ The Brilliance of the Seas cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 10am and departs for Canadian seas at 6pm.

➡️ The Atlantic Cedar tug vessel departs Halifax for Shelburne at 11am.

🚢➡️ The EF Ava container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 12:15pm and departs for Reykjavik at 6pm.

🚢 The Lady Diana cargo ship arrives in Halifax from Belfast at 12:30pm.

🚢 The Atlantic Sun container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm.

➡️ The Algoscotia tanker departs Halifax for Corner Brook at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥗 Looking for a lunch that will help you get through the day? Look no further than the Mediterranean Lamb Bowl from 2 Doors Down, made with braised lamb, feta, cabbage slaw, olives, cucumber-tomato salad, pickled turnip, broccoli, garlic yogurt sauce and brown rice.

🥧 A handheld vegan treat! Stop by Churned to try their new vegan hand pie—a shepherd’s pie with lentils. Warmed at the shop or frozen to take home.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏫 Fencing is up and construction equipment has arrived at the site of the new Clayton Park–Fairview School, marking the official start of a project families in the area have been waiting years to see. Early site work began two weeks ago, including clearing, grading, and installing underground services. The nearby sports field will stay open to the public while construction continues. The Coast’s Emily Edwards delves into the plan for the new school.

🚨 A youth is facing child pornography charges after taking part in an extremist group online—police say the group called 764 glorify serious violence and cruelty and is often used by predators.

🥫 Food Bank Canada’s latest report on food insecurity shows a 10% increase of food bank use in Nova Scotia—43,421 people visited food banks in one month, and a third of those visitors were children.

That’s it!

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