On June 12th, the group representing physicians in Nova Scotia elected a new executive and Dr. Heather Johnson was installed as president. We discuss the challenges the pandemic has presented along with the benefits and downsides of virtual care. And we also talk about the 65-thousand Nova Scotians still in need of a family doctor.

May was Lyme Disease Awareness month. And just because we've flipped the calendar, we can't let our guard down against ticks and tick-borne illness. Donna Lugar has been educating Nova Scotians about the disease for almost as far back as she was diagnosed with it. Today, the Government of Canada released a new video on how to safely remove a tick, a project Donna helped with.

A recent obituary on SaltWire.com highlighted one man's last wishes to have his remains donated to science. Every year, there are about 150 families who see their loved ones taking part in a program that dates back to the 19th Century. Robert Sandeski is the manager of the Human Body Donation Program at Dalhousie University. He explains the origins, the process, presumed organ donation and why this is vital for education.

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency are about to take delivery of their newest piece of equipment, a Canadian-built Firestorm 36 fire boat. An operation review in 2018 recommended the purchase of a new piece of equipment to help with firefighting and rescue work on the water and along the shore. The 36-foot aluminum craft comes in at a cost of about 1.25 million dollars and has a 30-year life expectancy. Deputy Chief of Operations Peter Andrews talks about Fire Boat 1 and it's name, Kjipuktuk.

Earlier this year, Halifax Public Libraries acquired a controversial book called Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters. The Library Board decided to keep the book on its shelves, in spite of protests from the LGBTQ+ community. Dartmouth mom, Reverend Kim Curlett speaks about her son Miles and his journey of awakening. And we also hear from Floyd Blaikie, a board member with Hal-Con. They've cancelled events with the library this year out of support for gender minorities.

He was known across Atlantic Canada for his weekly gas price predictions. But he was also a passionate politician and an ardent hockey fan. It was a shock to learn over the weekend that George Murphy had passed away, at the age of 58. He spoke with Sheldon back in March about how predicting fuel prices became his hobby and his passion, in part because an oil executive told him it was none of his business 25 years ago.

SaltWire is blessed to feature the work of two very talented editorial cartoonists. Whether it's reflecting the sadness of the Residential School legacy or the fight for political change, these two are ready to speak truth to power. Bruce MacKinnon and then Michael deAdder on their role in shaping opinion and holding up a mirror to our society.

Professional hockey is obviously a physical game and injuries are a part of it. But sometimes the level of violence transcends what would be expected, even in a Stanley Cup playoff series. SaltWire Sports Reporter Willy Palov discusses the hit on Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens and the way the NHL is dealing with Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations has changed its guidelines on mixing and matching the different types of vaccine available to Canadians. Researchers at Dalhousie University have done a pilot study on the efficacy of using an mRNA vaccine for people who first had the viral vector vaccine, AstraZeneca. Doctor Chris Robinson describes how jellyfish helped in their study and why mixing the two types could give the best of both worlds.

A committee that was struck last November has presented its recommendations to government to address the housing crisis in Nova Scotia. Ren Thomas is the Co-chair of the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission. And she shares her thoughts on how the 17 recommendations can address the challenges in both the short and long term.