Latest news with #HeatherRankin
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Jonathan Torrens, Katie Kelly host musical tribute show ahead of annual IWK Telethon
A star-studded celebration is set to take over downtown Halifax this weekend, as the IWK Telethon Tribute Show returns for another night of music, community and giving. The concert takes place Saturday night at the Lighthouse Arts Centre, just ahead of the annual IWK Telethon on CTV. Now in its fourth year, the tribute show brings together a lineup of East Coast talent in support of the IWK Health Centre. This year's performers include Heather Rankin, JRDN, DeeDee Austin, Cassie and Maggie, and Irish Mythen—backed by award-winning house band Rankin MacInnis and the Broken Reeds. 'It's an honourable cause,' said MacInnis. 'I had family that benefited from the IWK foundation. I grew up watching the telethon, so just to have a small part in it now means a lot to me, means a lot to the band.' The evening is co-hosted by CTV Atlantic's Katie Kelly and actor Jonathan Torrens, with a live audience expected at the Lighthouse Arts Centre and the full show airing on CTV Atlantic at 7 p.m. The tribute show sets the stage for Sunday's full-day IWK Telethon, which airs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features stories from across the region about the impact of the IWK and the families it supports. Donations to the IWK Foundation can be made online or by phone throughout the weekend. Katie Kelly and Jonathan Torrens Jonathan Torrens and Katie Kelly will host a musical tribute show this week. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
05-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Halifax wine bar surrounded by scaffolding says building inspection is 'significant' step forward
Social Sharing The crumbling facade of a downtown Halifax building is set to be inspected this weekend, giving hope to the owners of a wine bar who say scaffolding that has surrounded the property for nearly two years is driving their customers away. The scaffolding was ordered as a safety measure by the municipality after a person was injured by falling debris in June 2023. But the owners of Obladee Wine Bar, which has occupied a corner of the building at Barrington and Sackville streets for nearly 15 years, said the property owner has yet to make repairs or take any action — until this weekend. "The fact that we are getting some communication from the city, we're getting some action on behalf of the property owner, that's very significant," said Heather Rankin, who owns Obladee with her brother, Christian Rankin. She credits the breakthrough with their decision to go public last month with their dilemma. At the time, Christian Rankin told CBC News the tangle of steel and wood that wraps around the building is an eyesore that makes it difficult for people to know they're open. He said what was supposed to be temporary scaffolding has also prevented Obladee from opening its 20-seat patio for the last two summers. "It's extremely urgent," Heather Rankin said this week. "We've been struggling for nearly two years. This should have happened 20 months ago, not now." Mayor Andy Fillmore, who was elected last November, posted on social media earlier this week he wants to see the matter resolved so the wine bar does not lose another patio season. His post did not elaborate and he was unavailable for an interview with CBC News. The municipality confirmed the property owner has arranged for inspection work on the building. It's expected to happen Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time. Traffic delays in the Barrington and Sackville streets area are expected and sidewalks that are impacted will be closed. In a previous statement to CBC News, the municipality said it has issued repeated orders to the property owner since the passerby was injured in 2023. One order resulted in a $4,000 fine that was paid by the property owner in September 2024. A fourth order was issued in February requesting an updating on a structural engineer's report that was mandated. Property group insolvent The Caryi Group, which owns the building along with a number of other commercial and residential properties in Atlantic Canada, has fallen into financial trouble. The group's principal, Steven Caryi, died in 2023. His family is now trying to sell the building and others he left with mortgage debts estimated at about $47 million as of January, according to court documents. His sister, Joanne Caryi, previously declined to comment on the insolvency proceedings now before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. She is identified as the executor of her brother's Canadian estate in court documents. She could not be reached for an interview this week. Obladee will remain open this weekend and Rankin said they will be following up to make sure the inspection is followed by actual repairs. "It's a step in the right direction, but there's still a lot of work to be done and it needs to happen quickly," she said. Rankin and her brother are hoping the facade can be fixed so that the scaffolding can be taken down before the summer to allow for the patio to return to the Sackville Street side of the building. The Halifax Regional Municipality has made it clear the scaffolding has to remain in place until repairs are done.
