🗞️ Winter woes

Good morning!

A little while ago, I asked you all about your thoughts on Halifax snowfalls.

My barometer (I say not knowing what a barometer is) for snow is the awful experiences with it I’ve had in Newfoundland, specifically on the West Coast.

I was reminded of how awful it could be this Sunday and Monday. After arriving in the lovely community of Cox’s Cove, a hamlet about 45 minutes out from Corner Brook, a winter storm struck. I was staying with my best friend Evan, and as thanks for a bed and meals, I helped shovel his driveway.

Sunday afternoon was nothing but blistering winds and snow. We shoveled what we could, cleaned up what we were able in the evening, and came out to find our work squandered by the snow. Our clean driveway had been disheveled as fast as we could shovel.

This was the start of a West Coast winter. Nothing I’ve experienced so far in Nova Scotia, even the worst of storms, have come close to the winters I’ve had in Corner Brook. It’s not too bad when you have a snowmobile, but without, it’s more than just a little tiring.

Hope the storm didn’t hit you folks too hard.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 5°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 11°

Next Day: 🌤️ 0°

7-day forecast

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

ARTS

Afternoon Pint podcast reimagines A Christmas Carol in special holiday episode

A Christmas Carol is one of the most celebrated Christmas stories of all time. The transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from a grouchy holiday hater to gift-giving saint-to-be is as iconic as any other.

In timing with the season, Halifax-based podcast Afternoon Pint have delivered a holiday special worthy of the timeless story, a reimagining of the tale in a form unlike any other the podcast has taken: scripted.

Adapted by podcast co-host Mike Tobin, the radio play shifts Charles Dicken's story forward with comedy and commentary, revitalizing themes from the original that still fit within our modern understanding: economic pressures, social divisions, and the menial but lasting impacts of everyday cruelties.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer has the scoop on Afternoon Pint’s special holiday episode.

🤔 Need To Know

📉 Despite efforts to increase Nova Scotia’s population, the province saw a dip in the third quarter of 2025 for the first time since 2020—the overall population decreased by 1400, the largest decline in a decade.

🌿 RCMP say they have no evidence to support Premier Tim Houston’s claims of trading post cannabis containing fentanyl—Houston’s office claims this misinformation was based on a personal conversation.

⚖️ Former St. FX football player Omogbolahan (Teddy) Jegede has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexual assault—he was convicted in a jury trial earlier this year.

SPONSORED BY MEET YOUR FARMER - NOVA SCOTIA FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE

Share your opinions on food & farming and enter to win!

Our annual Nova Scotia Food & Farming survey is open and we want to hear from you!

Share your thoughts and opinions by midnight on December 31st and be entered to win a $500 gift certificate to your favorite farm, farm store, or farmers’ market!

Learn more at meetyourfarmer.ca or click the link to complete our survey today!

🗞️ In Other News

🛣️ The Nova Scotia government has plans to invest $465 million into road and bridge work over five years despite facing a $1.2 billion deficit—the annual allotment for 2026/27 is only $35 million less than the year prior.

🚨 An Ingonish man was arrested for purposefully severing a subsea fibre optic cable linking Nova Scotia and Newfoundland—RCMP stress the man did not intend to cause harm by severing the cable.

⛴️ Officials say the 2025 Halifax cruise season was the longest yet, lasting from April 4 to Nov. 19—24 cruise lines visited the province, with around 357,000 passengers exploring Nova Scotia.

SPONSORED BY SYMPHONY NOVA SCOTIA

Don't Stop Believin'

Classic rock meets symphonic power as Symphony Nova Scotia pays tribute to the iconic music of Journey. Experience legendary hits like Any Way You Want It, Open Arms, and Wheel in the Sky reimagined with lush orchestral arrangements that amplify every riff, rhythm, and soaring vocal. Relive the soundtrack of a generation! January 23, 24 & 25.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads Game: Watch the hometown heroes take on the Saint John Sea Dogs at the Scotiabank Centre. | Dec. 18 | 7PM | $25.25 |

🗓 Neptune Theatre: The Wizard of Oz: Get ready for the classic tale of Dorothy’s travels in the magical land of Oz on the Neptune Theatre stage. Featuring all your favourite songs from the movie. Family-friendly. | Nov. 4 - Jan. 4 | 7:30PM | From $40 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🚢➡️ The Felixstowe arrived in Halifax from Gibraltar at 5:20am and departs for New York at 5pm.

🚢➡️ The One Manhattan arrived in Halifax from Colombo at 5:45am and departs for New York at 11pm.

➡️ The Lars D container vessel departs Halifax for Mariel at 10:30am.

🚢 The Algoma East Coast arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 10:40am.

SPONSORED BY NOVA SCOTIA WAITLIST SETTLEMENT

Waitlisted for disability support program benefits between April 1, 1998 and August 20, 2025?

Now accepting Claims. Apply for yourself or apply (with authorization) for someone who passed away or can’t fill out their own Claim Form. Claims Period closes March 17, 2027. Learn more.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍫 Rousseau Chocolatier has the perfect holiday with their magical Nutcracker Bars—made with homemade caramel and salted peanuts, available in 38% milk chocolate and 64% dark chocolate.

🥐 Two If By Sea Cafe has a new croissant of the week: Eggnog Cheesecake. Eggnog cream cheese filling, finished with an eggnog glaze and graham cracker crumble. 

👀 In Case You Missed It

💧 The Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board have approved an increase for Halifax Water, but it’s not as high as what they asked for. Pending a final review, Halifax Water can raise rates by at least 20 percent starting Jan. 1. The utility’s reasoning is inflation and fixing aging infrastructure. Halifax Water had originally asked for a rate of 35.6 percent: a 15.8 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2026, and a 17.1 percent increase on April 1, 2026. One of the board’s directives is for Halifax Water to find ways to deal with its debt, a deficit of around $34.1 million for 2025/26. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over Mayor Andy Fillmore’s response to the decision.

🤧 Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s top doctor, expects flu season to come early this year—he says that while it usually comes later in the winter, it has quickly spread through Central Canada and will soon hit the province.

🌿 A deal between NSLC and Wagmatcook First Nation on a cannabis retailer owned by the band has gone cold—this comes after Justice Minister Scott Armstrong’s crackdown on cannabis sales at trading posts on band lands.

That’s it!

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