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Halifax

About

  • Halifax, or the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is the capital of Nova Scotia. The current population of Halifax is 403,131, with close to 80% of the population living in Urban areas centered around the Halifax Harbour.
  • Halifax is an amalgamation of four municipalities, including Dartmouth, Bedford, and Halifax County.
  • The total land area of Halifax is 5,490.35 km2(2,119.84 sq mi)
  • Halifax is located in the East Coast of the province, and is a primary seaport situated overlooking one of the world's largest natural harbors
  • The city is a key economic hub for Eastern Canada, inclusive of a large number of government services and private sector companies. It is often described a one of the “Largest cities of the future”.
  • Primary employers of the Halifax economy is the Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University, Department of National Defence, The Halifax shipyard, and the Port of Halifax.
  • Other important industries include Agriculture, Fishing, Mining, Forestry, and Natural Gas extraction.
  • Since its foundation, Halifax has been a military strategic location and is known as the “Warden of the North”.
  • Halifax has plenty of entertainment and recreation opportunities for its residents, including art galleries, museums, live theatre performances, the symphony, a vibrant nightlife, and a fantastic culinary scene.
  • For those that love nature, Halifax has several sandy beaches, beautiful gardens, hiking and birdwatching trails, and beachcombing.

Demography

Halifax has a total population of 403,132.

Halifax is a religiously diverse city, with a majority of residents belonging to the Christian faith. The Religious breakdown of the city is as follows:

  • 71.49%: Christian
  • 1.96%: Muslim
  • 0.41%: Buddhist
  • 0.40%: Hindu
  • 0.35%: Jewish
  • 0.09%: Sikh
  • 0.01%: Indigenous/Traditional
  • 25% of the total population do not affiliate with any religion.
    • The total ethnic breakdown of Halifax includes 38% Canadian, 34% Scottish, 25% Irish, 18% French, 12% German, 4% Dutch, 3% North American Indian, and 2% Welsh.
    • In addition to this, the city also has several Italian, Polish, Lebanese, Chinese, African, East Indian, American, Norwegian, Spanish, Jewish, and Greek ethnicities.

Geography

  • Halifax occupies a total area of 5,490.35 square kilometers, which is roughly 10% of the total land area of Nova Scotia. Comparatively it is the land area of Prince Edward Island province, and measures 165 km in length from East to West.
  • Halifax is located in the Appalachian mountain region, spanning from lush farmland in the Musquodoboit Valley to forested rolling hills. It also includes a few islands and peninsulas, including the McNabs Island, Beaver Island, Melville Island, Sable Island, and Deadman's Island.
  • The coastline of extends for 400 kms, mostly made up of rock with isolated sand beaches. The major features of the island are St Margarets Bay, Halifax Harbour/Bedford Basin, Cole Harbour, Ship Harbour, Sheet Harbour, Jeddore Harbour and Ecum Secum Harbour.

Culture

  • Halifax is a primary cultural hub. The city has grown into a multicultural population, whilst maintaining its maritime and military traditions.
  • The city has a plethora of art galleries, museums, theatres, as well as several sports and entertainment facilities.
  • Halifax houses some of the region's greatest cultural attractions like the Halifax Pop Explosion, Symphony Nova Scotia, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and Neptune Theatre, and the Khyber.
  • Halifax is known for its nightlight and music scene, mainly in the central urban regions of the province.
  • The city hosts a range of festivals each year, many becoming world-renowned over the years, including the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, The Halifax International Busker Festival, Greekfest, Atlantic Film Festival, the Multicultural Festival, Natal Day, The Halifax Pop Explosion, Nocturne Festival, and Shakespeare by the Sea.
  • Halifax comprises of several performing venues including the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, The Neptune Theatre, and the Music Room. The city also has several smaller performing arts venues.
  • Halifax has become a key film production centre for many American and Canadian filmmakers who use the Halifax streetscapes for production instead of filming in more expensive locations. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has one of its production centre located in Halifax, with many television and radio programs created to be broadcast nationally.
  • The New Halifax Central Library has received several awards for its architecture and offers a range of facilities, including a 300 seat auditorium.

Climate

  • Halifax experiences a humid continental climate, at times experiences an oceanic climate, with mild winters and warm summers. Much of the city's weather is influenced by is proximity to the ocean.
  • The average temperatures in Halifax ranges between -8 degrees to 24 degrees Celsius.
  • The city is known to be very foggy and misty, experiencing more than 100 days of fog per year, mainly in the spring and summer months.
  • Summers are short but picturesque, mild, and very pleasant. The average temperature is around 23 degrees Celsius. Towards the end of summer Halifax experiences the tail end of a hurricane or tropical storm.
  • Winters are usually moderate, accompanies by rain and snow. The average temperature in Winter is 2 degrees Celsius.
  • Springtime is wet and cool, and is accompanied by rain and fog.
  • The coldest month of the year is January, while August is the warmest and driest month.
  • During winter snowfall is quite heavy.
  • Precipitation is high throughout the year in Halifax, with the highest precipitation falling from November to February.
  • Between August and October Halifax sometimes receives hurricanes. In recent years, due to rising surface temperatures, Halifax has become more prone to hurricanes.

University Education

Halifax houses several post-secondary educational institutions, including several private colleges. The biggest institution is the Dalhousie University, a premier research focused university, ranked within the worlds top 250 Universities.

Key Industries

Key performing industries in the Halifax economy includes:

  • Key Industries in Halifax includes agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry, and natural gas extraction.
  • Other significant industries in Halifax includes the natural gas fields, as well as clay, shale, gold, limestone, and gypsum.
  • The Halifax urban regions includes a large concentration of government services and private sector companies.
  • Halifax is the hub for business, banking, and government for the entire maritime region.
  • The biggest employers in the city includes Trade, Healthcare, Professional Services, Education, and Public Administration. This includes the Department of National Defence, Port of Halifax, Irving Shipbuilding, IMP Group, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Bell Alliant, Emera, Nova Scotia Health Authority, banks, universities, and the government.
  • The city is also fast becoming a major transportation hub with the growth of its port, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and better railway and highway networks.