🗞️ Ubisoft employee speaks out

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a chance to see the first category release for the Best of Halifax 2026 yesterday. Thanks again for your patience as we dealt with some issues on the website’s back-end.

If you haven’t seen it yet, we released the winners of our Public Life category. Tomorrow, winners from our Arts & Culture category will be revealed. Please stay tuned for that!

Until then, I’ve got a story below for you all regarding the recent Ubisoft Halifax closure. I had the chance to speak with Jon Huffman, a lead programmer with the company who helped organize their unionization efforts. He gave plenty of insight on the situation, as well as his thoughts on unionization in the video game industry, It’s worth a read.

Til tomorrow,

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

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Next Day: 🌧️ 0°

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

BUSINESS

"There were tears": Ubisoft Halifax employee speaks out after post-unionization studio closure

A unionization effort started as a way to avoid mass layoffs has ended with just that.

Seventy-one workers at Ubisoft Halifax are without jobs after the international video game corporation shut down the studio days after 61 members of their staff joined CWA Canada Local 30111, the first union within Ubisoft's North American operations. Their unionization was certified on Dec. 18. On Jan. 7, workers were pulled into a town hall to be told that the studio was shutting down.

"It was obvious that this was a surprise to everybody," says Jon Huffman, a lead programmer at Ubisoft Halifax. "It wasn't just a surprise to the members of the union and the employees. It was a surprise to our leadership team, as well, so this was certainly something that blindsided us."

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with Huffman about their unionization efforts and the sudden closure of Ubisoft Halifax.

🤔 Need To Know

⚡ Nova Scotia Power is set to spend $20.8 million on repairs to a coal-fired generator that is already at the end of its life—the refurbishment is set to take place in 2026 and 2027 with plans to shut down the generator in 2028.

💰 Provincial opposition are criticizing the finances of Tim Houston’s government following the release of the auditor general’s financial report on Tuesday—NDP finance critic Lisa Lachance say the government should be more transparent in regards to its spending.

🚨 A man with a firearm was arrested after triggering an emergency alert on Tuesday morning—he was apprehended by police near Highway 202 and Highway 236.

🕺 Get the best of dance with Live Art Dance! 2026 traverses the breadth of what contemporary dance can be. Get your tickets today!*

🚙 Halifax moves easier with Lyft. New riders get 50% off five rides — discounts for downtown nights, or straight home when the weather turns. Max $10/ride. Terms apply. Tap to unlock*

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🗞️ In Other News

🏚️ The Vimy Branch 27 legion in Halifax has closed despite members fighting to keep it alive—the 99-year-old legion was closed due to financial issues and high rent according to Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command.

⚖️ A Yarmouth man is being charged with historical sex charges, including possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, from offences that occurred in the 1990s—police believe there may be more alleged victims.

🫶 The Crisis Assistance and Response Team in Dartmouth is expanding to 24-hour service after a successful pilot program—the response team acts as an alternative model to police to support people in crisis.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 The Busch Trio: The Amsterdam-based trio will be playing at the Peggy Corkum Music Room, showcasing three classical compositions on piano, violin and cello. | Jan. 14 | 7:30PM | $20+ |

🗓 Talk and Taste: Perfect Pairings: Nova Scotian chefs from different cultural backgrounds tell their stories and share fusion dishes at this event at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. | Jan. 15 | 6:30PM | $25 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The One Apus container vessel departed Halifax for Singapore at 3am.

➡️ The AS Caspria container vessel departed Halifax for Kingston at 4am.

🚢 The CMA CGM Titan container vessel arrived in Halifax from Colombo at 4:45am.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🥪 The BBQ Crunch is back at WaveFoods! Buttermilk freid chicken, shredded lettuce, honey bourbon BBQ sauce, pickle and crunchy onions on a brioche bun.

🍗 Rinaldo’s has a special on you have to try: their specialty Rinaldo’s Club. Roasted chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, house made chips, aged cheddar and garlic mayo all on a freshly baked hero roll.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🗳️ We all know folks in our community who put in the work. Whether it's donating their time to a worthy cause, standing up for people in need, or just entertaining us through social media, these figures make the city of Halifax what it is. We also must celebrate the incredible locations, artistry and architecture that make Halifax a one-of-a-kind destination. The people of Halifax, coupled with the natural environment and the city's must-visit hangouts, make its culture feel distinct from any other city in North America. The Best of Halifax's Public Life category celebrates all of these amazing things. From the creators whose content you consume and the advocates you cheer for, to the best date spots and places to swim, our readers have devised their favourites in 24 different Public Life subcategories, all of which are now available on our Best of Halifax 2026 tab on our website.

🍁 A Ukrainian family in Halifax is left with questions after learning it could take up to 50 years for their permanent residency applications to be processed by the federal government—an access-to-information request shows the wait times exceed the life expectancy of most immigrants coming to Canada.

🌽 The provincial government is introducing a program allowing customers to buy produce directly from local farmers for about 10 percent cheaper—the discount applies to community-based agriculture subscriptions where customers pay up front for a share of a farmer’s harvest.

That’s it!

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