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Do you know the capital of Nova Scotia? NO? Well, why worry when IcyCanada is here for you?
This article teaches you about Nova Scotia and its capital, Halifax. Let’s get started, then…
Nova Scotia is an Atlantic province of Canada. This Canadian province is located on the eastern seaboard of North America. It consists of a large mainland (large peninsula) and Cape Breton island, which is to the northeast of the Nova Scotia mainland and is connected to the mainland by the Canso Causeway.
Nova Scotia is one of the Maritime Provinces of Canada and one of the four Canadian provinces forming Atlantic Canada. Canada’s second-smallest province covers an area of about 21,300 square miles.
The capital of Nova Scotia is famous for its maritime history. The provincial capital of Nova Scotia is Halifax Regional Municipality. Halifax is not only the capital of Nova Scotia but the major economic center of Atlantic Canada, as well as the largest urban area in Atlantic Canada. If you have the questions like What is the importance of Halifax?
The culture, language, and population of Halifax? Education in Halifax? Tourism offered by the capital city? Then we have got you covered. This article is going to focus on the Halifax regional municipality. But first, let us focus on Nova Scotia.
In the first section, our discussion will revolve around the geography of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia’s tourism industry, Nova Scotia business, Nova Scotia’s economy, Nova Scotia’s population, and more such interesting topics.
Section 1: Nova Scotia
Geography
Nova Scotia is situated halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. The province’s mainland is the Nova Scotia peninsula. This Nova Scotia peninsula is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean consisting of many bays.
To the northeast of the province is Cape Breton Island, and Sable island is also a part of Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia is in the middle-temperature area, and even though it is surrounded by water, still the climate is similar to the continental climate.
Culture, History, and Population
Nova Scotia’s Population
Nova Scotia is the second smallest region in the country after Prince Edward Island. The area of Nova Scotia is 21,300 square miles. The province has Cape Breton island and many other small coastal islands.
The province of Nova Scotia has a population lying in the range of 940,600 to 921,700, according to the 2011 census. Due to this, Nova Scotia is the second most densely populated province in Canada after Manitoba and has a population density of 45 people per square mile.
Nova Scotia’s History and People
Many of Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq people have reservations about their representation in the country. The Mi’kmaq people occupied the province before the first European colonists arrived. These European colonists arrived in the 15th century.
In the 1600s, at Port Royal, present-day Acadia, the first permanent European settlement by the French colonist had taken place.
About 12.5% of Nova Scotia’s population is because of permanent European settlement by the French, today known as Acadian French.
The British followed and obtained control of the region between 1710 and 1758, establishing Halifax as the new capital in 1749.
Many communities of the population are settlers from the British Islands and the place which is the present-day United States. During the 18th century, immigrants from New England (Planters) and American Colonists, also known as United Empire Loyalists since they were loyal to Great Britain during the American revolution, settled in western and northern Nova Scotia.
You will be able to find settlers from England(Yorkshire) and Scotland in Northern and Eastern Nova Scotia. The scots settled in Cape Breton island have brought their Gaelic culture to the country. Apart from this, the Irish immigrants have greatly expanded their population in the Halifax region since the 19th century, and the German immigrants founded the seaport of Lunenburg in the mid-70s.
Nova Scotia is diverse, with the presence of smaller migrations of Dutch, Italian, Polish, Arab, Chinese, South Asian, and other peoples, taking over the region of Halifax and Sydney. The black population of Nova Scotia is made up of the descendants of Black loyalists and West Indian immigrants.
Major areas of Acadia, like Cape Breton Island, New Brunswick, and St. John’s Island (now known as Prince Edward Island), became part of Nova Scotia in the 17s.
Economy
During the 20th century, the resource-based economy of Nova Scotia started magnifying. The revolution began in the 17th century due to the availability of Natural resources like the Fish stocks from the Scotian shelf.
This fishery began as the pillar of the economy in the early phases but later went through a traumatizing downfall. This happened due to overfishing in the late twentieth century. Due to the collapse, about 20,000 people lost their jobs in 1992.
But Nova Scotia, in the present world, has the fastest-growing economy in Canada. The sectors affecting the economy are mining, tourism, offshore oil and gas, agriculture, lumber and paper, and defense and aerospace.
Next, we will be discussing one of the most significant industries, the tourism industry of Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia’s tourism industry
The tourism sector of Nova Scotia is blooming with more than 6.5k direct businesses, providing around 40k job opportunities.
The tourism industry of Nova Scotia presents the culture, ethics, history, and coastline of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is rich in museums like the Glooscap Heritage Centre, the Black culture Centre for Nova Scotia, the Cape Breton Miners museum, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
The museums mentioned above are a must-visit if you plan a trip to Nova Scotia. They reflect the heritage and history of Nova Scotia.
Another thing contributing to the tourism industry is the music of Nova Scotia. Several famous musicians reside in Nova Scotia, and visitor centers are installed in the hometowns of these musicians, like Hank Snow and Anne Murray. The music industry, including the music fests like Stan Rogers Folk Festival, attracts many tourists from outside the country. This benefits the economy of the country.
Another fun activity in Nova Scotia, Canada, is traveling via Cruise ships, which once even brought around 2 million tourists to the port of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia.
Around 87 National Historic sites are there in Nova Scotia, the most famous ones like Habitation at Port Royal and Fort George in Halifax. Peggy’s Clove in Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is globally accepted and brings as many as 6 million international tourists annually. Nova Scotia also has the Old Town Lunenburg, a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Education
Nova Scotia has >450 public schools run by the public system. The public system allows schooling from primary graders to Grade 12. Seven regional school boards run public education.
The Nova Scotia Community College system comprises 13 campuses all over the province. The community college was constructed in the 19s.
The province also has 12 universities and colleges, like the Dalhousie University, University of King’s College, Saint Mary’s University (Halifax), Mount Saint Vincent University, Acadia University, Université Sainte-Anne, and more.
Section 2: Halifax Regional Municipality
Now, we are beginning with the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax regional municipality. We will discuss the history, geography, culture and ethnicity, education, and tourism in Halifax regional municipality.
Introduction
Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia and the greatest municipality in Atlantic Canada. In 2021, the municipal population of the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax, was about 4.39 million.
It is the giant economic region in Atlantic Canada, consisting of both the government and the private sector.
History, Culture, and Ethnicity
Before the permanent European settlement, the population of Mi’kmaq people was high in the regions of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The community in several 1000 resided in the then-known Halifax, Kjipuktuk, which meant Great Harbour when translated into the Mi’kmaq language.
The Europeans first settled permanently in the Halifax Peninsula region, later established as the town of Halifax. In 1749, the capital changed from Annapolis Royal to Halifax, i.e., the present-day capital of Nova Scotia.
After this, Halifax saw the commencement of Father le Loutre’s War. We have attached a video describing the le Loutre War and the further history of Halifax.
Geography
Halifax is divided into two major regions, the urban region as well as the rural region. The term Halifax Regional Municipality was given on 1st April 1996. This happened when the entire area of Halifax, including all its cities, districts, and suburbs, was grouped under a single-tier municipality.
Climate
The climate of Halifax Regional Municipality is a humid continental climate with summers that are warm and mild winters. This is because of the Gulf stream modulation. The weather in the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax, is calm in the winter and sometimes cooler during the summers. The temperature range is between -8°C to 24°C.
The area’s climate is greatly influenced by the sea coast, which causes noticeable changes in summer. January is considered the coldest month in the region, whereas August is the hottest. Due to the sea influence, August is warmer than June, and September is the mildest month of the year when the mean temperature is considered.
Education
Preschools
The preschools in the capital of Nova Scotia are the ideal beginning for your child’s education journey. The age group of the kids attending the preschool is between the age of 3 to the age of 5. The region of Halifax offers various preschool programs for kids.
A few of the best preschools in Halifax are listed below:
1. Needham Preschool and Daycare
2. Beech Street Preschool
3. Armbrae Academy
4. Care & Fun Child Care
The next steps for attaining education in Halifax are primary and secondary schools.
Primary and Secondary Schools in Halifax
Nova Scotia, in general, allows you to choose between public, private, and homeschooling for your children’s education. But in Canada, the popular choice is the public schools over the rest.
If we talk about public schools, the parent need not pay any tuition fees since the public schools are publicly funded under the direct control of the Ministry of Education.
Higher Education in Halifax
Halifax has six major universities and three community colleges for post-secondary education and even accepts more than 40k students across the globe per year.
In general, Nova Scotia and the whole of Canada offer exciting social life to the students and quality education and college life.
The Top Institutions in Halifax are listed below:
- Atlantic School of Theology
- Dalhousie University
- Mount Saint Vincent University
- NSCAD University
- Nova Scotia Community College
- Saint Mary’s University
- University of King’s College
In 2018, Dalhousie University ranked among the top 10 universities in Canada; let us discuss this prestigious University.
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is globally recognized as one of North America’s most warm and welcoming universities. It was founded in 1818 and is Canada’s oldest university, which accepts around 18 thousand students annually across the globe.
Places to Visit in Halifax
As we come to the end of the article, we will present the last section as in the bonus section highlighting the top 12 places to visit in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1. Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
Citadel Hill is a major tourist attraction in Halifax, showcasing the history of the military, facts about the first World War, and especially information about its “Road to Vimy and Beyond.
Citadel National Historic Site offers many interesting and fun activities, like the Sentry Change, Noon Gun, Tours, Ghost Tours, and Raise Your Spirits activity(The Citadel Distilled, a tour describing about the history of alcohols used in the British Military).
Address: 5425 Sackville Street, Halifax
2. Halifax Harbourfront
Also, Halifax Waterfront. It is a lively hotspot in the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax. The Waterfront has the world’s longest urban boardwalk of about 2.5 miles, connecting Pier 21 at the Halifax Seaport to Casino Nova Scotia.
You can visit the website highlighted in the text for more information about Halifax Harbourfront.
3. Pier 21 National Historic Site
We have attached a video giving the details of the vast Pier 21 National Historic Site, along with the location of the place in the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax.
Address: 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax
4. Peggy’s Cove
Peggy’s Cove is legit the most popular destination to visit, both for the locals as well as the tourists. It is a small area situated on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay in the Halifax region.
Here, you can rent a cottage for summer and enjoy the Coastal section of Canada. Across the year, Peggy’s Cove brings about 700,000 visitors.
5. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is the heart of Halifax’s history. It is a member institution of the Nova Scotia museums. The Maritime Museum is the greatest and oldest maritime museum in Canada.
It offers around 30,000 artifacts to visitors. The stories and events that the museum can offer are small craft boatbuilding, World War Convoys, the Days of Sail to the Age of Steam, the Titanic, the Halifax Explosion
Address: 1675 Lower Water Street, Halifax
6. Halifax Public Gardens
The Halifax Public Gardens acquire an area of approximately 16 acres, and it is open to the public from 8 am to an hour before sunset.
The Halifax Public Gardens, one of the most majestic areas to visit in the capital of Nova Scotia, are the finest example of the Victorian-Era Public Garden.
It was established in the year 1867, which was also the year of the Canadian Confederation. The gardens are situated on the Halifax Peninsula.
Address: Spring Garden Rd. & Summer St, Halifax, NS B3J 3S9, Canada
The article has attached a video of a short tour of the Halifax Public Gardens.
Halifax Public Gardens (short video tour)
With these top 6 places to visit in Halifax, the beautiful capital of Nova Scotia, we come to the end of our article. If you are planning to visit Halifax and discover its enchanting diversity and culture in the future, near future, and even at present, then some other places apart from the one mentioned above that you can visit are listed below:
- CSS Acadia and HMCS Sackville
- Province House
- Take a Harbor Cruise
- Point Pleasant Park
So, this is where we end this article on the capital of Nova Scotia. I hope you have learned a lot about Halifax and Nova Scotia with this article’s help.
Last Updated on by ayeshayusuf
