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Everyone still hates the Liberals’ budget. Three months after introducing unwelcome austerity cuts, the Nova Scotian budget is still being criticized by local non-profit groups. The Deafness Advocacy Association Nova Scotia will cease to exist within a year, says the group’s executive director—all because of losing a $34,200 annual grant from the province. Community Services minister Joanne Bernard tells The Canadian Press the cuts only affected nine out of the more than 70 groups receiving funding, and those impacted weren’t being held accountable for how they spent the public money. “We didn’t have much information about what they did,” Bernard states. “We don’t know if the work that they were doing was working.”
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Too many deadbeat dads are skipping out on child support payments, says Nova Scotia’s Premier. Stephen McNeil tells CBC the courts need to tighten up the rules to make enforcing payments easier even if the parent is out of province. This comes after a Nova Scotian judge issued a warrant for the arrest of developer Vrege Armoyan—who skipped the country after being found guilty of failing to pay $1.7 million in child and spousal support. Vrege—brother and former partner of real estate mogul George Armoyan—also owes the province nearly $400,000 in fines. Friends of friends have said Vrege Armoyan is currently living aboard his yacht, somewhere just outside of Beirut. If you or a loved one see Vrege Armoyan, please contact the authorities immediately. Currently there’s more than $60 million of child support unpaid in Nova Scotia. Of those who owe money, 65 percent are not in the province.
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Halifax Water has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing hundreds of locked-out workers. The new contract will include a “hybrid pension proposal” containing elements of the most recent offers from both sides, according to a press release from HW. Members of CUPE locals 227 and 1431 will vote on the agreement this week, potentially ending the labour disruption on its 56th day. Local president Heather Corkum tells the Herald the union is strongly in favour of the proposal. “We firmly believe that this is the best deal we could achieve.”
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What are Nova Scotia’s top exports? We’ll give you a hint; it’s not young people moving west for work. City editor Jacob Boon went digging around trade data from Industry Canada to find out what sells the most from this province—and why Australia buys so much of our art.
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This isn’t your usual Halifax tunnel story. It seems London Underground has opened up a (fake) subway station outside of Granville Mall. The impromptu Wee Britain is courtesy of currently-filming movie The Healer, which is transforming parts of downtown Halifax into proper English streetscapes. From IMBD:
“Alec's life in England is falling apart. His electrical repair shop, ‘The Healer’ is going out of business and his gambling debts are catching up with him. Unexpectedly a long lost uncle turns up offering to wipe the slate clean—on one condition—that he move to Nova Scotia for one year. He accepts begrudgingly, and soon finds himself living in the tiny rural town of Lunenburg. To earn a living he sets up an electrical repair services, also called ‘The Healer.’ The townspeople turn out in droves, but not for electrical repairs. They are convinced he is a healer of physical ailments. Unbeknownst to Alec, the whole town has been waiting for him—for a very long time.”
The sinister-sounding family comedy stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Camilla Luddington—both of whom you can tell are true English actors because he’s previously played Prince William and she’s previously played Kate Middleton. Also starring in the film are Lost’s Jorge Garcia, Game of Thrones’ Jonathan Pryce and Ned the dog. No word on a release date, but as an international co-production hopefully The Healer won’t be for British eyes only.
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Only six people overdosed and had to be taken to the hospital this year at Evolve, making it one of the festival’s safest years ever.
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Gottingen Street’s main source of meat sweats is moving to a new, bigger space come September. The expansion brings the Frédéric Tandy’s Ratinaud French Cuisine to 2157 Gottingen Street—the Vogue Building—which will offer a two-storey space, and 20 seats the glorious Kitchen Table, which will run four nights a week.
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Craig Flinn scored a restaurant hattrick when he announced he’d be opening Temple Bar, Cocktails and Kitchen this fall, a bar-forward drinkery and eatery at 1533 Barrington Street, the former J&R Grimsmo space. Seasonally inspired iconic cocktails, craft beers, wine by-the-glass and creative farm-to-table shareable snacks are on the horizon, and the city is considering renaming this block the Craig Flinn District.
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And, to complete our food and drink news hattrick—it looks likeLot Six opened to industry folks last night, showing off the mastery of chef Olivia Bolano and bartender Jeff Van Horne and the return of that sweet atrium.
