Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Halifax Regional Municipality (icon; commonly Halifax or HRM) is the capital of the province
of Nova Scotia
, Canada
. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924. Halifax is the largest population centre in Atlantic Canada
and largest in Canada east of Quebec City
.
Halifax is a major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Major employers and economic generators include the Department of National Defence
, various levels of government, and the Port of Halifax
. Agriculture
, fishing
, mining
, forestry
and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of HRM.
was settled for thousands of years by the Mi'kmaq. Those who settled on Halifax Harbour
called it Jipugtug (anglicised as "Chebucto"), meaning Great Harbour. The first permanent European settlement in the area was the establishment of the Town of Halifax
, named after the British Earl of Halifax
, in 1749 when the colonial capital was transferred from Annapolis Royal
; other towns and villages were established throughout adjacent areas of what would become Halifax County in the decades that followed. The British founding of Halifax initiated Father Le Loutre's War
and the capital region was raided during the war 13 times by the Acadians and Mi'kmaq.
In 1996 the provincial government amalgamated
all municipal governments within Halifax County to create HRM, a regional municipality comprising approximately 200 individual communities
or placenames for civic addressing grouped into eighteen planning areas for zoning purposes.
, and measures approximately 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) in length between its eastern and western-most extremities, not including Sable Island
. The nearest point of land to Sable Island is not actually in HRM, but rather in adjacent Guysborough county
, however, Sable Island is considered part of District 13 in HRM.
The coastline is heavily indented, accounting for its length of approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi), with the northern boundary usually being between 50-60 kilometres (30-37 mi) inland. The coast is mostly rock with small isolated sand beaches in sheltered bays. The largest bays include St. Margarets Bay
, Halifax Harbour
/Bedford Basin
, Cole Harbour
, Musquodoboit Harbour
, Jeddore Harbour, Ship Harbour, Sheet Harbour
, and Ecum Secum
Harbour. The municipality's topography spans from lush farmland in the Musquodoboit Valley
to rocky and heavily forested rolling hills.
The municipality is centred on the urban core and surrounded by areas of decreasing density the farther the community is from the core.
Unlike most municipalities with a sizable census metropolitan area
, Halifax Regional Municipality's suburbs have been completely incorporated into the entire municipality (often by referendum. For example, the community of Spryfield, in the Mainland South area, voted to amalgamate with Halifax in 1968), with the urban area including the urban core, suburban communities and a rural commuter shed that encompasses almost half the municipality's landmass.
The urban area of HRM (2006 pop: 282,924) is located in the western end of the municipality, fronting on Halifax Harbour
. The dense urban core is centred on the Halifax Peninsula
and the area of Dartmouth
inside of the Circumferential Highway
. The suburban area stretches beyond Mainland Halifax
to the west, Cole Harbour
to the east, and Bedford
, Lower Sackville
and Windsor Junction areas to the north.
This urban area constitutes the most populous urban area on Canada's Atlantic coast, and the second largest coastal population centre in the country, after Vancouver
, British Columbia
. HRM currently accounts for 40% of Nova Scotia's population, and 15% of that of Atlantic Canada
.
The north eastern area centred on Sheet Harbour and the Musquodoboit Valley
is completely rural, with more in common with adjacent rural areas of neighbouring counties.
HRM's boundary includes all of Halifax County except for several First Nation reserves. Statistics Canada
identifies HRM as a census subdivision while Halifax County is listed as a census division
, despite the fact that both geographic areas differ by only several dozen hectare
s. Statistics Canada also lists the dissolved municipalities of Bedford, Dartmouth and Halifax, describing them as "Dissolved (municipalities) having undergone an amalgamation/dissolution)."
The Halifax Regional Municipality is an amalgamation
of four municipal governments in the urban and rural areas, therefore its composition of neighbourhoods and communities is unlike other municipalities such as a city.
There are over 200 official rural
and urban
communities
within Halifax County that have maintained their original geographic names (including the dissolved cities of Halifax and Dartmouth and the town of Bedford). These community names are used on survey and map
ping documents, for 9-1-1
service, municipal planning, and postal service.
HRM is divided into eighteen community planning areas which are further divided into neighbourhoods or villages. Several communities or neighbourhoods that were amalgamated by the former constituent municipalities in previous decades are starting to see their names gain increased use. The regional municipality has taken steps to reduce duplicate street names for its 9-1-1 emergency dispatch services; at the time of amalgamation, some street names were duplicated several times throughout HRM.
The urban core of HRM is a term used to roughly describe the urban concentration surrounding Halifax Harbour
in the western part of the municipality, and includes the Halifax Metropolitan Area, the Dartmouth Metropolitan Area, and the Bedford-Sackville areas. Rural areas lie to the east, west and north of this urban core. Certain rural communities on the urban fringe function as suburban or exurban areas, with the majority of those residents working in the urban core. Farther away, rural communities in HRM function much as any resource-based area in Nova Scotia, being sparsely populated, with their local economies developing around four major resource industries: agriculture
, fishing
, mining
and forestry
. It should be noted that the tourism
industry is beginning to change how some rural communities in HRM function, particularly in coastal areas such as Hubbards
, Peggys Cove
and Lawrencetown
.
(Köppen
Dfb), due to the prevailing westerly winds
blowing from the mainland of the continent. HRM's climate is, however, heavily influenced by its location on Nova Scotia's Atlantic
coast. The weather
is usually milder or cooler than that of central Canada
, with the temperature remaining (with occasional notable exceptions) between about −15 °C and 25 °C (5 °F to 77 °F) inland. Coastal sections have even less range due to strong maritime influence. Precipitation is high year-round; snow, rain and ice mixes are common in the winter, though sometimes it is mild and rainy. Halifax often receives tropical storms, mostly between August and October. They are very rarely at hurricane force when they make landfall, the most recent exception being when Hurricane Juan
, a Category 2 storm, hit in September 2003, and Hurricane Earl
which grazed the coast as a Category 1 storm in 2010. Atlantic sea surface temperatures off the coast of Nova Scotia were warmer than normal those years, and the accelerated storm tracks did not allow for the weakening that usually occurs with hurricanes moving over the colder waters of the Nova Scotia coast after passing the Gulf Stream
.
The Halifax Regional Municipality comprise 372,679 residents (2006 census). Approximately 18% of the population is under the age of 14, while 11% are 65 and older.
Population trend
Mother tongue language (2006)
Breakdown:
, as well as the Port of Halifax
. The municipality has a growing concentration of manufacturing industries and is becoming a major multi-modal transportation hub through growth at the port, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and improving rail and highway connections. A real estate boom in recent years has led to numerous new property developments, including the gentrification
of some former working-class areas.
Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of HRM. HRM's largest agricultural district is in the Musquodoboit Valley
; the total number of farms in HRM is 150, of which 110 are family-owned. Fishing harbours are located along all coastal areas with some having an independent harbour authority, and others being managed as small craft harbours under the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Other resource industries in HRM include the natural gas fields off the coast of Sable Island
, as well as clay, shale, gold, limestone, and gypsum extraction in rural areas of the mainland portion of the municipality.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is governed by a mayor
(elected at large) and a twenty-three person council
, who are elected by geographic district; municipal elections occur every four years. HRM has established community councils
where three or more councillors agree to form these councils to deal primarily with local development issues. Most community council decisions are subject to final approval by regional council. The current Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality is Peter J. Kelly.
The Halifax Regional Council
is responsible for all facets of municipal government, including the Halifax Regional Police
, Halifax Public Libraries
, Halifax Fire and Emergency, Halifax Regional Water Commission
, parks and recreation, civic addressing, public works, waste management, and planning and development.
The Halifax Regional Municipality has a well-developed network of public and private schools, providing instruction from primary to grade twelve; one hundred and thirty seven public schools are administered by the Halifax Regional School Board
, as well as four public schools administered by the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial
, whereas the fourteen private schools are operated independently.
The municipality is also home to the following post-secondary educational institutions: Dalhousie University
, Saint Mary's University, Mount Saint Vincent University
, the Halifax campus of Université Sainte-Anne
, University of King's College
, Atlantic School of Theology
, NSCAD University, the Centre for Arts and Technology, and the Nova Scotia Community College
. The presence of so many university and college students contributes to a vibrant youth culture in the region, as well as making it a major centre for university education in eastern Canada.
The urban area of Halifax Regional Municipality is a major cultural centre within the Atlantic provinces
. The municipality's urban core also benefits from a large population of post-secondary students who strongly influence the local cultural scene. HRM has a number of art galleries, theatres and museums, as well as most of the region's national-quality sports and entertainment facilities. The municipality is home to many performance venues, namely the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, the Neptune Theatre, and The Music Room. HRM also is the home to many of the region's major cultural attractions, such as Symphony Nova Scotia
, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, The Khyber
ICA, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
and the Neptune Theatre. On special occasions, the city will put on a fireworks display which is best viewed from a boat. The region is noted for the strength of its music scene and nightlife, especially in the central urban core. See List of musical groups from Halifax, Nova Scotia for a partial list.
HRM plays host to a wide variety of festivals that take place throughout the year, including: The Atlantic Film Festival, The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
, The Halifax Busker Festival, Greekfest, The Atlantic Jazz Festival, The Multicultural Festival, The largest Canada Day celebration east of Ottawa, Natal Day, periodic Tall Ship events, and Shakespeare by the Sea, to name a few. Many of these celebrations have become world renowned over the past several years.
HRM has also become a significant film-production centre, with many American and Canadian filmmakers using the streetscapes, often to stand in for other cities that are more expensive to work in. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has its Atlantic Canada production centres (radio and television) based in Halifax, and quite a number of radio and television programs are made in the region for national broadcast.
HRM is considered by many to be the cultural centre of the Maritimes. The municipality has been able to maintain many of its maritime and military traditions, while opening itself to a growing multicultural population.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is home to a number of outdoor recreational opportunities, including numerous ocean and lake beaches, as well as rural and urban parks. The municipality has a host of organised community intramural sports, as well as varsity and intramural sports offered by public schools and post-secondary institutions and has extensive facilities.
The region is home to several semi-professional sport franchises, such as the Halifax Mooseheads
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
(see also Sports teams in the Halifax Regional Municipality).
The region has also hosted several major sporting events, including the 2003 World Junior Hockey Championship, 2003 Nokia Brier
, the 2004 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships
, and 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
. From 1984 to 2007, the region had been home to the CIS Men's Basketball Championship, however the tournament was moved to Ottawa
, Ontario
starting in 2008. The 72nd Ice Hockey World Championship was held between May 2 and May 18, 2008, in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Canada.
Halifax was selected as Canada's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games
in 2006 but withdrew from the international competition in advance of the November 9, 2007 selection date on March 8.
In February 2011, the municipality hosted the 2011
Canada Winter Games.
HRM is the Maritimes' centre for broadcast and print media. CBC Television
, CTV Television Network
(CTV), and Global Television Network
all have regional television hubs in the municipality. CBC Radio
has a major regional studio and there are also regional hubs for Rogers Radio and various private broadcast franchises, as well as a regional bureau for The Canadian Press/Broadcast News.
HRM's print media is centred on its single daily newspaper, the broadsheet Halifax Chronicle-Herald
as well as two free newspapers, the daily commuter-oriented edition of Metro International
and the free alternative arts weekly The Coast
. Frank
provides HRM with a bi-weekly satirical and gossip magazine.
From 1974-2008, HRM had a second daily newspaper, the tabloid The Daily News
which still publishes several neighbourhood weekly papers such as The Bedford-Sackville Weekly News, The Halifax West-Clayton Park Weekly News and the Dartmouth-Cole Harbour Weekly News. These weekly papers compete with The Chronicle-Heralds weekly Community Heralds HRM West, HRM East, and HRM North.
is a major port used by numerous shipping lines, administered by the Halifax Port Authority
. The navy
and coast guard
have major installations along prominent sections of coastline in both Halifax and Dartmouth. The harbour is also home to a public ferry service connecting downtown Halifax to two locations in Dartmouth. Sheet Harbour is the other major port in the municipality and serves industrial shippers on the Eastern Shore
.
The Halifax Port Authority's
various shipping terminals constitute the eastern terminus of Canadian National Railway's
transcontinental network. Via Rail Canada provides overnight passenger rail service from the Halifax Railway Station
six days a week to Montreal
with the Ocean
, a train equipped with sleeper cars that stops in major centres along the way, such as Moncton. The Halifax Railway Station also serves as the terminus for Acadian Lines
intercity buses which serve destinations across Atlantic Canada
.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport serves HRM and most of the province, providing scheduled flights to domestic and international destinations. CFB Shearwater
, an air force base, is located on the eastern side of Halifax Harbour.
The municipality's urban core is linked by the Angus L. Macdonald
and A. Murray MacKay
suspension bridges, as well as the network of 100-series highways which function as expressways. The Armdale traffic circle
is an infamous choke point for vehicle movement in the western part of the urban core, especially at rush hour.
The urban core of HRM is served by Metro Transit
, which operates standard bus routes, bus-rapid transit routes, as well as the pedestrian-only harbour ferries. Established in 1752 , the municipality's ferry service is the oldest continuously running salt water
ferry service in North America.
HRM's urban core is home to a number of regional landmark buildings and retains some significant historic buildings. The downtown's mid level office towers are overlooked by the fortress of Citadel Hill with its iconic Halifax Town Clock
.
The architecture of Halifax's South End
is renowned for its grand Victorian houses while the West End
and North End, Halifax
have many blocks of well preserved wooden residential houses with notable features such as the "Halifax Porch". Dalhousie University
's campus is often featured in films and documentaries. Dartmouth also has its share of historic neighbourhoods.
The urban core is home to several blocks of typical North American high-rise office buildings, however segments of the downtown is governed by height restrictions which prevent buildings from obstructing certain sight lines between Citadel Hill and Halifax Harbour
. This has resulted in some modern high rises being built at unusual angles or locations.
In recent decades there has been a good deal of conflict between those in favour of modern development and heritage preservationists. The former has been occasionally seen as threatening the historic character of certain areas of the city, while the latter has been accused of stifling growth in the city and contributing to the economic stagnation of certain districts. Much municipal consultation in recent years, such as the HRM by Design project, has focused on how to allow modernization and development to encourage repatriation and renewed community diversification, while preserving the remaining heritage structures and character.
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924. Halifax is the largest population centre in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
and largest in Canada east of Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
.
Halifax is a major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Major employers and economic generators include the Department of National Defence
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, various levels of government, and the Port of Halifax
Halifax Port Authority
The Halifax Port Authority is a port authority operating as a not-for-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility for all federally-owned waterfront properties on Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.The HPA was created on March 1, 1999...
. Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of HRM.
History
The area comprising present day Halifax CountyHalifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
was settled for thousands of years by the Mi'kmaq. Those who settled on Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
called it Jipugtug (anglicised as "Chebucto"), meaning Great Harbour. The first permanent European settlement in the area was the establishment of the Town of Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, named after the British Earl of Halifax
George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax
George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, KG, PC was a British statesman of the Georgian era.-Early life:...
, in 1749 when the colonial capital was transferred from Annapolis Royal
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
; other towns and villages were established throughout adjacent areas of what would become Halifax County in the decades that followed. The British founding of Halifax initiated Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre’s War , also known as the Indian War, the Micmac War and the Anglo-Micmac War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British Officer Charles...
and the capital region was raided during the war 13 times by the Acadians and Mi'kmaq.
In 1996 the provincial government amalgamated
Amalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
all municipal governments within Halifax County to create HRM, a regional municipality comprising approximately 200 individual communities
General Service Area
General Service Area is a term used by the Canadian province of Nova Scotia to describe the boundaries of areas that are communities or place names in Nova Scotia....
or placenames for civic addressing grouped into eighteen planning areas for zoning purposes.
Geography
The Halifax Regional Municipality occupies an area of 5,577 square kilometres (2,353 sq mi), (approximately 10% of Nova Scotia) comparable to the province of Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, and measures approximately 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) in length between its eastern and western-most extremities, not including Sable Island
Sable Island
Sable Island is a small Canadian island situated 300 km southeast of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a year-round home to approximately five people...
. The nearest point of land to Sable Island is not actually in HRM, but rather in adjacent Guysborough county
Guysborough County, Nova Scotia
Guysborough County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:Taking its name from the Township of Guysborough, which was named in honour of Sir Guy Carleton, Guysborough County was created when Sydney County was divided in 1836.In 1840, the Township of St. Mary's, in Guysborough...
, however, Sable Island is considered part of District 13 in HRM.
The coastline is heavily indented, accounting for its length of approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi), with the northern boundary usually being between 50-60 kilometres (30-37 mi) inland. The coast is mostly rock with small isolated sand beaches in sheltered bays. The largest bays include St. Margarets Bay
St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia
St. Margarets Bay is a Canadian bay located on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia on the border of the Halifax Regional Municipality and Lunenburg County .-Description:...
, Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
/Bedford Basin
Bedford Basin
Bedford Basin is a large enclosed bay, forming the northwestern end of Halifax Harbour on Canada's Atlantic coast.-Geography:Geographically, the basin is situated entirely within the Halifax Regional Municipality and is oriented northwest-southeast, measuring approximately 8 kilometres long and 5...
, Cole Harbour
Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Cole Harbour is a Canadian suburban community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality. It is the hometown of Sidney Crosby.-Geography:...
, Musquodoboit Harbour
Musquodoboit Harbour
Musquodoboit Harbour is a natural harbour in Canada on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.Located east of Petpeswick Inlet and west of Jeddore Harbour, Musquodoboit Harbour is a 10 km long estuary measuring about 2 km wide at its southern end and narrowing to less than 100 m wide at the...
, Jeddore Harbour, Ship Harbour, Sheet Harbour
Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia
Sheet Harbour is a small community on the eastern shore of the Halifax Regional Municipality, in Nova Scotia, Canada in the Musquodoboit/Sheet Harbour region of the Marine Drive on Trunk 7, 87.44 kilometers from Halifax.-History:...
, and Ecum Secum
Ecum Secum, Nova Scotia
Ecum Secum is a rural community on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. It straddles the boundary between Guysborough County and Halifax Regional Municipality....
Harbour. The municipality's topography spans from lush farmland in the Musquodoboit Valley
Musquodoboit Valley
The Musquodoboit Valley is a Canadian valley and region in northeastern Halifax County Nova Scotia.Administratively located in the Halifax Regional Municipality's Musquodoboit Valley / Dutch Settlement planning area, the picturesque Musquodoboit River flows through the valley.The northeastern end...
to rocky and heavily forested rolling hills.
Urban-rural characteristics
Unlike most municipalities with a sizable census metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
, Halifax Regional Municipality's suburbs have been completely incorporated into the entire municipality (often by referendum. For example, the community of Spryfield, in the Mainland South area, voted to amalgamate with Halifax in 1968), with the urban area including the urban core, suburban communities and a rural commuter shed that encompasses almost half the municipality's landmass.
The urban area of HRM (2006 pop: 282,924) is located in the western end of the municipality, fronting on Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
. The dense urban core is centred on the Halifax Peninsula
Halifax Peninsula
The Halifax Peninsula is a community and planning area located in the urban core of Halifax Regional Municipality in the province of Nova Scotia. Halifax Peninsula is home to Downtown Halifax, the financial and economic heart of the region, which was also the site of the original settlement and...
and the area of Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
inside of the Circumferential Highway
Nova Scotia Highway 111
Highway 111 is a 13-kilometre controlled access freeway in Nova Scotia, Canada.Highway 111 varies from 4-12 lanes and is known informally as the Dartmouth "Circumferential Highway", or, more recently, "The Circ", since it is a partial orbital road. The highway runs from Pleasant Street in the...
. The suburban area stretches beyond Mainland Halifax
Mainland Halifax
Mainland Halifax is a region in central Nova Scotia, Canada that refers to the central-eastern part of the Chebucto Peninsula in the Halifax Regional Municipality...
to the west, Cole Harbour
Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Cole Harbour is a Canadian suburban community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality. It is the hometown of Sidney Crosby.-Geography:...
to the east, and Bedford
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Bedford is a community in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was an independent town from 1980-1996. Bedford lies on the northwestern end of Bedford Basin, an extension of the Halifax Harbour...
, Lower Sackville
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Lower Sackville is a suburban community located in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is part of the urban area of Halifax ....
and Windsor Junction areas to the north.
This urban area constitutes the most populous urban area on Canada's Atlantic coast, and the second largest coastal population centre in the country, after Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. HRM currently accounts for 40% of Nova Scotia's population, and 15% of that of Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
.
The north eastern area centred on Sheet Harbour and the Musquodoboit Valley
Musquodoboit Valley
The Musquodoboit Valley is a Canadian valley and region in northeastern Halifax County Nova Scotia.Administratively located in the Halifax Regional Municipality's Musquodoboit Valley / Dutch Settlement planning area, the picturesque Musquodoboit River flows through the valley.The northeastern end...
is completely rural, with more in common with adjacent rural areas of neighbouring counties.
HRM's boundary includes all of Halifax County except for several First Nation reserves. Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
identifies HRM as a census subdivision while Halifax County is listed as a census division
Census division
Census division is an official term in Canada and the United States. The census divisions of Canada are second-level census geographic unit, below provinces and territories, and above "census subdivisions" and "dissemination areas". In provinces where they exist, the census division may correspond...
, despite the fact that both geographic areas differ by only several dozen hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s. Statistics Canada also lists the dissolved municipalities of Bedford, Dartmouth and Halifax, describing them as "Dissolved (municipalities) having undergone an amalgamation/dissolution)."
Neighbourhoods and communities
The Halifax Regional Municipality is an amalgamation
Amalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
of four municipal governments in the urban and rural areas, therefore its composition of neighbourhoods and communities is unlike other municipalities such as a city.
There are over 200 official rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
and urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
communities
Community (disambiguation)
A community is a group of interacting organisms sharing an environment.Community may also refer to:* Community * Community , a collection of populations of different species** Plant community* Community...
within Halifax County that have maintained their original geographic names (including the dissolved cities of Halifax and Dartmouth and the town of Bedford). These community names are used on survey and map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
ping documents, for 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
service, municipal planning, and postal service.
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
in the western part of the municipality, and includes the Halifax Metropolitan Area, the Dartmouth Metropolitan Area, and the Bedford-Sackville areas. Rural areas lie to the east, west and north of this urban core. Certain rural communities on the urban fringe function as suburban or exurban areas, with the majority of those residents working in the urban core. Farther away, rural communities in HRM function much as any resource-based area in Nova Scotia, being sparsely populated, with their local economies developing around four major resource industries: agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
. It should be noted that the tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industry is beginning to change how some rural communities in HRM function, particularly in coastal areas such as Hubbards
Hubbards, Nova Scotia
Hubbards is an unincorporated Canadian rural community on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.-Geography:Hubbards is located on the eastern side of the Aspotogan Peninsula, and along the northern shore of St. Margarets Bay...
, Peggys Cove
Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia
Peggys Cove is one of the busiest tourist attractions in Nova Scotia and is a prime attraction on the Lighthouse Trail scenic drive. The community's famous lighthouse marks the eastern entrance of St. Margarets Bay and is officially known as the Peggys Point Lighthouse.Peggys Cove has a classic...
and Lawrencetown
Lawrencetown, Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Lawrencetown is a Canadian rural community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality on Route 207. The settlement was established during Father Le Loutre's War.- History :...
.
Climate
Despite its coastal location, the climate of HRM is humid continentalHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb), due to the prevailing westerly winds
Westerlies
The Westerlies, anti-trades, or Prevailing Westerlies, are the prevailing winds in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, blowing from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the east, and steer extratropical...
blowing from the mainland of the continent. HRM's climate is, however, heavily influenced by its location on Nova Scotia's Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast. The weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
is usually milder or cooler than that of central Canada
Central Canada
Central Canada is a region consisting of Canada's two largest and most populous provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Due to their high populations, Ontario and Quebec have traditionally held a significant amount of political power in Canada, leading to some amount of resentment from other regions of the...
, with the temperature remaining (with occasional notable exceptions) between about −15 °C and 25 °C (5 °F to 77 °F) inland. Coastal sections have even less range due to strong maritime influence. Precipitation is high year-round; snow, rain and ice mixes are common in the winter, though sometimes it is mild and rainy. Halifax often receives tropical storms, mostly between August and October. They are very rarely at hurricane force when they make landfall, the most recent exception being when Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan
Hurricane Juan was a significant hurricane that struck the southern part of Atlantic Canada in late September 2003. It was the tenth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Juan formed southeast of Bermuda on September 24, 2003 out of a tropical wave that tracked...
, a Category 2 storm, hit in September 2003, and Hurricane Earl
Hurricane Earl
The name Earl has been used for six tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean.* Hurricane Earl — drifted over the central Atlantic Ocean without affecting land* Hurricane Earl — drifted over the central Atlantic Ocean without affecting land...
which grazed the coast as a Category 1 storm in 2010. Atlantic sea surface temperatures off the coast of Nova Scotia were warmer than normal those years, and the accelerated storm tracks did not allow for the weakening that usually occurs with hurricanes moving over the colder waters of the Nova Scotia coast after passing the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
.
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| County | |
| 1851 | 39,914 |
| 1861 | 49,021 |
| 1871 | 56,963 |
| 1881 | 67,917 |
| 1891 | 71,358 |
| 1901 | 74,662 |
| 1911 | 80,257 |
| 1921 | 97,228 |
| 1931 | 100,204 |
| 1941 | 122,656 |
| 1951 | 162,217 |
| 1961 | 225,723 |
| 1971 | 261,461 |
| 1981 | 288,126 |
| 1991 | 332,518 |
| Regional | Municipality |
| 2001 | 359,111 |
| 2006 | 372,679 |
| 2011 | 400,000+ |
Population trend
| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 372,679 | 3.8% |
| 2001 | 359,111 | 4.7% |
| 1996 | 342,851 | 3.1% |
| 1991 | 332,518 | N/A |
Mother tongue language (2006)
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 337,525 | 91.41% |
| Other languages | 20,645 | 5.59% |
| French only | 10,080 | 2.73% |
| Both English and French | 1,010 | 0.27% |
Ethnic origins
| Ethnic Origin | Population | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Demographics of Canada This article about the demographic features of the population of Canada, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population, the People of Canada.... |
37.7 | |
| English | 34.2 | |
| Scottish Scottish Canadian Scottish Canadians are people of Scottish descent or heritage living in Canada. As the third-largest ethnic group in Canada and among the first to settle in Canada, Scottish people have made a large impact on Canadian culture since colonial times... |
29.8 | |
| Irish Irish Canadian Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population... |
24.5 | |
| French French Canadian French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries... |
18.0 | |
| German | 12.1 | |
| Dutch | 4.0 | |
| North American Indian | 3.4 | |
| Welsh | 2.2 | |
| British Isles British Canadian British Canadian refers to a link between Canada and the United Kingdom. It may refer to:*British-Canadian relations*English Canadian*Irish Canadian*Scottish Canadian*Canadians of Welsh descent... , not included elsewhere |
1.9 | |
| Italian | 1.8 | |
| Polish Polish Canadians Polish Canadians are Citizens of Canada with Polish ancestry, and Poles who immigrated to Canada from abroad. According to the 2001 census by Statistics Canada, 984,585 Canadians claim full or partial Polish ancestry.-History:... |
1.5 | |
| Acadian | 1.4 | |
| Ukrainian Ukrainian Canadian A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest... |
1.1 | |
| Lebanese | 1.1 | |
| Chinese Chinese Canadian Chinese Canadians are Canadians of Chinese descent. They constitute the second-largest visible minority group in Canada, after South Asian Canadians... |
1.0 | |
| African, not included elsewhere | 0.9 | |
| Black Black Canadian 'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin... |
0.8 |
Religious belief
- 84.80%: ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
- 12.90%: noneIrreligionIrreligion is defined as an absence of religion or an indifference towards religion. Sometimes it may also be defined more narrowly as hostility towards religion. When characterized as hostility to religion, it includes antitheism, anticlericalism and antireligion. When characterized as...
- 0.86%: MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
- 0.44%: Jewish
- 0.42%: Buddhist
- 0.27%: HinduHinduHindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
- 0.05%: SikhSikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
- 0.10%: other Eastern religions
- 0.17%: other religions
Economy
The urban area of Halifax Regional Municipality is a major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Halifax serves as the business, banking, government and cultural centre for the Maritime region. Major employers and economic generators include the Department of National DefenceCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, as well as the Port of Halifax
Halifax Port Authority
The Halifax Port Authority is a port authority operating as a not-for-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility for all federally-owned waterfront properties on Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.The HPA was created on March 1, 1999...
. The municipality has a growing concentration of manufacturing industries and is becoming a major multi-modal transportation hub through growth at the port, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and improving rail and highway connections. A real estate boom in recent years has led to numerous new property developments, including the gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
of some former working-class areas.
Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of HRM. HRM's largest agricultural district is in the Musquodoboit Valley
Musquodoboit Valley
The Musquodoboit Valley is a Canadian valley and region in northeastern Halifax County Nova Scotia.Administratively located in the Halifax Regional Municipality's Musquodoboit Valley / Dutch Settlement planning area, the picturesque Musquodoboit River flows through the valley.The northeastern end...
; the total number of farms in HRM is 150, of which 110 are family-owned. Fishing harbours are located along all coastal areas with some having an independent harbour authority, and others being managed as small craft harbours under the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Other resource industries in HRM include the natural gas fields off the coast of Sable Island
Sable Island
Sable Island is a small Canadian island situated 300 km southeast of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a year-round home to approximately five people...
, as well as clay, shale, gold, limestone, and gypsum extraction in rural areas of the mainland portion of the municipality.
Government
Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality
The Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality holds the highest office in the municipal government of Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality. The mayor is elected at large during municipal elections, held every leap year and is the head of the Halifax Regional Council.The current mayor is...
(elected at large) and a twenty-three person council
Halifax Regional Council
Halifax Regional Council is the governing body for the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia.In April 1996, the councils for the City of Halifax, the City of Dartmouth, Town of Bedford, and Municipality of the County of Halifax were dissolved when those municipalities were amalgamated into...
, who are elected by geographic district; municipal elections occur every four years. HRM has established community councils
Halifax Regional Community Council
A Community Council in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality is a form of local government consisting of several councillors from the larger Halifax Regional Council....
where three or more councillors agree to form these councils to deal primarily with local development issues. Most community council decisions are subject to final approval by regional council. The current Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality is Peter J. Kelly.
The Halifax Regional Council
Halifax Regional Council
Halifax Regional Council is the governing body for the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia.In April 1996, the councils for the City of Halifax, the City of Dartmouth, Town of Bedford, and Municipality of the County of Halifax were dissolved when those municipalities were amalgamated into...
is responsible for all facets of municipal government, including the Halifax Regional Police
Halifax Regional Police
The Halifax Regional Police is one of a number of law enforcement agencies operating in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia; the other primaries being the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Forces Military Police...
, Halifax Public Libraries
Halifax Public Libraries
Halifax Public Libraries is the public library system that serves the Halifax Regional Municipality of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was created in 1996 through a merging of the Halifax, Dartmouth Regional, and Halifax County library systems...
, Halifax Fire and Emergency, Halifax Regional Water Commission
Halifax Regional Water Commission
The Halifax Regional Water Commission is the municipal water, wastewater and stormwater utility serving the residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality , pursuant to the Public Utilities Act...
, parks and recreation, civic addressing, public works, waste management, and planning and development.
Education
Halifax Regional School Board
The Halifax Regional School Board is the public school board responsible for 137 elementary, junior high, and high schools located within the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. The current Superintendent of the HRSB is Carole Olsen, who has held the position since 2002...
, as well as four public schools administered by the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial
Conseil scolaire acadien provincial
The Conseil scolaire acadien provincial is the Francophone school board for Nova Scotia.It was created in 1996.-Région Nord-Est :*Centre scolaire Étoile de l'Acadie; Sydney*École acadienne de Pomquet; Pomquet*École Beau-Port; Arichat...
, whereas the fourteen private schools are operated independently.
The municipality is also home to the following post-secondary educational institutions: Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, Saint Mary's University, Mount Saint Vincent University
Mount Saint Vincent University
Mount Saint Vincent University is a university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1873 and is locally referred to as The Mount.-History:...
, the Halifax campus of Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne is a francophone university located in the seaside town of Pointe-de-l'Église in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the only French-language university in the province of Nova Scotia and is one of only two such universities in the Maritime Provinces, the other being the Université...
, University of King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
, Atlantic School of Theology
Atlantic School of Theology
The Atlantic School of Theology is a Canadian ecumenical university which provides "graduate level theological education and research, and in formation for Christian ministries, lay and ordained, in church and society, primarily in Atlantic Canada". It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and its...
, NSCAD University, the Centre for Arts and Technology, and the Nova Scotia Community College
Nova Scotia Community College
The Nova Scotia Community College, commonly referred to as the NSCC, is a community college serving the province of Nova Scotia.The college delivers a diverse program of trades, technology, health, human services, applied arts, new media, business administration and adult education through a system...
. The presence of so many university and college students contributes to a vibrant youth culture in the region, as well as making it a major centre for university education in eastern Canada.
Culture
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. The municipality's urban core also benefits from a large population of post-secondary students who strongly influence the local cultural scene. HRM has a number of art galleries, theatres and museums, as well as most of the region's national-quality sports and entertainment facilities. The municipality is home to many performance venues, namely the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, the Neptune Theatre, and The Music Room. HRM also is the home to many of the region's major cultural attractions, such as Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Symphony Nova Scotia traces its origins back to several different orchestras, including the Halifax Symphony , the Halifax Sinfoniette , and the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra . Its current structure began in 1983...
, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, The Khyber
The Khyber
The Khyber is a three story multipurpose arts centre located in a building owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality and is a registered Historical Property...
ICA, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a Canadian maritime museum located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a member institution of the Nova Scotia Museum and is the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada with a collection of over 30,000 artifacts...
and the Neptune Theatre. On special occasions, the city will put on a fireworks display which is best viewed from a boat. The region is noted for the strength of its music scene and nightlife, especially in the central urban core. See List of musical groups from Halifax, Nova Scotia for a partial list.
HRM plays host to a wide variety of festivals that take place throughout the year, including: The Atlantic Film Festival, The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
-Background:The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is a show inspired by Military Tattoos given by military bands and display teams. It has taken place annually in Nova Scotia's capital, Halifax since 1979. It is the largest annual indoor show in the world. It is currently held in the Halifax...
, The Halifax Busker Festival, Greekfest, The Atlantic Jazz Festival, The Multicultural Festival, The largest Canada Day celebration east of Ottawa, Natal Day, periodic Tall Ship events, and Shakespeare by the Sea, to name a few. Many of these celebrations have become world renowned over the past several years.
HRM has also become a significant film-production centre, with many American and Canadian filmmakers using the streetscapes, often to stand in for other cities that are more expensive to work in. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has its Atlantic Canada production centres (radio and television) based in Halifax, and quite a number of radio and television programs are made in the region for national broadcast.
HRM is considered by many to be the cultural centre of the Maritimes. The municipality has been able to maintain many of its maritime and military traditions, while opening itself to a growing multicultural population.
Sport
The region is home to several semi-professional sport franchises, such as the Halifax Mooseheads
Halifax Mooseheads
The Halifax Mooseheads are a CHL ice hockey club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio division of the QMJHL for the 1994-1995 season. While the franchise has never won a league championship, they have...
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(see also Sports teams in the Halifax Regional Municipality).
The region has also hosted several major sporting events, including the 2003 World Junior Hockey Championship, 2003 Nokia Brier
2003 Nokia Brier
The 2003 Nokia Brier was held at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia from March 1-9. The defending champion, Randy Ferbey and his team from Alberta were the winners, winning their third Brier in a row. At the Worlds they went on to represent Canada and win the gold medal.Final...
, the 2004 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships
2004 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2004 IIHF World Women's Championships were held March 30-April 6, 2004 in Halifax and Dartmouth, Canada. The Canadian national women's hockey team won their eighth straight World Championships...
, and 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
The World Indoor Lacrosse Championship is an international box lacrosse tournament that is held every four years an is sponsored by the Federation of International Lacrosse . First held in 2003, the tournament was sponsored by the International Lacrosse Federation until 2008, when the ILF became...
. From 1984 to 2007, the region had been home to the CIS Men's Basketball Championship, however the tournament was moved to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
starting in 2008. The 72nd Ice Hockey World Championship was held between May 2 and May 18, 2008, in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Canada.
Halifax was selected as Canada's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
in 2006 but withdrew from the international competition in advance of the November 9, 2007 selection date on March 8.
In February 2011, the municipality hosted the 2011
2011 Canada Winter Games
The 2011 Canada Winter Games were held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from Friday 11 February 2011 to Sunday 27 February 2011. -Bids:4 bids were made for the games, eventually Halifax was selected to stage the games.*Halifax*Annapolis Valley*Truro, Wentworth and Brookfield with other...
Canada Winter Games.
Media
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, CTV Television Network
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
(CTV), and Global Television Network
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
all have regional television hubs in the municipality. CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
has a major regional studio and there are also regional hubs for Rogers Radio and various private broadcast franchises, as well as a regional bureau for The Canadian Press/Broadcast News.
HRM's print media is centred on its single daily newspaper, the broadsheet Halifax Chronicle-Herald
Halifax Chronicle-Herald
The Chronicle Herald is a broadsheet published in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The largest newspaper company in Nova Scotia, The Chronicle Herald is also the highest circulation newspaper in the Atlantic provinces and is currently the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada...
as well as two free newspapers, the daily commuter-oriented edition of Metro International
Metro International
Metro International is a Swedish media company based in Luxembourg that publishes the Metro newspapers. Metro International's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 41% since launch of the first newspaper edition in 1995. It is a freesheet, meaning that distribution is...
and the free alternative arts weekly The Coast
The Coast
The Coast is a free weekly newspaper in Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada. The paper distributes 24,000 copies per week throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality. The paper is owned by Coast Publishing Limited....
. Frank
Frank (magazine)
Frank is a bi-weekly Canadian scandal or satirical magazine published since 1987 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.A separate publication in Ottawa, Ontario, of the same name was published from 1989 to 2004 and then revived from 2005 to 2008...
provides HRM with a bi-weekly satirical and gossip magazine.
From 1974-2008, HRM had a second daily newspaper, the tabloid The Daily News
The Daily News (Halifax)
The Daily News was a tabloid newspaper in Halifax, Nova Scotia that was published from 1974 until ceasing operations in February 2008.-History:...
which still publishes several neighbourhood weekly papers such as The Bedford-Sackville Weekly News, The Halifax West-Clayton Park Weekly News and the Dartmouth-Cole Harbour Weekly News. These weekly papers compete with The Chronicle-Heralds weekly Community Heralds HRM West, HRM East, and HRM North.
Transportation
Halifax HarbourHalifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
is a major port used by numerous shipping lines, administered by the Halifax Port Authority
Halifax Port Authority
The Halifax Port Authority is a port authority operating as a not-for-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility for all federally-owned waterfront properties on Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.The HPA was created on March 1, 1999...
. The navy
Canadian Forces Maritime Command
The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...
and coast guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
have major installations along prominent sections of coastline in both Halifax and Dartmouth. The harbour is also home to a public ferry service connecting downtown Halifax to two locations in Dartmouth. Sheet Harbour is the other major port in the municipality and serves industrial shippers on the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore (Nova Scotia)
The Eastern Shore is a region of Nova Scotia Canada. It is the Atlantic coast running northeast from Halifax Harbour to the eastern end of the peninsula at the Strait of Canso....
.
The Halifax Port Authority's
Halifax Port Authority
The Halifax Port Authority is a port authority operating as a not-for-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility for all federally-owned waterfront properties on Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.The HPA was created on March 1, 1999...
various shipping terminals constitute the eastern terminus of Canadian National Railway's
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
transcontinental network. Via Rail Canada provides overnight passenger rail service from the Halifax Railway Station
Halifax, Nova Scotia railway station
The Halifax Railway Station is an inter-city railway station in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is operated by Via Rail.-Current use:The station is the eastern terminus of the Ocean, Via Rail's eastern transcontinental train which operates between Montreal and Halifax; thus it is also the eastern...
six days a week to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
with the Ocean
Ocean (passenger train)
The Ocean is a Canadian passenger train operated by Via Rail between Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is currently the oldest continuously-operated named passenger train in North America. The Oceans schedule takes approximately 21 hours, running overnight in both directions...
, a train equipped with sleeper cars that stops in major centres along the way, such as Moncton. The Halifax Railway Station also serves as the terminus for Acadian Lines
Acadian Lines
Acadian Lines, legally incorporated as Acadian Coach Lines LP/Autocars Acadien SEC, is a Canadian coach operator based in Moncton, New Brunswick....
intercity buses which serve destinations across Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport serves HRM and most of the province, providing scheduled flights to domestic and international destinations. CFB Shearwater
CFB Shearwater
Canadian Forces Base Shearwater , commonly referred to as CFB Shearwater, was a Canadian Forces Base located in Shearwater, Nova Scotia on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the Halifax Regional Municipality....
, an air force base, is located on the eastern side of Halifax Harbour.
The municipality's urban core is linked by the Angus L. Macdonald
Angus L. Macdonald Bridge
The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, locally known as "the old bridge", is a suspension bridge crossing Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia, Canada; it opened on April 2, 1955....
and A. Murray MacKay
A. Murray MacKay Bridge
The A. Murray MacKay Bridge locally known as "the new bridge" is the second suspension bridge linking the Halifax Peninsula with Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and opened on July 10, 1970....
suspension bridges, as well as the network of 100-series highways which function as expressways. The Armdale traffic circle
Armdale traffic circle
The Armdale Traffic Circle is a roundabout in the Armdale district of Halifax, Nova Scotia.The traffic circle receives vehicles from five different directions: Chebucto Road and Quinpool Road on the Halifax Peninsula, Herring Cove Road and St. Margaret's Bay Road on the Chebucto Peninsula, and...
is an infamous choke point for vehicle movement in the western part of the urban core, especially at rush hour.
The urban core of HRM is served by Metro Transit
Metro Transit (Halifax)
Metro Transit is a Canadian public transport agency operating buses and ferries in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality .Owned by the HRM, Metro Transit's operations area is the urban core in the western part of the municipality, namely the Halifax and Dartmouth Metropolitan Areas, along...
, which operates standard bus routes, bus-rapid transit routes, as well as the pedestrian-only harbour ferries. Established in 1752 , the municipality's ferry service is the oldest continuously running salt water
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
ferry service in North America.
Architecture
| Name | Height | Floors |
|---|---|---|
| Fenwick Tower | 32 | |
| Purdy's Wharf Purdy's Wharf Purdy's Wharf is an office complex located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Built over the water at the edge of Halifax Harbour and resting on pilings, it consists of two office towers, and a smaller office structure called Purdy's Landing. Purdy's Landing is commonly referred to as the "Xerox... Tower 2 |
22 | |
| 1801 Hollis Street 1801 Hollis Street 1801 Hollis Street is an office building located in downtown Halifax in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada and is home to many prominent businesses. It was built in 1985 and is one of the tallest buildings in Halifax, standing at 87 metres, with 22 floors... |
22 | |
| Barrington Tower Barrington Tower Barrington Tower is a part of the Scotia Square Complex in Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The tower stands at 84 metres and has 20 floors.The building is connected to the Downtown Halifax Link system.-Tenants:... |
20 | |
| Cogswell Tower Cogswell Tower Cogswell Tower is part of the Scotia Square Complex in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is used for office and commercial space and stands at with 14 floors, plus levels G, A, B, C, D, E, S underneath it, which are part of the parkade that Cogswell Tower rests on... |
20 | |
| Maritime Centre Maritime Centre (Halifax) The Maritime Centre in Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada is an office building home to the regional telecommunications company Bell Aliant .... |
21 | |
| Queen Square Queen Square (Dartmouth) Queen Square is an office building located in downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, part of the Halifax Regional Municipality. At 18 floors , Queen Square is the tallest building in the downtown Dartmouth area, and is located on Alderney Drive across from Alderney Gate... |
19 | |
| Purdy's Wharf Purdy's Wharf Purdy's Wharf is an office complex located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Built over the water at the edge of Halifax Harbour and resting on pilings, it consists of two office towers, and a smaller office structure called Purdy's Landing. Purdy's Landing is commonly referred to as the "Xerox... Tower 1 |
18 | |
| Bank of Montreal Building Bank of Montreal Building (Halifax) The Bank of Montreal Building is located near the waterfront, and is home to the Bank of Montreal in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The office tower stands at 73 meters with 18 floors... |
18 | |
| TD Tower TD Tower (Halifax) TD Tower is an office building home to the Toronto-Dominion Bank in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. It was completed in 1974.The bank building stands at 73 metres with 18 floors and is next to Bank of Commerce... |
18 |
HRM's urban core is home to a number of regional landmark buildings and retains some significant historic buildings. The downtown's mid level office towers are overlooked by the fortress of Citadel Hill with its iconic Halifax Town Clock
Halifax Town Clock
The Town Clock, also sometimes called the Old Town Clock or Citadel Clock Tower, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the historic urban core of Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality....
.
The architecture of Halifax's South End
South End, Halifax
The South End is a region of Halifax Regional Municipality, located on the southern half of the Halifax Peninsula in Halifax's urban centre. Quinpool Road is increasingly considered to be an arbitrary border between the South and North Ends, though Quinpool Road is also a part of the West End, and...
is renowned for its grand Victorian houses while the West End
West End, Halifax
The West End is a neighbourhood of Halifax Regional Municipality in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located on the western half of the Halifax Peninsula. The West End is predominantly middle class with many blocks of tree-lined older residential streets. However, it is also home to many...
and North End, Halifax
North End, Halifax
The North End of Halifax is a neighbourhood located in the urban core of Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality, occupying the northern part of the Halifax Peninsula.-Geography:...
have many blocks of well preserved wooden residential houses with notable features such as the "Halifax Porch". Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
's campus is often featured in films and documentaries. Dartmouth also has its share of historic neighbourhoods.
The urban core is home to several blocks of typical North American high-rise office buildings, however segments of the downtown is governed by height restrictions which prevent buildings from obstructing certain sight lines between Citadel Hill and Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
. This has resulted in some modern high rises being built at unusual angles or locations.
In recent decades there has been a good deal of conflict between those in favour of modern development and heritage preservationists. The former has been occasionally seen as threatening the historic character of certain areas of the city, while the latter has been accused of stifling growth in the city and contributing to the economic stagnation of certain districts. Much municipal consultation in recent years, such as the HRM by Design project, has focused on how to allow modernization and development to encourage repatriation and renewed community diversification, while preserving the remaining heritage structures and character.
Sister cities
- Hakodate, Japan
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(1982). The cities chose to twin because they both have star fortStar fortA star fort, or trace italienne, is a fortification in the style that evolved during the age of gunpowder, when cannon came to dominate the battlefield, and was first seen in the mid-15th century in Italy....
s. - Campeche
Campeche, CampecheSan Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(1999). Campeche was chosen because, like Halifax, it is "a capital of a state" and is "a city of similar size to Halifax on or near the coast having rich historical tradition". - Norfolk
Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(2006). Norfolk was chosen because, like Halifax, its economy "depends heavily on the presence of the Armed Forces, and both cities are very proud of their military history".
Major parks
- Dartmouth CommonsDartmouth CommonsThe Dartmouth Common is an approximately area of land set aside by the government in the late 18th century for the settlers common use in Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Canada...
- Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
- Halifax Commons
- Point Pleasant ParkPoint Pleasant ParkPoint Pleasant Park is a large, partially forested municipal park at the southern tip of the Halifax peninsula. It once hosted several artillery batteries, and a well-preserved 18th century Martello tower can be found there...
- Public GardensHalifax Public GardensThe Halifax Public Gardens are Victorian era public gardens formally established in 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation. The gardens are located in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia on the Halifax Peninsula near the popular shopping district of Spring Garden Road...
- Shubie ParkShubie ParkShubie Park is a urban park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia maintained by the Halifax Regional Municipality.Heavily forested, Shubie Park is roughly linear in shape as it is bounded on the north and west by Highway 118 expressway and on the south and east by Lake Micmac and the southern edge of Lake...
- Sir Sandford Fleming ParkSir Sandford Fleming ParkSir Sandford Fleming Park, known locally as The Dingle Park , is a urban park located in the Halifax Regional Municipality in the subdivision of Jollimore, Canada....
- York Redoubt National Historic SiteYork RedoubtYork Redoubt is a National Historic Site of Canada situated on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour at Ferguson's Cove, Nova Scotia, originally constructed in 1793. It was a key element in the defence of Halifax Harbour in the 19th and 20th centuries, and underwent many additions to...
- Long Lake Provincial ParkLong Lake Provincial Park (Nova Scotia)Long Lake Provincial Park is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1980 by then Premier John Buchanan when Halifax's water supply was shifted from the Spruce Hill/Long Lake/Chain Lakes watershed to the Pockwock Lake watershed near Hammonds Plains. The park itself...
Notable Haligonians
- Chögyam TrungpaChögyam TrungpaChögyam Trungpa Rinpoche was a Buddhist meditation master and holder of both the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages, the eleventh Trungpa tülku, a tertön, supreme abbot of the Surmang monasteries, scholar, teacher, poet, artist, and originator of a radical re-presentation of Shambhala vision.Recognized...
—founder of VajradhatuVajradhatuVajradhatu was the name of the umbrella organization of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, one of the first Tibetan Buddhist lamas to visit and teach in the West. It served as the vehicle for the promulgation of his Buddhist teachings, and was also the name by which his community was known from 1973 until...
and Shambhala BuddhismShambhala BuddhismThe term Shambhala Buddhism was introduced by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in the year 2000 to describe his presentation of the Shambhala teachings, originally conceived by Chögyam Trungpa as secular practices for achieving enlightened society, in concert with the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu and Nyingma... - Sidney CrosbySidney CrosbySidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
—Professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... - Sir Samuel Cunard—British shipping magnate
- Denny DohertyDenny DohertyDennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty was a Canadian singer and songwriter. He was most widely known as a founding member of the 1960s musical group The Mamas & the Papas.-Early career:...
—Founding member of the 1960s musical group The Mamas & the PapasThe Mamas & the PapasThe Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles... - Joseph HoweJoseph HoweJoseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
—politician, oversaw the formation of the first responsible governmentResponsible governmentResponsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
in a British colony - Sarah Jeanette Jackson—digital artist
- Colleen JonesColleen JonesColleen P. Jones is a Canadian curler and television personality. She is best known as the skip of two women's world championship teams and six Tournament of Hearts Canadian women's championships, including an unprecedented four titles in a row...
—Most successful Canadian women's skip in curlingCurlingCurling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
history - Alexander KeithAlexander KeithAlexander Keith was a Scottish born-Canadian politician, Freemason and brewer. He was mayor of the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a Conservative member of the provincial legislature, and the founder of the Alexander Keith's Nova Scotia Brewery.-Biography:Keith was born in Halkirk, Caithness,...
—Fourth Mayor of Halifax and founder of the Alexander Keith'sAlexander Keith'sAlexander Keith's is a Canadian brewery founded in 1820 in Halifax, Nova Scotia making it one of the oldest commercial breweries in all of North America. It was founded by Alexander Keith who emigrated from Scotland in 1817. Today, the brewery is under the control of Labatt, a subsidiary of...
brewing company - Robert MacNeilRobert MacNeilRobert Breckenridge Ware MacNeil, OC, known sometimes as Robin MacNeil, , is currently a novelist and formerly was a television news anchor and journalist who had paired with Jim Lehrer to create The MacNeil/Lehrer Report in 1975.-Early life:MacNeil was born in Montreal, the son of Margaret...
—Journalist and television announcer - Garrett MasonGarrett MasonGarrett Mason is a blues guitarist from Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the son of the late Dutch Mason. He is best known for his song "Howlin for my Baby" which was featured in the movie Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor DayWebpage...
—Musician - Alexa McDonoughAlexa McDonoughAlexa Ann Shaw McDonough OC is a Canadian politician who became the first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Canada, when she was elected the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's leader in 1980...
—former federal leader of the New Democratic PartyNew Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
. Also interim President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Saint Vincent UniversityMount Saint Vincent UniversityMount Saint Vincent University is a university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1873 and is locally referred to as The Mount.-History:... - Sarah McLachlanSarah McLachlanSarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
—Singer and songwriter - Ellen PageEllen PageEllen Philpotts-Page , known professionally as Ellen Page, is a Canadian actress. Page received both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress for her role as the title character in the film Juno...
—Academy Award nominated actress - Joel PlaskettJoel PlaskettJoel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
— Singer/songwriter - SloanSloan (band)Sloan is a Toronto-based alternative rock quartet from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout their 20-year tenure Sloan has released 10 LPs , two EPs, a live album, a "best of" collection and no less than thirty singles...
—alternative pop/rock quartet - Sir John Thompson—4th Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
- Sir Charles Tupper—6th Prime Minister of Canada
- Sakyong Mipham—Head of Shambhala BuddhismShambhala BuddhismThe term Shambhala Buddhism was introduced by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in the year 2000 to describe his presentation of the Shambhala teachings, originally conceived by Chögyam Trungpa as secular practices for achieving enlightened society, in concert with the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu and Nyingma...
See also
- Halifax Regional Municipality municipal election, 2008Halifax Regional Municipality municipal election, 2008Halifax Regional Municipality municipal election, 2008The Halifax Regional Municipality is governed by a mayor and a twenty-three person council, who are elected by geographic district; municipal elections occur every four years...
- Halifax HarbourHalifax HarbourHalifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
- Halifax Port AuthorityHalifax Port AuthorityThe Halifax Port Authority is a port authority operating as a not-for-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility for all federally-owned waterfront properties on Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.The HPA was created on March 1, 1999...
- Halifax ExplosionHalifax ExplosionThe Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
- Halifax Regional Fire and EmergencyHalifax Regional Fire and EmergencyHalifax Regional Fire and Emergency is the fire and rescue service of the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia Canada.Although established in 1996 when municipal amalgamation took place, the service traces its history to 1754 when the oldest fireservice in Canada was established at Halifax...
- Halifax Regional PoliceHalifax Regional PoliceThe Halifax Regional Police is one of a number of law enforcement agencies operating in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia; the other primaries being the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Forces Military Police...
- Halifax Regional Water CommissionHalifax Regional Water CommissionThe Halifax Regional Water Commission is the municipal water, wastewater and stormwater utility serving the residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality , pursuant to the Public Utilities Act...
- Bedford Institute of OceanographyBedford Institute of OceanographyThe Bedford Institute of Oceanography is a major Canadian government ocean research facility located in Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia. The Bedford Institute of Oceanography is the largest ocean research station in Canada...