ARTS EAST

Nova Scotia’s Alex MacLean brings his small town brand to the big time.  If you have spent any time travelling through Canada’s Maritime Provinces over the past while – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, or Prince Edward Island – you have likely seen someone with  East Coast Lifestyle  proudly emblazoned across their shirt. The East Coast Lifestyle apparel brand has exploded in Atlantic Canada – and beyond – since inventor Alex MacLean launched the product almost four years ago. “I was told to create an invention in a course called Venture Creation,” says MacLean, 25, then a student at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. “I discovered that there was no clothing line locally, at all, in this part of the world. So why not try to brand the east coast, and make people proud of where they’re from? “We’re kind of the underdog of Canada,” he continues, referring to Maritimers. “People often don’t think they can stay here for work, and leave...

Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the passing of Elvis Presley, International World-Champion Elvis tribute artist, Thane Dunn and his Cadillac Kings, will perform seven shows throughout the Maritimes over the coming months. Recently we spoke with the King of Kings about his passion and profession. What are your roots? I was born in Moncton, New Brunswick. I've lived everywhere from California to Toronto but Moncton always has had a special place in my heart. My musical roots have always been early Rock and Roll and also old Country and Western like Buck Owens and Stonewall Jackson. I’ve always been a huge Jim Morrison fan. He had a lot of similar traits to Elvis. What first inspired the Elvis tribute? I always loved the man and I’ve had people tell me I looked like him and in early bands I was in people would say I sounded like him. I had a few months leading up to the decision to do it where it seemed every time I turned on the TV there was Elvis, the radio woul...