Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved 1 day agoDuration 1:56Young Halifax hockey player puts up impressive numbers1 day agoNewsDuration 1:56Bowen Cranston plays U13 hockey and scored more than 100 goals this season. Linus Mulherin has the story. Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem The Saskatchewan Rush defeat the Halifax Thunderbirds 16-7 We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again This website uses Google Analytics and Facebook to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences More information about our Cookie Policy At the start of each week through the end of the season we’ll bring you this easy-to-digest wrap-up of everything you need to know from the weekend that was in the Canadian Premier League and keep tabs on how each team is progressing in its hunt for silverware.Atlético Ottawa find themselves all alone atop the Canadian Premier League table this week after a win for themselves and a favourable result elsewhere but the three unbeaten teams remain in close competition after matchweek five The action began Friday in Toronto, where Cavalry FC claimed their first win of the 2025 CPL season by beating York United 2-1. Although Julian Altobelli's goal before halftime cancelled out Tobias Warschewski's, Fraser Aird came off the bench to win it in the second half for the Cavs Saturday's action began with a lively first half from Pacific FC, who took a lead into halftime at TD Place -- only for Atleti to punch right back after the break, and go on to win it comfortably 3-1 with some outrageous goals from Kevin Dos Santos and David Rodríguez In Nova Scotia, Dan Nimick's return to the Wanderers Grounds wasn't quite the slugfest we'd all hoped, but Halifax and Forge battled to a 0-0 draw where it was the defenders who stole the show Vancouver FC claimed their first victory of the year A goal and an assist in the first half for Alejandro Díaz helped the Eagles soar on a frustrating night for Valour who saw both Kris Twardek and Jevontae Layne sent off as they finished the match with nine men -- and still just one point in 2025 Here's how the standings look after five weeks: We've gotten this far in and haven't yet mentioned the most important part of the weekend: Atlético Ottawa's second annual Wiener Dog Race. Check it out (Congratulations to star hound Blazin' Bricks.) it's not like we've needed much more than the football itself to entertain us this year Goals are up so far this year -- we're averaging 2.84 goals per game at the moment and Saturday's draw in Halifax was our first scoreless draw of the year and only the third game with fewer than two goals in total Keep an eye out this week as we wrap up the now-past month of April by handing out some awards. The best player, manager and goalkeeper of the month will all be honoured this week, and you can have a say in the TELUS Goal of the Month -- keep an eye on @cplsoccer on social media round one of the Canadian Championship continues on Tuesday and Wednesday; we had some entertaining opening acts a week ago but now we've got a couple huge games as the path to the Voyageurs' Cup starts to become clearer Forge and Halifax would both love a crack at CF Montréal in the quarter-finals and that's what on the line in their matchup on Wednesday We'll stop saying Julian Altobelli is leading the Golden Boot race when he stops scoring The York United striker now has five goals in five games to continue leading the league look no further than Halifax's Thomas Meilleur-Giguère for a potential Defender of the Year candidate He was outstanding in a clean-sheet draw with Forge making eight clearances -- plus a courageous goal-saving block on Brian Wright Diego Mejía is already making a strong case for consideration in the coaching category; his halftime inversion of Kevin Dos Santos and Gabriel Antinoro made a huge difference in Atlético Ottawa's comeback win over Pacific In just five games he's turned Atleti into an attacking juggernaut and perhaps the most exciting team in the league Patrice Gheisar has also done some great things in Halifax; he's turned them from the joint-worst defensive team in the league in 2024 into a side that has conceded Vancouver stay way out in front after starting three U-21 players this weekend What's perhaps even more impressive for them is that the average age of the players making up their U-21 minutes is just 19.6 with Myles Morgan getting the start and both Kelsey Egwu and Erik Pop making appearances off the bench They more than tripled their total from the previous week and now find themselves at a much more reasonable 186 minutes through five games Ottawa's U-21 players keep playing massive roles in their success Sergei Kozlovskiy and Loïc Cloutier once again started in the back three while Gabriel Antinoro scored the winning goal from the right wingback position (Watch all games live on OneSoccer Shoutout to Denys Rudenko for capturing the sunset at York Lions Stadium like this All rights reserved.Terms of usePrivacy PolicyConditionsCookie PolicyBack to top You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter the head of Dalhousie University’s psychiatry department and chief of psychiatry for Nova Scotia Health’s central zone Agyapong has pioneered a system in Nova Scotia where patients with less severe psychiatric ailments get “rapid access” referrals to psychiatrists HALIFAX - A pioneering Nova Scotia program that provides patients with basic psychiatric diagnoses is winning praise for slashing wait times for some people struggling to get help head of the psychiatry department at Dalhousie University the median time between a referral and an appointment with a psychiatrist has remained about four to six weeks over the past two years makes a difference to hundreds of people in the Halifax region who would otherwise struggle in silence The Rapid Access and Stabilization Program – or RASP – is only available in and around the Halifax area “Wait times for treatment remain a major barrier,” he said during a presentation to a group that included mental health experts from across Canada and provincial health officials “People often face months-long delays to see a mental health professional.” who launched the program with funding from the province presented figures showing that since April 2023 more than 2,100 adult patients had been seen by four psychiatrists each devoting a few days a week to the practice He said the focus is on seeing patients with “mild to moderate” mental health issues who only need a one-time consultation they’re sent back to their family doctors and nurse practitioners with a care plan Patients with more serious and ongoing issues can be referred for additional care to doctors outside the program About 12 per cent of patients were referred for psychotherapy through community mental health programs and seven per cent were referred for ongoing psychiatric care a 40-year-old patient who recently used the rapid access service said that before she entered the program she was told it would take two years to see a psychiatrist last December her new family doctor referred her to the rapid access program She says she completed a preliminary questionnaire and on Jan She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD “It’s three months since I started on the medication I feel I can move forward in my life,” Kiley said said it’s refreshing to be involved in a system where general psychiatric care can be provided without long wait times you have to see multiple people in order to win an audience with the psychiatrist which has never made sense to me,” he said told the seminar he’s happy with the new service “I feel it has filled a gap in the mental health system,” he said adding that a conventional referral to Nova Scotia Health could mean “waiting forever before a crisis hits and (by then) it might be too late for the patient.” “I would like it to be expanded all over Nova Scotia,” he said Agyapon said that with an additional $1 million annually he and the team could scale the program to serve the entire province With that funding he could add two full-time psychiatrists and other clinicians along with more support staff The program currently has funding of about $800,000 for its psychiatric staff Nova Scotia Health is looking at how it can increase access to the program across the province vice-president of mental health and addictions at Nova Scotia Health McCormick said the government isn’t planning on immediately increasing funding to the project The expansion of the rapid access program was among the recommendations in the Lionel Desmond inquiry that was published more than a year ago That report examined the issues behind why Desmond — a veteran of the Afghanistan war with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and depression — died by suicide Jan The inquiry found “it took months” to ramp up his care and called on the province to expand Agyapong’s project This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Halifax Water is seeking approval of its general rate application that would bring a 16.2 per cent increase to residential bills in 2025-26 The municipally owned utility sent its application which also includes a 17.6 per cent increase in 2026-27 to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board on Monday which operates on a cost-of-delivery model with no profit built into rates said it faces significant operating deficits projected to be $18.7 million for 2024-25 and $34.1 million for 2025-26 Subscribe now to access this story and more: Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience The rate request is attributed to increased inflation It would mean an increase of about $148 on the average bill in 2025-26 and $186 in 2026-27 “We understand that requests for rate increases come at a time when many households are already feeling the pinch of rising costs but it is unavoidable,” said Kenda MacKenzie we require the proposed rates for strategic investments to continue ensuring safe and dependable water services we risk long-term financial instability that could jeopardize the quality of services provided to the community.” Halifax Water said it suppressed rate increases during and coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic by tapping into its reserves and accumulated surpluses “While we managed to keep rates low for several years it is now crucial that we apply for a rate increase to support operational sustainability mitigate further deficits and ensure that we can deliver high-quality water services that customers expect,” said MacKenzie Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page The British Virgin Islands is an explorer's dream with more than 60 isles and cays to discover Expert-backed tips and a step-by-step breakdown to ward off these pests We tried it: Filtrete Smart Tower and the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Nova ScotiaNewsHalifax Water looking to raise residential bills by $148 in 2025-2026By Sean MottPublished: May 05, 2025 at 1:07PM EDT Investigators with Halifax Regional Fire have wrapped up their work on the fire that gutted one of the buildings at the former Bloomfield School site on Agricola Street Investigators say the fire started in a basement storage room of the building Deputy chief Dave Medrum said there was no power to the building at the time and the ignition source was determined to be an open flame with the fire being classified as incendiary He said the file has been handed over to Halifax Regional Police Meldrum said that under the National Fire Protection Association’s guide for fire investigations an incendiary fire is one set under circumstances where the person setting it knows it should not be ignited and has knowledge of the potential consequences The building where the fire started was demolished and Halifax Regional Municipality said April 3 that the property owner will demolish the two remaining buildings on the site The municipality has said there is also a demolition permit on file for the former St Patrick’s-Alexandra school on Quinpool Road which has also sat abandoned for some time and where there have been several fires over the past year That includes one last month at which firefighters went inside to remove a person who was in the building at the time Atlantic WatchWhat to expect from Halifax's TASTE Asia festivalThe organizers of TASTE Asia explain why the free, annual event on the Halifax Waterfront is more than just a food festival. 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 3Members of Piggy perform at a show dubbed Y2Kalypso around the time of the turn of the millenium (Submitted by Paul Gailiunas)Social SharingYou'd be hard-pressed to find a group of local music lovers more enthusiastic and nostalgic than those who will undoubtedly be lining the sidewalk of Gottingen Street in Halifax next week They also might be a little more grizzled than your average audience for a local gig — though a tiny slice of Halifax music history will be revived as Piggy the Calypso Orchestra of the Maritimes plays a one-night-only reunion show The beloved Halifax band won the hearts of many Haligonians through the eclectic energetic shows they played from 1994 to late 2000 and the result was a joyful raucousness driven by ideals of social justice and infused with kindness "It was kind of like if there was an outlaw hippie Sesame Street," says Maggie Rahr who attended Piggy shows as an early teenager but also unpacking some human complexity and just kind of showing us a way of being that is peaceful and loving." Piggy songs frequently touched on themes of inequality The Person Behind the Counter encouraged people to be nice to those in the service industry The Thin Man examined the issues of hunger and poverty She's Stepping Out is about coming out as queer and Emma Goldman is a true banger of a tribute to the famous anarchist Lead singer Paul Gailiunas says Piggy's political bent was intentional "That was a main motivating factor for me personally in a band was to try to address things that were important issues," he says was to make it "as fun and wacky as possible." Musicians often dressed up in costumes and shows frequently featured dance contests — which Rahr once won and was treated to a special prize of going to see the movie Babe: Pig in the City with the entire band In an era when Halifax was dubbed the "next Seattle" and bands like Sloan Jale and The Super Friendz were making it big Piggy wasn't angling for record deals or fame "It was more of a labour of love and a fun art project a communal art project," Gailiunas says Drummer Graham MacDougall will be performing with the band at the reunion show and says it's been fun revisiting the songs after a quarter century — even if he can't quite remember some of them because they're only on cassette tapes and he doesn't have a player anymore With some members of the band — like Gailiunas who now lives in California — coming from out of town MacDougall says group rehearsals will be limited so the reunion show will likely be "pretty scrappy and pretty much in spirit with the original band." Although many of the performers were very accomplished musicians ad libbed" sound is simply "part of the charm" of Piggy says the performances were sometimes on the brink of devolving into chaos — especially when Gailiunas would shout "everybody solo!" and all the members would do a solo at the same time "You just went with it and tried to stay in tune … but grounded by the structure of these awesome songs," Kelly says At the heart of Piggy's music was always the community — particularly the North End where many band members lived and where Gailiunas practised medicine at the community health clinic on Gottingen Street Kelly says he remembers running into Gailiunas one May Day in Halifax when Gailiunas was wandering the streets with his guitar "One of the ways he wrote songs was to walk around the neighborhood with his acoustic guitar and think about Halifax and think about what was going on as inspiration for the melodies and the lyrics that he came up with," Kelly says Gailiunas left Halifax in 2001, moving to New Orleans with his wife, Helen Hill, an artist, animator and filmmaker who was part of the creative genius behind Piggy wrote some of the songs with Gailiunas and directed several music videos for the band Hill died in 2007 when an intruder entered the couple's New Orleans home and shot them Although Gailiunas's time in Halifax was steeped in his life with Hill and those memories are sure to surface when he visits Gailiunas says he's feeling "really positive and excited" about returning That was a great time in my life," he says Gailiunas will be visiting Halifax this time with his son Francis and his wife Lecie and he plans to make sure they try authentic Nova Scotia oatcakes see Peggys Cove and walk around the North End Francis will perform some songs with the band Gailiunas says Piggy songs tend to be very simple so he's not too worried about forgetting the chords or words "Most of them we just sang them so much that they're always going to be there," he says But for fans who are worried that they won't get in just remember Piggy's immortal words: "Down on Gottingen Street there's always room for you!" Frances Willick is a journalist with CBC Nova Scotia story ideas or tips at frances.willick@cbc.ca Get the latest top stories from across Nova Scotia in your inbox every weekday SubscribeCurrent TimeIgnore this field. If any data is entered for this field, you will not be subscribed to this newsletter....The next issue of CBC Nova Scotia newsletter will soon be in your inbox.Discover all CBC newsletters in the Subscription Centre. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. of Upper Musquodoboit pleaded guilty in January to three pimping-related charges and one count of breaching bail An Upper Musquodoboit man’s sentencing in a Halifax human trafficking case has been postponed until June because of a death in his family pleaded guilty in January in Halifax provincial court to four charges: human trafficking receiving material benefit from sexual services advertising sexual services and breaching bail conditions The three pimping-related offences were committed in the Halifax area between Jan The identity of the female victim is protected by a publication ban Garinger’s sentencing hearing was slated for this Thursday but he appeared in court Monday to seek an adjournment Judge Mark Heerema rescheduled the sentencing hearing for June 17 Police received a report in the spring of 2023 about human trafficking that was taking place in the Halifax area Members of the Halifax Regional Police-RCMP human trafficking team identified Garinger as a suspect He was arrested in the Niagara region of Ontario in June 2023 and transported to Halifax to face a total of seven charges Garinger also goes by the names Edward Morrison and Ted Morrison He pleaded not guilty to the charges in provincial court in August 2023 His trial was originally set for six days in April 2024 but was adjourned after he encountered problems securing a lawyer Garinger was granted bail with the Crown’s consent in September 2023 after posting a $3,000 deposit He was placed on house arrest at a home on Highway 224 in Upper Musquodoboit and ordered to wear an electronic ankle bracelet He was re-arrested just over a month later in Halifax and charged with two counts of breaching his house arrest conditions The Crown applied to revoke Garinger’s earlier bail and opposed his release A bail hearing was held in provincial court in October 2023 Judge Ann Marie Simmons decided to release Garinger on a new bail order with a $2,000 deposit A Halifax senior who was found guilty in March of sexually abusing his daughter over a period of 38 years has died before he could be sentenced The 74-year-old man cannot be named because of a publication ban on any information that could identify the victim He stood trial in Halifax provincial court over nine days between October 2024 and January of this year Judge Elizabeth Buckle gave her decision March 26 sexual exploitation and two counts of sexual assault The offences were committed in Halifax between January 1985 and February 2023 The judge also found the accused guilty of criminally harassing his daughter between February 2023 and September 2024 two counts of breaching an undertaking to police in June 2023 and two counts of breaching a release order in June 2023 He was acquitted on seven other charges: two counts each of invitation to sexual touching and breaching an undertaking and single counts of sexual exploitation committing an act of gross indecency by masturbating and intimidating a justice system participant The judge ordered a pair of presentence reports on the offender whose bail was revoked in January after he was arrested on new charges and scheduled the case to return to court April 14 to set a date for his sentencing hearing But the man was admitted to Dartmouth General Hospital in the interim He died in hospital of natural causes April 22 Crown attorney Carla Ball and defence lawyer Eugene Tan appeared in front of Buckle last week to wrap up the man’s outstanding matters The judge said the guilty findings will remain on the record The Crown withdrew the newer charges against the man uttering threats and seven counts of breaching release conditions Day 1 of free onsite parking at Nova Scotia’s health-care facilities was a win for many but in Halifax the daily struggle for hospital parking continued the Premier’s Office sent out a news release that detailed the elimination of fees for on-site parking  beginning Thursday “We committed to eliminating fees for everyone parking at a Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health facility and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Premier Tim Houston in the release “I know people have been eager to see this change Nova Scotians shouldn’t have to worry about parking fees when they’re sick and seeking health care or caring for our loved ones.” senior adviser of public affairs for Nova Scotia Health said the challenge of finding enough parking spots has always been an issue in Halifax particularly at the Victoria General and Halifax Infirmary sites Capacity at the Victoria General lot is 719 spaces but will be reduced by approximately 50 spots due to a capital repair project until Nov 1 while the Summer Street lot has 512 spaces “I would say that pulling back the lens and understanding the challenges we face volunteers and leadership who work in those facilities so you can understand if we have 12,000 people looking for parking and we also have to accommodate and need to accommodate patients and visitors it’s a supply and demand issue,” said Elliott “We are doing our best to think outside the box and come up with solutions “We have 97 parking lots across the province 39 of which were charging for parking (Wednesday) that aren’t’ charging today If you take a place like Yarmouth Regional or Cape Breton Regional all those had charged for parking for staff and patients the gates are up now and we are not hearing about any issues We’re not saying there aren’t any problems in Halifax Nova Scotia Health sent out an email to inform employees at the QEII that staff who park onsite in patient-designated areas during peak hours will be charged $6 per hour with no daily maximum Free parking for staff is available after 2:30 p.m Some staff members took to social media to voice complaints about the fee including one Victoria General worker who posted on Reddit to defend staff parking privileges “So grateful to the Conservative government who obviously respect the hard work health care workers do (obvious sarcasm),” wrote pinkprincess30 “If the government wanted to do something to help health-care workers they’d immediately offer a parking rebate to health-care workers at the VG/HI/Veterans/Rehab Most people I know are paying $150 a month for the privilege of parking nearby hospitals It’s absolutely insane how disrespectful this ‘free parking’ is to all of the people that need to park near the hospital five days a week Elliott said staff was aware these parking spaces were not available to them and that the rise in the hourly rate was to discourage people who park there but weren’t using the facility “These spaces weren’t available to (staff) last week,” said Elliott “This idea they suddenly have to pay more has been very well articulated and communicated to them that these spaces were not meant for them even before the free parking was removed We recognized the potential problem for people using these spaces that were not there for health care and we had to address it “We have doubled the hourly rate to discourage people who are not there for health-care reasons to say ‘This is not so you can come in if you live nearby or work nearby and have a free parking solution.’ This is the challenge we have of having a complex in a high-traffic We have enough of a challenge finding parking spaces for staff and patients; adding in a third layer of people that are going to use those spaces who are not there for health care would make this an even worse problem.” Elliott said there are other options for hospital staff in Halifax He said the Garrison Ground and College Street lots would be free for staff Monday through Friday with a free staff shuttle available from the Garrison Grounds lot “Where someone who worked for Nova Scotia Health could park three days ago hasn’t changed You can still park where you used to park and if that happens to be an off-site Nova Scotia Health parking lot then the good news is you don’t have to pay for that anymore “A few months ago we doubled the capacity for the Garrison lot recognizing the crunch that took place once we removed the Robie Street parkade in relation to the massive construction that’s underway to build the new hospital complex on the site.” A Halifax Transit Epass is also available at a discounted rate of $25 a month for Nova Scotia Health staff “It’s not a one-size-fits-all with the bus pass but it’s an example of how we are trying to think of ways to relieve the pressure,” said Elliott “We’re also really trying to listen to staff if they have solutions because they are the ones that are experiencing the problem “We understand this is frustrating for them and it was frustrating long before the free parking was initiated We’re trying to find a way to inconvenience everyone the least.” This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. A stellar performance from Austin Shanks —  in the form of six goals — led the the Saskatchewan Rush to a 16-7 victory over the host Halifax Thunderbirds on Saturday night in Game 1 of their best-of-three National Lacrosse League semifinals. Article contentAlso contributing to the Rush’s score were Zach Manns, Mike Triolo and Brock Haley with two goals apiece, while Mike Messenger, Clark Walter, Ryan Keenan and Matt Hossack each added singles. In net, Frank Scigliano made 41 saves on 48 shots. The series now comes to Saskatoon, with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday, May 10 at 8:30 p.m. at SaskTel Centre. If the series requires a Game 3, it will be played Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Nova ScotiaNewsCanadians mark 80th anniversary of the Battle of the AtlanticBy Hafsa ArifPublished: May 04, 2025 at 3:50PM EDT admitted assaulting victim on five occasions over two-year period An Upper Hammonds Plains man who accepted responsibility for three offences involving an intimate partner has been sentenced to 20 months in jail pleaded guilty last June in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax to charges of uttering threats The offences were committed at or near Norton’s residence on five occasions between January 2019 and February 2021 The identity of the female victim is protected by a publication ban because of the nature of three other charges laid against Norton: human trafficking receiving material benefit from that trafficking and sexual assault Justice Christa Brothers heard a victim impact statement and sentencing submissions in February and gave her decision last Thursday “The events that occurred over the two-year indictment period were troubling I struggle to understand how some of the thoughts even came into Mr “There’s no question that he struggled with anger and did not have respect for his intimate partner when Norton became angry after seeing a text the woman had sent someone struck her with a computer cord and stomped on her stomach and chest who had two black eyes and bruising on her face was unable to get out of bed for several days because of her injuries and felt dizzy for two weeks he grabbed the woman by the hair in the driveway and dragged her into the middle of the road The woman hid in his backyard and then on a nearby property before seeking help from a neighbour The neighbour told police the victim was crying Norton again became incensed about a text message He forced her to sit in one spot on his back deck for a prolonged period of time until she eventually urinated herself He also made her put a used tampon in her mouth and used a hose to spray her with cold water the pair were arguing when Norton flipped a table over An ashtray hit the woman on her right foot causing a cut that was several centimetres long and left a scar Norton dragged the woman by her hair into his daughter’s bedroom where he repeatedly kicked her and said her family would be better off without her and that he should just kill her Norton was arrested in January 2022 following a three-month investigation by the RCMP’s provincial human trafficking unit the woman said she is a shadow of her former self because of the abuse she endured and is trapped in a heightened state of alertness She said she struggles to connect with people and has difficulty engaging in group settings due to social anxiety and the fact she constantly replays the trauma in her mind “These experiences have left me not only with physical pain but with a deep sense of violation and degradation,” she wrote She told the court she suspects she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder She said the impact of the violence on her mental health has been “profound hopelessness and a pervasive sense of distrust.” Crown attorney Katie Lovett requested a three-year prison sentence while defence lawyer Patrick MacEwen recommended an 18-month conditional sentence and 30 months of probation who is African Nova Scotian and has three children told the judge he was remorseful for his actions and was taking full accountability A cultural assessment said Norton has faced significant barriers throughout his life economic hardship and the loss of key family members “These challenges have shaped his world view and influenced his interaction with others including his involvement in the criminal justice system,” the report said The judge said the report provided important insight into Norton’s background but did not significantly reduce his moral blameworthiness or offer a “deeper explanation” for the aggravating factors present in the case After determining the range of sentence for Norton was between 12 and 24 months of incarceration she had to consider whether it would be appropriate to allow him to serve his time in the community on a conditional sentence order “While I acknowledge that a conditional sentence can provide a significant amount of denunciation and deterrence I’m not satisfied that it would adequately express society’s condemnation of the offender’s conduct in the circumstances of this case,” Brothers said “The offences before the court are significant and serious the primary objectives of denunciation and deterrence cannot be appropriately achieved through a conditional sentence order She ordered Norton to have no contact with the victim while he’s in jail or on probation The probation order also prohibits him from having firearms or consuming drugs and requires him to take part in culturally relevant counselling and programming for mental health issues substance abuse and violence intervention and prevention The judge also compelled Norton to provide a sample of his DNA for a national databank and banned him from possessing firearms for a further 10 years Brothers said the jail term will “undoubtedly be difficult” for Norton and his children She said she hopes the counselling will help him address his triggers and manage his emotions so he can recalibrate how he treats intimate partners in the future She dismissed the human trafficking charges and stayed the sexual assault allegation A Halifax man has admitted killing his mother in a “fit of rage” last fall pleaded guilty Monday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax to a charge of second-degree murder in the Oct Justice Josh Arnold ordered a presentence report on Jonathan Pinsky at the request of the defence and scheduled his sentencing hearing for July 2 The conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison Arnold will decide how many years Pinsky must serve – somewhere between 10 and 25 – before he is eligible to apply for parole Crown attorney Stephen Anstey read an agreed statement of facts into the record Monday The statement says Pinsky returned to the Quingate Place condominium he shared with his mother after work Oct “He was stressed from his day at work and was trying to relax,” the court was told “His mother was angry and was yelling at him.” Pinsky said he thought his mom was angry because she had to yell too loudly to get his attention to turn on the subtitles on her DVD Lana Pinsky went downstairs and informed her son he had to be out of the condo for good by 10 o’clock that night and refused to engage in any negotiation on the issue Jonathan Pinsky told police he then attacked his mother in a “fit of rage.” where he believed she was “already probably dying.” The facts say he then got a knife and stabbed his mother in the neck “still in a rage.” He claimed she was suffering and that he was putting her out of her misery Pinsky believed that by the time she was placed in the closet Pinsky said he also briefly attempted to smother her with pillows Pinsky’s manager called Halifax Regional Police to request a wellness check on him 2 saying Pinsky would not be at work due to an emergency and had not been able to reach him since two officers were let into the condo by the building manager the officers noted a large smear of what appeared to be blood An officer opened the door to a storage room and located the body of Lana Pinsky on the floor Matthew Bowes determined a single stab wound to the left side of the victim’s neck had gone through the voice box and out the opposite side of the neck There were a number of broken ribs on the left side police requested the public’s assistance in finding Pinsky who was described as a “person of interest.” 11 by a co-worker who reported his whereabouts to police he made an utterance that the knife was at the bottom of his backpack police took a cautioned statement from Pinsky in which he described killing his mother “We’ve been discussing resolution of this matter for some time,” Anstey said outside court “We simply wanted to take time to review the disclosure that had been collected and all the evidence and to have discussions with the defence he’s been looking to resolve this matter for some time He provided a very fulsome confession about 12 hours after his arrest wherein he took full responsibility for what he did to his mother.” Anstey said he and co-counsel Sam Allen have agreed to make a joint recommendation with defence lawyer Brian Bailey for the minimum period of parole ineligibility Pinsky has no prior criminal record,” Anstey said “This is his first involvement with the criminal justice system.” He said the victim’s brother and one of her three sons have indicated they intend to file impact statements for the sentencing hearing Lana Pinsky’s obituary said she was “a beacon of grace and creativity” and will be lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her “Known for her impeccable sense of style and boundless energy where her love for music and movement was infectious,” the obituary said was found in her work as the reading support co-ordinator at the North End Public Library Lana devoted herself to connecting children with free tutors and mentors ensuring every young learner had a chance to thrive “Her unwavering commitment touched countless lives leaving a legacy of hope and opportunity that will endure for generations.” 4 days agoDuration 3:15Halifax fashion show theme is Black dandyism4 days agoNewsDuration 3:15Runways will be lit up in the next couple of weeks during the annual Fabric of Our DNA shows. This is the fifth year for this production by House of Soli. The theme, Black dandyism, is the same idea infusing this year's Met Gala. Robbie Baird's trial is set for next January in Dartmouth provincial court A Halifax Regional Police officer will stand trial next January on two criminal harassment charges of Cole Harbour is accused of harassing a woman he knows while he was off duty in September 2023 The woman’s complaint was referred to the Serious Incident Response Team in May 2014 SIRT announced the charges against Baird this February Court documents allege the officer repeatedly followed the complainant from place to place and beset or watched her residence or other place where she happened to be The summary charges were first in court in late February Lawyer Rick Hartlen entered not-guilty pleas on behalf of Baird on Thursday and Judge Ted Tax scheduled the trial for Jan 6 undertaking to a peace officer that prohibits him from communicating with the complainant or going to her residence or place of employment SIRT charged Baird with assaulting a different woman That offence was allegedly committed between January 2020 and September 2021 while he was off duty The officer pleaded not guilty to the summary assault charge in November and is set to stand trial in Dartmouth provincial court June 17 a Crown attorney who usually works in Kentville Baird has been on the police force for 21 years but has been suspended with pay since the fall of 2023 SIRT is an independent agency that investigates matters involving death intimate-partner violence and other matters of public interest arising from the actions of any police officer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Halifax West 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 210 of 211 polls are reporting as of 4:19 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 210 of 211 polls are reporting as of 4:19 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in Halifax West is in second place with 15,006 votes (27.2%) and Rae Tench Diab has represented the riding since 2021 23,969 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Halifax 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 176 of 176 polls are reporting as of 4:19 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 176 of 176 polls are reporting as of 4:19 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election Miedema has 32,886 of 52,152 votes (63.06%) is in second place with 9,939 votes (19.06%) and Lisa Roberts Filmore was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015 19,271 voters cast ballots at advance polls as the Halifax Wanderers host Forge FC in a battle of two of the three remaining undefeated sides in the Canadian Premier League to start 2025 making it a fitting clash for this week's nationally-televised matchup on TSN this will be a true statement match for each team as they look to continue their positive momentum as the calendar flips to May The first of two matches between the teams over the next week as Forge will then host Halifax in the preliminary round of the Canadian Championship on Wednesday this also feels like a chance for both to build some momentum ahead of that key match Their first matchup since Forge visited the Grounds last September this also marks the return of former Wanderers standout to Halifax for the first time since he joined Forge this offseason he’ll be welcomed by a different Wanderers team than the one he left the Wanderers have gotten off to a flying start to 2025 winning three and drawing one of their first four games Given that they didn’t win their first game of 2024 until week #10 and their first game of 2023 until week #9 this hot start is a nice change for the Wanderers as it felt like last year’s slow start played a big role in them missing the playoffs that’s just one of the many changes with this team Another is that their road record has been much improved - they’ve already bested their 2024 totals of one win and six points in just three road games accumulating two wins and one draw for a total of seven road points already look for them to continue this strong start at the one place where they’ve been consistently able to accumulate points over the past few years Having won their first match of the season here against Pacific FC two weeks ago they’d love nothing more than to build off that result in this one "The way I look at it is like we're literally studying during the week for an exam we'll show how much we studied and how prepared we are," Wanderers' head coach and now a big part of our job is that we want to display all the work we've been doing all week to our fans as their last visit to Halifax didn’t go so well When they made the trek out to the Wanderers Grounds in September that loss didn’t prove costly in terms of their regular season title ambitions as they still claimed the CPL Shield a few weeks later but it was the first sign of a potential wobble in their group Given that Forge then went on to lose to Cavalry in the playoff qualifying semi-final and then fell to that same Cavalry side in the final after getting past Atlético Ottawa in the second semi-final perhaps some might say that Wanderers' loss was a subtle bit of foreshadowing it’s worth noting that this Forge team is much different they’ve so far been off to a decent start to the year - after opening the year with wins over Cavalry and Pacific they’ve drawn their last two matches against Valour and York United Eager to defend their CPL Shield crown and lift their fifth North Star Cup this fall they’ll want to start rounding into form soon Often a team that seems to hit their best level when the summer approaches look for them to start turning up the gears in the weeks to come especially with their Canadian Championship preliminary round clash looming "We just have to focus on ourselves," Forge's head coach "We have to focus on being better in the execution phases of the game making sure that when we've got a solid start to the game in the first 10-15 minutes the Wanderers have no major absences to note although Nassim Mekidèche and Julian Dunn are still working up to full fitness according to Gheisar Wanderers looking to continue good form vs Forge: Ever since Patrice Gheisar was hired as Wanderers' manager at the beginning of 2023 who had a record of 8W-7D-1L in the 16 games they played against the Wanderers before 2023 the Wanderers have a record of 3W-3D-2L in their last eight matches against Forge as they’ve proven to be a tough side for Forge to take care of Forge have struggled against the Wanderers at Wanderers Grounds - since Gheisar’s arrival Forge have lost three and drawn one of their four visits to Halifax look for the Wanderers to continue that strong home form vs allowing them to keep the momentum going from their strong start to 2025 Having seemingly figured out their road woes they know that they could potentially be a title contender if they can keep up their strong home record which has been one of their strengths under Gheisar while the Wanderers have done well against Forge in this fixture stats like this might prove to be good motivation for Forge Especially given how their last visit to Halifax went that could lead to a fired-up showing from Forge which will force the Wanderers to rise to the challenge don’t discount the role the looming Canadian Championship clash could play in this matchup - both teams will be happy to set the tone in this match knowing that it could give them an edge ahead of Wednesday Can subs continue to make a difference for Wanderers it looked like the Wanderers' visit to Winnipeg last weekend might finish in a draw as they and Valour were just unable to find much of a cutting edge in the attack bringing in Tiago Coimbra and Vitor Dias off the bench to give his team a late spark as Dias scored in the 90th minute after a great Coimbra assist thanks to some nice combination play between the pair allowing the Wanderers to snatch a late victory In a game where the xG was just 0.75 to 0.67 in the Wanderers' favour as both teams were unable to really break each other down this is something these Wanderers now have up their sleeve he knows that he has players who can come in and change a game if needed Against a Forge team littered with difference-makers on the bench as it feels like the Wanderers will need contributions from their entire squad something they’ve done a great job of getting so far through four games After failing to score in his first four Forge games in all competitions Brian Wright has quietly started to find some form but wasn’t taking them with the ruthless efficiency he often did in 2024 where he scored nine goals and added six assists en route to winning the CPL’s Players Player of the Year award he’ll have to feel he’s about to turn a corner giving Forge a key outlet to rely upon up front as they’re looking for some consistency at that position after the prolific Woobens Pacius moved on at the end of 2023 and Kwasi Poku moved last summer as they lacked a dangerous #9 in the playoffs last year they hope they’ve found someone who can step up in those big moments they’ll feel these recent matches are a sign that he’s going to round into form and fill that role going forward the more than can open up space for his teammates which could lead to more output for the likes of Tristan Borges who will gladly capitalize on the space an in-form Wright might open up for them if he keeps scoring and starts drawing extra attention from opposing defences Halifax Wanderers FC wins: 4 || Forge FC wins: 10 || Draws: 10 and there are a lot of good things that are happening There are areas that we want to improve on and having an elite team like Forge visit is a good test for us to see where we stand in what we've been doing I think what has been working for our group is to focus on us and to manage our energy the way we want to and emotions will sometimes push you one way or another but we just need to focus on ourselves and keep this energy going in front of our home fans." — Halifax Wanderers FC head coach Patrice Gheisar "I think we're trending in the right direction and I'm happy with where the team is is at I think our last two performances can be better but when you're not at your best or close to your best and you're still bringing points in the bank so from our points total in these first few games Tucked just below a busy stretch of Halifax’s Spring Garden Road is a bar that has seen nearly eight decades of history unfold and has the stories (and the bar stools) to prove it in the words of current manager Brian Atkinson “a place where you can just pull up a chair who has been managing Oasis for the past 18 months He first stepped inside its doors in the mid-1980s while attending Nova Scotia College of Art and Design He returned years later to paint the bar’s iconic murals “I became known as the guy who painted the murals Oasis boasts “the largest floor area for any bar of this type east of Montreal The space is split into two sections: the main bar area and the “sidebar” where a projector and a second screen make game nights feel like a movie-theatre experience Baseball is “Jays territory all the way,” says Atkinson Hockey nights – especially when the Maple Leafs Canadiens or Bruins play – draw passionate crowds That was insanity down here.” He says that NFL Sundays bring a more communal vibe The bar has a little bit of everything: 16 TVs (each on its own feed 19 video lottery terminals in a separate gaming area from a rock ‘n’ roll joint to an Irish music bar to a casino lounge In 1963 Oasis opened a ladies beverage room which it claims was the first one in Canada to allow in women without an escort “There was actually a wall with a door separating the bar The sidebar was where the ladies could come in That was a big deal at the time,” says Atkinson Some of the staff are practically part of the furniture have been working there for nearly 100 years of service combined “Norm came here straight out of high school and never left but it also tells you something about the place.” part personal art project and now thanks to a new sports-themed entrance – part shrine to local athletic pride “We’ve mounted physical sports gear on the walls and added team logos and a few nods to our Atlantic roots He says the vibe is meant to be low-key and welcoming Just come as you are and we’ll find the game you want Being located near five major universities When students from Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s aren’t filling the bar during events the old regulars are happy to be perched on their stools From its role in Halifax nightlife history to the rowdy energy of UFC Saturdays Oasis is a place where change has been constant “That’s what makes it special,” Atkinson says “It has always been what people needed it to be.” Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Check your horoscope to learn how the stars align for you today Sharpen your mind with today’s Cryptic Crossword Refine your strategy and solve the Daily Sudoku Relax and engage with the Daily Concise Crossword Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n A local stops by for an afternoon drink at the Hillcrest Miners’ Literary Club in Crowsnest Pass is within view of the mountains separating Alberta from B.C.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"UW3TNSAFVFHSJJZDYOPPEBTRPY","additional_properties":{"_id":"NBDXT34ZFFHOZMT4CA5CQAY6TY"},"content":"\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Lee plays music at the Amisk Hotel The authors tipped extra for the music after Lee unwittingly overcharged them by guessing what they ordered.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n At the Alberta Hotel in Pincher Creek Eric Funk tends to his drink as he and Robin Fischbuch reminisce about friends they have lost over the years \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"TYDPIJCEAJHD3CV2UGO43ZNBJA","additional_properties":{"_id":"6OGMS4NRLBDGDP2VWJO4LZ3DJI"},"type":"divider"},{"_id":"BBQEB6422JFCXFLO2OXLQFIBVU","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502145},"content":"The Windsor Hotel Sask.","level":5,"type":"header"},{"_id":"F5RBZNWMORG7LGWY4QD7KY25E4","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502146},"content":"In the fall of 2021 Windsor Hotel owner Kathy Loessl (now Hathman) stood in front of a long table a step away from the bar top All three were eager to share their stories with us battling for airtime while continually circling one name: Frank (Frankie) Streicher.","type":"text"},{"_id":"6Z7XCQEMWNAQFLFOUEIARCR2TQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502147},"content":"Frank was born in Humboldt in 1920 to German immigrants Kathy described him as looking like Jethro Bodine from The Beverly Hillbillies he lived on the corner of a plot of land he didn’t own in a granary with a friend by the name of Tony Becker Frank buried him under the granary’s floorboards and continued to collect his pension for the dead man’s daughter.","type":"text"},{"_id":"3EF6ACOG3RGWHOY4FZXMNCSE2A","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502148},"content":"He didn’t have a particular spot in the bar he had a particular habit: He’d drink two Budweisers – one for him and one for his friend Tony – then pay for them from a sweaty bill he’d pull from his sock the money clipped to the inside by a diaper pin.","type":"text"},{"_id":"SGM7NEE3DZBK7NDY22LX6CXMEU","additional_properties":{"_id":"3PRG5XTBBRGTFAXR36I6YEZ7AA"},"content":"\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n A leather chair shows its age at the Windsor Hotel in Humboldt where Kathy Hathman is the second-generation owner.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"4HYFCMJTGZE4DPP5MM7OCLOGJU","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502149},"content":"Frank was odd: Later in life once said that she’d found a half-dozen muskrat skins rotting away in the bottom shelf of his dresser Kathy told us: Without any training as a mechanic he developed a remarkable touch for the work that’s how you knew it was toast.","type":"text"},{"_id":"3YHK2NZ5QZEHPCJITGM7DLTQVY","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502150},"content":"That gift wasn’t what made him remarkable but it was hard for them to pin down exactly what made Frank so obviously special; when we asked It was more about what Frank represented – a specialness that only became clear upon reflection He seemed less of a person than a nostalgic lamppost lighting their memory a symbol harking back to a time in Humboldt’s history when things seemed to be moving in the right direction.","type":"text"},{"_id":"DCZ7CSCLZ5AEJMJ7OA4JMRAF2I","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502151},"content":"But even if he was gone a woman who had been silently playing the slots nearby leaned over and said to Dale “You telling them about Frank?”","type":"text"},{"_id":"HV4E6U5JPJDLDJFW7ELLKSJGCA","additional_properties":{"_id":"4UZICV572VA2PKD5YJ73NDH5VM"},"type":"divider"},{"_id":"D44P6EXOEFGCLFDWNO2ZC2ZZ6Q","additional_properties":{"_id":"OYZBHJCRB5B3FDECNP5LERVOCA"},"content":"\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Alberta Hotel patrons Robin Fischbuch and Eric Funk had many memories of wilder younger days.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"4CTKNFZAFRF7DBXFCWNJEY7WV4","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502153},"content":"Alberta Hotel Alta.","level":5,"type":"header"},{"_id":"2KZZWZT47BEF3G3ZBUPSWVFXZY","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502154},"content":"We didn’t end up finding many living Franks in the flesh we quickly came to appreciate the rare openness of the small-town bar – something I hadn’t ever experienced growing up in Edmonton We learned the rituals and became familiar with their rhythms: In a small town they’ll usually say “Sure,” with a flat but accepting affect.","type":"text"},{"_id":"AAFSAWOZZFBMRGJNUGUH6CNI5Y","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502155},"content":"That’s how we sat down with Robin Fischbuch and Eric Funk in Pincher Creek They reflected on just how many of their friends had passed and reminisced about how wild they once were you’d work two weeks and you’d owe money,” Robin said “‘Cus of the bar,” Eric added.","type":"text"},{"_id":"7OVEY5VBKFCUJAQNY6PRKH2FTI","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502156},"content":"They regaled each other with their friends’ full names and one or two stories that made up their memories smoking a cigarette with beers all around him That same man made “a million bucks on a children’s story,” as Robin repeated a number of times evidently both proud and surprised by his friend’s literary success.","type":"text"},{"_id":"LASHBKTOCBAT7JKZB5VZVLVQVQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1713379479097},"content":"To them while habitually repeating one phrase again and again like a prayer: “Yup those were some good times.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"7BJ4XTPUVNEOVMAGHIHAWCFWLI","additional_properties":{"_id":"MKYBCO5YTVGZLKAJB2CP3NQFFQ"},"type":"divider"},{"_id":"V6WZDI566NHKFCUCYU76TC7RBU","alignment":"center","referent":{"id":"V6WZDI566NHKFCUCYU76TC7RBU","provider":"","referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"_id":"MAVIPIB46BDHZKRNDH6INYPJVI"},"alignment":"center","caption":"A buffalo head keeps watch at a bar in Patricia he says.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"MO7V72FLBRD7NHVWLNHSTZ6SZQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1715270386550},"content":"The Patricia Hotel Alta.","level":5,"type":"header"},{"_id":"BLZAJ4GK55GVXLYKPVP6BMPG5E","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502159},"content":"Joe Stuart he can wax nostalgic for the old-timers of his day who would spend their mornings doing their farm work They’d have a couple beers then go home for lunch “That generation died.” I called theirs a generation of characters but with one caveat: Every generation is different and every generation dies.","type":"text"},{"_id":"F3I5RKP75REW3K5EOYAVDQD5A4","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502160},"content":"As an example of that particular generation he was too drunk to drive himself home after lunch would often have to step over him on her way to work – she drove the local kids to school in a yellow bus But after Joe dropped him off at home and dawdled a bit before returning to the Patricia we still found living characters on our journey across small-town Prairie bars who gave up his dream of being a comedian in Toronto and moved back to run his parents’ bar the Mannville Hotel; he spent the entire night thinking we were cops an old oiler with an English accent and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Willy who followed him around the bar; he admitted that he put half a million dollars up his nose and left Britain on account of demographic shifts.","type":"text"},{"_id":"DOZL7JHM4FGBVI7BZXF4MAEN4I","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502163},"content":"In the Amisk Hotel in Amisk a man who spent most of the night in a Guy Fieri wig with an earring dangling from his left ear; he played us a couple songs then told us about a physical altercation he had gotten into with a customer that left him with a mangled finger he overcharged us – not because he intended to but because he didn’t care enough to write down what we’d ordered I tipped extra for the music.","type":"text"},{"_id":"ZQLGBDVBTFF3NLJ4X5AJ55E52Q","additional_properties":{"_id":1713368502164},"content":"But none were of that generation of Marvel or Frank or Henry’s uniquely rowdy and oddball ilk Alta.","level":5,"type":"header"},{"_id":"N2CKI5FLKFBLRBSUZHHS3F5BRA","additional_properties":{"_id":1714153192251},"content":"You can’t miss the peaceful scene that’s at the heart of Forestburg’s century-old bar: a huge mural of a couple of horses staring at bargoers as if tempting them to ride up the mountain vista behind them It was made all the more peaceful by how empty the room was when we arrived with just a single occupied table and walls covered in small-town bric-a-brac.","type":"text"},{"_id":"BBAHQ53FDFHNTFHRBYLU4HZMQ4","additional_properties":{"_id":1714153192255},"content":"I asked Manyhorses owner Kara Pearcey about COVID-19 and the effect it had on her bar Then we were interrupted by a young man named Cole announcing that he’d just won $700 on the video lottery terminals or VLTs – whose perpetual whirling sound was the only other thing keeping us company.","type":"text"},{"_id":"NSBIPGKQEVDCBPUG72MXM6Q5QM","additional_properties":{"_id":1714153192253},"content":"Depending on who you ask VLTs are either saviours or villains: the reason a small-town bar was dead or dying or the only way it could pay its electric bills told us his bar would be busy once he got his VLTs installed; Greg Myles told us the first thing he did when he took over the Halkirk Hotel was take the VLTs out.","type":"text"},{"_id":"65THPBLX2VBHVI2XHVPYYKGRHQ","additional_properties":{"_id":1715091838568},"content":"For some bars the VLTs were the only thing keeping the lights on after COVID-19 measures bled them dry or pushed owners into enormous debt But Cole’s boast made us realize that patrons weren’t sitting around bar tops turning the bartender into a priest taking confessional and sharing their stories looking for quick wins and short-order dopamine a button press away.","type":"text"},{"_id":"BBAHQ53FDFHNTFHRBYLU4HZMQ4","additional_properties":{"_id":1714153192255},"content":"VLTs and COVID-related government measures weren’t the only things hurting bars The 2008 indoor-smoking ban was the first in a series of laws that many bar owners said negatively affected them – and where there isn’t smoke It seemed like every third or fourth bar we went to either had suffered a fire or knew of a neighbouring bar and hotel that burned down Rumours about insurance fraud or arson would usually soon follow so when Alberta and Saskatchewan lowered the blood-alcohol limit at which a vehicle could be impounded an already thinning crowd was further thinned.","type":"text"},{"_id":"XRZH4DO3OFE2XHP4FTGXPCX3OY","additional_properties":{"_id":1714153192258},"content":"There was no consensus on what is killing the small-town bar: just a series of small changes that have whittled away at these establishments over the years which largely went unmentioned: demographic shifts the rising costs of running a business.","type":"text"},{"_id":"NJFRKBYKAVHV5KT6OLA2VKPSTE","additional_properties":{"_id":1715182890890},"content":"They all amounted to one thing: The future doesn’t look bright for the small-town bar And when you have no place to create memories or share your stories you have no place to create a collective history and identity.","type":"text"},{"_id":"G4KVCZ6WSBC4TCPJQOOCHS2P5A","additional_properties":{"_id":1715182890891},"content":"Back at the Lucky Loon in Tompkins where locals were bending an elbow and reminiscing about Henry Poegel’s eccentric approach to eating chicken wings ex-manager Dorothy Hundt found herself feeling wistful for a time when this was more routine “But – that’s all changed.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"FDYLFILQTRDK3J7QYYYGO2CCHE","additional_properties":{"_id":1715182890892},"content":"“The kids are getting older “You hope.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"ZEQPIR5BJJD3LDQFNONINIVZFA","additional_properties":{"_id":1715182890893},"content":"Just then and shouted: “Dennis!”","type":"text"},{"_id":"B6AJR7C4YJAYLFCSIP7OQHX7AU","additional_properties":{"_id":1715182890894},"content":"It may seem like nothing but this small gesture is an indication of community everything else will rapidly follow – bones and all.","type":"text"},{"_id":"SUAVLYD2ZFFRNH34CHLDFDRCLQ","referent":{"id":"SUAVLYD2ZFFRNH34CHLDFDRCLQ","provider":"","referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"_id":"RT2AWUK6QZEWXLILD772UWIESM"},"caption":"A patron tries their luck at a VLT at the Mannville Hotel President Donald Trump is that nothing bad happens He joined The Globe in 1991 as an editorial writer; over a career of more than 30 years he has also served as editor of The Financial Post Magazine managing editor of Maclean’s and a TV news anchor on BNN (now BNN-Bloomberg) He returned to The Globe in 2013 to become the paper's editorials editor and remained in that position until 2022 he’s a graduate of Duke University and Yale Law School and has also been a visiting fellow at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Wilson Center in Washington D.C He’s been nominated three times for the National Newspaper Award for editorial writing Adam Radwanski is a policy columnist and feature writer for The Globe and Mail's Report on Business Specializing in solutions-oriented reporting and analysis his current focus is on opportunities and challenges around boosting Canada's economic sovereignty during a time of continental and global tumult His recent work has included serving as the Globe's climate-policy columnist focusing on the transition to a low-carbon economy he was also finalist in 2024 for the SABEW Canada Best in Business award for opinion writing and a co-recipient of the Canadian Journalism Foundation's award for climate solutions reporting He was previously a political feature writer and a member of the Globe's editorial board He made his start in journalism as the founder of Canada's first online political magazine was a columnist and editor at the National Post and was managing editor for online services at Maclean's Andrew Willis is a business columnist for the Report on Business Working in business communications and journalism for three decades from 2010 to 2016 he was senior vice-president of communications for Brookfield Asset Management a leading global alternative asset management company Jameson Berkow is the capital markets reporter for The Globe and Mail to cover the economic implications of cannabis legalization He left in early 2020 to start an entrepreneurship magazine and rejoined The Globe in early 2022 to cover financial regulation and governance for Globe Advisor With more than a decade of experience in financial journalism Jameson was most recently the senior reporter for BNN Bloomberg (formerly the Business News Network) where he led live daily coverage of major business news from the television station’s Toronto headquarters He previously worked as the station’s Western Canada bureau chief based in Calgary where his reporting on pipeline politics and the 2014 oil price crash was nominated for numerous awards.\nHis series of reports from Fort McMurray Alberta in 2015 was a finalist for the RTDNA Dave Rogers Award Jameson was the technology reporter for the Financial Post in Toronto where he created and hosted the FP Tech Desk podcast and authored the weekly Startup Spotlight profile series Jameson got his start in journalism in 2007 as a fact-checker for Toronto Life magazine where his first byline was for a story about two dogs getting married Have you signed up yet for my twice-weekly e-mail newsletter, Carrick on Money? Subscribe here Paul Attfield is a reporter at The Globe and Mail Born in England and raised both there and in France Paul is now a dual citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom He has called Toronto home since moving there from London in 2005 Working in The Globe’s sports department since 2006 Paul started out covering predominantly soccer and rugby he has become more of a general assignment reporter writing about pretty much anything involving a bat Temur Durrani is a national reporter for The Globe and Mail a Globe business podcast about how our failures shape us he was a technology reporter for The Globe’s Report on Business he broke news and wrote extensively about Canadian firms like Shopify turbulence in global cryptocurrency markets A globe-trotting newshound hailing from British Columbia and even the Raptors’ historic run to the NBA final Before joining The Globe in February of 2022 where he reported investigative stories and business features for broadcast and digital audiences he was a staffer at the Winnipeg Free Press A juror since 2021 for the annual Dalton Camp Award which grants young writers with a $10,000 prize for the best essay on the link between media and democracy TV and radio panels to provide news analysis He speaks in six languages fluently or conversationally (guess which ones!) takes his caffeinated beverages very seriously Carrie Tait is a reporter in The Globe and Mail’s Calgary Bureau Her coverage ranges from race relations in her home province of Saskatchewan to the lighthearted topic of skiing cats in Alberta Carrie has reported on the wildfires and floods in Alberta and British Columbia; how Cargill’s meat-processing plant in High River became the site of Canada’s largest single outbreak of COVID-19; and naming trends among Calgary Stampede participants she covered energy for the Globe’s Report on Business and has also reported for the National Post She joined the National Post’s Calgary bureau in 2008 \n\nAfter completing The Globe’s summer reporting program Pippa has written for a number of The Globe’s newsletters She has also been a regular contributor to a personal finance series about the great wealth transfer Pippa was lead editor for The Tyee's What Works series on sustainable enterprises She also reported breaking news for CityNews Vancouver freelanced for Canada’s National Observer and worked as a research associate for the Climate Disaster project She published her findings on the lack of climate change attribution in Ottawa media in J-Source Pippa has reported from The Globe's Vancouver and Toronto bureaus Irene Galea is a business reporter for The Globe and Mail's Report on Business She currently covers the telecommunications industry She has reported from five countries in three languages and her work has earned two awards and an honourable mention from the Society for American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) for best business reporting in Canada reporting on European business and politics from Berlin Irene is also the host of City Space, The Globe and Mail's podcast on the future of cities. Its 2024 season concluded with an interview on housing, immigration and economics with former prime minister Justin Trudeau Irene's writing has been published by the Financial Post National Trust for Canada and the Canadian Museums Association was broadcast nationally by CBC as part of the Absolutely Canadian series Irene holds a Masters of Building History from the University of Cambridge Her dissertation explored the development of 19th-century bank architecture in Toronto She received a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University where she was awarded the University Medal for ranking first in class Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife Anaida Poilievre depart a polling station after voting in Ottawa on Monday Cathal Kelly is a columnist for The Globe and Mail Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions and May in Downtown Halifax is bursting with energy The arts are in full bloom with festivals celebrating comedy Sip and shop your way through local food and craft events and don’t forget to treat Mom for Mother’s Day With patios heating up, Open City festivities there’s no better time to explore Downtown Halifax For a full list of events happening this month, visit our online Events Calendar.  There's no shortage of special days in May May 4: Star Wars Day ("May the 4th" be with you!) ⭐ Open City the annual event that celebrates entrepreneurs and small all across the Halifax peninsula and downtown Dartmouth.  Get out and visit your favourite local businesses and maybe discover a few new ones too See all the participating Downtown Halifax businesses here Learn more about Open City here.  then you're in for a real treat — May is bursting with a lineup of exciting multi-day live events that will keep you entertained all month long May 7-10: Halifax Comedy Festival To May 23: NSCC Nova Fest - see shows in Downtown Halifax here May 30-31: Atlantic Burlesque Festival Looking to try a new experience this month May 1:  Rappel down the Westin with Altitude Zone May 3, 10-11: Working Class Heritage Walking Tour May 13: The Big Sing - Ahead by a Century and cultural pop-ups — May is packed with flavor May 2: Savour Rare and Fine Wine Tasting May 2: 3rd Annual Abundance Thrift Fashion Show & Market May 3-4: Halifax Crafters Spring Market May 15-18: Peggy's Cove Pop-Up at The Prow Gallery May 17: East Coast Cider Festival May 29 - June 1: Taste Asia Food & Culture Festival May 2: Ennis Sisters, Light House Arts Centre May 9: Bush - Loaded: The Greatest Hits Tour, Scotiabank Centre May 12: Steel Panther & Buckcherry, Light House Arts Centre May 20: Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits, Scotiabank Centre May 29: 21 Gun Salute an Explosive Tribute to AC/DC!, Light House Arts Centre May 30: Jann Arden - The Mix Tape Tour, Scotiabank Centre PLUS, Downtown venues like The Carleton, Durty Nelly's Irish Pub, The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse, Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs, Pacifico, The Lower Deck have regular live music to enjoy all year round Make sure to check their web and social sites for up to date information about their live music schedules then make sure you mark these events in your calendar: May 1: Harlem Globetrotters, Scotiabank Centre May 3: Halifax Thunderbirds Semifinals (Game 1) May 4: Kidical Mass Waterfront Ride May 16-18: Bluenose Marathon May ushers in the start of patio season as the weather warms up and the days get longer.  ranging from sidewalk cafes to waterfront beer gardens you can dine al fresco on a different patio every day Check out all the patios in Downtown Halifax here (note that we are still updating this page for the 2025 season) Stay up to date on all things happening downtown Member Account Login Privacy Policy | External Social Media Policy | © 2022 Downtown Halifax Business Commission I say this because of one simple fact: In the warm months ahead visitors are going to flock to Nova Scotia perhaps like never before The math is easy: The Trump effect means Canadians are cancelling trips to the United States as are Europeans uneasy about the political environment there stretch about 40 per cent further north of their border than at home I’m expecting to see lots of rental cars on the highway driven by the dry cleaner from Des Moines or the family living in the shadow of the textile mills of Saint-Quentin For those of you still making travel plans I thought I would send along a quick note because it is the kind of singular place where a short primer would help any visitor First some practical driving tips: Eternal vigilance is important because fog rain and even hail can descend at any moment with placenames that can be perplexingly similar I would also tell you to keep an eye peeled because history is everywhere in this old province in places where you would expect like the graveyards where the famous and infamous and the victims of great tragedies are buried but also where you might not — on the back of a beer can that explains what a boxing rock is You will discover that we are generally friendly people so we will be happy to tell you all about it in the summer of 2025 I would advise against any mention of us being the 51st state since we stopped finding this subject funny some time ago Since it is the columnist’s job to impose his view on others let me tell you about a few places that may or may not make the Doers and Dreamers guide put out by the Tourism Department not because it is the provincial government and business hub but because it has genuine fizz You will see what I mean if you go to Tarek’s Cafe where the chicken taco is a personal lunchtime favorite one of the city’s oldest live-music venues (in the spirit of full disclosure Travellers also need caffeine; I have just the place Espresso 46 is a coffee stall in a converted warehouse building in the city’s ascendant north end has been making espresso since he was just a bambino He moved here in 2017 to be closer to his wife’s family They opened the cafe — which offers Italian pastries and sandwiches along with coffee made from beans he roasts himself — six months later but also a lot of passion,” he told me this week you might find yourself sitting beside an elderly couple from the old country a world-famous children’s book illustrator one of the gaggle of arty photographers who sometimes gather there or a guy in overalls from the construction site down the street “We’re not trying to be a high-end place,” says Pasquinelli nobody comes to Nova Scotia to sit inside and drink coffee no matter how good it is The guidebooks will tell you to head for the Cabot Trail which more than lives up to USA Today’s declaration that it is the best scenic drive in Canada But I’m also partial to the dyke lands of the Annapolis Valley which you might recognize from some of the famed realist painter Alex Colville’s most well-known works it seems like you might hear the moans of the Acadians being herded to the waiting English ships as part of le grand derangement “Be spontaneous” is the best advice for any visitor to Nova Scotia go down the road that could lead who knows where never seen more than a few dozen cars in the parking lot at Cherry Hill Beach accessible only by an unpromising-looking laneway on the province’s South Shore the water is blue and the sand on the empty beach is white and warm I discovered my favourite beach by accident One day I wandered down to the bottom of the LaHave Bakery an intriguing spot that is the epicenter of the historic village it is named after with its rich literary history and deep respect for storytelling opened up through wooden doors to a long wharf that offered a view of the river down which Samuel de Champlain once sailed where the latest buzz-worthy Nova Scotia book and gently used Louise Penny can now be found it was a boatbuilding shop owned by Kevin Wamback — you will know this because the old sign bearing his name hangs over the piano there — who might have built the floor-to-ceiling windows and definitely fashioned the double doors emptying out onto the wharf so boats could be brought in for repairs “When people come in for the first time I can see them taking it all in,” said Andra White co-owner of the store with LaHave Bakery proprietor Gael Watson where the unexpected lurks in the best possible way A Halifax massage therapist who was arrested in March on a charge of sexually assaulting a female client last December faces more allegations involving other women Halifax Regional Police announced the new charges against Sergii Kozub Police said additional complainants came forward after the original charge against Kozub was publicized in March Kozub will be arraigned in Halifax provincial court June 5 on five counts of sexual assault the offences were allegedly committed against five female clients between November 2023 and November 2024 Police did not say where the incidents allegedly happened “Out of respect and concern for the victims’ privacy and well-being no further details will be released,” police said Kozub was arrested on the new charges April 10 and released on an undertaking to police that requires him to remain in Nova Scotia notify HRP of any change in his address or employment and not attend their residences or workplaces The first charge against Kozub involves a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted last Dec 9 during an appointment at Massage Addict on Lacewood Drive in Halifax Kozub was arrested March 5 and released on an undertaking that stipulated that he remain in the province not communicate with the complainant and stay away from her residence He tried to get his release conditions changed to allow him to travel out of country for a vacation but a judge denied his application March 21 The reasons for the judge’s decision cannot be reported because of a publication ban on details of the variation hearing There’s also a publication ban on the identity of the first complainant Kozub was arraigned on the original charge April 16 and is due back in provincial court May 5 for election and plea on that matter police said their investigation into Kozub is ongoing “There is no statute of limitation on sexual assaults,” the news release said “Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault is encouraged to contact police dignity and respect throughout the entire investigative process.” An online biography says Kozub graduated from a massage therapy program in February 2023 and was registered with the Massage Therapists’ Association of Nova Scotia The association has suspended Kozub’s membership pending the outcome of an internal investigation The organization’s website notes massage therapy is not a regulated health profession in Nova Scotia That means that if the association puts limitations on a member or revokes membership the therapist could legally choose to continue working in the province without being a member of the association