Good morning!

On Monday, we posted a story about besszong, an indie video game studio founded by former Ubisoft Halifax developer George Greer.

When I had chatted with Greer, he mentioned the importance of college programs centered around technical art, programming and video game development. He gave praise to the Nova Scotia Community College, specifically the Truro Campus where he was taught, for the program that allowed him to get his start in the industry.

Unfortunately, as part of the school’s $15 million shortfall due to provincial budget cuts and a lack of international student tuition revenue, the college has cut 91 positions across its campuses province-wide. With job cuts come program cuts, and it seems that NSCC’s Game Programming and Interactive Arts programs are getting gutted.

As we’ve seen over the last couple years, the video game industry in Halifax is imploding upon itself. The two biggest development studios, the Microsoft-owned Alpha Dog Studios and the aforementioned Ubisoft Halifax, have both departed leaving many programmers, designers, marketers and more out of work.

There are still indie studios around like the newly formed besszong, but with this programming cut, it doesn’t seem like there’s much hope for home-grown talent in the games industry in Nova Scotia, despite it being such a huge market across Canada—especially in Montreal, where the tax credits are off the charts for international studios to set up shop.

So, what can we do about it? Firstly, let NSCC know how you feel in whatever way reasonably can—not just for their games program, but their cuts across the board, which have also eliminated all of their librarian positions. Secondly, support the indie game studios that remain in Nova Scotia in whatever way you can. There’s no reason our province should fall behind because those with money and power say your dreams aren’t feasible.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: 🌤️ 14°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 11°

Next Day: 🌧️ 12°

7-day forecast

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

Nova Scotia’s indie rock legends Wintersleep have been together for over 20 years.

For bands that have survived as long as Wintersleep, there’s always a question about whether or not they have the same drive as they did when they started. Are the ideas still flowing? Is the chemistry present? Do they still sound interesting?

These questions often boil down to one all-encompassing yet reductive query: are they still good?

If Wintersleep's new record Wishing Moon is proof of anything, it’s that the band’s well is far from dry.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer chats with Wintersleep’s Loel Campbell about the new album, their recent touring and how a band can survive for so long while still sounding so good.

💰 The provincial government left a third of its home heating rebate budget unused ($11 million) while turning down 18,000 applicants—54,000 households were approved for the program with $22 million spent at $400 per household.

🪧 Families of long-term care residents say they’re struggling as the worker’s strike for better wages continues—the province and CUPE did not reach an agreement after bargaining talks last week.

🛩️ The province has contracted four water bombers and a co-ordinaton plane from New Brunswick’s Forest Protection Ltd. in time for wildfire season—the government is paying $6.5 million to have the planes until September and includes pilots, staff, housing and maintenance.

🛋️ Feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or constantly exhausted? Stress can affect sleep, focus, relationships, and health. Let’s talk about what support could look like.*

⛵️ Introduce your kids to the world of sailing this summer at Armdale Yacht Club's Sailing School. Programs available for ages 5-18. Visit our website today!*

*Sponsored Post

Live Art Dance and Kinetic are back with another edition of “Coastal Currents”, our opportunity to celebrate Atlantic dance creators through the sharing of a mixed billed of dynamic dance works!

In the fourth year of “Coastal Currents”, we feature short works by Dawn Shepherd & Ryan Gray; Hiroto Yamaguchi; Jalianne Li & Harriet Gratian; Meredith Kalaman; and Sara Coffin.

Each year we’re blown away by the magic the dance artists of our region create, and this show is no different – ranging from athletic to quietly retrospective, and from grounded to gravity-defying, it’s a wonderfully eclectic programme with something for everyone! Get your tickets today!

⛴️ The CCGS Naalek Nappaaluk, the Canadian Coast Guard’s latest and largest science vessel, was welcomed into the Halifax harbour on Wednesday morning—the ship will take part in science missions off the Atlantic coast.

🏛️ Two motions around cutting “red tape” for local businesses were approved unanimously at Halifax regional council—staff were asked to look into creating a tool for businesses to provide feedback on “red tape” and to look at ways to reduce sidewalk patio fees.

🚨 Police arrested six impaired drivers within 24 hours in the Halifax area—the first arrest occurred just before 8am on Saturday, while the final arrest was around 1:20am on Sunday morning.

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

🗓 ByBlacks Restaurant Week 2026: Celebrate the best of Black Cuisine in Halifax with discounted meals or a Prix Fixe menu. A great opportunity to explore delicious food from participating restaurants. | May 11-17 |

🗓 Better Times Comedy at Good Robot Brewing: This weekly comedy show features regulars like Clare Belford, Dan Hendricken, Travis Lindsay, Adam Myatt, and a rotating cast of local and visiting comics. | May 14 | 7:30PM | $15 |

🗓 The Ghost of Violet Shaw: The Eastern Front Theatre presents this Victorian-era farce featuring a family dealing with their supposed curse. | April 28-May 24 | 2PM, 7:30PM | $25+|

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

➡️ The One Columba container vessel departed Halifax for Singapore at 12:30am.

🚢 The Algosolis oil tanker arrived in Halifax from Sarnia at 4:45am

🚢 The Leeway Odyssey research vessel arrives in Halifax at 6:15am

🚢➡️ The Em Kea container vessel arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 6:15am and departs for Antwerp at 11pm.

🚢 The Algoscotia oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Corner Brook at 7:30am.

➡️ The Boa Barge 37 barge departs Halifax for Sydney (Cape Breton) at 9am.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Star container vessel arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm and departs for Liverpool at 11pm.

🚢➡️ The Silver Arctic container vessel arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 4:15pm and departs for St. Pierre at 11pm.

🚢 The Acadia Desgagnes container vessel arrives in Halifax from Morehead City at 7:15pm

🚢 The CSL Tacoma bulk carrier arrives in Halifax from Portsmouth at 11:21pm

🍕 The Stubborn Goat Gastropub is rolling out a whole host of new summer creations for your taste buds to enjoy: fresh mac and cheese, oven-baked pizzas and a few fan favourites to top it all off.

🍗 CHKN CHOP is celebrating the Montreal Canadiens with a sizzling surprise: their Spicy Hab-anero Ranch chicken burger, made with friend chicken, habanero ranch and relish, white onion, cheese, banana peppers and lettuce.

🎶 The Scotia Festival of Music is almost here. From May 25 to June 7, classical artists from major Canadian orchestras, JUNO Award winners and Grammy nominees will grace Halifax for performances across the city and beyond. Hosting 51 young artists and 27 guest artists, the festival will feature an arrangement of Stravinksy’s The Rite of Spring, an opening and closing gala, and noon-hour recitals from June 1 to 3. There will also be $10 open dress rehearsals. Two major orchestral performances will take place: György Ligeti’s Violin Concerto with virtuoso violinist Mark Fewer on May 31 and at the closing gala on June 7 with works from Ana Sokolović, Ian Cusson, John Adams and Modest Mussorgsky. A full list of events, times and locations and ticket bundles can be found on the Scotia Festival of Music website.

🚰 Actor Elliott Page has discussed his disappointment with a community well he funded in Shelburne that has yet to take off after several years of inaction—Page originally contributed $25,000 to the project, with a promise to donated $5,000 every year to keep it going.

🔍 The police are still investigating the unsolved murder of David Robert Boyko, who died by a gunshot wound in Dartmouth back in 1996—the case is part of the provincial unsolved crimes program with rewards up to $150,000 for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.

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