#halifax region

[city-flag-tournament]

✯ Round 2 ✯ Match 52 ✯

The current flag of Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada

Propaganda:

None

vs.

The current flag of Roswell, New Mexico, United States

Propaganda:

None

Tournament Policies: ✯ Choose the flag that's more meaningful to you! ✯ Be respectful of place names and cultural symbols in your commentary! ✯ If you want to submit propaganda, you may do so at the submission form linked in the pinned post. It will only be included if it is submitted before the next post with that flag is drafted and will be included in all subsequent posts the flag is featured in.

[oldshowbiz]

Forgotten kiddie host Randy Dandy

[rabbitcruiser]

The Halifax Regional Municipality (or HRM) was created on April 1, 1996.  

[crimsonender]

So uh. No universities in the Halifax Regional Municipality offer a degree in Behavioural Psychology. There's only three universities and Dalhousie is the only one with a significant Psychology department.

You can check if you don't believe me.

List of Dalhousie's Programs

List of Mount Saint Vincent's Programs

List of Saint Mary's University Programs

A college would not offer a degree like this. This is a university level degree. Either a Masters or a Doctorate program. One that she cannot physically get... because it's not offered here.

This is not a degree you would be able to get online.

Moreover we dont do SATs in Canada but you still need a GPA of 3.7 or higher to get into Dalhousie.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Halifax Public Library employees hit the picket line on Monday after conciliation talks between their employer and their union fell through. Service adviser Dominique Nielsen was outside Halifax Central Library with about 40 of her colleagues today, and she says many of them aren’t paid enough to make ends meet. The employees’ most recent collective agreement expired in April 2023, and it says librarians make between $59,705 and $68,224 a year, while service support workers — who are the lowest paid employees at Halifax Public Libraries — make between $35,512 and $40,460 annually.

Continue Reading

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[tzifron]

When I was a kid, public water fountains were ubiquitous, found in parks, at gas stations and department stores, even on random street corners, like the one above, photographed in 1941 in Caldwell, Idaho.

I ran cross country when I was in high school, and that involved regular training runs around the city of six to ten miles. Even in the hot Virginia sun, I was never concerned about water, as if I got thirsty I’d just stop at the various fountains along the way.

In the American south I grew up in, desegregation of water fountains led to governments deciding not to build new public fountains or maintain old ones — I distinctly remember that in a park I played in as a child there were two fountains next to each other; even in circa 1970, I understood the historical meaning of two fountains next to each other, but in any case, neither worked, and they were both rusting away.

But as I remember it, it wasn’t until the 1980s that plastic water bottles became a thing, and they were definitely marketed as “healthy,” in contrast to the stated unhealthiness of public water fountains. In fact, however, the loss of public water fountains has made us less healthy, not more healthy. Along the way, water, which used to be freely and publicly available pretty much everywhere suddenly became something you had to stop to buy at the convenience store. It seemed then, as it does now, like a giant scam on the consumer.

The very first piece I published in Halifax was a 2006 column in The Coast about the loss of public water fountains

[st-just]

hi I like your blog. I have a question that may be too personal so no hard feelings if you don't answer but could you talk a little bit about more about what you like/don't like about Halifax? im considering Dalhousie for grad school but have never been! and would like to have as much information about where I might spend the next 2 years of my life. thank you!

Oh sure! Though like, it depends on where you're coming from? Everything here is very relative. And also I'm absolutely certain I will forget numemrous vital things, do ask followup questions.

Most important thing is that the housing market is horrifying - the city's population started booming during COVID and the zoning and construction is only really starting to catch up now. Especially within walking distance of Dal getting a place to live at anything approaching affordable is going to be vicious. (This has unsurprisingly coincided with a large uptick in homelessness. Unremarkable to walk by a tent in a corner of some public park now).

Relatedly, the bus system is like - okay I'm not sure it's notably bad for a mid-sized-ish north american city, but it's damn sure not any better. You can get by bussing around on the peninsula, anywhere beyond 20 minute drives turn into 40-60 minute rides.

You will not have a family doctor, figure out the nearest walk-in clinic you can use for anything non-emergency.

The city's economy runs on some combination of students, tourists, sailors and soldiers. There are as many bars as you might expect (had the most per capita in the country for a while, don't know if we still do). Some of them are actually very good!

Relatedly, weed and liquor are both only legally sold by the crown corporation monopoly and a few weird specialty places.

None of them are massive, but there is a very nice amount of parkland and green space scattered throughout the city. The public (botanical) gardens are really beautiful in the spring-summer, and most are well-maintained (they just renovated and expanded the outdoor pool on the city Commons last year, even).

The waterfront has been thoroughly gentrified for the cruise ships over the course of my lifetime, but it's all still open to the public and grabbing one of the armchairs or hammocks to read in during the summer is lovely.

Provincially the government is the most thoroughly domesticated/red tory party in the country (they fairly literally ran to the left of the liberals). Full of corrupt backslapping, constantly getting into pissing matches with the municipal government, will probably govern for the next decade.

For reasons that I assume are downstream of all the students and having the closest thing to a regional theater scene east of Quebec, the whole city is IME very queer-friendly. For reasons I absolutely not understand, pride is in August here.

The public library system is basically the only part of the municipal government I think anyone involved should be unequivocally proud of, but it is great.

I don't really know the crime stats offhand but like, I left my apartment door unlocked probably 7 times in 10 through all of undergrad and it never bit me in the ass?

[docholligay]

"I'm not DEMOTING you, I'm setting you up to get maimed or killed. Significant difference. And/or, I see you as a threat to my power within the larger organization and so I am going to promote you into exile*"

Not a bad move, if you have to make it, but it comes with its own risks. I don't know what "untrustworthy folks" means in this context, because we literally haven't been told anything, but what if you promote him to a difficult and far off region and he gains extreme popularity? Such things do in fact happen. What if he makes whatever is going on in the east WORSE? Such things also happen.

You would have to believe that Roy was enough of a weakling to ensure that getting him literally out of the way is all you need to do,. for this to work.

*This actually is exactly what Winston Churchill did to Lord Halifax, weirdly enough, when he made him the ambassador to America. It was petty, and also a really bad idea! Lord Halifax was such a jackass about Americans that any Senator, etc, who met with Lord Halifax went from, "the war is regrettable, and Britain's position upsetting, but I'm not sure America should be involved in this one" to, "I am strangely unbothered at the prospect of Great Britain becoming a crater" which as you might imagine was not helpful to Churchill's "Please please please join the war" so he sort of shot himself in the foot on that one.

Please read me before commenting or sending an ask!

[vacantgodling]

PARAMOUR WORLDBUILDING IN FULL

(subject to change and get more detailed but dw about it tbh)

With a population of 9 million, the country of GALERÈ is the most populous in the world and boasts the most technological advancements to upkeep with its growing populous. despite this, galerians are known to be quite self-interested and self-important, only seeking to trade with other lands in the markets of furs and luxury goods. The Sierra Blanco mountain range is a wealth of precious gems, minerals, and crystals, and its inland rolling hills and rich soil are ideal for intensive agriculture, which are its main exports, aside from the usual weaponry and technology that they shell out to the highest bidders. As it is a self-interested nation it holds and boasts no allies, and prefers to stay out of any international conflicts.

The country itself is broken into 8 districts:

DUCAT ⟶ it is a wealthy district that is known for its innovation and beautiful coastline. the interior (especially within ducat the city’s limits) are fully walkable with convenient open and closed top trolleys that run trough the streets, not to mention the plethora of personal and private airships. it is here that true galerian culture can flourish, boasting the hostage of all the chamber at their bi-annual summits, as well as The Commander and The Duchess as permanent residents.

NOTABLE PLACES:

DUCAT CITY — the capital of galere and where the royal family resides. it sits within the shadow of the lone mountain LE BASTION, its peak said to be the home of The Commander, who takes his role of overlooking the city very seriously.

LA PALAIS DU CITRON — home of The Duchess, which is surrounded by, as the name suggests, her succulent, decadent, and always ripe lemon trees. it is no secret that the duchess claims that all beauty comes from lemons and many wealthy women of Ducat City, especially those of the duchess’s inner circle, incorporate a healthy dose of lemons into their beauty regimes.

COEUR d’ENTRIX — the grand airship docking station that is a hub of trade and mercantilism in the central ducat area. the most intricate of ships are produced and launched here and are a spectacle for all to see.

CITADEL ROYALE d’ARGENT BENEAUX (The Royal Citadel of Silver Benaux) — named for the beneaux royal family, who took the crown in galere with the assistance of the chamber in 842PC, the palace was constructed with help from all aspects of the chamber. it is the main palace where the reagent resides.

BIRD’S CLAW BEACH ⟶ the only portion of Ducat’s beautiful coastline that is marred by rocks and black sand; a prison was built here to make “better usage” of the space and it is for high profile criminals and those who are awaiting execution. daily activities for prisoners include being made to go on a daily lap around the prison, which is in view of beach goers—usually the uber wealthy who will jeer and mock prisoners from their vantage point.

HALIFAX ⟶ the most important district when it comes to the events of PARAMOUR. while not the most violent region of galere, Lower Halifax, which lies between the halifax river and le petit hali (the main river’s smaller and more winding tributary), is and always has been, a large slum. on the eastern side of the halifax river lies the rolling agricultural foothills that are said to be the most beautiful scenery in all of inland Galere. to the northwest and on the western side of le petit hali lies Uptown Halifax, which is an up and coming region all on its own thanks to the harbor. As it is a main import hub for much of the rest of the world, all foreign goods pass through Uptown and her markets before they even make it to Ducat City. Ducat and Ducat City are known for being old money, but there’s no secret that the reason The Keeper has chosen to make its home here is because of the newfound wealth and mercantalism that are beginning to thrive, with The Nautical Spokes, currently managed by Myrtus Spokes making the most waves in reliable traders.

NOTABLE PLACES:

CHATEAU AUX AISLES D’OR (The Castle of Guilded Wings) — is the main setting for PARAMOUR, and the floating home of The Keeper and later his next bride and our main character Hyacinthus Shrapnel, offshore and above the ocean. travel to and from this magnificent, isolated palace can only be achieved via airship, and many are always vying to make their presence known to potentially gain the favor of its elusive owner. 

CENTRAL HALIFAX — while still apart of the general barriers of lower halifax, central is where money meets squalor and is the home of the famous arena-tavern THE NIMBUS (which also serves as the headquarters of The Lock gang under the tutelage of Knox), as well as the famous WHITE ORCHID OPERA HOUSE. it is more densely populated than the rest of Lower Halifax, which has become sparse as people move closer to the harbor to look for work.

LA CASTRA ⟶ the religious epicenter of Galere and the home of both the most grandiose temple to the three divines, as well as The Bishop himself, La Castra’s populous is both inordiently poor, but is regarded as the most pious in all of the nation. What piety looks like is quite questionable, and the management practices of La Castra (its towns run by priests) has been in contention with the crown for decades now. cutting through it is the gate of divinity river, considered a blessed and holy river that can bathe away one’s sins. 

NOTABLE PLACES: 

SANCTUARIE D’ORAGE (Temple of the Storms) — the largest temple in all of Galere dedicated to The Shepherd, it looms over the citadel of La Castra like a bad omen; stretching so high into the sky that it obscures the view of airships, and almost seems like it touches the sun in broad daylight. it is at this temple that The Bishop does all his sermons and it is here where new priests are ordained, making it a major location for PARAMOUR as well. underneath the temple’s hallowed halls, a large labyrinth of catacombs resides—hiding the most ancient of relics in all of Galere’s history in its bone-lined walls.

THE FORTRESSE D’HUMBLE HERBE (The Fortress of Humble Grass) — floats adjacent to Sanctuarie D’Orage with a glass walkway connecting it to the temple’s upper echelon rooms. it is how The Bishop makes his way too and from sermons so as to not put too much strain on his frail body. while it appears run down and demure on the outside, its inner walls are adorned with large statues and murals of religious significance and jade pillars uphold its ceilings. certainly a metaphor for the inner religion’s greed, if nothing else.

QUAN MA ⟶ the most violent and underdeveloped region in all of galere, minus the region encircled by THE FORTUITOUS OUTER GATE, which is a large fortress wall that separates the wealthy of quan ma from the poor and desolate outskirts. It also protects the smaller, but elder port of ma, which is where The Nautical Spokes first got their start. quan ma is actually where the titular Gunn Family originates, but after the death of its patriarch, Clematis Gunn, the siblings scattered to different locals in Galere.

NOTABLE PLACES:

QUAN MA CITY — the only proper city in the district, but also rife with riff-raff and slum fodder; pollution leaks through the streets making it unpleasant even for the rich to make their home there. the only reasons to stay are the harbor; but as halifax’s harbor continues to elevate itself, much of the wealthy also begin to take flight and leave the city to its fate. 

THE PEAK OF DARKNESS — the tallest mountain in all Galere, which lies smack in the middle of quan ma and is surrounded by a blackened, burnt forest and then once again surrounded by another large structure: THE WRETCHED WALL to contain the perceived evil within. in the religious doctrine of The Three Divines it is here that the Vat of Darkness resides. the holiday Solemnity of the 9th Sunday aka The Observation of the Dark (Observation de L’Obscurité) is centered around The Bishop and his most favored priests traveling to the foothills of this mountain and offering luxurious foods and sacrifices, as well as continuing the arson of local vegetation of the area to strengthen The Savior who is atop the mountain holding the vat closed. climbing the mountain and even entering it on a whim are strictly prohibited and will result in execution on sight.

DEBTOR’S LABYRINTH — in the north of quan ma’s badlands, there lies a prison for those who have committed lesser evils, mainly those who have fallen into abject poverty and are unable to pay back their debts. the name is exactly what it says it is, and it is a labyrinth where you are forced to live in—disoriented—until your sentence is up. however, because the labyrinth is isolating, booby trapped, and there are rarely any guards who properly oversee the prison, getting sent here is essentially a death sentence (unless you can find your way out and escape).

DALRY ⟶ the sister district to Ducat and home of the traditionalist movement. despite this, dalry enjoys an abundance of wealth and prosperity across the board for all social classes, due to its idyllic location in the river basin of the halifax river and the gate of divinity river, which adjoin and create the beautiful, tiered dalry falls to the east. simple living enthusiasts as well as lords and ladies with their sights set on land and property flock to dalry and it is believed to be the place with the net-happiest galarian population.

OMBEROSÈ ⟶ the most mountainous region of Galere, much of the population here is dedicated to grazing animals as well as trading from the other bordering countries to Galere’s north. it boasts the sierra blanco (white saw) mountain range that stretches partially into Quan Ma. the entire region is the second least populous district in all of Galere, but it is becoming more and more a destination location to get away from the bustles of city life. it is the only place in Galere that has a strong folkish following; emphasizing the importance of galerian tradition at its roots, before The Three Divines caught wind in the country.

NOTABLE PLACES:

OMBEROSE CITY — the only “metropolis” area that omberose has to boast, however that is a far cry from any of the other major cities that the rest of Galere has to offer. while humble, the city itself is vibrant with brightly colored buildings that represent the mountains, sea, and sunset (important pinnacles in galerian tradition), and is abundant with greenery.

VAPPES ⟶ taking its name from the second century galerian word for vapid, it is an archipelago that borders Dalry and is the true resort location for any and all travelers. its mild climate and beautiful beaches make it the hottest real estate market in all galere, however, it is marred only by the jagged and larger so, BIRD’S TALON POINT. it shares jurisdiction of the largest island off Galere’s coast, UN CACCHORO with the much smaller, newer district of DOS LEONES and the fighting along that border can become quite fierce.

NOTABLE PLACES: 

UN CACCHORO — is the largest island to the southwest point of bird’s talon point. despite not being as scenic as Vappes itself, the contention over it between the two districts is fierce, even resulting in blows being exchanged. the crown has little interest in quelling these uprisings so they continue to rage unchecked and have done significant damage to the island.

BIRD’S TALON POINT — these jagged foothills are the only area in Vappes that receive snow during the winter months, and thus become a popular and more accessible destination for the increasing popularity of winter sports.

DOS LEONÈS ⟶ though it is a district, many think that’s just a formality to justify the existence of the 3 islands that are just off the coast of Bird’s Talon Point. they are barely inhabited and are usually used as pirating ports or as criminal hideaways. even still, the powers that be in Galere’s upper echelon of Ducat continue to engage in spats over the larger island UN CACCHORO, staking a claim on the southern half of the island for themselves.

[darkmaga-returns]

Deadliest Year For Aviation Since 2018. Russia will abandon missile moratorium. Alawite tensions rise in Syria. Iran may face upheaval like Syria. U.S. Treasury Department Allegedly Hacked

Lioness of Judah Ministry

Recent Rash Of Crashes Turns 2024 Into Deadliest Year For Aviation Since 2018

"There have been 4 different plane crashes worldwide in the last week..."

The commercial aviation industry faced a turbulent week with four plane crashes, making this one of the deadliest years since 2018. The most shocking mid-air aviation disaster occurred on Sunday when a Jeju Air 737-800 jet crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea. December 25: Azerbaijan Airlines Crash December 28: KLM Airlines Plane Skids Off Runway In Norway December 28: PAL Airlines Dash 8-400 Catches Fire in Canada December 29: 179 Dead In South Korea's Worst-Ever Aviation Disaster

Commercial airline plane nearly crashes into sports team jet

A Delta Air Lines plane almost crashed into a charter jet carrying a men’s basketball team in a close call on a runway.

An Embraer E135 jet with the Gonzaga University Men’s Basketball team board touched down at Los Angeles International Airport and was taxiing to a gate when it appeared to continue toward a runway. ‘Stop, stop, stop!’ an air traffic controller could be heard shouting at the charter plane in video footage of the incident shared online. The Embraer came to a halt as Delta Flight 471 lifted off from the runway and over the smaller aircraft.

Airliner or Flying Health Hazard? Unsavory Facts About Boeing's 737-800

Aircraft giant Boeing made headlines last week when three incidents involving its 737-800 planes, one of the Boeing 737 Next Generation (737NG) variants, occurred in 24 hours in various corners of the globe.

While the terrible Jeju Air 737-800 crash in South Korea killed 179, a few hours earlier another KLM 737-800 skidded off a runway in Norway after suffering a hydraulic failure, while an Air Canada 737-800 suffered an apparent landing gear failure upon arrival in Halifax. Though much of Boeing’s infamy stems from the disasters involving its 737 MAX airliners, the 737-800 has a dark history of its own, with this type of planes suffering over 20 incidents since the early 2000s and causing over 1,000 deaths.

Russia will abandon its unilateral missile moratorium, Lavrov says

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Russia will scrap a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter range nuclear-capable missiles because the United States has deployed such weapons in various regions around the world, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday.

Russia's move, long signalled, will kill off all that remains from one of the most significant arms control treaties of the Cold War, amid fears that the world's two biggest nuclear powers could be entering a new arms race together with China. Russia and the United States, who both admit their relations are worse than at any time since the depths of the Cold War, have both expressed regret about the disintegration of the tangle of arms control treaties which sought to slow the arms race and reduce the risk of nuclear war.

Russian government flight to US sparks mystery and speculation

On December 26th, one of the Special Flight Squadron "Russia" aircraft flew to New York and Washington, D.C., and remained in the United States for two days.

It is unknown who was on board the Ilyushin Il-96-300, which is used by Russia's highest officials, including heads of special services. When asked about this matter, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, " Another diplomatic rotation." The independent Russian channel BAZA on Telegram was the first to report on the mysterious flight of the Russian government plane, questioning who traveled to the USA and for what purpose. According to FlightRadar data, on December 25th, one of the Special Flight Squadron "Rossiya" planes took off from Moscow and flew to St. Petersburg. On December 26th, it flew from St. Petersburg to New York and, after a short break, proceeded to Washington, D.C.

[city-flag-tournament]

Bonus Poll

The current flag of Ħad-Dingli, Northern Region, Malta vs The current flag of Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada vs The current flag of Senglea (L-Isla), South Eastern Region, Malta vs The current flag of Monterey, California, United States vs The current flag of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England vs The current flag of Swieqi, Northern Region, Malta

[oldshowbiz]

Gabriel's Aero-Marine Instruments LTD

[rabbitcruiser]

The Halifax Regional Municipality (or HRM) was created on April 1, 1996.  

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Although summer is in full swing, many post-secondary students in Halifax already have their attention on the fall, as the city’s one per cent vacancy rate has some students struggling to access secure housing options.

G. Saleski, executive director of Students Nova Scotia, a non-profit advocacy group, said concerns are “year-round” for students when it comes to balancing schoolwork and budgets.

“Here in Nova Scotia, students are paying grocery costs that are the highest among students across the entire country,” they said, adding that about 50 per cent of the province’s students have to occasionally limit their grocery bill to afford housing.

Although it depends on the region, Saleski said many students begin searching for housing about six months before their course start date.

“The difficult part now is that even though students are searching earlier, there’s still less affordable and accessible options,” they explained, noting that housing remains one of the biggest barriers between someone obtaining a college or university degree in Nova Scotia.

Continue Reading

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[annieqattheperipheral]

yohe's recap fri-sun. behind $wall so here u go:

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — It’s a pleasant, autumn afternoon in downtown Halifax. A bartender is shaking his head in the city’s bar district, telling tales of Nova Scotia’s favorite son while NFL games beam on background televisions.

The topic is predictably Sidney Crosby.

“He’s here all the time in the summer with Nate (MacKinnon),” the bartender said. “People never leave him alone. Sits here and signs autographs all night. He’s almost too nice for his own good, you know? But he’s just such a good guy. He just sits here and signs and signs, and just talks with everyone, and poses for pictures. People love it. You have to understand how proud of him we are.”

That much is quite clear.

Preseason games don’t typically receive much in the way of hoopla. Even Erik Karlsson’s exhibition season debut was met with thousands of empty seats at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

But this is different. Much, much different. The Pittsburgh Penguins are playing the Ottawa Senators on Monday in downtown Halifax at Scotiabank Centre and it’s a preseason game, only you wouldn’t know it by the buzz in this beautiful, seaside city.

As of Sunday, there were around 300 tickets available on StubHub. The majority of these are selling for more than $1,000. The average price for a ticket on StubHub is around $1,100, and the most famous Taylor in the building will be Crosby’s sister.

“It’s all pretty crazy,” said Ryan Graves, another Nova Scotia native.

Crosby and the Penguins arrived in Halifax late on Friday afternoon. They had a “team bonding” day on Saturday, which included a scavenger hunt and Crosby acting as a personal tour guide for his teammates, most of whom had never been to Halifax.

“I was definitely feeling the pressure,” Crosby said with a smile. “Wanted to make sure guys enjoyed it. It’s a great place. I’m really proud of my home and what it has to offer.”

Rest assured, the feeling from his hometown is mutual.

All across Canada, Crosby is understandably a national hero. He’s one of the greatest players of all time, an incomparable gentleman, scorer of the golden goal and captain of the greatest generation of Canadian hockey.

In Pittsburgh, Crosby is a civic icon. In a city that reveres its sports legends more than most, Crosby’s face will rest on the Mount Rushmore of Western Pennsylvania greats alongside the likes of Mario Lemieux and Roberto Clemente, singular artists whose character somehow exceeded their athletic exploits.

And yet, in Halifax, the affection Crosby receives is even more noteworthy if slightly understated, as is the custom of this province’s people. Like Crosby himself, the people here are polite and kind. Crosby always smiles when Nova Scotia is mentioned. Unfailingly.

When his name is mentioned around the proud people of Halifax, they smile in turn.

“Hard not to,” Graves said.

The Penguins practiced on Sunday morning only minutes from Crosby’s boyhood home at Cole Harbour Place. The small building was filled with hundreds of fans, who overflowed the venue for hours. Hundreds of others stood outside, patiently waiting for a glimpse of Crosby.

Graves grew up in Nova Scotia, albeit three hours away. He is the best-suited member of the Penguins to explain what Crosby’s appearance in the Maritimes means, and what his presence over the years has done for hockey in this region.

Some players from Nova Scotia reached the NHL before Crosby, but his arrival — and subsequent domination of the league — changed everything, according to his new teammate.

“You can just see from the reaction of the people,” Graves said. “You can tell what it means to this area, what he’s done. He’s the first one from out east that really had an impact on everybody. Sid was the first one to pave the way. The impact he’s had on Mac (MacKinnon), myself, (Ottawa’s Drake) Batherson … you know, you always think things are possible. But when you have someone that’s actually done that, it becomes more real. You understand the pathway that they took. It gives you someone to root for. Everyone loves him. Everyone. He’s an idol to a lot of people. Eight, 10-year-old kids love him. People my parents’ age love him. He’s had an impact on so many people. It’s really cool that the Penguins brought us here to do this.”

Some athletes like to cultivate the image of giving back to the community when, in reality, their contributions are far smaller than the accompanying hype. Crosby is quite the opposite. He’s well known to visit Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh on a regular basis, for instance, but is insistent that the media not chronicle these visits. It’s simply his way.

It was fitting, then, that Crosby’s day on Sunday was particularly full, even if he couldn’t hide from the media on this occasion.

After the Penguins practiced, Crosby returned to the ice. He participated in a hockey clinic for dozens of young Nova Scotian players, and he wasn’t alone. His good friend, Evgeni Malkin, joined him for the clinic. So did Graves. And so did the entire Penguins coaching staff, including Mike Sullivan.

“We all play because we love it,” Crosby said. “Obviously we have dreams of being in the NHL. Sometimes that works out, sometimes it doesn’t. Hopefully it gives them the belief that, just because you’re from a small town, you can make it.”

While Crosby, Malkin, Graves and the coaching staff were on the ice, the rest of the Penguins players were signing autographs and participating in Q&As with children and other members of the Nova Scotian community. Crosby also invited and spoke with families who lost their houses during the horrific wildfires that impacted so much of Canada earlier this year.

“This whole thing has been great,” Jeff Carter said. “Everybody knows what Sid means to the community here. And I think everyone understands how many things he does for people off the ice. It’s been a special weekend for him. He’s very proud of where he grew up. That’s obvious. I think it’s been special for him, yes, but it’s also been a really great experience for all of us.”

Graves said the hockey community in Nova Scotia is an underappreciated one and that he hopes events like this underscore how passionate this province is for hockey.

“It’s all just so cool to see,” he said. “People here love this sport. They’re crazy for it. You see when the world juniors are here, everything is sold out. The Czech and Slovakian game even sold out. People love it. It’s crazy. People love the players who are from around here, too. People around here are blue-collar, hard-nosed people. It makes it fun for them to root for a person like Sidney. When I was a kid, the Islanders came here once for a week of training camp. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.”

And with all due respect to the Islanders, they aren’t Crosby.

“I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have a practice with the Penguins in my hometown rink, the place I grew up in,” Marcus Pettersson said. “Man, would that be awesome. But with Sid, everything is different. And it’s all because of the kind of human being he is.”

The crowd buzzed throughout Penguins practice on Sunday, with the massive contingent of children chanting Crosby’s name throughout.

“So, you see how he’s worshipped here,” Pettersson said. “You see it right away. And honestly, it’s because of the things he does in the community even more than the hockey player that he is. People know he’s a great person, but they don’t even understand all of it, all of the things he does when people aren’t looking, the way he treats people. People are smart, though. They know. He wouldn’t be worshipped the way he is if he weren’t a great person. He sets that standard and that precedent every day. We’ve just been walking around town, and you start to see that people are proud to be from here because Sidney Crosby is from here. I think that tells you a lot.”

As the years have rolled on, Crosby’s bond with his head coach has notably grown stronger. It was only fitting that Sullivan played a big role in the big weekend.

“It’s a great tribute to the legacy Sid has built,” Sullivan said.

Crosby and the Penguins once played a preseason game in Halifax, back in September of 2006. Given that it’s been 17 years since the Penguins have been here, it’s a pretty fair bet that this could be the final time that Crosby skates before his hometown fans.

“It’s been nice,” he said. “I never thought I’d have an opportunity to do this. I had a lot of morning practices in this rink. I had dreams of playing in the NHL. I didn’t think I’d ever be here with our team, doing something like this. You just try to take it all in and enjoy it.”

Crosby is perhaps the most hyped prospect in hockey history. Even before he was drafted, scouts and others who knew him raved about his personality and his character. This, they insisted, was a boy who was different than the rest.

“He’s just the best,” Pettersson said.

Crosby’s last NHL-related event in his hometown was in 2016 when a parade with the Stanley Cup was held in his honor.

Troy Crosby shook his head when pondering the last time the hockey world descended upon Nova Scotia to witness his son.

“Halifax has changed a lot since then,” Crosby’s father noted.

The boy, who became a man, who became a hockey god, has never really changed at all.

His homeland is all the better for it.

“This is a weekend people are going to remember for a really long time,” Graves said. “To the people here, it’s everything.”