Update: Dentist Roger Porter Called Eight Antigonish friends To Buy Syrian Refugee Tailor Maker A $1,000 Sewing Machine
I recently carried a news article that folk in Antigonish conducted a day-long fundraiser to by a Syrian Refugee a commercial sewing machine so this new immigrant to Nova Scotia could open a tailor shop.
I am updating that story with the successful round of fundraising, which was conducted by Antigonish dentist, Roger Porter, himself an immigrant to the town in 1970 – he hails from Newfoundland’s outports.
For a 2017 Notebook archived story on the Tarek Haddad Peace By Chocolates maker, click here for this archived story. For my 2017 Notebook archived story entitled a Syrian Guide To Nova Scotia's History, click here.
Opinion: Who Is Running This Country: PM Trudeau Or A band Of Illegal Protestors?
Proving once again Justin Trudeau is out of his element as a prime minister, we see it first hand here at the Port of Halifax.
Illegal protests shutting down the vital rail transportation links in this country has significantly affected the movement of goods in the Port of Halifax – and it means cargo will be going to our competition, the Port of New York.
This is not a proposition a port city like Halifax can afford to witness – it undermines the economic viability of a port economy worth $1.9 billion to the City of Halifax, the province and even the Atlantic region.
And, if the illegal protests continue under Trudeau’s watch as prime minister, container vessels will inevitably be shunted to New York – bypassing the Halifax terminal operators in the Southend & Northend.
MacPolitics: As Patronage King, Peter MacKay Would Give His Close Chum John MacDonell His Just Rewards
Further to my new journalism focus – a series of news articles on Peter MacKay Patronage Alerts if he becomes prime minister, here is another patronage alert.
You’ve read it here first: John MacDonell will be named as a future senator, should MacKay become PM.
And, that is not entirely, a bad thing to see MacDonell as a Senator.
But such a political development is nonetheless a Just Reward for MacDonell’s significant political activity serving MacKay’s elected office.
MacDonell is an Antigonish lad who went on to become Nova Scotia’s most powerful backroom operator in the ten year long Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
By Andrew Macdonald I’ve made my Feb. 14th, 2020 Part III chit chat Erin O’Toole free to read. In this article, the contestant to head up the federal Conservative party addresses his policy platform - and answers what he means by his campaign slogan: ‘Let’s Take...
Having a beer at the taproom of Unfiltered Brewing on North Street is more a philosophical experience than a good ol ‘ Nova Scotia elbow-bending session.
Think 1950s Minimalism.
The room might not be on the level of a Frank Stella painting.
Still, small, artistic black-and-white photographs dot the walls of the bar. The iron lattice across the top third of the wall feeds the stark motif. The style is well-appointed.
Why Halifax-raised Andrew Machum, 23 Marches Into The Same Big Leagues As Anne Murray and Denny Doherty
With multi-million YouTube views, 23-year old Haligonian raised musician Andrew Machum is on the cusp of international stardom.
Now living in Toronto, and having spent a year at a record production studio in Hollywood, Machum has just released two new songs: Aptly named Winter & Far Away Places – he self-produced and engineered the two singles from his music studio in his Toronto apartment.
It is a new music genre for Machum as he branches out into alternative acapella.
By Andrew Macdonald A Denny Doherty Fun Fact: A 1960s Run-In With Hell’s Angels In Halifax While Cape Breton is famous for its musicians, Halifax’s best-known musical export to America was Denny Doherty. In the 1960s, he was a member of The Mamas and Papas, a band...
Further to the mention of crooner Anne Murray in the Andrew Machum piece, to give you an idea of the news scoops & exclusive news articles we like to tell, here is a story not reported in other media – which ran in The Notebook last June.
By Andrew Macdonald
Anne Murray, who turned 74 on June 20, is going to be around Halifax more often, The Macdonald Notebook understands.
No, the former singer isn’t giving a concert at Scotiabank Centre/Metro Centre, having retired a decade ago from performing. Instead, the Springhill native has set her sights on buying a home in the fair City of Halifax.
MacPolitics: As PM, Patronage King Peter MacKay Would Name Cameron MacKeen To The Judicial Bench
As part of a series of news articles in The Notebook detailing future patronage plums given by Peter MacKay, if he becomes prime minister, I am featuring the plums he would give to his inner circle today and over future editions.
Even a Tory reader of mine said the other day: “Peter MacKay was the Patronage King, during ten years as a Conservative Harper minister.
MacPolitics: Will Tory Workhorse Paula Henderson Replace Mr. Tory, AKA, Jim David?
Word is reaching The Notebook that a staffer close to NS PC Leader Tim Houston might be in a position to replace outgoing PC provincial director, Jim David
As I have recently reported, David has signalled a plan to retire – likely after the next election. As the PC party boss, David has been on the job for 33-years.
By Andrew Macdonald Notebook Message: We Hear Ya Loud & Clear on Typos The other day, one of my many readers contacted me, and this person was concerned about my health. The reader enquired on whether I had fallen off the wagon. The question was over the fact...
MacPolitics: Jim David, AKA Mr. Tory, Signals Impending Retirement As Provincial NS PC Party Director
Jim David has toiled for nine Tory leaders – including some who were premiers of NS – logging a total of 33-years as provincial director of the NS PC party.
I have all the time in the world for folk who get involved in partisan politics, and over the last few years when I would go about writing about David, I would always refer to him as Mr. Tory.
MacPolitics: A Chat With Truro NDP Byelection Challenger Kathleen Kevany
The big political question in Truro’s provincial byelection is whether the NS NDP can retain a seat it has held for three terms under former NDP MLA Lenore Zann.
Because Zann shocked the NDP party and switched to the Liberals, where she is now Grit MP for Cumberland Colchester, the vacancy on the provincial seat has precipitated the March 10th Truro-Bible Hill-Mill Brook-Salmon River byelection.
Allan Kennedy is the Liberal standard-bearer in Truro-Bible Hill-Mill Brook-Salmon River, where the NS Liberal government has called a byelection for March 10th.
The byelection is necessary because the three term NDP MLA Lenore Zann is now the Liberal MP for Cumberland Colchester.
In December, Kennedy, a well-known, long-time educator, won a two person contest in a closely contested nomination meeting, among hundreds of provincial Liberal members.
Truro Liberal Candidate Allan Kennedy’s Antigonish Styled Six Degrees of Separation
Before I spoke to Truro Liberal byelection contestant, Allan Kennedy I did not know him – his campaign to win the Truro seat is reported elsewhere on these pages.
And, when I asked Kennedy where he was born, it became apparent that he has Six Degrees of Nova Scotia styled connections to yours truly at The Notebook.
Patronage King Peter MacKay: As PM Rick Perkins Would Become A Senator
You read it here first.
Should Peter MacKay win the Conservative leadership race, and if he were to become prime minister, it’s a guarantee that he would ‘call’ Top Tory Rick Perkins to the Senate.
With lifelong ambitions to go to the nation’s capital, Perkins would finally get his wish.
The Notebook Has Arrived on NS Political Stage: A Radio Chit Chat With Legendary 50-Year Plus NS Political Journalist Al Hollingsworth
Well a sure sign The Notebook has arrived, the other day Al Hollingsworth invited my on his popular Lower Sackville radio station morning show – 97.5 Community Radio (CIOE-FM) on the dial or on the internet at: www.communityradio.ca
Al is a 50-year Political Journalist of some note – he’s also a noted sports broadcaster, and has been inducted into the NS Sports Hall of Fame.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab Talks On Record Breaking Arrival Of New NS Residents
This week, NS Immigation minister Lena Metlege Diab welcomed a record setting arrival of new immigrants last year.
The province, in 2019, welcomed a record setting 7,580 new permanent residents in 2019 helping to grow the population and strengthen the province’s economy and communities.
The Notebook had a chit chat with Metlege Diab, a second generation Lebanese Haligonian – herself the product of immigrants from Lebanon.
As I have reported in this edition of The Notebook, last year Nova Scotia welcomed a record settintg 7,500 new residents from foreign lands.
Here is a quick break down of those numbers, as prepared by the NS government:
– 1,150 companies are designated under the Atlantic Immigration Program from various sectors – food and hospitality, truck drivers, education, health care, computer programmers and fish and seafood are participating in the pilot, with a 60/40 split between Halifax and other areas of the province.
Back in 2017, The Notebook spoke to significant condo developer Wadih Fares, and we also chatted with Colin Dodds, the former long standing president of St. Mary’s University.
Both Fares and Dodds co-chair the Immigration Advisory Panel, established by NS Premier Stephen McNeil.
To read those two stories from Dec. 2017 and Jan. 2018, here are the weblinks to The Notebook Archives.
The other week, Nicole Babineau, an executive with Lawen Group, gave The Notebook a tour of the just-completed 43-unit Flynn Flats apartment building on Hollis Street. (A link to my story on that tour is embedded at the end of this article.)
For this follow-up story, I chat with Babineau on the other projects the Louie Lawen-headed rental empire is undertaking currently and considering for the future.
Now under construction off Robie Street is The George at 6016 Pepperell Street. It will consist of 172 residences, and will feer close to 10,000 square feet of commercial space. It is expected to open in mid-2021.
There are 51,000 apartments in Halifax Regional Municipality, and Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp says the overall vacancy rate decreased from 1.6 per cent to 1 per cent.
It found the average rent for an apartment increased by 3.8 per cent to $1,113 per month, in its fall study released recently.
“The Halifax CMA vacancy rate continued to trend lower, down to 1 per cent from 1.6 per cent a year ago and average rents increased, as demand outpaced new rental apartment supply yet again in 2019,” says CMHC senior analyst Chris Janes.
The average two- bedroom rent was $1,202 up 3.7 per cent.
Zone 1: Halifax Peninsula South begins at Cornwallis Street, then along Cunard to Robie Street. From Robie the boundary runs south to Quinpool Road, along Quinpool to Connaught Avenue, and then north on Connaught to Chebucto Road to the North West Arm.
Rental Vacancy: 0.4 per cent
One-bedroom: $1,203
Total number of rentals: 9,665
The monkeys are on a shelf, replaced by tartan scarves, hats, bags and bow ties.
It’s all happened since mid-2018 when North End Halifax’s Sherrie and Dale Kearney provided Nova Scotia tartan scarves to a Conservative Party of Canada conference in Halifax. Volunteers wore the distinctive six-and-a-half foot scarves around necks, as belts, and, as more than one volunteer determined, in the traditional Scottish style as a sash over one shoulder.
At that time, the Kearneys operated their business under the name ‘Monkeys and More’, turning out sock puppets, but last year rebranded into MaritimeTartan with a new product line.
A tree cutting contract valued at $171,138 on the next part of the 103 HWY to be constructed between the Ingramport interchange and Hubbards has been awarded to Wagner Forest NS Ltd.
There were a total of four bids for the tree clearing contract received.
N.R. Kenney Logging Ltd., submitted a bid of $283,800; R. Maclean Forestry Ltd., quoted $270,726; Nova Hydroseeding & Erosion Control bid $224,800.
Erin O’Toole spoke with The Macdonald Notebook last weekend while attending the Nova Scotia Tory AGM, and also taking in a visit to his Fall River in-laws. This is Part 3 of Sunday’s 30-minute chat with the federal Conservative leadership hopeful on his policy platform. I ran Part 1 on Monday about his significant history once living in Halifax, and Part 2 in my Thursday edition, about his position on gay marriage and abortion.
Question: Are you a Red Tory — a Progressive Conservative — or aligned with the Canadian Alliance elements of the Conservative party, a right winger in this campaign?
With the tick season soon upon us (some say it is now tick season year round), a neat little video was released last week on YouTube: Tick Bite Prevention.
Featuring a cast of Lunenburg characters with expertise on the issue, the video — less than 15 minutes long — is a toolbox of simple ideas on avoiding ticks and what to do if you do get bitten.
Highly ambitious and quite successful millennial entrepreneur Nic Merry is poised to take his growing storefront Halifax-Sydney Geebo cell phone repair chain to the franchise market.
Speaking from his new two week old storefront on the city’s ultimate pedestrian street, Spring Garden Road, in the Lord Nelson Arcade, he tells me he will roll out a franchise program – and he is eyeing the world market.
MacPolitics: Erin O’Toole: “I’ve always supported gay marriage – Peter MacKay’s Record Is Mixed’
I am rolling out Part II of my Sunday 30-minute chat with federal Conservative leadership hopeful, Erin O’Toole, who spent the weekend at the NS Tory AGM at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel.
I ran Part I about his significant history once living 20-years ago in Halifax, in my Monday edition of The Notebook, and that story also had him fondly remembering his Halifax Hydrostone home.
Today, we talk to O’Toole on his policy platform related to gay marriage and abortion – two issues which defined the 2019 federal vote.
Troubling news is reaching The Notebook that a senior political aide to NS PC leader Tim Houston was overhead saying veteran PC party provincial director Jim David had to be replaced.
In these pages over the last five years, I have always referred to David as Mr. Tory – he has been on the job for 33-years.
One of Houston’s political aides, Tyler Cameron, was overhead at a AGM hospitality suite in Halifax last weekend saying that David had to be replaced – that was Friday night.
MacPolitics: Tim Houston Gives Cold Shoulder to Revered Tory Organizer Janet Fryday Dorey: Her Sin Supporting Leadership Rival Cecil Clarke
Multiple Tory sources, including folk close to NS PC leader Tim Houston, tell The Notebook that ever since Top Tory organizer Janet Fryday Dorey supported Cecil Clarke’s unsuccessful leadership bid, she is getting the extreme cold shoulder from Houston.
Welcome to the club, Janet – Houston goes across the province also trashing The Notebook, whether he is talking to NS Southshore Tories, or Tories in Antigonish.
There were many buttons being pressed as five candidates vying for the leadership of the Conservative Party took to the stage on Saturday morning during the Progressive Conservative Party of NS’ annual general meeting at the Westin Nova Scotian.
It was a scripted event, with each of the five candidates given 15 minutes to strut their stuff and no questions from the assembly afterwards. At the end, the candidates were whooshed off to a media scrum session across the hall, attended by three but skipped by two.
Four of the five, Marilyn Gladhu, Rick Peterson, Rudy Husny, and Erin O’Toole peppered their speeches with references to inclusion, big tents, accepting all people, no matter their faith, sexual preferences, etc. protecting the environment – all the tropes the mainstream media has been espousing when it has tried to define the Conservative Party pre and post-Scheer.
Well, folk that is the end of the Friday morning edition of The Notebook - Stay tuned for our weekend edition, which goes out at 10 a.m. Friday night, tonight!
Well folk, that is the end of the Wednesday edition. See below for previous editions. Scroll back up to see the previous editions of The Notebook .Thanks for reading us!
Well, folk that concludes The Notebook Today – Tuesday edition. Below are contained the Monday, Sunday and Saturday, and previous other editions of The Notebook, which you can access by clicking our Next button.
Topic: Mayor Mike Savage Wants to grow Halifax – But Not At Expense of Rural Nova Scotia
On Sunday, I carried a news article in The Notebook with a headline: Tale Of Two Economies: There’s Halifax & Then There is Rural Nova Scotia.
It was a follow up article to my Saturday exclusive news article reporting the Halifax economy is firing on all factors – robust activity not seen in the city since the Post War Boom Era.
Last year, a record 8, 400 international immigrants moved to Nova Scotia – and the bulk moved to the city, while Halifax also benefited from 1,000 people in rural Nova Scotia moving to Halifax.
Well, folk that is the end of The Notebook Today – Sunday edition. Below are contained the Saturday and earlier in the week day editions, which can be accessed by clicking our Next button. Have a great Sunday!
Well, folk that is the end of our Friday edition – our special exclusive coverage of the NS road building industry. Below are contained articles which moved earlier in the weekday, as well as last weekend, which you can access by clicking the Next button.
Update: Dentist Roger Porter Called Eight Antigonish friends To Buy Syrian Refugee Tailor Maker A $1,000 Sewing Machine
I recently carried a news article that folk in Antigonish conducted a day-long fundraiser to by a Syrian Refugee a commercial sewing machine so this new immigrant to Nova Scotia could open a tailor shop.
I am updating that story with the successful round of fundraising, which was conducted by Antigonish dentist, Roger Porter, himself an immigrant to the town in 1970 – he hails from Newfoundland’s outports.
For a 2017 Notebook archived story on the Tarek Haddad Peace By Chocolates maker, click here for this archived story. For my 2017 Notebook archived story entitled a Syrian Guide To Nova Scotia's History, click here.
Opinion: Who Is Running This Country: PM Trudeau Or A band Of Illegal Protestors?
Proving once again Justin Trudeau is out of his element as a prime minister, we see it first hand here at the Port of Halifax.
Illegal protests shutting down the vital rail transportation links in this country has significantly affected the movement of goods in the Port of Halifax – and it means cargo will be going to our competition, the Port of New York.
This is not a proposition a port city like Halifax can afford to witness – it undermines the economic viability of a port economy worth $1.9 billion to the City of Halifax, the province and even the Atlantic region.
And, if the illegal protests continue under Trudeau’s watch as prime minister, container vessels will inevitably be shunted to New York – bypassing the Halifax terminal operators in the Southend & Northend.
MacPolitics: As Patronage King, Peter MacKay Would Give His Close Chum John MacDonell His Just Rewards
Further to my new journalism focus – a series of news articles on Peter MacKay Patronage Alerts if he becomes prime minister, here is another patronage alert.
You’ve read it here first: John MacDonell will be named as a future senator, should MacKay become PM.
And, that is not entirely, a bad thing to see MacDonell as a Senator.
But such a political development is nonetheless a Just Reward for MacDonell’s significant political activity serving MacKay’s elected office.
MacDonell is an Antigonish lad who went on to become Nova Scotia’s most powerful backroom operator in the ten year long Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
By Andrew Macdonald I’ve made my Feb. 14th, 2020 Part III chit chat Erin O’Toole free to read. In this article, the contestant to head up the federal Conservative party addresses his policy platform - and answers what he means by his campaign slogan: ‘Let’s Take...
Having a beer at the taproom of Unfiltered Brewing on North Street is more a philosophical experience than a good ol ‘ Nova Scotia elbow-bending session.
Think 1950s Minimalism.
The room might not be on the level of a Frank Stella painting.
Still, small, artistic black-and-white photographs dot the walls of the bar. The iron lattice across the top third of the wall feeds the stark motif. The style is well-appointed.
Why Halifax-raised Andrew Machum, 23 Marches Into The Same Big Leagues As Anne Murray and Denny Doherty
With multi-million YouTube views, 23-year old Haligonian raised musician Andrew Machum is on the cusp of international stardom.
Now living in Toronto, and having spent a year at a record production studio in Hollywood, Machum has just released two new songs: Aptly named Winter & Far Away Places – he self-produced and engineered the two singles from his music studio in his Toronto apartment.
It is a new music genre for Machum as he branches out into alternative acapella.
By Andrew Macdonald A Denny Doherty Fun Fact: A 1960s Run-In With Hell’s Angels In Halifax While Cape Breton is famous for its musicians, Halifax’s best-known musical export to America was Denny Doherty. In the 1960s, he was a member of The Mamas and Papas, a band...
Further to the mention of crooner Anne Murray in the Andrew Machum piece, to give you an idea of the news scoops & exclusive news articles we like to tell, here is a story not reported in other media – which ran in The Notebook last June.
By Andrew Macdonald
Anne Murray, who turned 74 on June 20, is going to be around Halifax more often, The Macdonald Notebook understands.
No, the former singer isn’t giving a concert at Scotiabank Centre/Metro Centre, having retired a decade ago from performing. Instead, the Springhill native has set her sights on buying a home in the fair City of Halifax.
MacPolitics: As PM, Patronage King Peter MacKay Would Name Cameron MacKeen To The Judicial Bench
As part of a series of news articles in The Notebook detailing future patronage plums given by Peter MacKay, if he becomes prime minister, I am featuring the plums he would give to his inner circle today and over future editions.
Even a Tory reader of mine said the other day: “Peter MacKay was the Patronage King, during ten years as a Conservative Harper minister.
MacPolitics: Will Tory Workhorse Paula Henderson Replace Mr. Tory, AKA, Jim David?
Word is reaching The Notebook that a staffer close to NS PC Leader Tim Houston might be in a position to replace outgoing PC provincial director, Jim David
As I have recently reported, David has signalled a plan to retire – likely after the next election. As the PC party boss, David has been on the job for 33-years.
By Andrew Macdonald Notebook Message: We Hear Ya Loud & Clear on Typos The other day, one of my many readers contacted me, and this person was concerned about my health. The reader enquired on whether I had fallen off the wagon. The question was over the fact...
MacPolitics: Jim David, AKA Mr. Tory, Signals Impending Retirement As Provincial NS PC Party Director
Jim David has toiled for nine Tory leaders – including some who were premiers of NS – logging a total of 33-years as provincial director of the NS PC party.
I have all the time in the world for folk who get involved in partisan politics, and over the last few years when I would go about writing about David, I would always refer to him as Mr. Tory.
