Information Morning Nova Scotia

Mushrooms and bacteria have potential to change the way we deal with one of the most common pollutants. A Dalhousie University grad student has been researching a new way to recycle plastic. Meet Dina Rogers, and find out how she's taking her idea all the way to Berlin. 

The provincial election is in full swing! As candidates fan out across the province, we'll be checking in regularly with our political watchers. Today, we ask reporter Brian Flinn and political science professor Erin Crandall about the snap election, campaign messaging, and more.

With a provincial election coming up, the HRM Business Improvement Districts have released a statement calling on the province to be more engaged with their concerns. Sue Uteck from the Spring Garden Area Business Association tells us about this. 

After a last minute shakeup in leadership at Nova Scotia Health last week, our health care columnist Mary Jane Hampton gives us a brief history of governance in Nova Scotia's health care system.

Last week, the Department of Education announced plans to build three new schools in the HRM. Meanwhile, students and families in Halifax's North End are getting more and more frustrated waiting for their new school. We hear from a parent who is upset about the condition of the temporary building his kids have been sent to while construction is underway. 

Dalhousie University has entered into a partnership with the Mexican government to study the living and working conditions of temporary foreign workers in Atlantic Canada. A social work professor tells us about the five-year research project. 

Some people are worth melting for: Tara Lynn Taylor brings spooks, storytellers and a snowman this week on Art 'n Soul.

On the heels of municipal elections, Nova Scotians are headed back to the polls on November 26 after Tim Houston called a snap election on Sunday. The CBC's Michael Gorman tells us how things are shaping up in the very early days of the campaign.

At the 30th Africentric Conference in Cole Harbour, two Black educators are launching a study into how to best support African-Canadian students in college and university. They've also created a professional group for Black student support workers at post-secondary institutions.

A Grade 12 student at Citadel High School is holding a hackathon to inspire others to get into computer programming. The event will challenge other high school students to solve a problem using code. That catch? They'll have to do it within a tight deadline

Film reviewer Carsten Knox joins us to talk about what's new in cinemas, from the Vatican drama Conclave to the horror musical Your Monster. Carsten also highlights a collection of Cronenberg films and a special screening of the Nova Scotia-shot film Candy Mountain.

Moods can swing with the season. For some people, less sunlight and shorter days in fall and winter can trigger seasonal affective disorder. Our house doctor Peter Lin shares some helpful tips to manage SAD.

A resident of Purcell's Cove has started a petition to have the Port of Halifax monitor its noise pollution, take steps to mitigate it, and be public and transparent about those efforts. It's gathering support, including from a local councillor. The CBC's Carsten Knox reports.

When we first spoke to Rose Schoonhoven, she was in Grade 11 at Horton High School and she had just won a Devour competition for her short film "The Leftovers." Nearly a decade later, Rose is back at the Food Film Fest, showing two films. We caught up with her.

The ink is barely dry on the ballots from the municipal election. Now, it looks like Nova Scotians could be headed back to the polls. Political watchers believe Premier Tim Houston is about to call a snap election. AllNovaScotia.com reporter Brian Flinn joins us.

From timid to terror-filled adventures, Chris Surrette and Jan-Sebastien LaPierre recommend ways to make the most of Halloween, including a haunted corn maze at River Breeze Farm in Lower Onslow, to a sinister soiree at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

Safe drug supply has become a political hot potato in recent years. That's the backdrop for a discussion on safer drug supplies happening at Dalhousie University law school. We're joined by two panelists, advocate and drug user Matt Bonn and Mobile Outreach Street Health physician Dr. Leah Genge.

Dr. Bruce Colwell is an oncologist in Halifax who's treated patients with fluorouracil for more than 30 years. He explains how his profession weighs the pros and cons of pre-screening patients for adverse reactions to cancer drugs.  

Yesterday we heard from Geri Mendes, who is waiting for a kidney transplant. None of her potential donors have family doctors, so they can't get tested to see if they're a match. After her interview with us, Geri got a phone call from a doctor who is hoping to help. Here's an update.

The Physician Retirement Fund is this province's new tool for recruiting and retaining doctors. It's based on a program that's been running in British Columbia for more than 30 years. The president of Doctors of B.C. explains how their program works and whether it's made a difference.

In this week's health hack, Mary Jane Hampton looks at two reports consequential to health policy. One suggests Canada could be a lot better prepared for the next pandemic, the other shows a decline in trust in scientists. Find why taken together the reports are alarming.

A Nova Scotian who coaches in the Professional Women's Hockey League joins us to talk about another breakthrough for women in hockey. The NHL has its first-ever woman coach on the bench this season. Jessica Campbell got the job as assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken. Kori Cheverie reflects on that milestone.

When Geri Mendes told her friends and family that she was in end-stage kidney disease, her best friend Casey knew she wanted to give her a kidney immediately. In fact, numerous friends and family stepped forward to find out if they could be a match for Geri. But none of them have family doctors. Geri and Casey tell us how that stopped the application process in its tracks. 

Our culture columnist Tara Lynn Taylor joins us with a look at a new production based on the true and tragic story of a fisherman in Nova Scotia. Plus, some spooktacular Halloween events happening at The Bus Stop Theatre.

We learn about new bylaws that effectively block 'renoviction loopholes' in some Ontario cities, and why Dalhousie Legal Aid thinks municipalities should consider introducing them here in Nova Scotia. 

Voter turnout is on the decline in democracies around the world, but the most precipitous drop is in local elections. Professor Tom Urbaniak from Cape Breton University gives us his best guess on how that will play out in current municipal races.

Earlier this week, the province announced a new incentive for doctors. The Physician Retirement Fund will top up their retirement savings by matching contributions, based on years of service. It's meant to give us an edge in recruiting and retaining doctors, based on a similar program in B.C. The president of Doctors Nova Scotia shares his thoughts on the initiative. 

This summer the Halifax Thunderbirds reporter, Maki Jenner, made history. She became the first female broadcaster to call a Minto Cup game, the Canadian National Junior Men's Lacrosse Championship. Last month she called the first-ever Women's Lacrosse Box Championship game in New York. She stopped by the studio for a chat.

Have you ever gone bird watching and wondered: what do the birds see when they look at you? If you have, you're not the only one. A bird enthusiast will tell us more about an upcoming lecture on how birds see the world around them. 

Nocturne Festival is coming up this weekend. It's a chance to explore a multitude of art installations from all disciplines across Halifax and Dartmouth. We catch up with this year's curator before the festival kicks off.

A group of volunteers in the HRM is trying to make it easier for seniors to live independently in their own homes, for longer. It's called Happy at Home Halifax. From meal deliveries to changing light bulbs, they offer a variety of different services to help seniors be as comfortable as possible in their own space.

We meet The Nova Scotia Threshold Singers, a small choir that comforts people who are dying in the palliative care unit at Victoria General Hospital. They're part of an international group of singers doing this around the world, but the first chapter started here in Nova Scotia just two years ago.

A new book tells some of the stories about a huge group of people who came to Nova Scotia in the 60's and 70's from other parts of the country and the U.S. They bought land and old farm houses, or built homes. They were inspired to live differently, grow and eat their food, reject consumerism and escape the Vietnam War. Some didn't stay past the first winter, but many did. Some of their experiences are in 'Far Out.'  

The province has extended the ferry service between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor into at least 2026. That decision follows preliminary findings from an economic impact study. It found that projected passenger numbers are up by 20 cent this year, compared to 2023. A local inn owner tells us what the extension means for business. 

Last week we heard Dr. Scott Kapoor talk about his brother Anil's death from a toxic reaction to a cancer treatment. Anil Kapoor had a genetic variant that prevented his body from processing a chemotherapy drug called fluorouracil. Halifax-based lawyer John McKiggan weighs in on whether to screen patients before they receive treatment. 

Ever wonder how much hospitals make off of parking? How about what to do if you can't afford it during your stay? We'll find out from our healthcare columnist Mary Jane Hampton.

How DaPoPo Theatre is celebrating 20 years with a reimagined month-long festival in Halifax. Plus, Tara Lynn Taylor takes us to Nocturne!

A popular soccer club in Mahone Bay is about to get an upgrade. It was one of 10 clubs in the country chosen to receive training and equipment for the "Accessible Soccer Project." The project is a collaboration between Canada Soccer and Soccability Canada to support accessible soccer programs. Tim Merry is one of the co-founders of Mahone Bay United.

Last year, Dr. Scott Kapoor's brother died from a chemotherapy drug that was supposed to help heal him. A genetic screening test could have saved him. That screening is now mandatory in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Dr. Kapoor thinks it should also be the standard here.

From its official headquarters in Paris, UNESCO announced this week that Africville has been designated as a Place of History and Memory linked to Enslavement and the Slave Trade. We'll talk about the significance of that designation.

Film reviewer Carsten Knox joins us to talk about what's new in cinemas, including movies about the early career of Donald Trump and the first episode of Saturday Night LIve. He'll also review Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, which he calls a "masterclass in suspense."

What's better than dinner and a movie? A festival that combines both! Devour directors Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo talk about what you can see – and what you can taste – at this year's food and film festival in Wolfville.

A public library in Springfield, Ohio has received an outpouring of love and support in the wake of attacks against the Haitian community there, after former president Donald Trump accused immigrants of eating pets in the city. Find out how the library has become a lifeline for Haitian migrants there — and why there's a Halifax connection to this story.

A political cartoon in the Chronicle Herald caused quite a stir recently. Michael De Adder drew the cartoon, in response to the unusual number of mayoral candidates running in Halifax. But for Darryl Johnson, the only Black candidate running for mayor, the cartoon felt like targeted racism. The two men have since met in person to reconcile their perspectives. They came into our studio to talk about how that went.

In an effort to increase the numbers of doctors in the province, a new primary care assessment clinic is opening where medical professionals who trained and practiced in other countries will be assessed for licensing. Dr. Gus Grant from the Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons tells us more.

The African Nova Scotia Music Awards are coming up tomorrow night. What you may not know, if you're watching the awards, is that some of the people involved - from the lights, the cameras, to the action  — are part of mentoring programs run by ANSMA. Executive director Julien Matwawana explains.

Dalhousie and St. Francis Xavier university researchers have found that people who self-declare as having no friends feel a sense of pride at being self-sufficient, but that doesn't mean they don't feel lonely. Hear from one of the researchers studying this. 

Chris Surrette and Jan Sebastien LaPierre talk about hiking groups for all abilities and have some suggestions to help you find your way into the woods and back out again this fall.

When Lindell Smith was elected in 2016, he won handily. He was the only Black Nova Scotian on the HRM council, the first elected in 16 years. Plus, he was only 26-years-old. Councillor Smith talks about the challenges of being a political newbie, what he's proud of accomplishing and what's next now that he's decided to not run.

It's as emblematic in healthcare as a white coat and stethoscope. Today our healthcare columnist Mary Jane Hampton looks at that crinkly paper on examination tables. A recent study found it's totally useless and is actually doing harm.

The federal government is updating the decades-old Canadian Environmental Protection Act. But the environmental group EcoJustice says Ottawa is missing the boat on their efforts to assess chemicals possibly toxic to both human health and the environment. Find out why.

In 2021, Prep Academy was founded as a small community-based non-profit to help African Nova Scotian students prepare for college and university. Since then, more than 200 people have taken part. Founder Ashley Hill talks about how the mentorship program is expanding. 

Michael Parsons, a research scientist with Natural Resources Canada, says he's identified the best way to clean up the shuttered Montague Gold Mines site. But there's a separate challenge that could be bigger than the cleanup. That's convincing local people to stop using the tailings piles as places to go offroading.

Our culture columnist Tara Lynn Taylor takes us to the 26th Annual African Nova Scotia Music Association Awards. This year's nominees include Blessing Tangban, Kayo, Maggie Andrew and more. Plus, Linda Carvery brings her show Watch Over Me to Halifax for the first time.

Students at Potlotek First Nation are gearing up for an exciting project. They're launching a state-of-the-art ocean buoy into the Bras d'Or Lake today, which will report live data about water conditions that they can use in science class. The project is about more than just numbers... they're learning to apply the Two-Eyed Seeing approach to climate change. Two of the project coordinators tell us how the students will combine western science with Indigenous knowledge to solve problems that matter to their community.

According to Statistics Canada, the number of hate crimes reported by Halifax police in 2023 jumped by 62 per cent compared to the prior year. Police credit the rise to their new hate crimes unit. For more perspective, we're joined by Timothy Bryan, an assistant professor who studies hate crimes and police responses.

When Pastor Rhonda Britton announced her plans to retire from New Horizons Baptist Church, there were a lot of tears - from her, the congregation and the community. Her last church service will be Christmas Day. Pastor Britton talks with Portia about her decision to leave and her time with the church here in Halifax.

Many people won’t get to cast a vote in this year's municipal election. Most of the province’s 49 municipalities have at least one acclamation, where a candidate ran unopposed and will win by default. In one town, the entire council and mayor were acclaimed. CBC reporter Haley Ryan brings us this story.

Colder weather and school virus swapping are a couple of reasons why respiratory illnesses like to make a comeback this time of year. Dr. Peter Lin goes over the most common viruses and ways to keep them from ruining your fall fun.

An independent public-policy think tank recently sounded the alarm recently about the province's ability to retain nurses. According to a new report by the Montreal Economic Institute, 60 percent of Nova Scotia's young nurses are leaving the province every year. Hear why Nova Scotia heath says that report was misguided.

After a decade of work, researchers at Dalhousie University have officially isolated and described – for the first time ever – a tiny organism in the Bedford Basin. It's a microbe they've named T. haligoni. PhD candidate Sonja Rose explains this groundbreaking finding and how it contributes to our global understanding of climate change.

People living on Larch, Jennings and Preston streets in Halifax saw a positive change regarding unsanctioned Dalhousie homecoming parties this year. Caitlin Lees tells us about how things went this past weekend from a resident's perspective. 

The comic series Scott Pilgrim turns 20 this year and its creator, Bryan Lee O'Malley, was back in Halifax this week. The CBC's Carsten Knox asked him how he feels about Scott now, two decades later.

American singer Chappell Roan has been outspoken about her rise to fame and how it's affecting her mental health. She recently posted to social media, asking "creepy" overzealous fans to respect her boundaries. Roan's post launched a broader conversation around the price of fame for women.  

On Vancouver Island, a group of settlers is taking a very direct approach to reconciliation. Sarah Reid is executive director of the Reciprocity Trust Society. It allows anyone to pay a 'voluntary rent' to First Nations in the region. And Chief Abraham Pelkey is a Trustee on behalf of his Tsawout Nation.

There's a growing body of evidence that suggests patients who are treated by a doctor who is a woman will do better than if they had been treated by a doctor who is a man. Why? Our health columnist Mary Jane Hampton looks at the evidence.

Senator Dan Christmas of Membertou First Nation helped celebrate the first Treaty Day in 1986. He talks about the spirit and meaning behind treaties, and why now more than ever it's important to remember and honour treaties.

Cast and crew at Caravan Theatre are getting ready for the world premier of a new play about a fish-gutting service and detective agency in Digby County. Plus, a new province-wide tour! Bluebirds is about three nurses who find hope amidst the heartbreak the First World War.

24-year-old Rosalee Doucette-MacNeil is a multi-disciplinary artist from Eskasoni. A few years ago, Rosalee found herself drawn to sweetgrass, despite not knowing much about it. She now uses it in her art and is teaching others how to find and harvest sweetgrass sustainably. Rosalee spoke with the CBC's Brittany Wentzell

A new welcome sign at Chisholm Park in Antigonish now includes the town's original Mi'kmaq name: Nalikitquniejk. Cultural historian and knowledge keeper Trevor Gould talks about how the name changed over the centuries and what it means to reclaim it. Trevor is a band councillor at nearby Paqtnkek First Nation. 

Mansour's Menswear in Amherst is turning 100 today. We hear about how four generations of this family have run their business, and about the very early days of pedaling their wears - by foot or by horse and buggy - to lumber camps farms and lobster plants

Film reviewer Carsten Knox joins us to talk about what's new in cinemas. Plus two of the weirdest movies he could find streaming, one about bigfoot, the other about beavers!  

For some universities in the province, the annual homecoming weekend has brought more than its fair share of revelry. Rowdy street parties have become an annual headache for neighbours living around universities. Last year, Dalhousie launched a ‘joint task force’ with HRM to address the unsanctioned street gatherings once and for all. We check in on the plan of attack for this weekend.

Will special diets like the Mediterranean diet or the Okinawa diet make you live longer and healthier? Maybe... but new research shows parts of the world with the most centenarians owe their remarkably long lives a lot more to clerical errors and pension fraud. 

A pair of teachers on the South Shore are trying to flag down Ryan Reynolds. Beth Gillis and Darcie Moore are planning a retirement send-off for their colleague, Bob Hazelton. The only problem is for his retirement, Bob wants to meet Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds partnered with the Terry Fox Foundation earlier this year, a charity close to Bob's heart. 

The people living in tents on University Avenue near Dalhousie have to move before November 1. We talk to Halifax's director of housing and homelessness about what went into this decision, and the city's plan is for the unhoused community as the weather turns colder. 

Designating Clayton Park as a Pallet shelter site has unsettled some people living nearby, since the location is close to a school, a library, and two sports facilities. It's not the first shelter village to draw concerns from neighbours. We hear how Beacon House staff had to work diligently to shift perceptions about a Pallet shelter site in Lower Sackville. 

Darce Fardy was a journalist and champion of freedom of information. In his 80s, Darce was diagnosed with dementia and started writing about life with the disease for the Chronicle Herald. His son, Peter Fardy, talks about how those writings have been collected for a new book. 

Now that it's fall, you may already be seeing hints of the coming change in the leaves. Some say this could be the best season for fall colours in recent memory. Jan Sebastien LaPierre with A for Adventure has some suggestions for ways to see those colours while exploring.

We find out more about a new public-private partnership, aimed at chronic disease and childhood obesity in the province. The Lighthouse Project is a joint venture between the Nova Scotia government and the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

Our healthcare columnist Mary Jane Hampton looks at research into the value of playing ambient music in healthcare environments. Findings show the benefits outweigh any drawbacks, but the research is less conclusive about what kind of music is best because of a significant Western cultural bias.

David Lane was director of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory at Saint Mary’s University. He created the world's first telescope controlled by social media. He died in March 2024, but his passion for astronomy education will live on as part of the provincial school curriculum. Astronomy technician Tiffany Fields tells us about Star Finder - The David Lane Astronomy Outreach Program.

After many close calls, an Enactus team from Saint Mary University has finally won the national championships. Now, they’re travelling to Kazakhstan to compete in the Enactus World Cup! We catch up with students Gabriel Martin and Courtney Dingle, before they present their idea for a social enterprise that brings affordable produce to communities in need.

The Canadian Media Producers Association released a report about a TV show that's been filming in Nova Scotia. It found that just one season of Sullivan’s Crossing generated more than $47,000,000 in economic activity. The executive director of Screen Nova Scotia talks about how the numbers translate to the rest of our film industry, which is currently working overtime to keep up with demand.

In today's culture column, theatremakers from New York and Dartmouth bring The Laramie Project to a local stage. The play draws from hundreds of interviews carried out following a shocking murder that took place 25 years ago in Wyoming. Plus, Tara Lynn Taylor takes us to the Prismatic Arts Festival!

Can't Buy My Silence has been fighting the misuse of non-disclosure agreements for years. Co-founder Julie Macfarlane talks about why the group is holding a series of events in Halifax to discuss NDAS, and the effects they have on people's lives.

Nyesha Sparks is a mother of two autistic children in East Preston. Hear why she started the Autism Roundtable, a new monthly meeting that encourages people in the Preston Township to come together to learn and share their stories about autism.

Staff at Alteregos Cafe are remembering three beloved regulars. David Demone, Clyde Tanner, and Leroy Loppie -- affectionately known as Mr. Loppie -- used to gather at the north-end Halifax cafe on a daily basis. Michelle Strum, owner of Alteregos, shares her memories of them.

Sonya Lee Demone is a first-time author who wants to inspire young people with disabilities to follow their dreams. Her new children's book, Happy and Dee's Adventures, will soon be available in libraries across the province. Sonya, as well as her friends and coworkers, spoke with the CBC's Celina Aalders about the book and its message. 

The House of Commons held an emergency debate on Monday evening. It came after six separate incidents in two weeks, in which First Nations people were killed by police. Samantha Schwientek is a reporter with CBC Indigenous in Edmonton and a member of the Cayuga nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River. She brings us this story.

When we last spoke to Keegan McGregor, he'd just been crowned Best Bartender in Canada. McGregor is part of the staff at Highwayman Restaurant in Halifax. Well, Keegan McGregor is just back from Shanghai now, where he won World Class Global Bartender of the Year. It's the first time an East Coaster has landed at the top of that podium!

Who should pay to protect the Isthmus of Chignecto?.The Trudeau government is offering to split the cost of the project with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Premier Tim Houston is taking the federal government to court, arguing that inter-provincial connections are the responsibility of the feds. AllNovaScotia.com political reporter Brian Flinn looks at the politics of the issue.

Earlier this month, in the journal Nature, researchers published a study on mental health. It links depression in some people to biological processes in the brain. The study suggests a connection between one particular area of the brain, and its size, to a person's risk for experiencing depression. To talk more about that, we've reached Dr. Peter Lin.

The province wants the federal government to pay for the entirety of infrastructure to protect the Chignecto Isthmus from climate crisis effects. We get into the history of financing big Canadian infrastructure projects when we speak with Stephen Henderson. He's a professor at Acadia University.

After years of fighting with Nova Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness for access to out-of-province care, Jennifer Brady has applied for Medical Assistance in Dying. She has lymphedema – a life-long condition that causes fluid build up, and can result in painful swelling, increased risk of blood infection and cellulitis. CBC reporter Angela MacIvor has been digging into her case.

The recent case in Georgia school shooting points to a new way of dealing with school violence in the United States. In that case, the father of the shooter was charged with several criminal offenses. Information Morning's legal columnist Wayne Mackey joins us to look at how that case reflects on the Canadian situation.

We'll revisit the cell phone ban in schools. Some parents are looking for exemptions for kids who might rely on cell phones to cope with anxiety, ADHD and other conditions. Jennifer van Kessel, a clinical social worker in Halifax, spoke to the CBC's Erin MacInnis.

25 years ago today, the Supreme Court of Canada reversed the charges against Donald Marshall Jr. for fishing eels without a license. This case was a landmark ruling for Indigenous treaty rights. We chat with Donald Marshall Jr.'s former fishing partner and the former Chief of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation.

What do book clubs, tai chi, pottery making, and salsa dancing all have in common? They could show up on your doctor's prescription pad, in the not-so-distant future. Our healthcare columnist Mary Jane Hampton is back to talk about 'social prescribing and how it could potentially lighten the load on our healthcare system.