Nothing ventured… This week, I have a question for you: Women in this province have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. You want to help them. Do you: A) invest $5 million in an early-stage venture capital fund focused on women-led startups; B) tear $5 million into tiny shreds andRead More

Stealing time Rubina Ahmed-Haq and I had an argument that devolved into shouting and foot-stamping on Monday morning, although the shouting and foot-stamping were all on my side and she has yet to realize we had a disagreement. Ahmed-Haq is the CBC radio workplace columnist who, according to her website,Read More

Diverse diversions This week, my random things will all be things that can distract, amuse or entertain you while you’re self-isolating. Many of these things are found on the internet, as is my publication, so will be of no use to people who do not have an internet connection —Read More

Hidden agenda setting The CBC’s Tom Ayers had a pair of good CBRM council-related stories this week — and by “good” I mean, it’s good someone is covering this stuff not “This is good news!” Both stories are based on access to information requests to the CBRM. (Ayers didn’t leaveRead...

SHIP Show Update Did you catch the latest episode in the SHIP Show? How many times can one program jump the shark? The CBC reported on Wednesday that Membertou Corporate has ” made an investment that gives it a 22.5 per cent stake in Sydney Harbour Investment Partners (SHIP),” aRead More

Don Mills I read Don Mills’ recent opinion piece in the Chronicle Herald because I thought Don Mills was a mixed-use neighborhood in Toronto and was intrigued by what it might have to say about well…anything. My disappointment in discovering Don Mills was actually just a person was lessened whenRead More

Complex systems Former Nova Scotia health minister Maureen MacDonald took to Facebook this week to express frustration with some of the recent criticism she’s seen leveled at the province’s healthcare system. She took particular issue with a speech given at a healthcare rally in Halifax by Paula Minnikin, a formerRead More

Celtic Serenade Donnie Campbell — or “Sydney River musician,” as the online edition of the Cape Breton Post identified him — has been awarded a 2019 Stompin’ Tom Award by the East Coast Music Association (ECMA). (Full disclosure: Donnie is my first cousin once removed on my mother’s side. FullerRead More

Editor’s Note: It’s that time of year when the Spectator turns off the computer for a bit to focus on decking halls, trimming trees and eating all the best chocolates in the Quality Street tin. To facilitate this, we’re including Fast & Curious with the regular edition of the paperRead More

But seriously, where’s Cecil? Did it strike anyone else odd that the mayor wasn’t at that flood prevention press conference on Monday? Sydney-Whitney Pier MLA (and Energy Minister) Derek Mombourquette and Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking both thought $2.5 million in additional federal disaster funding was worth coming to town andRead More