Halifax, Canada
Region: Nova Scotia
Geographic Coordinates: 44.647500, -63.590600
Temperature Range: -40.0°C to 30.0°C (-40°F to 86°F)
Climate: Cold winters, mild springs and falls, and warm summers with occasional thunderstorms.
Population: 403131
Language: English
Halifax is the capital city of Nova Scotia, A province located in eastern Canada. It is a vibrant and historic city that offers an abundance of cultural attractions, Natural beauty, And outdoor activities. Halifax is situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Which makes it an important port city with a rich maritime history. One of Halifax’s most popular attractions is its waterfront boardwalk which stretches for 4 kilometers along the harbor. The boardwalk offers stunning views of the water and features many shops, Restaurants, And galleries.
It also provides access to several notable landmarks such as Pier 21 National Historic Site where many immigrants first arrived in Canada. Halifax has a thriving arts scene with numerous galleries and museums showcasing local artists’ works. One such museum is the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia which houses over 17, 000 pieces ranging from traditional to contemporary art forms. The city’s rich history can be explored through its many historic sites such as Citadel Hill National Historic Site.
This iconic hilltop fortress was built by British soldiers in 1749 to protect against French invasion and offers visitors stunning views of Halifax’s skyline. Nature lovers will appreciate Halifax’s proximity to beautiful parks like Point Pleasant Park which boasts over 75 hectares of forested trails overlooking the ocean. The park also has several historic monuments dating back to World War I & II.
Foodies will delight in Halifax’s culinary scene that features fresh seafood caught right off its shores like lobster rolls or fish n’ chips served at local eateries like The Five Fishermen Restaurant & Grill or The Bicycle Thief. Overall, Halifax is a charming Canadian city that seamlessly blends modernity with tradition while offering something for everyone – from history buffs to foodies to nature enthusiasts alike!
- Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
- Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse
- Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
- Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
- Point Pleasant Park
- Halifax Public Gardens
- Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
- Province House
- Old Town Clock Tower
- Information Technology: Halifax has a thriving IT industry with companies like IBM, CGI, and Microsoft having a presence in the city.
- Aerospace and Defense: The aerospace and defense industry is one of the largest employers in Halifax with companies like Lockheed Martin, IMP Group, and Irving Shipbuilding.
- Healthcare: The healthcare sector is also a significant contributor to the economy of Halifax with hospitals such as Nova Scotia Health Authority providing employment opportunities.
- Financial Services: Major banks such as RBC Royal Bank, TD Bank, Scotiabank have their offices located in Halifax.
- Tourism: With its picturesque location on the Atlantic Ocean and rich history, tourism is an important industry for Halifax.
- Education: There are several universities located in Halifax including Dalhousie University which attracts students from all over Canada as well as international students.
- Creative Industries: The creative industries including film production and music have been growing rapidly in recent years with many talented artists calling this city home.
- Halifax Explosion: On December 6, 1917, a French cargo ship carrying explosives collided with a Norwegian vessel in Halifax Harbour. The resulting explosion killed over 2,000 people and devastated the city.
- Samuel Cunard: Born in Halifax in 1787, Samuel Cunard founded the Cunard Line which became one of the world’s largest shipping companies.
- Pier 21: Located in Halifax’s waterfront area, Pier 21 was an immigration terminal that processed over one million immigrants to Canada between 1928 and 1971.
- Alexander Keith: Alexander Keith was a Scottish-born brewer who moved to Nova Scotia in the mid-1800s and established what is now known as Alexander Keith’s Brewery.
- Africville: Africville was a predominantly Black community located on the outskirts of Halifax that was forcibly relocated by city officials in the late 1960s.
- Anna Leonowens: Anna Leonowens was an English writer who taught at Dalhousie University in Halifax from 1879 to 1887. She is best known for her memoirs about her time as a governess to Siamese royalty which were later adapted into the musical The King and I.
- Titanic disaster: In April 1912, after striking an iceberg off Newfoundland while en route from Southampton to New York City during its maiden voyage, RMS Titanic made its last stop at Pier No.2 (now named Macdonald Bridge) before sinking beneath freezing North Atlantic waters with great loss of life.
- Halifax Citadel National Historic Site: The citadel is an iconic symbol of Canadian military history representing both British colonialism and Canadian sovereignty. It also served as home base for Canadian soldiers during both World Wars.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: The famous American poet visited Halifax in 1882 and was so inspired by the city’s beauty that he wrote a poem called The Bells of Halifax.
- Sidney Crosby: Sidney Crosby is a professional ice hockey player from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia who has won numerous awards including two Olympic gold medals and three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
- Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
- Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
- Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
- Alexander Keith’s Brewery
- Public Gardens
- Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market
- St Paul’s Anglican Church
- Point Pleasant Park
- Halifax Central Library
- The Halifax Mooseheads are a successful ice hockey team that has won several championships, including three President’s Cups and one Memorial Cup. They were founded in 1994 and play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
- The Halifax Wanderers FC is a relatively new professional soccer team that plays in the Canadian Premier League. They were established in 2018 and had their first season in 2019, reaching the Island Games tournament finals in 2020.
- The Halifax Hurricanes are a professional basketball team that competes in the National Basketball League of Canada. They have been around since 2015 and have won two NBL Canada championships.
- Dalhousie University’s athletic program, known as the Dalhousie Tigers, features teams competing across various sports such as basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer, cross country running, track & field etc.
- The Saint Mary’s Huskies is another university athletic program based out of Saint Mary’s University with teams competing across several sports such as football, basketball etc.
- The Halifax Thunderbirds is an indoor lacrosse team that plays at Scotiabank Centre. They began playing under National Lacrosse League(NLL) from December 7th, 2020 against Georgia Swarm which they lost by just one point but continue to compete at high levels within their league.
- Halifax International Busker Festival
- Halifax Jazz Festival
- Atlantic Fringe Festival
- Halifax Pride Parade and Festival
- Nocturne: Art at Night
- Halifax Pop Explosion
- Halifax Greek Fest
- Multicultural Festival
- Natal Day Celebrations
- Nova Scotia Highland Games and Scottish Festival
- Donair – a Halifax specialty made of spiced beef, tomato, onion, and sweet garlic sauce wrapped in pita bread. Some popular places to try donair include King of Donair, Tony’s Famous Donairs, and Johnny K’s Authentic Donairs.
- Seafood – being a coastal city, seafood is abundant in Halifax. Some popular seafood restaurants include The Five Fishermen Restaurant & Grill, McKelvie’s Restaurant & Bar, and Salty’s Restaurant.
- Lobster Rolls – another seafood specialty of Halifax is the lobster roll which can be found at various restaurants such as The Shack Oyster Bar, Waterfront Warehouse Restaurant & Bar and The Bicycle Thief.
- Craft Beer – Halifax has a thriving craft beer scene with many microbreweries such as Garrison Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing Company and Good Robot Brewing Company.
- Poutine – this Quebec dish has become popular all over Canada including Halifax where you can find it at Ace Burger Co., Smoke’s Poutinerie or Willy’s Fresh Cut Fries & Burgers.
- Pizza – some popular pizza places in Halifax include Salvatore’s Pizzaiolo Trattoria , Freeman’s Little New York or Alexandra’s Pizza.
- Indian Cuisine- some famous Indian Restaurants are Curry Village Indian restaurant , Masala Bites , A Taste Of India.
