From the first issue of the free newspaper—published June 17, 1993 —to the latest blog post, The Coast has had a clear mission: to cover Halifax better than any other media organization on the planet.

Founded by six friends from King's College who were inspired by New York's Village Voice, The Coast has remained independent and locally owned even as other Nova Scotia papers (not to mention the iconic Voice) surrendered their independence to the disease that is corporate chain ownership.

The Coast's weekly mix of award-winning news, arts and entertainment listings earned it membership in the international Association of Alternative Newsweeklies in 2003, a sure sign that outsiders think The Coast is on the right track. But external validation will always come in second-place for The Coast, where connecting with readers is most important.