Halifax, NS
Located on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast, Halifax grew around a deep, sheltered harbor that has shaped its history for centuries. Known to the Mi’kmaq as K'jipuktuk, meaning “Great Harbour,” the area became the site of a British settlement in 1749. Shipping, trade, and naval activity helped establish Halifax as an important Atlantic port and the provincial capital.
As a gateway between North America and the Atlantic world, Halifax developed through the movement of people, goods, and ideas. Its harbor supported merchants, sailors, shipbuilders, and military personnel, while successive generations established homes and businesses throughout the city. These connections gave Halifax an influence that extended well beyond Nova Scotia.
Today, Halifax combines the activity of a working waterfront with the character of a historic Maritime city. Its streets and neighborhoods offer stories of public life, commerce, and the people who shaped the community. The harbor remains central to its identity, connecting the city’s beginnings with its continuing place in the wider world.
Recent Posts
Old Burying Ground and Welsford-Parker Monument
Established in 1749, the same year Halifax was founded as a British settlement, the Old Burying Ground served the community until 1844. Originally located outside the fortified town, it became the resting place of people from different religious denominations. Today, its enclosed grounds preserve a chapter of early Halifax within the surrounding downtown streets. More […]
Halifax Court House
On Spring Garden Road in downtown Halifax, the Halifax Court House presents an imposing sandstone façade built to express the dignity and authority of the law. Designed by the Toronto architectural firm of William Thomas and Sons in 1858, the building housed county and provincial courts following its completion in 1863. Its importance to Canada’s […]
Halifax Public Gardens
The Halifax Public Gardens preserve a rare example of a Victorian public garden in the heart of a modern city. Across approximately sixteen acres, winding gravel paths connect carefully maintained lawns, ornamental flower beds, mature trees, and water features. The landscape was designed for leisurely walking and close observation, offering opportunities to appreciate both individual […]
Province House
Province House has been the home of Nova Scotia’s legislature since its official opening on February 11, 1819. As Canada’s oldest legislative building, it preserves more than two centuries of parliamentary history within a structure still serving its original purpose. Its construction gave the province’s elected Assembly a permanent home after decades in temporary accommodations. […]
Joseph Howe Monument
The Joseph Howe monument honors a Halifax-born journalist and political reformer whose work helped shape Canadian public life. Created by sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert and erected in 1904, the bronze figure portrays Howe standing with one arm extended, recalling his reputation as a persuasive public speaker. His name is carved into the tall stone pedestal beneath […]
