This half hour piece by CBC and Halifax’s own Don Connolly is probably one of my favorite clips to ever turn up, and it’s as much an adventure to watch as it was to salvage from the mold-marinated beta tape it arrived on back in 2023.
The end result? A grainy, blown-out, but appropriately presented look back at Halifax 40 years ago.
Don Connolly, originally from Antigonish, was a familiar face but an unmistakable voice. He spent 42 years as a host and interviewer on CBC Radio’s Information Morning in Halifax. He joined the program in 1976 and became one of the most recognizable voices in Nova Scotia, building a career that included tens of thousands of interviews covering current affairs, community stories, and a little bit of politics here and there.
What began as a modern-day exploration and history lesson of Don’s home city has aged into, as many of these types of pieces tend to do, a boots-on-the-ground time capsule of the streets, businesses, and people who made this city what it was back in 1985. His choice of talking points and the places he visits on his tour create a perfect and informative look back.
We visit places like The Historic Properties in its prime and learn about the carefully designed mid-1970s plan to build an immersive nod to the 18th-century Halifax waterfront.
Here, we also get a look at Founders Square ahead of its redevelopment.
Don also takes us on a tour of Point Pleasant Park while briefly touching on its history and some of the monuments and architecture that can be seen within the park.
Throughout the entire piece Don leans into the unique culture and heritage of the city of Halifax and its influence from trade and from being close to the North Atlantic. Ask people what they miss most when they move away and most will tell you that they miss being close to the water.
No talk of Halifax would be complete without a mention of its food and drink establishments, almost all of which mentioned here have ceased to exist. We get a brief look at The Palace and The Misty Moon, along with a few other neon signs that no longer light the night on the streets of Halifax.
“Some of the old haunts are still here and many are gone, replaced by all manner of lights and bright lively spots”
Don’s quote that still rings true today as we look at the ever-changing downtown core, whose constant evolution never seems to stop.
To both evolve and endure all at once is an art form that Halifax has always been good at.
Where the past and present sit close enough to hear each other. It’s important that they always listen.
Tune in now and enjoy Don Connolly’s Halifax
