What is Nova Scotia’s capital city?
Halifax is the capital city of Nova Scotia, combining the history of a strategic port city with the youthful spirit of a modern university town. By day, check out eclectic shops, artisan studios, museums, and galleries. By night, experience the vibrant music scene, savour award-winning cuisine, and hoist a pint in a city with more pubs and clubs per capita than almost anywhere else in Canada. It’s fitting that Halifax’s most famous brew master was also the mayor. Three times. Alexander Keith’s original 1820 brewery continues to welcome visitors with costumed guides, stories, and, of course, good ale.
Halifax Waterfront – Walk the Halifax waterfront boardwalk and follow the water’s edge alongside the world’s second-largest ice-free harbour. Stretching from the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – the gateway into Canada for over one million immigrants – to Casino Nova Scotia, you pass unique shops, restaurants, and in the warmer months, graceful tall ships. Hop aboard the ferry (North America’s longest-running!) and cross the harbour to Dartmouth, filled with more locally-owned shops, galleries, cafés, restaurants, and pubs. And don’t forget, a visit to Halifax is not complete without trying the fabled donair, our official food.
What is the population of Nova Scotia? Of Halifax?
As of December 16, 2021, Nova Scotia’s population is projected to be 1,000,347. As of July 21, 2021, the population of Halifax was 459,938.
Are there other cities in Nova Scotia besides Halifax?
Yes, there is a great mix of cities and towns in Nova Scotia. Following Halifax, the next biggest population centres in Nova Scotia are Sydney, Truro, and New Glasgow. Learn more about Nova Scotia’s 7 regions and our charming cities and towns.
What is the climate like in Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia weather can be summed up in one word – moderate. It rarely gets extremely hot or extremely cold. The daily temperature can fluctuate by your proximity to the ocean. If you spend the morning in Halifax, the afternoon in Wolfville, and the evening in Yarmouth, the weather and temperature can be quite different. Having a fleece or knit sweater on hand for easy layering keeps you comfortable wherever you are.
What temperatures can you expect in Nova Scotia?
Spring in Nova Scotia:
- Mid-March to late April: 0 to 10 degrees Celsius (32 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Late April to mid-June: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit).
Summer in Nova Scotia:
- Mid-June to mid-September: 20 to 25 degrees Celsius (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit).
Fall in Nova Scotia:
- Mid-September to mid-November: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius range (50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Mid-November to mid-December: 0 to 10 degrees Celsius range (30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit)
Winter in Nova Scotia:
- Mid-December to mid-March: 0 to -15 degrees Celsius (0 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit)
Does Nova Scotia have much traffic?
Nova Scotians spend less time in traffic than in other urban centres in Canada. In fact, we spend approximately 11–14% less time commuting to work compared to the national average. In some smaller communities, the commute time is even lower. And in Halifax, commuters spend just 24 minutes in transit — that’s 30% less time than Toronto. It’s part of why Nova Scotia is known for its quality of life. Because less time getting home means more time being home. Most cities and towns in Nova Scotia offer public transportation. Active Transportation: Halifax is rated by WalkScore.com as very walkable with a score of 70. This means it’s easy to live downtown, and walk to the surrounding amenities and work. Whether you want to walk or ride your bicycle around town, Halifax has plenty of options.
What is the culture like in Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia is home to more than 100 cultures and ethnicities from across the globe, and it shows in our music, art, food, and traditions. About two-thirds of Nova Scotia’s population is between the ages of 15 and 64. Languages: There are more than 200 languages spoken in Nova Scotia. English is the most commonly spoken in a home setting (94.66%) and French is the second-most commonly spoken (1.59%). Education: More than two-thirds of people in Halifax aged 15+ have a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree — a higher percentage than the national average. History: Nova Scotians take great pride in preserving what makes our varied historic cultures unique and fascinating. The traditions of the Mi’kmaq, Acadian, African Nova Scotian, and Gaelic peoples live strong in our everyday. For ten thousand years, this rugged, sea-swept peninsula has been home to the Mi’kmaq people. Mi’kmaq have enriched this province with their legends, art, music, spirituality, history, and language. The spirit of l’Acadie also echoes deep in our culture, a legacy of the intrepid French settlers who first arrived and settled in Nova Scotia in the seventeenth century. The French were followed, not always harmoniously, by the British, who brought over tens of thousands of Gaelic-speaking settlers from Ireland and Scotland. Later came New England planters, Black Loyalists leaving the U.S. after the War of Independence, the Maroons of Jamaica… all contributing to Nova Scotia’s distinctive voice and character. There are many National Historic Sites spread out across the province, highlighting the diverse and complex path that Nova Scotia took to becoming what it is today. This includes Port Royal, where the first European settlement in Canada was established in 1605. To learn more about funding and awards for communities, arts, culture, and heritage, or to find out about the culture and heritage sites we support and protect, visit https://cch.novascotia.ca/.