🗞️ Universities are the new hotels

Ok, Halifax,

Don’t panic, but…

There are aliens in the water!

Nova Scotian beachgoers are encountering a strange creature with a balloon-like body whose sting packs a real punch. One biology professor at Dal called the creature “absolutely fascinating and otherworldly”—and I’ve seen enough episodes of the X Files to know what THAT means.

Thanks to a little help from the warming Gulf Stream and/or intergalactic space travel, Portuguese man (men?) o’ war have invaded our waters. While other jellyfish-related species tend to hang in deep water, these interlopers drift closer to the surface and—prepare to be horrified—in extreme cases, their tentacles can extend up to 30 metres behind them.

That’s an emphatic nope from me 🪼👽

-Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 29°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 25°

Next Day: 🌧️ 26°

7-day forecast

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

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

CITY

Universities are the new hotels in Halifax over the summer

If you’re travelling to Nova Scotia this summer and need a place to stay, consider making one of the local university residences your home base. 

Most have opened their doors since May while school is not in full swing and are offering a variety of rooms to book until Aug. 11. Across Halifax, each university sets its own policy on rates, minimum lengths of stay and cancellation fees—but all run you less than an Airbnb or a hotel would.

This is not a new program. Universities in Halifax have been offering this for nearly a decade, staff at university summer accommodations desks tell The Coast. But it’s still catching on with the general public.

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips weighs the pros and cons for travellers choosing to live like a student in Halifax.

🤔 Need To Know

💸 If you lost some cash in downtown Halifax last week, Halifax Regional Police might have it.

🌊 Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend is on display at the Museum of Natural History from July 6 to September 2, 2024.*

🎭 Catch Shakespeare by the Sea until September 1st! Join us in Point Pleasant Park for Alice in Wonderland The Musical or Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Get your seats today!*

🎉 2024 Spryfield Days Festival: Don’t miss this two-day event full of music, games, magic and food this weekend. Plus, check out the community expo and  business trade show. It’s fun for the whole family!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY NORTH END BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

You're Invited to the 10th Annual Gottingen Street Festival!

The Gottingen Street Festival joins forces with the Halifax Mural Festival and Unity Fest for an exciting event on July 13th! The collaboration showcases new murals by local and international artists, offering a day of art exploration. The festival includes local vendors, live music performances by Unity Fest, and promises a vibrant celebration of creativity and community in North End Halifax.

ARTS + CULTURE

 Sylvia Hamilton’s long career of telling African Nova Scotian stories

Sylvia D. Hamilton, a filmmaker and poet who has spent her career telling the stories of African Nova Scotians, is now a member of the Order of Canada.

On June 27, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon listed 83 appointments to the Order of Canada. Amongst the appointments were high-profile names such as pop star Avril Lavigne, Bank of Canada’s former governor Stephen Poloz and journalist Melissa Fung.

Hamilton was named alongside two other Nova Scotians—Dalhousie professor Kenneth Rockwood and Sable Island naturalist Zoe Lucas. She learned of the honour after receiving an email a month or two ago.

“I had an email come into my email box asking me to call the Governor General's office and that wasn't anything that was surprising in that I've been on different Governor General's juries in the past,” said Hamilton in an interview with The Coast.

Upon calling the office, she was notified that she was to be inducted as a member of the Order of Canada.

“It's one of those moments in your life that you don't expect, and so when it comes around, there's a bit of incredulity about it.”

While she felt humbled to receive the honour, Hamilton’s thoughts soon turned to her ancestors.

“For me, it immediately brings me to my ancestors, and my great respect and honour for them,” she said. “That is really the second emotion that comes after being surprised and feeling honoured and humbled. It's that I think of my ancestors. And that's why I'm here.”

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer spoke to Hamilton about her induction into the Order of Canada and her decades-long career telling the stories of African Nova Scotians.

🗞️ In Other News

⛵ SailGP has confirmed Halifax will not be used as a venue next year, despite the record-breaking success of the international sailing competition's Canadian debut last month in the city's harbour.

🥛 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says numerous Silk plant-based refrigerated beverages are being recalled due to Listeria concerns—including almond, cashew, coconut and oat milk.

🏳️‍🌈 Coun. Sam Austin—who represents Dartmouth Centre—announced he is bi-sexual in his latest newsletter in which he wished his constituents a happy Pride month.

SPONSORED BY SCOTIA FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

Win a BMW or $50,000 cash!

Scotia Festival of Music is raffling a brand-new BMW 230i xDrive Coupe and on July 25, it could be yours! Not interested in the car? You can take $50,000 cash instead! 

All proceeds will go towards supporting Scotia Festival of Music, Nova Scotia’s premier chamber music festival.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Shakespeare By The Sea presents Alice in Wonderland: Eat Me! Drink Me! The smash hit original SBTS musical based on Lewis Carroll's classic story is back! Grab your friends and the whole family and fall down the rabbit hole this summer! This 80-minute romp features a wildly inventive script and wonderfully musical score that will have you laughing and singing along with a curious young girl named Alice, and an even curiouser cast of characters of Queens, Cards, White Rabbits, Mad Hatters and Cheshire Cats. | July 6-Aug 31 | Starting at $10

👀 Check out The Coast’s recent piece on this production of Alice in Wonderland.

🗓 2024 TD Halifax Jazz Festival: This year's lineup has shows from Emmylou Harris, Killer Mike, Fitz and the Tantrums, Matt Andersen & the Big Bottle of Joy, The War and Treaty, Charlotte Day Wilson, Nick Hakim and many more. | July 9-14

🗓 Peggy's Cove Area Festival of the Arts - Studio Tour: The tour includes over 70 studio artists, galleries and art groups. This is a unique opportunity to meet and interact with painters, potters, sculptors, wood and glass workers and jewellery artists at work in their studios. | July 12-14 | 9am

🗓 An Evening with Luba Magnus & Friends: With her eclectic approach to comedy and content creation, as well as her passion for helping people laugh and learn, Luba Magnus is sure to delight. Joining the show will be Andrew Neville, Scott Burke, Drusilla Connor, hosted by the incredible Ryan William! | July 13 | 7:30pm | $10

🗓 Gottingen Street Festival: The Gottingen Street Festival is set to team up with the Halifax Mural Festival and Unity Charity for an exciting event. This collaboration promises a vibrant day filled with newly unveiled murals, live music performances, local artisans, business deals, and more! | July 13 | 1pm

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The NYK Constellation container ship leaves Halifax for Southampton at 12:30am.

🛳️➡️ The MSC Shristi container ship arrives in Halifax from Boston at 6:15am and leaves for Montreal at 1:30pm.

🛳️ The Eagle II container ship arrives in Halifax from Mariel at 7:30am.

🛳️ The Emerald Princess cruise ship arrives in Halifax from Canadian seas at 8am.

🛳️➡️ The SFL Conductor vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Emden at 6:10am and leaves for Baltimore at 5pm.

🛳️➡️ The Atlantic Sky container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 5:20am and leaves for Liverpool at 5pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🐔 Try the Butter Chicken Fried Sandwich at Wave Foods pop-up inside The Local: buttermilk brined chicken cutlet, butter chicken sauce, lime pickled red onions, lettuce, lime cilantro on a brioche bun.

🥐 Show your Pride by eating a Pride croissant from Cafe Lunette filled with a vanilla whip and mango passionfruit gel.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🚨 On June 23, Emma MacLean and her girlfriend Tori were attacked—verbally and physically—by a group of young men in the early morning hours on Argyle Street. It has been two weeks and the couple still doesn’t have any answers. The police continue to say the attack is under investigation. The Coast’s Julie Lawrence breaks down—day by day—what we know about HRP’s investigation into the crime so far.

⚽ NEW EPISODE - The Wanderer Grounds : It's hard to come back from a two-goal deficit and harder still if the ref makes some... questionable calls. This happened to the Wanderers over the weekend who lost 2-1 away to York United. 🎧 Listen now

🏫 Some parents in Nova Scotia say they're taking their kids out of school or considering leaving the province altogether because the province's inclusive education policy is failing their children.

That’s it!

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