Reality Bites

NSCAD faculty strike ends, classes resume

Students are happy but teachers and admin are still “so far apart.”

by Caora McKenna on March 14, 2019 at 4:00AM

N SCAD's 95 faculty and librarians ended their strike on Tuesday after just over a week on the picket line. This came as a great relief of the university's MFA students who staged a sit-in demanding the administration agree to negotiating an to end the strike.

Introducing The Coast Cannabis Sessions

Get your questions answered at this day of pot-focused education, April 6 in downtown Halifax.

by Ashley Corbett on March 7, 2019 at 1:00AM

The Coast always likes raising awareness around things people consume for fun, whether that’s in print—the annual Beer Guide comes out this week—or IRL with events like Burger Week, Halifax Oyster Festival and the Drink Atlantic cocktail festival. And now that recreational weed is officially on the menu, we are continuing our tradition of enjoyable education by starting an event called The Coast Cannabis Sessions.

NSCAD faculty and librarians on strike

Students and labour union supporters rallied outside of NSCAD’s Granville campus today

by Caora McKenna on March 1, 2019 at 3:13PM

NSCAD art history student Elizabeth Simmons was at the rally. The almost one-to-one relationship with faculty means a lot to her and she’s happy to support them but notes that for graduating students it’s much more difficult.

Common Roots Urban Farm awaits approval of their new home

City council will vote on next steps for the community garden.

by Caora McKenna on February 25, 2019 at 6:56PM

Business developer for Common Roots, Jayme Melrose says the location is ideal because it means the garden gets to stay on the peninsula while moving closer to a large portion of its users who are new Canadians living in Fairview area. The new location would also be adjacent to the ISANS community garden, and Common Roots’ new partner organization MetroWorks.

Halifax activists get face-to-face apology from Trudeau

“The work starts now.”

by Caora McKenna on February 22, 2019 at 3:04PM

Halifax leaders who spoke up about a racist incident at Parliament this month got their apology in a big way yesterday. Prime minister Justin Trudeau met with Halifax activists Trayvone Clayton and Kate Macdonald in a closed-door meeting at the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth yesterday.

Taxi changes aim to fix gender disparity and safety issues

Halifax regional council passes big changes for the taxi industry

by Caora McKenna on February 14, 2019 at 4:53PM

lights because my ladies are going to take forever to make a living.” The push for more women in the industry comes in response to safety concerns: 66 percent of respondents to the citizen survey said they would prefer an all-female taxi service because passengers would feel safer.

Halifax activists speak out against racism in Ottawa

Halifax’s Black community rallies behind youth speaking up about a racial profiling incident in Ottawa

by Caora McKenna on February 8, 2019 at 11:16PM

A coalition of Black, human rights, labour and youth organizations held a press conference at the George Dixon Community Centre in Uniacke Square, Halifax today. Kate Macdonald, Marcus James and Trayvone Clayton spoke to their community and media about an incident of racial profiling that happened on Parliament Hill this past week.

Less than half of metro housing's pest control budget spent on hiring pest control companies

The rest goes to on-site staff, labour and supplies, says spokesperson.

by Sandra C. Hannebohm on January 22, 2019 at 5:31PM

Metro Regional Housing Authority’s pest control budget for its HRM properties is $1.4 million, but for the past two years, less than half of that amount was spent on hiring pest control companies. The 2018 federal budget gave the provincial government an additional $12.4 million for improving housing properties, but pest control budgets aren’t specifically mentioned.

Students call for Dalhousie interim president to resign

Peter MacKinnon’s views on race, diversity and student politics condemned as offensive during the interim prez’s welcome reception.

by Ashley Corbett on January 22, 2019 at 12:03AM

have for university leadership.” An accompanying list of demands includes the immediate removal of MacKinnon as interim president; a public apology from the university and student union for the harm done in hiring MacKinnon; a statement of recognition from those responsible for hiring the interim president; and mandatory anti-oppression training for administration.

More people are suing Halifax

Legal action against city hall has shot up 25 percent over the past two years.

by Jacob Boon on January 18, 2019 at 11:45AM

Luckily, the city's lawyers aren't paid by the hour. Halifax's legal director John Traves told council this week that his department has seen a 25 percent increase in litigation against the municipality since 2016/17.

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