Welcome to Weekend File, where you’ll find links to all the articles you might have missed last week. Jump to sections in this article:
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Sunday, November 14
Physician assistants: a fast easy small fix for what ails our health system
The Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) recently issued a press release that welcomed the “move by the Nova Scotia government today to introduce legislation that, once passed, will formalize the introduction of PAs into Nova Scotia.” It turns out the province didn’t do that. And in his latest column, Stephen Kimber wondered why.
Monday, November 15
1. To Betty White, my Cape Breton grandmother, and all the Golden Girls
Suzanne Rent was feeling her age this week. When she saw a tweet about Betty White, the actress and comedian who was one of the stars of the Golden Girls, it reminded her of her grandmother, who loved the show of the ladies who lived in Miami in a house with a lanai. It’s an essay praising the golden years for women.
2. “You can build the world to come in the choices you make every day”
Matthew Byard looked at the speech activist Lynn Jones gave at the ceremony for graduating students at Mount Saint Vincent University. Said Jones to the students about training future students: “I caution you to use this privilege wisely as education without action is miseducation.”
3. Morning File: The romance of the typewriter
We never know what Philip Moscovitch will come up for his Morning Files. This week, he wrote about typewriters and the writers who still love them. He learned there’s still a place for these old devices. And he had a bit on spit, of all things.
4. Six Black-owned businesses featured at Christmas at the Forum
A record number of Black-owned businesses are taking part in this year’s Christmas at the Forum. Matthew Byard talked to them about being part of this annual holiday tradition.
5. 3 more people have died from COVID-19 in Nova Scotia; 99 new cases announced over 3 days
It was a tragic start to the week as we learned about three more deaths from COVID-19. Tim Bousquet had that news, plus new case numbers, and more.
Tuesday, November 16
1. Gordonstoun: judge to decide if “dead duck” Annapolis council had authority to make land deal benefitting elite private school developer
Jennifer Henderson looked at the bizarre story of the Municipality of the District of Annapolis, a deal to buy a former theme park, plans to build a princely private school, and what happened after the councillors who approved it got turfed from office.
2. COVID-19 Resources Canada offering free Vaccine Conversations for those with questions, concerns about the vaccine
Yvette d’Entremont interviewed Dr. Tara Moriarty, infectious diseases researcher and co-founder of COVID-19 Resources Canada, about volunteer-led free workshops called Vaccine Conversations for anyone who wants to talk about the vaccine. That initiative launched this week and you can sign up, too.
3. Morning File: The houses Henry J. Harris built
Suzanne Rent spoke with Mimi Fautley about the ambitious project she took on this year: researching all the past owners of her house on Maynard Street, plus the owners of all seven of the other homes on her block, all of which were built by Henry J. Harris in the 1860s.
Wednesday, November 17
1. 31 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Tuesday, November 16
There are still lots of new cases showing up in Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone. Tim Bousquet had the midweek update.
2. “It pains me to tell you that the image of Canada is severely damaged”
In this report, Joan Baxter reports on the damning testimony in a new book, Testimonio: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala, which reveals the horrific record of Canadian mining companies in Guatemala.
3. A coalition for Black voices in Nova Scotia
Matthew Byard recently met up with Vanessa Fells, director of the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition (ANSDPAD), to learn about the work they do, including on issues like street checks and creating a Justice Institute.
4. Morning File: A look at what’s up at Rocky Point Lake Road
Ethan Lycan-Lang had a packed Morning File this week with a dope piece on legal weed and what that means for your local dealers. And he put together a timeline of all the events leading up to the clearcutting at Rocky Point Lake Road in Digby County.
5. “Totally disgusting”: Premier Tim Houston condemns comments from pastor saying God “wanted” the current outbreak that started at his church and has killed 3 people
Premier Tim Houston and chief medical officer Dr. Robert Strang expressed anger and frustration with the pastor at a church that hosted an event that led to an outbreak of COVID-19 and three deaths. Tim Bousquet asked questions at the heated briefing.
6. Black News File
Matthew Byard was back with his latest Black News File that includes stories about the Blue Nose Marathon winner, the unveiling of a new bust of Viola Desmond, and an interview with Dr. Chad Williams on COVID and the Black community.
7. Institute of Child Psychology conference to help give parents, teachers the “tools to actually create shifts” in stress for children, families
An online conference this weekend will give parents the tools to help their kids with the stresses they might have right now. Yvette d’Entremont spoke with the co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology, which is organizing the conference, to learn more.
Thursday, November 18
1. Dr. Christine Chambers: ‘All parents want to do the right thing’ on vaccines for their children
Pfizer is set to soon approve the COVID-19 vaccine for children age five to 11, but some parents may still have questions and concerns. Yvette d’Entremont interviewed pediatric pain researcher, Dr. Christine Chambers, about what parents should know and do before, during, and after kids get their COVID vaccines.
2. Morning File: The Amherst Baptist camp meeting COVID outbreak: It’s not that they’re religious, it’s that they’re assholes
Tim Bousquet lets loose on what he thinks about Pastor Robert Smith who said an outbreak of COVID-19 in the northern region that started with a church event was part of God’s plan.
3. The Tideline: No, It’s Fine
Cailen Alcorn Pygott of the indie-rock quartet No, It’s Fine joins Tara Thorne on this week’s episode of The Tideline to talk about their new full length album, I Promise. It’s their second pandemic project; back in March they released a collection of covers. This show also includes two new tracks and news about Sarah Harmer finally coming back to town. Yes, it is fine.
4. 22 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Thursday, Nov. 18
Another day and more new cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. Twenty-two this time. Tim Bousquet had the report.
Friday, November 19
1. Solar Power: Nova Scotia is making progress, but still has a long way to go
Jennifer Henderson reported on community solar and battery storage projects that are part of a $19.1 million project called Smart Grid Nova Scotia. What could this project mean for the use of solar energy in the province?
2. Marketing Cape Breton as a “refuge” for “clear thinkers”
In part 1 of a three-part series, Joan Baxter looks at how developers are selling plots of land in Richmond and Inverness Counties in Cape Breton to German-speaking non-residents and why locals are concerned.
3. Morning File: The Moon is fantastically more special than you know
There was a lunar eclipse on Friday notice. You may have missed it because of all that rain. So, Tim Bousquet, who has “a fascination with celestial bodies slamming into each other,” decided to write about the moon, how it was formed all those billions of years ago and how it continues to inspire poetry, love songs, calendars, and much more.
4. “Anything is possible:” Black coach, officials achieve firsts in Nova Scotia high school sports
Matthew Byard went to the provincial high school championship final took place at Husky Stadium at Saint Mary’s last weekend where a number of firsts took place for Black Nova Scotians involved in high school sports.
5. 1 new COVID death, 27 new cases announced in Nova Scotia; weekly recap
A woman in her 90s is the 106th person in Nova Scotia to die from COVID-19. Tim Bousquet had more on that sad news, plus new case numbers and the weekly vaccination data.
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