Atlantic News Halifax

Author and Haligonian Stephen Kimber is the author of 15 books, both non fiction and fiction.  Today Stephen joins me to talk about 1940 wartime Halifax and his new book Traitor's Game- A Mick Blackwell Mystery.

In our discussion we cover the many layers of 1940 Halifax; a military city that quadrupled in a short time as new troops came through Nova Scotia on the way across the Atlantic.  

We also compare 1940's wartime Halifax with the 1970's- both times of great social change and conflict.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Sailors, Slackers and Blind Pigs By Stephen Kimber

Seven Days in Halifax By Robert Ashe

JDM Stewart discusses his recent book  The Prime Ministers:  Canada's Leaders and the Nation They Shaped.

An interesting discussion about how a reading of  past Prime Ministers can help inform our current national dialogue concerning what makes up the diverse components of Canadian identity.

Mr. Stewart will be speaking tonight at an event sponsored by the Canadian Institute for Historical Education (CIHE):

Indomitable Spirit: Robert Borden and Halifax

Monday October 26, 2026

7:00 pm

Halifax Public Library

Robert Ashe discusses his book Seven Days in Halifax, about the 1970 Encounter on Urban Environment where the Nova Scotian Progressive Conservative provincial government invited twelve experts to meet with interest groups from Halifax/ Dartmouth over seven days and 40 different meetings.  Billed as an exercise in democracy and civic engagement, the seven day event resulted in an awakening for a changing Halifax.  Comparisons to our current day abound!

Trina Roache discusses her upcoming participation in the MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance panel entitled:

Cannabis coverage: Media framing of Indigenous treaty rights in the modern policy sphere.

This wide ranging discussion touches on Indigenous treaty rights, the current topic of Cannabis sales and how media frames not just this story but everything they cover.  An important topic in these days of our society's search for a common narrative.

The Panel discussion will take place on October 23, 2026, from 1:00pm- 3:00pm at the University of Kings College here in Halifax.

Peggy Cameron of the Friends of Halifax Common discusses the Robie Street expansion project on the Halifax Peninsula.  the project's goal is to provide better transportation options for a congested city but what are the costs?  

Reporters Suzanne Rent with The Halifax Examiner and Colin Chisholm with All Nova Scotia return to talk about three topics:

1. The new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of HRM Marnie Cluckie.

2. Questions about equity concerning the Nova Scotia Capped Assessment Program  (CAP) where new home owners pay higher property taxes than existing home owners.

3. The Nova Scotia Liberal Leadership debates, current budget constraints that the Progressive Conservative government faces and how these relate to the announced merger  of Halifax based Emera and the utility Calgary Natural Gas.

Derek Martin, Owner and General Manager of The  Halifax Wanderers Football Club discusses his 100 million proposal to build a new facility on the current Wanderer grounds in Halifax.

Howard Epstein from Friends of Halifax Common discusses the stadium proposal made to HRM council.  Last week, Derek Martin, owner of the Halifax Wanderers,  proposed 100 million in private funds for a new stadium on public land.  

Recorded September 30, 2026

We are back from the summer break to talk with HRM City Hall reporters Suzanne Rent with The Halifax Examiner and Colin Chisholm with All Nova Scotia.  In this episode we discuss the proposal to build a new stadium on public land in the city.

In this short summer discussion, Laura White gives an update on HRM matters.