John DeMont

This is my final week writing columns for Halifax’s Chronicle Herald. I’ve appreciated every reader and every conversation. Going ahead, you can find me on substack at Where The Light Falls. I hope to see you there
wherethelightfallswrites.substack.

Awesome my new friend!

Canada is burning. Can it handle another devastating wildfire season? In the bone-dry summer of 2025, in which Canada is in the midst of the second-worst wildfire season on record, the country is again ablaze.

Canada is burning. Can it handle another devastating wildfire season?

John DeMont: Moncton's an apartment building powerhouse. Why isn't Halifax? Housing blogger Deny Sullivan has some ideas on how Halifax could become the next Moncton when it comes to building apartment buildings.

John DeMont: Moncton's an apartment building powerhouse. Why isn't Halifax?

John DeMont: Fire Halifax council? If you're crowning a super mayor, you may as well With the N.S. government jumping in and the mayor seeking enhanced powers, will we come to the point where Halifax council is irrelevant?

John DeMont: Fire Halifax council? If you're crowning a super mayor, you may as well

John DeMont: A lost place of wonder on the edge of an encroaching Halifax The first zoological gardens on the continent north of Mexico once stood on the outskirts of colonial Halifax.

John DeMont: A lost place of wonder on the edge of an encroaching Halifax

John DeMont: Soaring towers are great, but can Halifax house ordinary folk? Halifax has never had skyscrapers like this--but let's keep our eyes on the ball

John DeMont: Soaring towers are great, but can Halifax house ordinary folk?

John DeMont: Checking in on the vandalized trees, and other secrets of Halifax's Public Gardens An inside look at Nova Scotia's most visited tourist destination in downtown Halifax.

John DeMont: Checking in on the vandalized trees, and other secrets of Halifax's Public Gardens

John DeMont: Don't let Halifax's incessant growth make us less civil Columnist John DeMont worries that the busyness of modern-day life is making us less respectful of others.

John DeMont: Don't let Halifax's incessant growth make us less civil

John DeMont: Sometimes government overreach is the best policy Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston;s decision to close the cinder-dry woods is the right decision

John DeMont: Sometimes government overreach is the best policy

John DeMont: Titan sub tragedy an too-familiar story: Cost cutting, ignoring safety failures and hubris A U.S. Coast Guard report concluded the tragic implosion of the submersible searching for the wreck of the Titanic was completely avoidable.

John DeMont: Titan sub tragedy an too-familiar story: Cost cutting, ignoring safety failures and hubris

John DeMont: When an arena on a residential street was Halifax's top sporting venue The Shirley Street arena was once where figure skaters glided and Jack Dempsey sparred.

John DeMont: When an arena on a residential street was Halifax's top sporting venue

John DeMont: Are we suckers for giving out 'job creating' loans like Northern Pulp too easily? The end of the woeful Northern Pulp narrative underscores something unsettling in the relationship between dodgy companies and places like Nova Scotia desperate for jobs.

John DeMont: Are we suckers for giving out 'job creating' loans like Northern Pulp too easily?

John DeMont: Hey Halifax, homeless encampments aren't the problem. They're a symptom Council's move to disband the homeless encampment at Cogswell Park does nothing to solve the underlying housing crisis, says John DeMont.

John DeMont: Hey Halifax, homeless encampments aren't the problem. They're a symptom

John DeMont: Moncton's an apartment building powerhouse. Why isn't Halifax? Housing blogger Deny Sullivan has some ideas on how Halifax could become the next Moncton when it comes to building apartment buildings.

John DeMont: Moncton's an apartment building powerhouse. Why isn't Halifax?

John DeMont: Fire Halifax council? If you're crowning a super mayor, you may as well With the N.S. government jumping in and the mayor seeking enhanced powers, will we come to the point where Halifax council is irrelevant?

John DeMont: Fire Halifax council? If you're crowning a super mayor, you may as well

John DeMont: A lost place of wonder on the edge of an encroaching Halifax The first zoological gardens on the continent north of Mexico once stood on the outskirts of colonial Halifax.

John DeMont: A lost place of wonder on the edge of an encroaching Halifax

John DeMont: Why even have a Halifax council if its powers keep getting eroded? With the N.S. government jumping in and the mayor seeking enhanced powers, will we come to the point where Halifax council is irrelevant?

John DeMont: Why even have a Halifax council if its powers keep getting eroded?

Bikes are a miracle pill for older adults, but they won't take it unless they feel safe A new report from Cycle Toronto calls for better infrastructure and an understanding of the needs of older adults.

"Bikes are a miracle pill for older adults, but they won't take it unless they feel safe" - @lloydalter.bsky.social #biketo open.substack.com/pub/lloydalt...

No matter what Trump’s ambassador says, Canadians aren’t “mean and nasty” for choosing to buy Canadian and travel locally.

We’re taking a stand against Trump’s threats to our sovereignty and standing on our own two feet.

Let's hold the line.

A lifetime of bringing good news to a challenged Dartmouth community How Sylvia Anthony, volunteer extraordinaire, is spreading the good news about Dartmouth North.

By John DeMont @coalblackhrt.bsky.social www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...

John DeMont: Hey Halifax, homeless encampments aren't the problem. They're a symptom Council's move to disband the homeless encampment at Cogswell Park does nothing to solve the underlying housing crisis, says John DeMont.

“A move to de-designate Cogswell Park as a sanctioned encampment site does nothing to solve the underlying issue that has left some shivering in the cold”

Shutting it down when there is nowhere else for these residents to go, “smacks of optics over substance” says John DeMont

John DeMont: Powerful mayor, pushy premier could be a bad combination Houston government's mulling of giving Fillmore extended powers is just the latest instance of Nova Scotia meddling in municipal affairs.

John DeMont: Powerful mayor, pushy premier could be a bad combination

It takes a century to get a real Maple Leaf flag but people line up anyway Our iconic flag is more symbolic than ever

my column about the best country anywhere.

www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...

It takes a century to get a real Maple Leaf flag but people line up anyway Our iconic flag is more symbolic than ever

my Canada Day column

www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...

can I send you an email? You could send it to Jdemont@postmedia.com

and now I I realize I actually have no idea how to send a direct message on blue sky.

@alecausten.bsky.social hey Alec can you please follow me back so I can send you a direct message?

Fire Weather by John Vaillant is an essential read right now, for all of us, but especially for decision-makers.

Technology *should* make our lives better but each advancement seems to invite more predators and scammers