Huddle’s Top Ten Stories From Nova Scotia In 2021
Sometimes, we look back on the year fondly. Sometimes, with a little bit of regret. In 2021, most of us will probably just heave a giant sigh of relief.
Covid-19 might not have been quite as front-and-centre in our lives this year as it was in 2020, but it still touched nearly everything we did.
Huddle’s most-read stories of the year in Nova Scotia reflect that.
You won’t see a ton of Covid-specific headlines on this list (although there are a few). But, just like the pandemic was woven into every part of our lives this year, it’s a thread snaking through almost everything Huddle published.
However, the fact that there are some stories on this list that (refreshingly) have absolutely nothing to do with Covid-19 shows our readers were still interested in life beyond lockdowns and travel bans.
You were also focused on big developments happening in Halifax and deeply curious about Amazon’s arrival in the city.
Here’s a list of our ten most-read Nova Scotia stories from 2021:
Halifax OnlyFans Creator Feels ‘Betrayed’ Platform Is Banning Sexually Explicit Content
In a very short time, OnlyFans has become a huge business, driven by creators who used the platform to share explicit material with paying fans.
So when the company made a surprise announcement it was banning all explicit content from its platform, creators felt conned.
Halifax’s Melinda Crowe, one of the site’s biggest stars, spoke to Huddle about how the decision affected her. After she and other creators spoke out, the company backtracked on its plans.
Halifax Internet Company Purple Cow Taking On Bell And Rogers With Lower Prices
It’s tough to find companies in Canada more unpopular than major internet service providers.
It’s likely why Huddle readers took notice when we highlighted a local startup trying to unseat the communications giants that control the country’s internet.
Halifax’s New Five-Star Hotel Will Have A Speakeasy And A Yacht
In a city growing as fast as Halifax, people pay close attention to development. The Queen’s Marque, on the Halifax waterfront, was one of the highest-profile projects finished this year.
So people’s interest was piqued when Huddle revealed some of the glossy details behind one of the building’s biggest tenants.
It Looks Like Amazon Is Building A Warehouse In Dartmouth
By early 2021, most people knew Amazon was coming to Halifax. But despite how hungry everyone was for information, specific details were scarce.
It’s not surprising, then, that readers were interested when Huddle found hard evidence about the location of the tech giant’s future operation in the city.
A Happy Ending For Sydelle’s Fish and Chips In Bedford
David Nicholson’s popular fish and chips joint burned down a few months into lockdowns and the father of four almost lost everything.
But not long after the tragedy, an online review sparked an outpouring of support for Sydelle’s, as well as a fundraiser that helped Nicholson rebuild his business.
At a time when Nova Scotians were feeling particularly worn down by the pandemic, Nicholson’s feel-good story was a much-needed balm.
N.S. Small Business Owner Opens Shop In Protest, Plans To Fight $12,000 Ticket In Court
In May, as a Covid-19 wave rolled over the province, the government put restrictions in place that forced most small businesses to close.
Mike Huntly owned one of those businesses but kept it open to protest what he felt was unfair treatment. He didn’t like that big-box stores were allowed to remain open while shops like his weren’t.
He was given a massive ticket for the infraction but promised to fight it in court.
Nova Scotia Will Open Atlantic Bubble June 23
Many Nova Scotians would probably be happy to never hear the words “Atlantic Bubble” again.
Travel bans and public health guidelines ruled so much of our lives in 2021. So when the government announced it was lifting many of them, readers clamored to learn more.
Amazon Will Open Dartmouth Warehouse In October, Hire 180 People
Even once people knew for certain Amazon was coming to Halifax, it was still tough to find specific details about the operation.
This story shed new light on what Amazon’s new centre would do, how many people it would hire, and when it would open, adding some much-needed context to the company’s pending arrival in Halifax.
Atlantica Owner Plans Three 30-Storey Towers On Dartmouth Waterfront
As Halifax’s population booms, and developers scramble to keep up, the city skyline is quickly changing.
But the three giant towers the owners of the Atlantica Hotel plan to build on Dartmouth’s waterfront still present a striking image.
Huddle got some inside details from Atlantica CEO Sukhdev Toor, and readers were eager to learn more.
These 14 Companies Set Up Shop In Halifax During The Pandemic
In the corporate world, Halifax was a kind of superstar during the pandemic.
Nova Scotia’s relatively successful handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the city’s proximity to key American markets, and the hard work of organizations like NSBI coaxed several big firms into setting up offices here.
This story, highlighting 14 companies that moved to Halifax during the pandemic, was evidence of an exciting trend taking shape in the city.