The Tideline - Halifax Examiner: Recent Episodes
Tara Thorne
The Tideline is an arts and culture podcast hosted by Tara Thorne, headquartered in Halifax, showcasing in-depth interviews with the city's artists, entertainers, and people about town.
After two years and 95 episodes The Tideline is washing up but one last time. It's a bit of a format flip, featuring first guest and perennial mention Kat McCormack in the host chair, talking to Tara about the history of arts coverage in Halifax, the dire straits of the local music venue, the disconnection of the disciplines, and some fun stuff too! Thanks to the team at the Halifax Examiner and engineer/mixer Palmer Jamieson for a fine little podcast. And especially thanks to you for listening.
After two years and 95 episodes The Tideline is washing up but one last time. It's a bit of a format flip, featuring first guest and perennial mention Kat McCormack in the host chair, talking to Tara about the history of arts coverage in Halifax, the dire straits of the local music venue, the disconnection of the disciplines, and some fun stuff too! Thanks to the team at the Halifax Examiner and engineer/mixer Palmer Jamieson for a fine little podcast. And especially thanks to you for listening.
Halifax poet laureate Sue Goyette, an early-run Tideline guest, returns one last time to discuss her new book Monoculture, out in October. Neither poetry nor fiction, its hybrid form imagines a near future where Nova Scotia's last living forest has become a tourist attraction and explores our relationship to trees and the land through the website's comments section. It's ever evocative and poignant and at turns funny, enraged, and in awe of its surroundings. Sue speaks to its creation, her deep relationships to the elements, and the deplorable way they've been treated.
The debut feature of Halifax hyphenate Koumbie — known as an actor for the stage and screen, a writer, and a director — will have its world premiere at the Atlantic International Film Festival on September 22. Bystanders tells the story of a lifelong friend group rocked to its foundation by accusations of sexual misconduct against one of their own. He's their friend, brother, even ex-boyfriend — so now what? As Koumbie puts it, "What do you do when someone you love does something you hate?" A thoughtful conversation that digs into the grey areas of so-called cancel culture, how it is to be an actor directing actors, and what the filmmaker hopes you'll take away from the experience.
The multi-hyphenate Jackie Torrens — we're talking writer, director, actor, braodcaster, icon — stops by ahead of the Atlantic International Film Festival screening of her murder mystery doc Bernie Langille Wants To Know What Happened To Bernie Langille, which had its world premiere at Hot Docs this spring. Between the military, the time (50 years ago), intergenerational family trauma, and advances in science, Torrens has crafted an intriguing and emotional look into one man's search for answers. She speaks to all of this plus the innovation of using miniature sets to recreate the scenes of the day.
The Halifax-based poet and university professor Annick MacAskill has crafted a beautiful (and beautiful to touch thanks to Gaspereau Press) ode to a common but still stigmatized subject matter: pregnancy loss. Shadow Blight considers the pain of pregnancy loss through the classical myth of Niobe, whose grief for her dead children was so monumental she turned to stone. MacAskill speaks to the process of crafting and presenting such intimate, personal thoughts and the lack of popular culture on the subject, among other things. Plus a song from the new Klarka Weinwurm album.
The Halifax Fringe Festival is celebrating its first full in-person festival since 2019, which itself was cut short by hurricane Dorian. And that's not all—after seven festivals, executive director Lee-Anne Poole will head out the revolving door of Halifax arts org leaders and hand the reigns over to Sara Graham. Both are on the show this week to talk entrances and exits, why they do the work that they do, the festival's present and future, and all the details you need to attend. Plus a song from the new surprise Hello Delaware album.
What is there to say that hasn't been said 100 times (probably more) about Halifax's most famous animal? Gus—the de facto mascot of the Museum of Natural History—has been with the museum at its two locations since 1942, after being purchased in Florida for five
American dollars. This weekend there are six chances to celebrate his life and sing happy hatch day to the oldest known living gopher tortoise in the world — Tara burrows into her love for him and his enduring place in the city's tapestry.
To sleep, perchance to dream—in this humidity?! Shakespeare By The Sea's production of Hamlet—its first staged tragedy since 2019— opens on August 5, and director Drew Douris-O'Hara and the man himself, Deivan Steele, stop by the show before rehearsal to chat. Topics include: Climate change's effect on outdoor theatre, the timelessness of Shakespeare's most popular work, the failure of funding models in all times (not just COVID), and the resilience of squirrels.
Author Andre Fenton returns to the show with a new book, The Summer Between Us: It's a complex, empathetic YA story about teens on the cusp of adulthood in the under-examined summer between high school and university, an expansion of the characters explored in his debut, Worthy of Love. He reveals his writing process, how his personal mission to unpack toxic masculinity dovetails with his hero's, and what inspires him to write. Plus the lead track from the brand-new Aquakultre album out this week.
The riotous gay rock band Partner—aka Lucy Niles and Josée Caron—beams into the show from Montreal ahead of its Sunday afternoon show at the Garrison Grounds for Halifax Pride. They dig into what it was like putting out an album in the pandemic, what pride means to them now, the lives they're still changing, and guitar solos. Plus Adam Reid from Halifax Pride returns to chat about this year's event, back to full strength for the first time since 2019. Plus a song from Jazz Fest headliner The Weather Station.
Martha Paynter is a registered nurse who works in abortion and reproductive health care. Her new book ABORTION TO ABOLITION (with illustrations by Julia Hutt) was published the same week Roe v Wade was overturned in the United States—her launch party was the day
after—and couldn't be a more timely introduction to the history of abortion in Canada. She's on the show this week to talk about how different the two countries' laws and health care systems are, why reproductive justice is so tied up with abolition, and various provinces' wins and losses over the years.
Logan Robins (writer/director/composer) and Katherine Norris (star/composer) of the Unnatural Disaster Theatre Company are on the show this week ahead of their provincial tour of HIPPOPOSTUMOUS, Robins' musical exploration of invasive species, colonization, environmentalism, and history. Hear how Pablo Escobar's personal hippos have invaded and are ruining a section of Colombia, why Robins was intrigued to make a show about it, and all the places you can catch it this July. Plus Norris cracks out the banjolele to perform one of the show's songs. And the new jam from Beauts!
After a year's worth of singles and videos, the Halifax duo is finally releasing its first recorded project in the form of FLUTTER, a six-song genre-agnostic EP that's deeply personal and incredibly catchy. Art Ross and Aaron Green return to the show a year later to dish on their music-industry immersion, why Ross' sapphic lyrics strike all kinds of chords, and where you can see them this summer.
Juanita Peters is a former broadcast journalist and current icon who writes, acts, and directs, including her debut feature 8:37 Rebirth. A tough, dark drama about restorative justice and the grey of life, the film is up for four Screen Nova Scotia Awards on Saturday. She stops by to chat about the film's COVID shoot, her time as a reporter, what's in the works—plays! docs!—directing Diggstown, and being named ACTRA's Woman of The Year. Plus, a new song from Corvette Sunset.
Dartmouth's annual theatre extravaganza Stages returns live to Alderney Landing this week for shows, works in progress, solo experiments, and all kinds of wild weirdness. That includes SHAKESPEARE'S TIME MACHINE by The Villains Theatre, a classically irreverent comedy by Dan Bray. Co-director Rebecca Wolfe and performer/producer Colleen MacIsaac are on the show this week to talk post-pandemic life in the theatre, their personal Stages picks, and more. Plus a new song from Good Dear Good!
Five years ago, an idea was born and named after a Barenaked Ladies song about how Halifax sucks. Hello City has been delighting Halifax audiences with its open, supportive, good-natured humour—heck, last summer they were the only pandemic entertainment in town—and friendly, charismatic cast. Liam, Stevey, Gil, Peter, Colin, and Henri—with regrets from Beth and Shahin—stop by for their fourth Tideline appearance (and sole improv-free visit) ahead of this weekend's sold-out anniversary show at the Bus Stop. Find out how they all met,
got started, and keep going.
Singer-songwriter Willie Stratton has wandered a number of genre path, starting with raw acoustic folk as a teen phenom, moving through surf rock as Beach Bait, and landing in a Roy Orbison-style classic country on his new album Drugstore Dreamin'. Ahead of his release show at the Marquee on Friday, he stops in to explain why mixing influences makes
the best art, how he approaches the guitar, and what he likes about his day job as a barber.
Grace McNutt and Linnea Swinimer are the Minute Women, two Haligonians who host a podcast of the same name about Canadian history as seen through a lens of Heritage Minutes (minutewomenpodcast.ca). In a lively celebration of the show's second birthday, they stop by to reveal how curling brought them together in podcast — and now BFF — form, their favourite Minutes, that time they thought Jean Chretien was dead, and the impact their show has had. Plus music from brand-new ECMA winners Hillsburn and Zamani.
For a show (and cult film) out of the mid-1970s, The Rocky Horror Show was ahead of its time in its depiction of queerness and gender and—save a handful of instances—has aged surprisingly well enough to fit into this contemporary time. Neptune Theatre's production opens this week (running through June 26) and director Jeremy Webb and actors Allister MacDonald (Dr. Frank N Furter) and Breton Lalama (Riff Raff) squeeze in a chat between tech run-throughs to dig into how they've updated (and produced) the show with 2022 eyes—namely an intimacy director and active consent between characters—and whether they're prepared for the rare theatre audience that talks back. Plus a new song from Nicole Ariana.
In 1994, Elizabeth Murphy, Patrick Christopher Carter, and Jean Morpurgo staged a now-legendary, free production of Twelfth Night in Point Pleasant Park. On that summer weekend, Shakespeare By The Sea was born, anchoring every summer in Halifax with a slate of Shakespeare and a company-created family show. As its 28th season dawns, Murphy—the surviving co-founder who's been running the company with Jesse MacLean—has decided to step away from SBTS. Her retirement tour stops by the show this week for a deep dive into the company's history, challenges—hurricanes! fires! beetles!—its legacy in the theatre community, and her next act. Plus a new song from Rich Aucoin.
It's been a few years since Halifax had a dedicated queer theatre festival, but that changes April 26 with OutFest. Produced by Page1 Theatre, the event's goal is to "provide a platform for multi-disciplinary artists to create stories that reflect our community, both past and present." Page1's artistic director Isaac Mulè stops by to give an overview of this year's program and chat about the festival's origins in Kitchener ON. Theatre maker Katie Clarke is also on board to dig into Can You Remember How We Got Here, the one-person show they wrote and are starring in (maybe).
Wonder World is the story of Isaac, who leaves a lonely decade in Halifax to return to the conservative Manitoba community—and father—that rejected him. Upon his arrival he's surprised to learn that his hometown is queerer than he ever realized, and he discovers some secrets that reframe his entire life, and possibly his future. Halifax author KR Byggdin stops by to discuss the novel's genesis, how much of it connects to their own life, the prospect of going home as their full self, and how queerness moves even in religious, rural spaces. Plus a brand-new track from Aquakultre.
The Halifax-shot, Yarmouth(ish)-set feature Night Blooms stars Jessica Clement as Carly, a high schooler who becomes embroiled with her best friend's (Alexandra MacDonald) father (Nick Stahl). Clement and writer-director (and fresh Canadian Screen Award winner) Stephanie Joline are Tara's guests this week, digging into the grey areas around relationships, the film's conception and production, and its theatrical bow Friday at Park Lane.
Halifax's reggae queen Jah'Mila is wasting no time getting back on stages around the province. This Friday and Saturday she'll perform the works of her hero Nina Simone with Symphony Nova Scotia, a progression across the past few years of one-off SNS appearances into her own headlining show. She stops by to talk about her life growing up in Jamaica, how she became part of the Halifax scene, the way the pandemic has pushed her to look at her music career, and what she'll be wearing on stage at the Cohn.
Fellow awards show and movies obsessive Lisa Buchanan returns to chat with Tara about the Oscars' full-scale return to pre-pandemic times—including the usual pre-pandemic mess! They dig into this year's attempt to bring in viewers (it will fail, it always fails) and how that decision has alienated a swath of craftspeople, Jane Campion's record-setting nominations—and perhaps award-losing comments—Kristen Stewart and Jessica Chastain, the dominance of international films, and all manner of spoilers. Plus a new song by Keeper E.
Amy Sherman-Palladino is both a thrilling and confounding creator of television—best known for Gilmore Girls, she also helmed a single season of the much-missed Bunheads, and has seen the biggest success of her long television career with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, a 1950s-set series starring Rachel Brosnahan as an upscale New York woman who becomes a (gasp!) stand-up comedian. Tara is joined by her friends Denise Williams and Holly Gordon for a dissection of the just-aired fourth season, including all the Gilmore universe people who showed up (some VERY unwelcome), Susie's sexuality, ASP's blind spots as a writer, production budgets, and that time they were spoiled for Gilmore by the Warner Brothers studio tour. Plus a new song from Don Brownrigg!
Anna Quon is the author of three novels. The first two, Migration and Low, also feature the characters of Joan and Adriana, sisters of a sort. In her third, the brand-new Where the Silver River Ends (Invisible Publishing), Quon centres a wandering Joan in Bratislava, Slovakia, on the heels of a sudden exit from Budapest. There she meets a young Roma man who guides her through the city, and helps her find a job all while dealing with constant racism against his people. It's a story of of mixed-race identity, systemic oppression, family reconciliation, and forging one’s own path. Anna stops by the show to discuss the book's writing—beginning with a summer in Slovakia 30 years back—using sensitivity readers, and what's next.
March 8 marks International Women's Day, and Music Nova Scotia has put together a day of programming topped by a huge live show at the Marquee. Pop artist Izra Fitch is on that lineup, and she stops by the show to talk about her gradual and full acceptance of the genre she loves (and loves to play), the women who inspire her, the evolution of her stage act, and that time she was Tara's student. Plus Dana Beeler from MNS phones in to chat about why this day remains important to a certain sector of its membership.
The sixth annual Halifax Black Film Festival returns with 73 films from more than a dozen countries, screening online from Thursday to Sunday. Lead programmer Joyce Fuerza beams into the show from Montreal to break down this year's program—including the two local filmmakers on the docket—as well as discuss the challenges of putting together film festivals in COVID times, which have also affected filmmaking and film distribution as a whole. Plus a brand-new single from Safeword.
Alex MacAskill, once known as Fishbone Prints and now known as the man behind Midnight Oil Print and Design House, stops by the show to talk about how he ended up in the poster game early in life, his stint in Nashville at the historic Hatch Show Print, how many beer cans he's designed for 2 Crows, how he feels looking at posters on Halifax lampposts, and how his love for cats and birds turned into art. Plus the lead single from a brand-new band, We Should've Been Plumbers.
It's been a pandemic full of learning and experimenting for Gabrielle Papillon, whose latest record Shout is an art-pop celebration of self. That includes building and producing from a home studio, mentoring with producer friends, composing and presenting an original musical (very common), and managing to squeeze in a UK tour in between lockdowns. She stops by to chat about all of this, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and the uncertain future.
Here at the top of February things are normal: It's freezing, the sidewalks are a mess, and Nova Scotia Power wants to the hike the rates. Neil Young threw a big punch at Spotify that actually landed, but was it for the right reasons? (Spoiler alert: LOL.) No one can stop talking about Euphoria, the HBO show that single-handedly revived a dead film stock and set a record for non-pornographic full-frontal male nudity — that also happens to be made by the son of an Oscar-winning producer and director (it's always the hardest-working
ones who succeed). W. Kamau Bell bravely waded into The Discourse with his searing, can't-miss series We Need To Talk About Cosby, and in our only bit of joy news, Mitski finally returns with Laurel Hell (just in time for Bandcamp Friday's triumphant comeback). That's a lot for one week! Plus songs by Mo Kenney, Terra Spencer, and Aquakultre.
This week offers a rare case of Tara chatting with someone she's known and seen play for a long time, but somehow has never interrogated in a journalistic capacity. Norma MacDonald—call her classic country, folk, Americana, singer-songwriter—released her latest album Old Future one month into the pandemic, when we all thought this thing might be short-lived. Multiple cancelled release shows later (she eventually nailed it), she stops by to chat about these past few years, her day job as a nurse, what the (new) future could look like, ASMR, and an odd defense of Hotmail.
Josh MacDonald is a veteran of stage and screen, familiar to Halifax audiences through films and shows like Diggstown, Spinster, Little Grey Bubbles, and Sex & Violence. As a screenwriter his works include the horror film The Corridor and the coming-of-age story Faith, Fraud and Minimum Wage, which was based on his play Halo. He's got his playwright's hat on when he visits the show this week to discuss #IAmTheCheese, his adaptation of Robert Cormier's 1977 bestseller. On January 30, he'll discuss its evolution along with the show's director, Ann-Marie Kerr, as part of Eastern Front Theatre's Early Stages Festival.
In 1996 a movie dropped out of nowhere and revolutionized an exhausted genre—the slasher film—with a wit and self-awareness that's become commonplace now, but at the time was fresh and surprising. That movie was Scream, and over the past 26 (!) years it's spawned multiple sequels, a TV series, countless imitators, a marriage and divorce (Courteney Cox and David Arquette), and made a star out of a young Canadian called Neve Campbell. Musician Trevor Murphy and filmmaker Kevin Hartford are two Scream superfans and they join Tara on the eve of Scream 5's release (January 14) to get into all of this and much, much more.
Art Pays Me's founder Duane Jones kicks off the new year with hope and advice as he details his journey from failed accounting student to founder of Halifax's favourite streetwear line. He beams into the show to chat about his years at NSCAD, what happened when he realized his talent was being exploited, and how he turned that into a brand that demonstrates his personal ethos. Plus he and Tara discuss the series finale of Insecure, and whether Issa's choice was the right one.
It's been a wild and confusing year, but there was always—somehow—art. We take a spin through 2021's interviews and uncover resilience, surprises, and victories even in the face of multiple setbacks, shutdowns, and cancellations. Featuring Erin Costelo, Mo Kenney, the creatives behind The Crevice and Fat Juliet, Zuppa Theatre, Christy Ann Conlin, Deborah Young, Gus the Gopher Tortoise, Jane Kansas, Bretten Hannam, Stephanie Domet, Vinessa Antoine, Steve Murphy, and Hello City.
Amidst an auspicious and downtrodden record week in Nova Scotia, the leaders of its arts sector organizations drop by the show to discuss 2021 in full. Screen Nova Scotia's executive director Laura Mackenzie has perhaps the best news of all—a record year in the film industry. Music Nova Scotia's ED Allegra Swanson returns to report on her first Nova Scotia Music Week, and what musicians will need to make it in 2022 and beyond. And Dr. Cat MacKeigan, brand-new executive director of Theatre Nova Scotia, discusses the highs and (multiple) lows of the year in theatre, which has just been handed another shutdown. It's not fun exactly, but it IS informative!
A dozen local songs to score the holiday season! Some classic, some brand-new, and a handful of originals to spice up your nog. Featuring:
Breagh Isabel, "Winter Wonderland"
Meaghan Smith, "It Snowed"
Terra Spencer, "Melt"
In-Flight Safety, "Last Christmas"
Ria Mae, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
Smaller Hearts, "Christmas At Home"
Waants, "Another Fckn Christmas"
Reeny Smith, "Dear Santa"
Villages, "Writing a Letter (This Christmas)"
Hilary Adams, "Sending Love"
Jenn Grant, "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Quiet Parade w/Dance Movie, "The Christmas Song"
Keeper E has made one of the most auspicious debuts in recent memory — even picking up new artist of the year at Nova Scotia Music Week last months—in the form of The Sparrows All Find Food, seven thoughtful and catchy bedroom pop songs she produced at home in
Sackville, NB, while drifting away from a classical piano degree. The artist also known as Adelle Elwood stops by to chat about finding her real artistic voice, being a child non-prodigy, and her first year navigating the music business (spoiler alert: it's going well).
The young singer-songwriter Braden Lam has already got a pair of EPs under his belt, which he made in between getting a degree at Dal, starting his own business, and falling in love. For the holidays he's dropped a fresh cover of Joni Mitchell's "River," and stops by the
show to talk stalled momentum, the musical ice age caused by the pandemic, why land acknowledgments are important to him, and his slate of December shows.
The legend Steve Murphy will retire from on-air life on November 30, but not before stopping by to chat about the state of journalism past and present, big stories from Nova Scotia's history, and whether he and Tara will go to driver's ed together. The CTV icon loves a
longform interview and is a choice one himself, as you'll hear here.
Plus brand-new holiday music from Catherine MacLellan.
The Halifax indie-rock quartet No, It's Fine has released its second pandemic project—the first being a collection of covers that dropped in March—in the form of the full-length album I Promise. Mastermind Cailen Alcorn Pygott visits The Golden Palm to chat Cancon, words versus melody (and he uses a lot of words), and the influence of the Philadelphia scene on his band. Plus we hear two new tracks and hey did you hear Sarah Harmer is finally coming back to town?!
The trad quartet Villages recorded and put out its debut EP, Upon the
Horizon, in the midst of the pandemic and subsequently had its release
show rescheduled twice. Since then they've already made a full-length
but now is the time—specifically November 13 at the Marquee—to
celebrate those songs. Matt and Travis Ellis—cousins, not brothers, as
Tara learned live on air, after 15 years of writing about them—drop by
to talk about the recording process, the ways they access the Celtic
side of themselves, and how their indie-rock band Mardeen is not
necessarily over.
Music Nova Scotia's annual celebration of artists and industry returns to Truro this week with a new captain at the helm. Allegra Swanson, who became executive director of the organization last year after a lengthy stint with CARAS and the Juno Awards, drops by on her way to the Hub to talk planning for everything, her goals for the org moving forward, and her past life as an opera singer. Plus some jams from multiple nominees Keonté Beals and T. Thomason.
Gather round the campfire for our semi-annual Hello City special, this time all about that fakest but most commercially dominant of holidays, Halloween! Liam Fair, Henri Gielis, Colin McGuire, and Beth Poulsen bring some s'mores and spooky tales to the studio, all made up in the moment. It's rated G for Ghoulish. Stay for the stinger about the best Halloween candy!
Two Tideline favourites, Kat McCormack and Stevey Hunter, are the show's first repeat guests as they swan in to talk Fat Juliet, the Eastern Front Theatre/Shakespeare By The Sea production taking over Alderney Landing until the end of October. Writer/star Stevey and director Kat relay this show's five-year journey, how they threaded in a Billie Eilish moment, the ins and outs of Shakespeare, and the production's emerging team. Plus Kat reflects on a year at the helm of Eastern Front! Plus a new song from No, It's Fine!
The Halifax-set Diggstown, which launched its third season this week on CBC TV, was part of the wave of #NSFilmJobs able to shoot in the COVID-light province over the past year and a half, with the added bonus of being able to employ tonnes of local actors. Star Vinessa Antoine joins the show from Toronto to chat about Marcie Diggs' emotional evolution, what she learned from her years in soaps, and her favourite place to eat in Dartmouth. Creator Floyd Kane — a Dalhousie law grad before he moved into producing, writing, and directing — also beams in to talk about threading the pandemic into the current season, how the team fits so much story into such a short episode run, and what's up with that Fox broadcasting deal that was announced off the top of the year.
Tara's first boss and current life coach Stephanie Domet drops by the show to talk about AfterWords, the literary festival she co-founded with Ryan Turner. After an auspicious live debut in 2019,
AfterWords is now marking its second—and hopefully final—round online with the
likes of Katherena Vermette, Sheila Heti, Ann-Marie MacDonald (marking 25 years of Fall on Your Knees), and many more, all at very reasonable prices with many free events. They also chat about the state of journalism—keep your finger near the volume button for that segment.
The Canadian television multi-hyphenate Sheri Elwood has spent the
past two summers down in Hubbards making Moonshine, a
semi-autobiographical drama about the family that runs a summer resort
and its adjacent venue (aka The Shore Club). In a spare 15 minutes
from creating, co-writing, and directing the second season, she phones
in from the shore to talk about being "repatriated" from American TV
(and the differences of working in it versus here), and why now felt
like the time for a show like this.
Bretten Hannam has been working on Wildhood, in one way or another, for the past decade, pausing to make multiple short films and their debut feature, North Mountain (2015), an experience that took years itself to recover from. Wildhood is the story of a Two-Spirit Mi'kmaq teen who sets off to find the mother he thought was dead, a gorgeously rendered, gentle journey of self-discovery. In 2020 it became the first feature film to shoot in Nova Scotia in a post-COVID world. Brett stopped in on their way to the film's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival to chat challenges, considerations of community, and opening FIN tonight.
The married duo at the core of Dog Day also makes movies together: First there was Lowlife, then there was The Crescent, and now there is Tin Can, an eerily prescient drama about a world consumed by a plague and a scientist trapped in a life-suspension chamber (it's the titular role). Nancy Urich and Seth A. Smith venture into the city for the first time since pre-covid to talk building an entire universe, premiering online, their plans for their live FIN premiere later this month (spoiler alert: fries), and lots more. Plus TWO Dog Day tracks.
Halifax legend Jane Kansas drops by the show to talk about her new Fringe play My Heart Attack, which covers a quadruple bypass, six hospital visits, multiple infections, and nearly 170 days total in hospital. Like her previous shows — My Funeral: a dry run and My Dead Dad: stories from the front yard — My Heart Attack promises to be a unique mix of sharp observation, startling nuance, and sneaky tears. The Halifax Fringe Festival runs September 2-12; Tara makes some good show recommendations based solely on who's involved.
Rachel Reid — aka Rachelle Goguen — has been writing the Game Changers series out of Bedford for the past three years. Role Model, the fifth book in her gay hockey player anthology, dropped earlier this month and is about a closeted player who's traded to Ottawa (the horror) and is gently moved toward coming out by a new co-worker, while also grappling with a Me Too fallout courtesy of his former best friend. Rachelle — once upon a time Tara's co-worker — stops by the show to chat secret projects, romance, the politics of sports, and the series' real-life parallels.
The Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan will return to Nova Scotia for the first time since the pandemic began to play the second Tatafest in Tatamagouche at the end of August. She dials up the show from Baie-Egmont, PEI to talk about how she's spent her time in the relative safe haven of her home province — it included slowing down and decking some musical halls — and how excited she is to get back to live shows, among many other things.
Tara and Palmer take a field trip to the Museum of Natural History to visit with Halifax's unofficial mascot, Gus the Gopher Tortoise, who turns 99 this weekend. We chat with the Museum team that cares for him, join him for his daily walk, and discuss how a random $5 purchase in the 1940s has become a venerable and beloved symbol of the museum.
It's been a wild two COVID years for Halifax Pride—in 2020 the festival snuck in its event during a restriction-light July; for 2021 the event moved back a whole month in the hopes of clearing the bar fully. Things will look a little different—smaller—again this year on the Garrison Grounds, but the lineup is robust, diverse, and all-ages. Executive director Adam Reid stops by for a year-by-year comparison and how the pandemic pushed the organization toward a more "thoughtful" event. Plus a brand-new song from Tara's former students in Kids Losing Sleep!
The actor and playwright Jacob Sampson drops by the studio this week ahead of opening night for Shakespeare By The Sea's mainstage show of the season, A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's his first time on stage—in this case the grounds of Point Pleasant Park—in over two years! He chats about easing back into the rehearsal hall, this season's motto—choose kindness—and the journey of the award-winning play he wrote for himself, Chasing Champions, a little-known story about the Nova Scotian boxer Sam Langford. Plus: a sweet song from the new Dusted album.
Dana Beeler leads the rock band Hello Delaware, has her hands in all facets of the music industry—just last week she returned to Music Nova Scotia after a year at CKDU—and hates the patriarchy. She and Tara are from the same town (Lantz, it's the worst) so after some rage-tinged nostalgia about adolescence they'll get into post-pandemic perspectives about music, old attitudes—that would be the many all-male music festivals on the docket this summer—and what Nova Scotia Music Week could look like in November.
One of the nation's most accomplished and celebrated opera singers headlines the Halifax Jazz Festival on Friday, performing a repertoire that celebrates Black women vocalists like Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan. Measha Brueggergosman beams in from rural Nova Scotia to talk about the heart attack that set her back in 2019, the Measha Jazz record she put out (for free!) in 2020—we all know what else happened that year—and how hope and endurance keep her moving forward. Plus we'll hear her take on "Strange Fruit," take a look at the Jazz Fest's other virtual offerings, celebrate the return of Hello City, and more.
Nova Scotia's summer theatre season was a complete wash in 2020, but through multiple waves, lockdowns, reopening phases, and restriction changes, the 2021 season is about to launch. Jesse MacLean stops by the studio to talk about Shakespeare By The Sea's unique programming approach to this summer (plus an update on the Chester Playhouse fire); Ship's Company Theatre's Richie Wilcox discusses the challenges of planning a season out of an indoor space; and Ken Schwartz talks Two Planks and a Passion's truncated/triumphant 30th season. (They all share thoughts on the provincial government's pandemic support for the arts, too.)
Plus a new jam from Hello Delaware!
Art Ross and Aaron Green comprise Pillow Fite, a brand-new duo that's managed to make waves with just one song and one show (in a pandemic no less!). An authentic mix of queerness, feelings, tasteful guitars, and empathetic arrangements has made the duo one to watch. They're in studio to talk about this grand accident of a band, its approach and aesthetics, and to tell possibly the only interesting "how we named our band story" ever.
The former leader of Glory Glory has spent the past few years building out his name as a go-to producer in the city while also meticulously crafting his debut solo project, waants—thoughtful and reflective pop music with lots of room for dancing. With his debut album Love U Forever due out mid-July, Warren offers a preview of its offerings, the long period of questioning his life choices from which it emerged, and what his favourite Vampire Weekend record is (it's Tara's too).
Breagh Isabel — you likely know her as Breagh Mackinnon, formerly of folk-pop trio Port Cities — has reemerged with a new skill set and a sweet new single in "Girlfriends," which looks back at her coming-of-age as a queer person in Cape Breton. She'll gently pop into the show to talk about her new direction as an artist, why she moved on from Port Cities (spoiler alert: it's totally cool), and what her future plans are once the pandemic ends.
The East Coast Music Awards, originally scheduled for May in Sydney, have been reimagined as a four-day online festival kicking off June 10. Multiple nominees Rich Aucoin and Like A Motorcycle drop by the show to talk about putting out long-gestating projects into the covid abyss, their hopes and dreams for fall shows (and Halifax release shows), and exactly how they're going to appear on Thursday's big awards gala. Hit ecma.com for the full schedule.
Jonathan Torrens is an ideas guy — he's an actor, writer, director, producer, podcast host, production rental house owner, and professional nice person who's been graciously and usually hilariously gracing Canadian television (and film and computer) screens since 1989. He pops in from Truro to talk about his t-shirt campaign in support of entertainment workers, his new homegrown series Vollies, and offers up some of his past experiences as a working performer in Canada and Hollywood. It's a gentle, kind, funny trip.
Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor is a family drama that finds a young trans woman (Maya V. Henry in her film debut) returning to her rural Nova Scotia town for the funeral of her mother. Her arrival shakes up her father John Andrew (Robb Wells) and sister Tammy (Amy Groening), already grieving one loss and now facing another, more unexpected one, and learning that it’s also a victory. Shelley Thompson drops by the show to talk about writing and directing her first feature—which also has the dubious distinction of being the first film made in Nova Scotia in pandemic times—premiering at the Inside Out festival in Toronto this week.
Terra Spencer is a singer-songwriter in Windsor, Nova Scotia — or what she calls “the fringes of the Annapolis Valley.” In the fall of 2020 she released her debut album Chasing Rabbits — even squeaked in one of the year’s few record release shows at The Carleton, which found a fan in Ron Sexsmith, among many others. She drops by the show to talk about pursuing songwriting late in life, the summer tour she has planned celebrating the music of 1971, and how her day job as a funeral director has changed in the pandemic and affected her artistic practice in a meaningful way.
Dartmouth's Dark Side chronicler talks wrestling, Hobo with a Shotgun, and the cult classic Siege.
The Dartmouth filmmaker Jason Eisener made an international splash in 2007 with the grindhouse short Hobo With A Shotgun, which became a feature starring Rutger Hauer in 2011. He's the perfect guy to have helped unearth the 1981 Halifax cult classic Siege, directed by a pre-Salter Street Films Paul Donovan, about a group of fascist vigilantes attempting to take over the city during a (real) police strike. Vice (and Crave in Canada) has just launched the third season of Eisener and Evan Husney's acclaimed Dark Side of the Ring wrestling series, which Eisener had to direct over skype for the past year. He's got lots to chat about.
The first delivery of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 has arrived in Nova Scotia today. This afternoon, a technical briefing for reporters was provided by Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed, Nova Scotia's deputy chief medical officer of health; Dr. Shelly McNeil, chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, and senior medical director, COVID-19 Planning and Implementation - Nova Scotia Health Authority; and Gary O'Toole, senior director, Population and Public Health - Nova Scotia Health Authority. Listen to the briefing here.
Philip Moscovitch asked readers for questions about the Halifax Examiner, and he put those questions to Tim Bousquet, Suzanne Rent, Zane Woodford, Yvette d'Entremont, Joan Baxter, and Iris the Amazing.
The Atlantic bubble's success has extended to the Nova Scotia film industry, one of the first production centres in the world to get back on track, with more lining up in 2021. Tara chats with Screen Nova Scotia's executive director, Laura Mackenzie, about the province's current achievements and future potential; and filmmaker Steph Joline, who's worked on multiple productions throughout these pandemic times.
Poet and activist Rebecca Thomas stops by the show to discuss her debut book of poetry, I Place You Into the Fire, a meditation on navigating life and love. She talks about the embarrassment of interrogating her feelings, her time as poet laureate of Halifax, and her experience as an advocate for Indigenous justice. She reads a couple poems too. Plus: The Bitter End?!
Globe and Mail reporter Dakshana Bascaramurty is Tara’s guest this week, discussing how she came to document a Halifax man’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, and need to create a legacy for his young son in This Is Not the End of Me. Bascaramurty’s first book describes, in intimate detail, Layton Reid’s diagnosis, treatment, and the steps he and his family took to extend his life. Plus: It’s holiday market time already.
What happens when you make a new record then the guy who founded the band decides to leave? Hillsburn knows—Rosanna and Clare stop by to tell Tara all about it, spin their brand-new single, and let folks know what to expect from this week's run of sellouts at the Carleton, their first shows in a long time. Plus: A Halloween lament.
Tara catches up with hip hop artist Lance Sampson aka Aquakultre, who's been poised for a big year since winning CBC Searchlight in 2018, only to find his release date smack in the middle of quarantine. Last week he put out another album, with DJ Uncle Fester, a rap effort featuring the cream of the Sipset crew (and reaching for Tara's Simpsons-loving heart by calling it Bleeding Gums Murphy). He talks about both journeys as well as the concept of paying it forward, musically and in life. Plus: Neptune Theatre becomes a cinema for a run of the Nova Scotia feature Splinters.
For the pilot episode, Tara talks to Eastern Front Theatre's brand-new artistic director, Kathryn McCormack, about the state of the stage arts in Nova Scotia, Kat's plans for the company (cue the digital noises), and what the future could look like on stage. Plus this week's big art party, a new track by Sorrey, and gearing up for Miranda July's Kajillionaire.
My apologies for the audio quality; I'm not trained in audio, and I'm learning as I go along with substandard equipment. But I think this interview is important all the same.
Saturday, young people in Halifax's Black community led a conversation at the North Library about Scot Wortley's report on street checks and the effects of street checks on them. After the conversation, there was a march from the library to the police station (and then on to Province House) demanding an end to street checks. At the police station, El Jones read her poem, "Stop Street Checks."
This week we interview Darious Mirshahi, an organizer with the Service Employees International Union, about his organization’s efforts to unionize Halifax janitors, baristas, and other front line workers. Also, we discuss the Halifax Examiner’s successful court action to unseal the search warrant that led to the arrest of a 19-year-old man in the FOIPOP security failure case.
This week we speak with Emma Halpern, the executive director of of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia. Also, we shoot the shit about sewage, inform you about the lack of information, and blow smoke about cannabis legalization.
This week, we speak with Dal law prof Adelina Iftene about the sad state of health care in Canada's prisons. Also, privacy breaches, the convention centre, and laughing about dead people.
Urban studies prof Heywood Sanders, an expert on convention centres, weighs in on ours. Plus, we talk about the “not great news” data breach of the FOIPOP web portal.
Lawyer Ben Perryman walks us through the fight to stop Abdoul Abdi’s deportation. Plus, we discuss why the judge who said “clearly a drunk can consent” was cleared of bias and misconduct, and the fine you could face if you buy pot from the kid next door.
Reporter Justin Brake talks about his decision to follow Muskrat Falls demonstrators onto private property. Plus, we discuss the janitors at Founders Square, complaints about regional councillors, backyard chickens and an arts hub on the waterfront.
In this dance-free episode, Hasmeet Singh Chandok explains what’s really happening with Maritime Bhangra. Plus, we discuss aioTV and its connection to Innovacorp, and the decision to delay the deportation hearing for Abdoul Abdi.
Dalhousie prof Carrie Dawson explains academic freedom and why you should care about it. Plus, we talk about sexual harassment in the restaurant industry and why the EMCAs pulled a nomination for Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Journalist Linda Pannozzo describes what’s in the air near the Abercrombie pulp mill. Plus, we discuss the convention centre, racism reports at schools and Abdoul Abdi
Tim talks with Global News political reporter Marieke Walsh, who's leaving Halifax for a new job with iPolitics in Toronto. And we discuss federal money for local news, councillor complaints and drinking on Argyle Street.
Joan Jessome, ex-president of the NSGEU, talks strategy as the NSTU battles the province. Plus, we talk about FHRITP and Abdoul Abdi.
This week, we talk with Examiner transportation columnist Erica Butler about all things transit. Also: Linda Pannozzo’s latest investigative piece about plans to pipe effluent from the Northern Pulp Mill into the Northumberland Strait, and Jennifer Henderson on the rights of people with mental disabilities.
This week, reporter Rick Grant talks about his investigation into the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia rail line, and what the deteriorating condition of the tracks means for the proposed Sydney container terminal.
This week we speak with Joan Baxter, author of The Mill: Fifty Years of Pulp and Protest, about the Northern Pulp Mill, provincial forestry practices, the threat to the Northumberland Strait lobster fishery, and what it’s like having a big corporation shut down your book signing. Also: what’s with the Jamie Baillie resignation?
Maybe you’re for the Willow Tree development, maybe you’re not. But it’s complicated so we asked reporters Jayde Tynes and Jacob Boon to explain what’s happening. Plus, we talk about Amazon, tolls on the Cobequid Pass and Abdoul Abdi.
Michael Pickup talks about his role as Nova Scotia’s auditor general and whether he overstepped his authority. Plus, we look at the case of Abdoul Abdi and the Nova Scotians named in the Paradise Papers.
Reporter Jennifer Henderson explains why Nova Scotia Power and Emera are facing questions about conflicts of interest. Plus, we talk about Lucasville and Hammonds Plains, flags at crosswalks, and a former firefighter’s allegations of systemic gender discrimination.
This week we learned the NSLC will have a monopoly on weed sales when cannabis is legalized next year. Carman Pirie, a partner in a marketing firm, shares his opinions. Plus, we talk about the Integrated Mobility Plan.
Economics prof Moshe Lander explains all of the parts that need to fit together for a CFL franchise to work in Halifax. Spoiler: Tim has doubts. Plus, we discuss the new convention centre and the Halifax Explosion.
Tim talks with Graham Steele about his new book and secrets of political life. Plus, Maggie Rahr discusses mental health services as this week’s guest host.
What is Engage Nova Scotia? Tim asks Danny Graham, chief engagement officer, why we should care. Plus, we talk about street checks and what Tim's been watching in court.
There are 23,000 people in Nova Scotia who self-identify as Metis. Saint Mary’s prof Darryl Leroux explains why he questions those claims. Plus, we talk about Jamie Baillie, Legacy Rooms and Matt Whitman.
Broadcaster, writer and activist Desmond Cole describes why he hid from police during his last visit to Halifax, then went to confront them. Plus, we talk about Dalhousie student Masuma Khan and #whitefragility, and the emails from council about the Cornwallis statue.
It's episode 134. We talk about Dalhousie students partying hard, that blasted launchpad gets a mention, and Darrell Dexter gets blunt on weed. All that and a special guest host makes her Examineradio Debut.
The Energy East pipeline is cancelled. Stephen Thomas, energy campaign co-ordinator with the Ecology Action Centre, explains why you should care. Plus, Tim and Terra talk about The Dome, El Jones and Sidney Crosby.
Ron Dalton went to prison for a crime that didn’t happen. He shares his story and talks about his work with Innocence Canada. Plus, Tim and Terra discuss the latest in the IWK CEO spending scandal and the new panel set up to determine the fate of the Cornwallis status.
Tim and VICE editor Justin Ling chat about journalism and what reporters should be doing. Plus, Tim and Terra discuss IKEA, naming rights for streets, land titles and Sidney Crosby.
Scholar and former athlete Bruce Kidd explains the challenges in sports today — and there are more than you think. Plus, Tim and Terra discuss the IWK CEO spending scandal and Amazon’s chances of coming to Halifax.
Tim chats with Dave Bush, an editor at Rank and File, about labour news in Canada. Maggie Rahr joins Terra for Week in Review to talk about slavery, restorative justice and, yes, porn diets.
The talented Maggie Rahr fills in while Tim is away. She chats with Diana Lewis about the growing interest in the Indigenous Studies minor program at Dalhousie University. Plus Maggie and Terra talk about abortion doulas, David Hendsbee, Peter Kelly and the Oxford Theatre.
Halifax Examiner contributor Stephen Kimber explains the latest development in the Lyle Howe saga. Tim and Terra talk Proud Boys, Bob Bjerke and Peter Kelly.
Why does the largest union in Nova Scotia hate the Public Services Sustainability Act? NSGEU president Jason MacLean explains. Halifax poet laureate Rebecca Thomas co-hosts this week's show.
Historian Afua Cooper is on the show this week to talk about racism, slavery and Lord Dalhousie, the university’s namesake. She’s the James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies at Dal. She has a few things to say about the statues coming down. Plus, Tim and Terra discuss the latest rally at the Cornwallis statue, the Bloomfield property and the Chronicle Herald.
The 18-month strike at the Chronicle Herald . For some, it’s a return to the newsroom, though with a lighter paycheque and longer work week. For others, it’s a loss of a job. Tim and Terra dissect this news, of course, in our Week in Review segment. We also have Valerie Dufour on the show to talk about the bitter she experienced at the Journal de Montreal. Like with the Herald strike, those workers launched a news site while the Journal de Montreal kept publishing. And when it was over, only one-quarter of the workers returned to the paper. Her advice to HTU members as they prepare to return to the Herald newsroom on Tuesday? Do yoga.
As a crippling 18-month strike drags on, the Nova Scotia government has to try to strike an agreement between the Chronicle Herald and its unionized workers. This industrial inquiry, the first in Nova Scotia in nearly a quarter century, gives the mediator, , sweeping powers, including the ability to subpoena the Chronicle Herald's financial records. On this episode we speak to Danny Cavanagh, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, about this inquiry, and what it might mean for the striking workers. We heard back from the province after we recorded this episode. A spokesperson sent us describing the terms of reference for the inquiry commission. There’s a media blackout in place during the mediation process, which means the two sides are not supposed to speak to reporters. No matter what happens, though, we’ll learn the outcome. In an email to Examineradio, Marla MacInnis, a government spokesperson, said: "Ideally, a voluntary agreement can be reached during mediation this weekend. Otherwise, the Industrial Inquiry Commission will review the causes of the ongoing labour dispute through a public hearing and make recommendations."
This week, we're joined by Halifax Examiner transportation columnist , who digs into the province's of more than $65m in funding to twin portions of Highway 103, as well as the of Africville Park. Plus, 2,000 images from famed photographer Annie Liebovitz remain shuttered (see what I did there?) in a warehouse somewhere in Halifax, after the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board that local random rich dude patron of the arts Harley Mintz can't claim a $20m tax break after donating them to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Tim promises to get to the bottom of it while couchsurfing in Liebovitz's Manhattan loft later this fall.
This past weekend saw in Cornwallis Park to remove the statue of Halifax founder and all-around shitheel . The statue remains, which is a disappointment, but the dialogue continues. Bear in mind, however, that even New Orleans, the biggest city in one of the most pro-slavery states has finally of Confederate generals. And history still exists. Nobody's pretending the Civil War never happened. This week, we speak to , City Councillor for District 7, the district that encompasses Cornwallis Park and arguably the councillor most committed to repairing the relationship with Halifax's Indigenous communities. Also, the city gears up for its first Pride parade since the debacle of the organization's last October. Several groups have boycotted or are organizing alternative events. Chronicle Herald CEO Mark Lever deigned to be by the Bay Street scribes at the Financial Post. He claims that his decimated, borderline literate newsroom is uniquely positioned to "tell stories that no one else can, and no one else is equipped to." Finally, Tim bitches about the Nova Centre for once.
It's been two weeks since the self-proclaimed disrupted an Indigenous ceremony at the statue of Edward Cornwallis in downtown Halifax. In the meantime, the rocky relationship between the city and its Indigenous citizens has had a significantly higher profile, culminating in a on Saturday July 15 to finally have the offending statue removed. Joining Tim is Chief Grizzly Mamma, and Indigenous activists Trish MacIntyre and Rebecca Moore.
Halifax rarely makes the national news unless it's for something reprehensible, whether that's , , or . Now, the city has a local chapter of the pro-European, anti-masturbation to call their very own. Also, Globe & Mail writer and editor, as well as host of the popular podcast , joins us to discuss trying to discover Nova Scotia's Black history . Turns out it's easier said than done.
This week, we speak with , the publisher and editor of the about why her region needed a new journalistic voice. Plus, we unveil a special for readers! This interview dovetails from a discussion about what effect the proposed would have on Atlantic journalism, especially seeing as how one union-busting company now effectively owns the entire newspaper industry in three of the four provinces. Plus, , don't you have some gardening to do or something?
This week we speak with of the Halifax Wanderers Supporters Group about the viability of professional soccer in Halifax and of a "pop-up" stadium on the Wanderer's Grounds. Premier McNeil The Coast's on the treatment of former Liberal staffer Michelle Coffin, claiming he didn't even bother to read it. Stay classy, Premier! Plus, Councillor David Hendsbee has to remind people -- twice -- on National Aboriginal Day, that the date also marks the arrival of noted Edward Cornwallis. Stay classy, Hendsbee! Finally, City Council from city staff about the prospect of introducing a living wage to all municipal staff as well as any employees contracted to work for the city. Councillors estimate it may still take another two years to implement, meaning many people who keep this city running will still be making poverty-level wages until possibly 2019. Stay classy, council!
Three years ago, then-Liberal Director of Communications Kyley Harris pleaded guilty to domestic assault and was . Not for the assault itself, but for not mentioning the charges to his boss, Premier Stephen McNeil. As the 2017 election approached, communiqués from the Liberal Party once again featured Harris's name in his old role. People were surprised, but perhaps none so more than the woman he abused, his former partner and Liberal staffer Michelle Coffin. After three years of silence, Coffin has come forward to reclaim her story. In a in The Coast, Coffin explains to journalist the cold shoulders from members of her own party, and the Liberals' insistence that they consulted womens' groups from across the province who agreed unanimously that Harris should be rehired. We speak to Rahr about the story on this week's episode.
Already a on the west coast, Fentanyl, perhaps more than other opioids, is posed to become a in Nova Scotia, believes Vice News's . Plus, there are underway in the wake of the Nova Scotia provincial election: Chester-St. Margaret's, Waverley-Fall River-Beaverbank, and Guysborough–Eastern Shore–Tracadie. Finally, North Dartmouth comes to grips with in their community.
Nova Scotia had an election, eh? The end result is the Liberals have a few fewer seats, the PCs and NDP have a few more, and Gary Burrill no longer has to holler questions from the press gallery. One striking upset was the defeat of cabinet minister Joanne Bernard at the hands of NDP newcomer . We speak to her about the campaign, her Dartmouth North district, and her hopes for the next legislative session.
Three candidates, three debates. Why are we having an election, again? Former NDP Minister of Finance and CBC commentator joins us for the hour to unpack the parties, the policies, the leaders, and why, quite frankly, it probably doesn't matter if you vote in this election or not. I mean, did you know that season three of is on Netflix? Also, there's some weird stuff going on in Premier McNeil's home riding regarding property swaps.
The Halifax Examiner's isn't dead or moving to Toronto or anything. She's only going as far as Wolfville. Still, her insights into Nova Scotia's justice system has been a welcome addition to our site's news coverage. She joins us to talk about the inner workings of the court process, and discusses some of the being played out in Halifax courts. Plus, it's election time, which means it's time to parade candidates' for all to see.
The HRM community of Harrietsfield has been dealing with toxic drinking water for close to a decade-and-a-half, and three successive provincial governments have failed to address the issue. Some residents are with the help of and their Executive Director, . We speak with her for today's episode. Plus, our own Tim Bousquet won gold at last week's for his series. , the news site run by the striking Chronicle Herald employees, also made an impressive showing, while the CH itself was largely ignored. Finally, you try feeding yourself on $4.65/day. The provincial government thinks you can do it without issue, since that's what they allocate to feed folks in provincially-run seniors' homes.
It's in Nova Scotia, and the Liberal government reeled out of the gate like a drunk student leaving The Dome at last call. First was the botched rollout itself, followed by head-scratching comments about supporting women candidates in 'meaningful' ridings. Add to that the rehiring of convicted abuser as their Director of Communications, and it really seems like a party fumbling about, and definitely unsure how to communicate to a certain 51% of voters. Fortunately, is gearing up to engage women voters as the province lurches toward the May 30 election.
, Halifax's poet laureate, woke City Council with an electrifying poem she read in Chambers titled "Not Perfect." The subsequent meeting saw a resolution passed to of renaming Cornwallis Street and removing the Cornwallis statue in, uh, Cornwallis Park. Also, the Liberal government released a designed to on a stronger Nova Scotia while also announcing plans to set up an in the wilds of the Bayer's Lake Industrial Park. They also made a commitment to move the current Service Nova Scotia outlet to Sable Island.
This week we chat with noted historian and labour activist , who recently donated an incredibly thorough archive of material focusing on African Nova Scotian history to Saint Mary's University. Also, we dig into the Liberal government's ongoing across the province as the likelihood of an election looms, and more is aimed at Gregory Lenehan, the judge who acquitted Halifax cabbie Bassam Al-Rawi of charges of sexual assault.
This week we speak with , the former president of Cape Breton University and current NDP candidate in Halifax-Armdale for the upcoming provincial election. In a wide-ranging conversation, he talks about his tenure at CBU, his frustration with the Liberal government's lack of commitment for education funding, and his stance on fracking and the effects of climate change. Also, ? Is that seriously a thing? At least Mark Lever and co will have 28 more newspapers to screw with once they've finished running the Chronicle Herald into the ground. Hey - readers of the St. John's Telegram, Charlottetown Guardian, Cape Breton Post, Post-Aux-Basques Gulf News and 24 others? Your paper may soon look like .
Victor Syperek has been a driving force in Halifax's bar, restaurant, and music scene for close to a quarter-century. For the first time, though, he'll be saying goodbye to Argyle Street and consolidating his interests north on Gottingen. Syperek claims his iconic Economy Shoe Shop has lost close to $2-million since construction on the Nova Centre began five years ago. Also, with nearly $65-million pledged by the provincial government in spending announcements over the past few weeks, you can smell an election call in the air.
Former Halifax journalist has grown into one of the few dedicated environmental reporters in Canada. Now based in Toronto and writing for Vice News, Beaumont has recently covered stories such as the in South Dakota, the Arctic's , and the ridiculous number of permanent across the country. Also, the and its many exemptions limps toward a final approval in 2018, how will it look for Haligonians to , and Matt Whitman's weekly dose of .
Last week saw a featuring Halifax police chief Jean-Michel Blais. The forum, held at the North Branch library, was meant to address recently-released data that showed that Black Haligonians are subject to street checks at three times the rate of whites. While the intention of the meeting was ostensibly to mend fences, it went quickly off the rails - to put it mildly. Former poet laureate and Halifax Examiner columnist El Jones was at the meeting and will join us in a bit to discuss what went down. Plus, the Cornwallis Baptist church will soon become the , city council pushed 's proposed 20-storey apartment building (aka. 'the student craphole of the future') to a public hearing, and city staff recommending public consultation on campaign finance reform.
This week we speak with Simon Greenland-Smith and Cameron Lowe of , a student lobby group working to get Dalhousie University to stop investing in fossil fuels. Also, Bassam al-Rawi was but now he's , Stephen McNeil takes a in the polls, Canso could be the , and the New York Times hits Halifax to report on basketball and our
This week we present a rebroadcast of our roundtable on the state of Atlantic Canadian journalism, featuring Tim, Terra Tailleur, and . This was recorded live at The Marquee in Halifax on Friday March 3, 2017. Also, no other story has so thoroughly dominated the news this past week as the ongoing controversy around the acquittal of former Halifax cabbie Bassam al-Rawi. Developments in this have been occurring daily, and we bring you up to speed.
Haligonians are outraged at this week's decision by a Nova Scotia judge to acquit a cab driver of . Judge Gregory Lenehan determined that the Crown hadn't provided sufficient proof of lack of consent, despite the testimony of an expert witness and the fact that the alleged victim was unconscious at the time of the incident. We speak with Susan Wilson, a program coordinator with the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre about the incident in question, the low rates of reporting of sexual assaults, and why the miniscule conviction rate is discouraging victims from reporting. In other news, former premier , teachers plan to remain pissed for the next four years, and cops still can't track down their missing evidence. The Avalon Centre Report referenced by Wilson is available , while Robyn Doolittle's groundbreaking series, Unfounded, can be read .
Snow and teachers. Teachers and snow. Did anything else happen since I left Halifax? This week we speak to former NDP Finance Minister and current CBC pundit about the Liberal government's strategy to impose a contract on Nova Scotia's teachers. Will it succeed? Will any Liberal MLAs cross the floor? What effect will this have on other public sector unions in the province? And, how will this impact the next election?
The province is mulling over options to rebuild or refurbish the dilapidated , and certainly isn't ruling out a P3 (public-private partnership) option. This, despite the that resulted in the province paying way more for 39 schools across the province than it should have. Also, the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union reinstates work-to-rule ahead of its February 8 strike vote, the Sipekne’katik First Nation scores a against the province, and the looks to sit down with its striking workers for the first time in months.
On what is one of the longest episodes in Examineradio's history, we devote almost the entire show to marking the auspicious occasion of the one-year anniversary of the Chronicle Herald strike. First we speak with veteran arts reporter about the cautious optimism surrounding the current round of negotiations between the union and management and the dearth of in-depth arts criticism in Halifax. We also speak with two experts in the newspaper industry and modern journalism: Robert McChesney is a professor of communication at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He's a co-founder of , an advocacy group that "...fights to ... curb runaway media consolidation, protect press freedom, and ensure diverse voices are represented in our media." He's also the co-author of . is a media business analyst at the in Tampa, FL. Finally, CKDU's was at the demonstration in front of the Chronicle Herald offices this past Monday. She spoke with some of the striking workers as well as politicians and supporters.
On this week's episode we speak with editor and former provincial NDP candidate about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to Halifax this week. Why was the municipal government involved - and how much did it cost City Hall? Would there have been this level of involvement if Mayor Mike Savage wasn't a former Liberal MP? Also at the town hall-styled event was NSCC journalism instructor . After she tweeted a photo of her and her son waiting to get in, Ezra Levant used the photo to prove how mainstream media are in the Liberals' back pockets. Or some such nonsense. I mean, it's Ezra, right?
This week we speak with Mount Allison sociologist and Halifax Examiner columnist, academic and activist about the public discussion surrounding the triple murder-suicide that rocked Halifax two weeks ago. Many media outlets were quick to seize on Lionel Desmond's military service and concluded that PTSD explained the horrific violence he committed without looking into other explanations. Also, the CBC showing that African Nova Scotians are three times more likely to be pulled over by Halifax Regional Police. Recent data from the provincial arm of the RCMP shows similar ratios. The response from those in charge? Kind of a big collective shrug.
This week we speak with regular Examineradio guest . Formerly a local journalist with Allnovascotia and the Daily News, Paul later went on to become the Chronicle Herald's Ottawa bureau correspondent. He now covers American politics in Washington, DC for Buzzfeed. The 2016 presidential election was his introduction to the world of US-styled elections. He may never be the same. Also, Upper Big Tracadie was rocked by a four-person murder-suicide. Plus, why is a large-scale stadium developer registering to do business in Halifax?
This week we speak with author . An ex-pat Australian, Gill cut his teeth as a journalist with the Vancouver Sun in the 1980s before moving on to produce documentaries for the CBC. In his 2016 book, , Gill explores the decimation of the newspaper industry — including right here in Halifax. He also looks at new journalistic ventures and enterprises around the world and wonders which of them might be a good fit in Canada. Also, we look at how the currently sitting half-built on Argyle Street could've ended up in a better-suited location where the Cogswell Interchange sits.
The concept of a has been picking up steam across North America, with more than 140 cities in the United States having adopted such a measure. Currently, New Westminister, BC, is the only Canadian city to have passed such legislation, but the movement is gaining support across the country. In Halifax, organizations like the are leading the charge to have this adopted by city council. This week we speak with , President of CUPE Local 108, of the Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council about the practicalities of passing such an ordinance. We also talk to of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The progressive think tank this week released a thorough on living wage ordinances using Halifax and Antigonish as test markets. Finally, we look to the city of Lincoln, Nebraska - a city approximately the size of Halifax - which, in 2004, implemented a living wage ordinance for all city employees and all employees of firms with municipal contracts. We speak with Terry Werner, the former city council person responsible for introducing the bill, about the fight to get it passed and the resounding success it's had.
This week with speak with , the Atlantic Assignment Editor for , about the province's - and the city's - slow march toward genuine accessibility for all its citizens. Also, the McNeil government and the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union agree to head back to the bargaining table just as the public sector union roundly reject the latest offer from the province. Plus, to be honoured on the $10 bill and Peter Kelly's probation continues.
This week saw a meltdown at Province House of near epic proportions with Education Minister Karen Casey locking Nova Scotia students out of their own classrooms while insisting that teachers had to show up to teach ... I dunno, the dust motes? Joining us to try to make sense of this colossal clusterfuck is former cabinet minister and current CBC pundit .
This week's episode revolves almost exclusively around the labour dispute between the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union and the provincial government. It seems as though the McNeil administration expected the teachers to roll over and take the first offer (and then the second), but the teachers have made it clear that imposed working conditions have put quality education on the backburner in favour of data entry and standardized testing. We speak with , President of the NSTU, , a community activist who works with Nova Scotia Parents for Teachers, and , a 17-year-old high school student who's organizing her fellow students in support of the teachers. The Halifax Examiner reached out to Education Minister Karen Casey to appear on this week's episode, but her office declined to be interviewed.
On this, episode 89 of Examineradio, we speak with long-time Halifax journalist and journalism professor . Over a wide-ranging interview, we look at the very real possibility that Halifax could become the largest city in Canada without a daily newspaper of record. Also, Halifax's has its opening date yet again, throwing dozens of conventions into chaos. This week also saw the city's 12th homicide of 2016, and we wait to see if the newly-elected council's commitment to a living wage ordinance has any teeth.
This week we speak with , veteran journalist and publisher of the , a rabblerousing alternative Halifax newspaper in the 60s and 70s. Basically, imagine a hippier Tim Bousquet. He currently publishes the blog . Also, Nova Scotia teachers agree to head back to the bargaining table in advance of their December 3 walkout date, Halifax is rocked by another series of shootings, and the city decides to level Citadel Hill and silence the Noon Gun just as soon as they finish filling the harbour with rubble.
This week is a special Halifax Examiner episode. We look back on some of the highlights of nearly two years' worth of this podcast and radio show, including interviews with former MPs and Peter Stoffer, Toronto Star journalist and lawyer-turned-author . Plus, Tim reviews the performance of Halifax's newest city councillors at their first council meeting, a rare sighting of the ever-elusive MP , and they elected a bag of south of the border.
This week we speak to Senator-Designate , recently appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Dr. Bernard has a long history of social research and activism, and was the first tenure-track African Nova Scotian professor at Dalhousie. Also, Halifax is in mourning over the loss of close to 700 children in what police describe as "." And Linda Mosher lost her ballot recount bid after accepting some from The Dawgfather aka. Halifax's Deep Throat. Seriously, you can't make this shit up sometimes.
is a lifelong journalist with stops at the Montreal Gazette and the Halifax Daily News. He's just released his debut novel, , a love letter to the craft of journalism. Also, Nova Scotia teachers are pissed and 200% of them have voted to strike, apparently.
is an economist with and a Visiting Research Fellow at Harvard University. In a , he trashes the Nova Scotia Liberal government's neoliberal austerity agenda. He argues that cutting government spending when the private sector is also belt-tightening is exactly the opposite of responsible economic stewardship. Also, we speak with four of the newly-elected city councillors: , , and . Each talks about how they're gearing up for joining council, how they hope to address a living-wage ordinance, and which councillor they'd most like to job shadow.
This week, Tim, Russell and The Coast's City Editor go through the October 15 municipal election district by district. Who are the fresh new faces to watch for on city council? Will some long-standing councillors be unseated? Does Lil MacPherson have a shot at defeating current mayor Mike Savage? Who's making weird references to leopard-print intimate apparel? Tune in to this special, expanded Examineradio to find out!
Halifax Examiner Saturday columnist speaks with , a noted History professor at the University of Waterloo and a member of the Order of Canada. Walker is the co-author of a recent (auto)biography of iconic black activist and lawyer Burnley "Rocky" Jones. Also, The Borg Ship has stalled out on Argyle Street, with an announcement this week that the beleaguered convention centre won't meet its projected April 1 opening date. This is the third deadline that developer Joe Ramia has missed. Ships may start here, but apparently conventions don't.
This week, Examineradio played host to an open forum for the candidates vying to replace Jennifer Watts in District 8. On hand were , , Patrick Murphy, , and Irvine Carvery. The seventh candidate, Martin Farrell, was not in attendance. The candidates fielded questions from Dalhousie professor , our own Tim Bousquet as well as members of the community about issues ranging from the seemingly unfettered development in the North End, food scarcity, council and city staff ethics, and youth retention in the HRM.
This week we speak to , current CEO of the and former Editor-In-Chief at the Globe & Mail about the current state of journalism in Canada and what can be done to stop the hemmorhaging of jobs and revenue. Also, of the Council of Canadians joins us to talk about developments at the on the Shubenacadie River. Plus, Citadel Hill isn't worthless, wilderness lands have value if they have a corporate name attached, and you can now fax bomb threats in when you need to get out of that chemistry test, apparently.
This week, alongside a number of international military warships and a crap-ton (sorry, crap-tonne) of cruise ships, the docked in the Halifax harbour, fresh off a tour in Nunavut. Examineradio contributor took a tour of the boat and spoke with some of its crew members. On Thursday, approximately 60 protesters gathered at Province House to demonstrate against natural gas caverns on the banks of the Shubenacadie River by Alton Gas. Also, prospective councillors propose term limits for all City Council, Chronicle Herald shuts down the , and the Yarmouth Ferry is - unsurprisingly - expected to fall well short of its optimum numbers.
is a successful television producer and Juno Award-winning musician. Now he's throwing his hat in the ring as the Progressive Conservative candidate for Halifax Chebucto in the next provincial election. Find out what Front Line Fever means and why he thinks it wouldn't take many Tims to make a dozen. Also, city council the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes area from development. The only councilors who didn't vote in favour of the preservation either did so out of spite or for free dim sum.
This week we speak with Rhiannon Makohoniuk, the Dalhousie Student Union's Vice-President Internal, about the university's not to fully fund the nascent Sexual Assault Hotline. The university claims that, based on a report they won't release to the public, the partial funding they offered was adequate. But who needs safe students when you can send ? (Okay, technically it's Cambridge.) Also, we speak with newly-elected MLA for Halifax-Needham, about her solid victory in this week's by-election. And the Halifax Typographical Union is claiming that the Chronicle Herald is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to . Finally, Sobeys? Yeah, still kinda being dicks. Halifax Examiner contributor co-hosts.
This week we speak with inclusivity activist about his short film, , his attempts to make the businesses in his neighbourhood more accessible, and why he's known as the Asshole With A Shovel. Also, the city releases its sunshine list. No surprise that former CAO Richard Butts is tops when it comes to remuneration. Dalhousie University ponies up nearly $300k to send a handful Nova Scotia 'elite' (including billionaire seafood magnate John Risley, referred to by the Globe & Mail as '') to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to hone their skills at ... I dunno, entrepreneurship? Innovation? Innovaneurship? Finally, the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA) has called for a boycott of the Sobeys grocery store chain, unless the corporation admits it has an ongoing problem with racial discrimination. (Ed. note: on the podcast we incorrectly mentioned Dalhousie University President Richard Florizone as being on Halifax's sunshine list. He's not, obviously. We also referred to John Risley as a 'fatcat.' He's actually neither a feline nor overweight. Our apologies.)
had a storied journalism career here in Halifax, with stints at the Daily News, Metro Halifax and allnovascotia.com before lighting out to Ottawa to cover national politics with the Chronicle Herald and, later, Buzzfeed Canada. Next month he moves to Washington, DC, to cover the U.S. politics and the presidential election. We speak about his coverage of the last month, his attempts to wrap his head around the American electoral system and the future of journalism in Halifax. Also, a Metro Transit driver has been after allegations of child luring surface.
This week we speak with -winning journalist about his new novel, . Set on the South Shore, the book is a gritty thriller packed full of Nova Scotia-isms. Also, totally racist Amherst councillor swears he's not racist. Doesn't everybody occasionally drop the n-word in casual conversation now and then? Plus, the World Trade & Convention Centre is sold to a private developer, and not a single Atlantic Liberal politician has anything to say about the lack of Supreme Court justices from this part of the country. Wonder why?
This week we feature a roundtable between Halifax Examiner editor Tim Bousquet and candidates and . In it, they discuss seniors' issues, housing, the Film Tax Credit and the future of the Bloomfield site. Also in the news, lawyers representing Westlock County, AB, have no fewer than 12 breaches of contract/breaches of county rules during Peter Kelly's brief tenure there as CAO. It still seems apparent that the taxpayers in Westlock will be left holding the bag while Kelly counts down the weeks until his probationary period in Charlottetown expires. Plus, ceases operations after wrapping it itself in $5.6-million in provincial funding. Also, . Halifax has 'em.
After losing her long-held south-end seat by fewer than 100 votes, former city councillor is gearing up to challenge incumbent Waye Mason in this October's municipal election. What's inspiring her run and what does she think the city should be doing better? Plus, by "explaining" that North Preston is some sort of gang-riddled wild west frontier. Many in the African Nova Scotian community are justifiably outraged. Finally, former Chronicle Herald columnist scanned the want ads and found a $100k+ gig. The qualifications included, 'Must have at least two 'Ls' in your first name.' Funny how that happens when you get to write the job description yourself.
Kevin Kindred is a local human rights lawyer and spokesperson for the . He speaks about the push to find LGBTQ+ refugees safe harbour in Halifax and beyond and also the drive to encourage the Trudeau government to make this resettlement pilot program a permanent part of Canada's foreign policy. Also, we dig as deep as we can into the development proposals surrounding the , and where exactly the nearest Wal-Mart will be from it. Plus, VIA Rail has apparently floated a plan to introduce commuter rail to Halifax, but the City's mum on the details.
This week we speak with journalist and community organizer about her nascent campaign to replace Gloria McClusky in Dartmouth's District 5. Also, despite for Peter Kelly's contract as CAO to be nullified while he's still in his probationary period, city council chose to ignore the allegations of fiscal malfeasance at his previous job in Alberta. Finally, fatcat junior hockey players demand to be paid more than $35/week. Probably because they hate Canada.
This week we speak with Jonathen Brigley of about that organization's push for mandatory landlord licensing in Halifax. Also, Peter Kelly's cross-Canada tour of fiscal malfeasance continues. After and mismanagement of a here in Halifax, he's now accused of money-wise in the Alberta town of Westlock. His journey has now landed him in Charlottetown, where he plans a Kid Rock concert on the town's monorail.
This week we chat with Gridlock Festival main guy about the creation of a brand new music fest in Halifax. We hope it's successful, but the lack of fiddle music and Keith's doesn't fill us with hope. Still, if , craft beer and food trucks appeal to you, you have one week to . Plus, cops. And drugs. And money. We know where the former are (hauled in front of the Board of Commissioners). The other two? Good question.
In the 1990s, the Nova Scotia government entered into a public-private partnership in order to facilitate the construction of 39 schools across the province. Over the intervening years the total cost of those leases has been about a billion dollars. Over the next few years the 20-year leases are expiring and the province is faced with some tough choices: extend the leases another five years, walk away from the schools, or buy them outright for about $230 million. This week we speak with , Nova Scotia Director of the . The CCPA recently released an of the P3 process for building schools and concluded it was a flawed process and that much of that billion dollars served to line the bank accounts of a handful of private developers with no real value to taxpayers. Also, a man died in police custody last week, but the HRP aren't disclosing his name or any of the circumstances surrounding his death. And the public consultation on the preservation of Blue Mountain/Birch Cove Lakes? .
This week we speak with , Vice Canada's Parliamentary Reporter. In the past month he's written a highlighting the RCMP's ability to intercept cellphone calls and messages, and how they're using the courts to try to continue taking advantage of this technology. Plus, the Halifax Examiner turns two this week, which means it's starting to stand on its own two feet, though it still occasionally craps its pants and cries out for its bottle. Finally, in answering Jennifer Watts's , hockey superstar announced his candidacy for District 4 at a press conference on the deck of the .
This week we speak with local arts writer about the dearth of arts criticism in Nova Scotia and how fewer arts organizations are taking risks with their content for fear of alienating their corporate benefactors. Ron writes extensively about arts and culture at . Also, Russell reads an actual daily newspaper written by actual journalists and muses about how such a model could work in Halifax.
This week, in our ongoing series profiling the ever-more-crowded slate of candidates for the municipal election, we speak with District 8 contender . We also chat with Halifax Typographical Union veep Frank Campbell about the between the Chronicle Herald and the striking workers. Plus, city council debates to the transit system, a provincial election may be on the horizon, and Russell unveils plans to make Examineradio more listener-friendly.
This week we speak to restaurateur and mayoral candidate . As the person who almost singlehandedly brought the concept of local and sustainable to the Halifax food industry and made it profitable, she talks about transferring that ethos to a civic level. Plus, Scott Ferguson is finally exiled to the cultural backwater that is lower Manhattan, Reg Rankin begins his farewell tour, and announces that she's prepared to challenge Waye Mason to take back her seat in District 7.
This week we speak with community activist about the project. The Bridging Bus aims to help develop community projects throughout the city and to bring the organizers to Washington, DC, to experience grassroots organizing firsthand. Also, gets a reboot, Aidan Cromwell's is overturned and Linda Mosher grabs anything not nailed down. Seriously, have you lost a bike lately? It might be in her backyard.