Halifax Regional Municipality
731832
225921736
2008-07-16T00:57:36Z
HiFlyChick
1200529
/* Government */ Added link to mayor's name
{{seealso|Halifax, Nova Scotia}}
{{Infobox City
|official_name = Halifax Regional Municipality
|other_name = (HRM)
|native_name = <!--for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname = The Harbour Town, Haliwood, The Fax
|motto = "E Mari Merces"{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Latin]])<br/>"From the Sea, Wealth"</small>
|image_skyline = Halifax_Canada_Day_2007.jpg
|imagesize = 230px
|image_caption = [[City of Halifax|Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
|image_flag = Halifaxrmflag.gif
|image_map = Hrminns.GIF
|mapsize = 225px
|map_caption = Halifax Regional Municipality and communities.
|flag_size = 100px
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield = <!---Cofa.JPG ---> HalifaxCOA.gif
|shield_size = 100px
|image_blank_emblem = Halifaxregionlogocolour.gif
|blank_emblem_size = 120px
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map =
|pushpin_label_position =
|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[Canada]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Canada|Province]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Nova Scotia]]
|subdivision_type2 =
|subdivision_name2 =
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|subdivision_type4 =
|subdivision_name4 =
|government_type = [[Regional Municipality]]
|leader_title = [[List of mayors of Halifax Regional Municipality|Mayor]]
|leader_name = [[Peter J. Kelly|Peter Kelly]]
|leader_title1 = Governing body
|leader_name1 = [[Halifax Regional Council]]
|leader_title2 = [[Canadian House of Commons|MP]]s
|leader_name2 = {{Collapsible list
|title = List of MPs
|title_style =
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1 = [[Alexa McDonough]]
|2 = [[Geoff Regan]]
|3 = [[Michael Savage (politician)|Michael Savage]]
|4 =[[Peter Stoffer]]
|5 =[[Gerald Keddy]]
}}
|leader_title3 = [[Nova Scotia House of Assembly|MLA]]s
|leader_name3 = {{Collapsible list
|title = List of MLAs
|title_style =
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
|1 = [[Barry Barnet]]
|2 = [[Keith Colwell]]
|3 = [[Darrell Dexter]]
|4=[[Bill Dooks]]
|5=[[Howard Epstein]]
|6=[[Bill Estabrooks]]
|7=[[Len Goucher]]
|8=[[Maureen MacDonald]]
|9=[[Joan Massey]]
|10=[[Marilyn More]]
|11=[[Percy Paris]]
|12=[[Leonard Preyra]]
|13=[[Michele Raymond]]
|14=[[Graham Steele]]
|15=[[Brooke Taylor]]
|16=[[Diana Whalen]]
|17=[[Dave Wilson (politician)|Dave Wilson]]
|18=[[Trevor Zinck]]
}}
|leader_title4 =
|leader_name4 =
|established_title = Established <!-- Settled -->
|established_date = [[April 1]], [[1996]]
|established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2 =
|established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3 =
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 = 5490.90
|area_land_km2 =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_total_sq_mi = 2120.05
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 = 262.65
|area_urban_sq_mi = 101.41
|area_blank1_title = [[Rural]]
|area_blank1_km2 = 5528.25
|area_blank1_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|blank_name = Total Coastline
|blank_info = 400 km (250 mi)
|blank1_name = Total private dwellings
|blank1_info = 166,675
|blank2_name = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] Map
|blank2_info = 011D13
|blank3_name = [[Geographical Names Board of Canada|GNBC]] Code
|blank3_info = CBUCG
|population_as_of = [[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|settlement_type = [[Regional Municipality|Regional Municipality]]
|population_total = 372679 ([[List of the 100 largest municipalities in Canada by population|Ranked 13th]])
|population_density_km2 = 67.9
|population_density_sq_mi =
|population_metro = 404807
|population_density_metro_km2 =
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban = 282,924
|population_density_urban_km2 = 1077.2
|population_density_urban_mi2 =
|population_blank1_title = Rural
|population_blank1 = 89755
|population_density_blank1_km2 = 16.23
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
|population_blank1_title = [[Demonym]]
|population_blank1 = Haligonian
|timezone = [[Atlantic Standard Time Zone|AST]]
|utc_offset = -4
|timezone_DST = Atlantic Daylight Saving Time
|utc_offset_DST = -3
|latd=44 |latm=51 |lats=16 |latNS=N
|longd=63 |longm=11 |longs=57 |longEW=W
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_min_ft = 0
|elevation_max_ft = 475.6
|postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code =
|area_code = [[Area code 902|902]]
|website = [http://www.halifax.ca www.halifax.ca]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Halifax Regional Municipality''' is the municipality that holds the capital of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[Nova Scotia]], Canada, making it the [[Seat (legal entity)|seat]] of the [[Monarchy in Nova Scotia|provincial Crown]]. The municipality is commonly called '''HRM''' or informally, '''Halifax''' ({{IPAEng|ˈhælɨfæks}}).
The population in 2006 was 372,679;<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1209034&Geo2=PR&Code2=12&Data=Count&SearchText=Halifax&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=12&B1=All&Custom= 2006 Community Profiles<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the [[Halifax Urban Area|urban area of HRM]] had a population of 282,924,<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=802&PR=12&S=0&O=A&RPP=25 Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and urban areas, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> giving the municipality the largest urban area in the [[Atlantic Canada]] and largest population centre in Canada east of [[Quebec City]].
The first permanent European settlement in the area was the establishment of the ''[[City of Halifax|Town of Halifax]]'' in [[1749]] when the colonial capital was transferred from [[Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia|Annapolis Royal]]; other towns and villages were established throughout adjacent areas of what would become [[Halifax County, Nova Scotia|Halifax County]] in the decades that followed. In [[1996]] the provincial government [[Amalgamation (politics)|amalgamated]] all municipal governments within Halifax County to create HRM, a regional municipality comprising approximately 200 individual [[General Service Area|communities]] or place-names for civic addressing grouped into 18 planning areas for zoning purposes.
[[Halifax Urban Area|HRM's urban area]] is a major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Major employers and economic generators include the [[Canadian Forces|Department of National Defence]], various levels of government, and the [[Halifax Port Authority|Port of Halifax]]. Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of HRM.
==Geography==
{{main|Geography of the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
The Halifax Regional Municipality occupies an area of 5,577 [[square kilometre]]s (2,353 [[Square mile|sq mi]]),<ref>http://www.destinationhalifax.com/downloads/HfxRegionalMunicipality.pdf</ref> (approximately 10% of Nova Scotia) comparative to the province of [[Prince Edward Island]], and measures approximately 165 kilometres (102.5 [[Mile|mi]]) in length between its eastern and western-most extremities.
The [[coastline]] is heavily indented, accounting for its length of approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi), with the northern boundary usually being between 50-60 kilometres (30-37 mi) inland. The coast is mostly rock with small isolated sand beaches in sheltered bays. The largest bays include [[St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia|St. Margarets Bay]], [[Halifax Harbour]]/[[Bedford Basin]], [[Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia|Cole Harbour]], [[Musquodoboit Harbour]], Jeddore Harbour, Ship Harbour, [[Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia|Sheet Harbour]], and [[Ecum Secum, Nova Scotia|Ecum Secum]] Harbour. The municipality's topography spans from lush [[Farmland (farming)|farmland]] in the [[Musquodoboit Valley]] to rocky and heavily forested rolling hills.
===Urban-rural characteristics===
{{main|Halifax Urban Area}}
[[Image:Hrmurbansuburbanruraldets.png|thumb|left|Urban, Suburban, Rural divisions of HRM as defined by HRM Planning Department http://www.halifax.ca/regionalplanning/Images/HRMmaplg.jpg]]
[[Image:Halifax flag 1992.gif|thumb|right|Halifax's flag from [[July 1]], [[1992]] until merger in [[1999]].]]
The region is large in physical area, centred on the urban core and surrounded by areas of decreasing density the farther the community is from the core.
Unlike most municipalities with a sizable census [[metropolitan area]], Halifax Regional Municipality's suburbs are completely incorporated into the entire municipality, with the urban area including the urban core, suburban communities and a rural commuter shed that encompasses almost half the municipality's landmass.
The urban area of HRM (2006 pop: 282,924<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=802&PR=12&S=0&O=A&RPP=25 Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and urban areas, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) is located in the western end of the municipality, fronting on [[Halifax Harbour]]. The dense urban core is centred on the [[Halifax Peninsula]] and the area of [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia|Dartmouth]] inside of the [[Nova Scotia Highway 111|Circumferential Highway]]. The suburban area stretches beyond [[Mainland Halifax]] to the west, [[Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia|Cole Harbour]] to the east, and [[Bedford, Nova Scotia|Bedford]], [[Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia|Lower Sackville]] and Windsor Junction areas to the north.<ref>[http://www.halifax.ca/Works/Streets/regionboundary.html HRM - Traffic and Transportation - Urban Core Boundaries<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
This urban area constitutes the most populous urban area on Canada's Atlantic [[coast]], and the second largest coastal population centre in the country, after [[Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]. HRM currently accounts for 40% of Nova Scotia's population, and 15% of that of the [[Atlantic provinces]].
The north eastern area centred on Sheet Harbour and the [[Musquodoboit Valley]] is completely rural, with more in common with adjacent rural areas of neighbouring counties.
HRM's boundary includes all of Halifax County except for several First Nation reserves. [[Statistics Canada]] identifies HRM as a [[census subdivision]] while Halifax County is listed as a [[census division]], despite the fact that both geographic areas differ by only several dozen [[hectare]]s. Statistics Canada also lists the dissolved municipalities of Bedford , Dartmouth and Halifax, describing them as "Dissolved (municipalities) having undergone an amalgamation/dissolution)." <ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1209022&Geo2=PR&Code2=12&Data=Count&SearchText=dartmouth&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=12&B1=All&Custom= 2001 Community Profiles<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Neighbourhoods and communities===
[[Image:Novascotiahrm-detail-map.gif|thumb|200px|left|Detail of HRM Community Planning Areas]]
{{main|Communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
The Halifax Regional Municipality is an [[Amalgamation (politics)|amalgamation]] of four [[municipal government]]s in the urban and rural areas, therefore its composition of neighbourhoods and communities is unlike other municipalities such as a city.
There are over 200<ref>[http://halifax.ca/regionalplanning/Region/region.html HRM - Regional Planning<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> official [[rural]] and [[Urban area|urban]] [[Community (disambiguation)|communities]] within Halifax County that have maintained their original geographic names (including the dissolved cities of Halifax and Dartmouth and the town of Bedford). These community names are used on survey and [[mapping]] documents, for [[9-1-1]] service, municipal planning, and postal service.
HRM is divided into eighteen community planning areas which are further divided into neighbourhoods or villages.<ref>[http://www.halifax.ca/planning/map.html HRM - Planning<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Several communities or neighbourhoods that were amalgamated by the former constituent municipalities in previous decades are starting to see their names gain increased use.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} The regional municipality has taken steps to reduce duplicate street names for its 9-1-1 emergency dispatch services; at the time of amalgamation, some street names were duplicated several times throughout HRM.<ref>http://halifax.ca/civicaddress/documents/HRMstreetlist.pdf</ref>
The [[Halifax urban area|urban core of HRM]] is a term used to roughly describe the urban concentration surrounding [[Halifax Harbour]] in the western part of the municipality, and includes the Halifax Metropolitan Area, the Dartmouth Metropolitan Area, and the Bedford-Sackville areas.
Rural areas lie to the east, west and north of this urban core. Certain rural communities on the urban fringe function as suburban or exurban areas, with the majority of those residents working in the urban core. Farther away, rural communities in HRM function much as any resource-based area in Nova Scotia, being sparsely populated, with their local economies developing around four major resource industries: [[agriculture]], [[fishing]], [[mining]] and [[forestry]]. It should be noted that the [[tourism]] industry is beginning to change how some rural communities in HRM function, particularly in coastal areas such as [[Hubbards, Nova Scotia|Hubbards]], [[Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia|Peggys Cove]] and [[Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia|Lawrencetown]]
===Climate===
HRM's climate is heavily influenced by its location on Nova Scotia's [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast. The [[weather]] is usually milder or cooler than that of [[central Canada]], with the temperature remaining (with occasional notable exceptions) between about -15°[[Celsius|C]] and 35°C (5°F to 95°F) inland but the coast can be milder in the winter and cooler in the summer with the maritime influence.
{{-}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color: #000080" height="17" | Average / Month
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Average
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jan
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Feb
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Mar
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Apr
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | May
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jun
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jul
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Aug
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Sep
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Oct
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Nov
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Dec
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | High temperature Celsius
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000000;" | 10.9
| style="background: #80FFFF; color:#000000;" | -0.4
| style="background: #80FFFF; color:#000000;" | -0.3
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 3.3
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 8.2
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000000;" | 13.9
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000000;" | 19.2
| style="background: #FF8000; color:#000000;" | 22.6
| style="background: #FF8000; color:#000000;" | 22.8
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000000;" | 18.8
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000000;" | 13.1
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 7.8
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000000;" | 2.3
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Low temperature Celsius
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 2.9
| style="background: #80FFFF; color: black;" | -8.5
| style="background: #80FFFF; color: black;" | -8.3
| style="background: #80FFFF; color: black;" | -4.5
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 0.4
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 5.2
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 10.2
| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 14.0
| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 14.5
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 10.8
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 5.8
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 1.0
| style="background: #80FFFF; color: black;" | -5.5
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Precipitation millimetres
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | year: 1513.3
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 145.5
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 113.7
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 124.8
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 123.6
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 118
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 112.9
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 104.6
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 108.9
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 99.5
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 135.8
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 156.7
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 169.2
|-
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>'''Source:''' [http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?province=NS&stationID=1544&stationName=&searchType= Environment Canada Weather Office]</small>
|}
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
The urban area of Halifax Regional Municipality is a major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Halifax serves as the business, banking, government and cultural centre for the Maritime region. Major employers and economic generators include the [[Canadian Forces|Department of National Defence]], as well as the [[Halifax Port Authority|Port of Halifax]]. The municipality has a growing concentration of manufacturing industries and is becoming a major multi-modal transportation hub through growth at the port, the [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport]], and improving rail and highway connections. A real estate boom in recent years has led to numerous new property developments, including the [[gentrification]] of some former working-class areas.
Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of HRM. HRM's largest agricultural district is in the [[Musquodoboit Valley]]; the total number of farms in HRM is 150, of which 110 are family-owned. Fishing harbours are located along all coastal areas with some having an independent harbour authority, and others being managed as small craft harbours under the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Other resource industries in HRM include the natural gas fields off the coast of Sable Island, as well as clay, shale, gold, limestone, and gypsum extraction in rural areas of the mainland portion of the municipality.
==Government==
{{main|Government in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
[[Image:Halifaxnighttime.jpg|left|thumb|Halifax skyline at night.]]
The Halifax Regional Municipality is governed by a [[Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality|mayor]] (elected at large) and a twenty-three person [[Halifax Regional Council|council]], who are elected by geographic district; municipal elections occur every [[leap year]]. HRM has established [[Halifax Regional Community Council|community councils]] where three or more councillors agree to form these councils to deal primarily with local development issues. Most community council decisions are subject to final approval by regional council. The current Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality is [[Peter J. Kelly]].
The [[Halifax Regional Council]] is responsible for all facets of [[municipal government]], including the [[Halifax Regional Police]], [[Halifax Public Libraries]], [[Halifax Fire and Emergency]], [[Halifax Regional Water Commission]], parks and recreation, civic addressing, public works, waste management, and planning and development.
==Education==
[[Image:HistoricHalifax.jpg|left|thumb|Halifax's Historic Properties.]]
{{main|Education in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
The Halifax Regional Municipality has a well-developed network of public and private schools, providing instruction from primary to grade
12; one hundred and thirty seven public schools are administered by the [[Halifax Regional School Board]], as well as three public schools administered by the [[Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial]], whereas the fourteen private schools are operated independently.
The municipality is also home to the following [[post-secondary]] educational institutions: [[Dalhousie University]], [[Saint Mary's University, Halifax|Saint Mary's University]], [[Mount Saint Vincent University]], the Halifax campus of [[Université Sainte-Anne]], [[University of King's College]], [[Atlantic School of Theology]], [[Nova Scotia College of Art and Design|NSCAD University]], and the [[Nova Scotia Community College]]. The presence of so many university and college students contributes to a vibrant youth culture in the region, as well as making it a major centre for university education in eastern Canada.
==Culture==
[[Image:Halifaxsmallfrombridge.jpg|left|thumb|Halifax from the Angus L. MacDonald Bridge.]]
[[Image:CBDHalifax.jpg|left|thumb|City Centre of Halifax at night.]]
{{main|Culture of the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
The urban area of Halifax Regional Municipality is a major cultural centre within the [[Atlantic Canada|Atlantic provinces]]. The municipality's urban core also benefits from a large population of post-secondary students who strongly influence the local cultural scene. HRM has a number of art galleries, theatres and museums, as well as most of the region's national-quality sports and entertainment facilities. The municipality is home to many performance venues, namely the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, the Neptune Theatre, and The Music Room. HRM also is the home to many of the regions major cultural attractions, such as Symphony Nova Scotia, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the Neptune Theatre.
The region is noted for the strength of its music scene and nightlife, especially in the central urban core. See [[List of musical groups from Halifax, Nova Scotia]] for a partial list.
HRM plays host to a wide variety of festivals that take place throughout the year, including: The Atlantic Film Festival, The [[Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo]], The Halifax Busker Festival, Greekfest, Gay Pride week, The Atlantic Jazz Festival, The Multicultural Festival, periodic Tall Ship events, and Shakespeare by the Sea, to name a few. Many of these celebrations have become world renowned over the past several years.
HRM has also become a significant film-production centre, with many American and Canadian filmmakers using the streetscapes, often to stand in for other cities that are more expensive to work in. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has its Atlantic Canada production centres (radio and television) based in Halifax, and quite a number of radio and television programs are made in the region for national broadcast.
HRM is considered by many to be the cultural centre of the Maritimes. The municipality has been able to maintain many of its maritime and military traditions, while opening itself to a growing multicultural population.
==Sport==
{{main|Sport in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
The Halifax Regional Municipality is home to a number of outdoor recreational opportunities, including numerous ocean and lake beaches, as well as rural and urban parks. The municipality has a host of organised community intramural sports, as well as varsity and intramural sports offered by public schools and post-secondary institutions and has extensive facilities.
The region is home to several professional and semi-professional sport franchises, such as the [[Halifax Mooseheads]] of the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]](see also [[Sports teams in the Halifax Regional Municipality]]).
The region has also hosted several major sporting events, including the [[World Junior Hockey Championship|2003 World Junior Hockey Championship]], [[2003 Nokia Brier]], the [[2004 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships]], and the [[World Indoor Lacrosse Championship|2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship]]. From 1984 to 2007 , the region had been home to the [[Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's basketball champions|CIS Men's Basketball Championship]], however the tournament was moved to [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]] starting in 2008. The 72nd '''[[Ice Hockey World Championship]]''' was held between May 2 and May 18, 2008 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Canada.
Halifax was selected as Canada's bid for the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]] in 2006 but withdrew from the international competition in advance of the [[November 9]], [[2007]] selection date on [[March 8]].
The municipality was selected as the host community for the [[Canada Games|2011 Canada Winter Games]] in February 2007.
==Media==
{{main|Media in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
HRM is the Maritimes' centre for broadcast and print media. [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]], [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] and [[Global Television]] all have regional television hubs in the municipality. [[CBC Radio]] has a major regional studio and there are also regional hubs for Rogers Radio and various private broadcast franchises, as well as a regional bureau for [[The Canadian Press]]/[[Broadcast News]].
HRM's print media is centred on its single daily newspaper, the broadsheet ''[[Halifax Chronicle-Herald|The Chronicle-Herald]]'' as well as two free newspapers, the daily commuter-oriented edition of [[Metro International|''Metro'']] and the free alternative arts weekly ''[[The Coast]]''. [[Frank (magazine)|''Frank Magazine'']] provides HRM with a weekly satirical and gossip magazine.
From 1974-2008, HRM had a second daily newspaper, the tabloid ''[[The Daily News (Halifax)|The Daily News]]'' which still publishes several neighbourhood weekly papers such as
''The Bedford-Sackville Weekly News'', ''The Halifax West-Clayton Park Weekly News'' and the ''Dartmouth-Cole Harbour Weekly News''. These weekly papers compete with The Chronicle-Herald's weekly Community Heralds ''HRM West'', ''HRM East'', and ''HRM North''.
[[Image:ArgyleStreetHalifax.jpg|right|thumb|Argyle Street]]
==Transportation==
{{main|Transportation in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
The Halifax Regional Municipality is served by all modes of transportation.
[[Halifax Harbour]] is a major Canadian port used by numerous shipping lines, as well as the navy and coast guard and hosts a public ferry service connecting the urban core. Sheet Harbour is the other major port in the municipality and serves industrial shippers on the [[Eastern Shore (Nova Scotia)|Eastern Shore]].
The [[Halifax Port Authority]]'s various shipping terminals constitute the eastern terminus of [[Canadian National Railway]]'s transcontinental network. [[VIA Rail Canada]] provides overnight passenger rail service six days a week to [[Montreal, Quebec|Montreal]] with its train the ''[[Ocean (passenger train)|Ocean]]''.
[[Halifax Stanfield International Airport]] serves HRM and most of the province, providing scheduled flights to domestic and international destinations. [[CFB Shearwater]], an air force base, is located in the urban core on the eastern side of Halifax Harbour but is presently being decommissioned for fixed-wing aircraft.
The municipality's urban core is linked by the [[Angus L. Macdonald Bridge|Angus L. Macdonald]] and [[A. Murray MacKay Bridge|A. Murray MacKay]] suspension bridges, as well as a network of [[100-Series Highways|100-series highways]] which function as expressways. The [[Armdale traffic circle]] is a notorious choke point for vehicle movement in the western part of the urban core, especially at rush hour.
The urban core of HRM is served by [[Metro Transit (Halifax)|Metro Transit]], which operates standard bus routes, bus-rapid transit routes, as well as the pedestrian-only harbour ferries. Established in 1752 , the municipality's ferry service is the oldest continuously running [[Seawater|salt water]] ferry service in North America. [http://www.halifax.ca/community/history.html]
== Buildings and structures ==
[[Image:Halifax Downtown Dusk.JPG|thumb|right|Buildings in [[Downtown Halifax]].]]
[[Image:Centreatnight.jpg|thumb|right|Buildings in [[Downtown Halifax]].]]
{{main|Buildings and structures in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
HRM's urban core has a high proportion of historic buildings, however, municipal heritage laws do not prevent but only delay demolition and the municipality has no protected heritage districts. Preservationists and heritage advocacy organisations have attempted to prevent the demolition of the pockets of heritage buildings which survived urban renewal and high-rise development. Such groups have been criticised by development advocates for stunting the centralisation of urban growth and for stopping buildings from being built on empty land to preserve views from [[Citadel Hill]].
Buildings of particular interest in the downtown core include:
* [[Province House (Nova Scotia)|Province House]] (the provincial legislature)
* [[Halifax City Hall]]
* [[Halifax Metro Centre|Metro Centre]]
* [[Purdy's Wharf]] Towers
* [[Fenwick Tower]] (the tallest building in the municipality and in Nova Scotia)
* [[1801 Hollis Street]]
* The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
* [[St. Mary's Basilica (Halifax)|Saint Marys Basilica]]
* [[Government House (Nova Scotia)|Government House]] (home of the Lieutenant Governor)
* Historic Properties (collection of some of the oldest buildings in the city)
* Aliant Tower and [[Maritime Centre]]
* [[Granville Mall (Halifax)|Granville Mall]]
* Dominion Public Building (rare art deco skyscrapper)
* Barrington Street Historic District (collection of old historic buildings soon to be a historic district)
The architecture of Halifax's south end is renowned for its Victorian houses. Dalhousie University's campus is often featured in films and documentaries. Dartmouth also has its share of historic neighbourhoods.
The urban core is home to several blocks of typical North American high-rise office buildings, however the waterfront of the [[Halifax Peninsula]] is governed by height restrictions which prevent buildings from obstructing certain sight line between [[Citadel Hill]] and [[Halifax Harbour]] and [[Georges Island (Nova Scotia)|Georges Island]]. This has resulted in some modern high rises being built at unusual angles or locations.
[[Image:Halifaxskyline.jpg|right|thumb|[[City of Halifax|Halifax]] as seen from [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia|Dartmouth]]]]
==Demographics==
The Halifax Regional Municipality comprise 372,679 residents (2006 census). Approximately 18% of the population is under the age of 14, while 11% are 65 and older.
===Ethnic origins===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
|-
! Ethnic Origin
! Population
! % of Total
|-
| [[Canadian people|Canadian]] || {{commas|139,035}} || 37.7</tr>
| [[Canadians of English descent|English]] || {{commas|126,210}} || 34.2</tr>
| [[Scottish Canadian|Scottish]] || {{commas|110,065}} || 29.8</tr>
| [[Irish Canadian|Irish]] || {{commas|90,650}} || 24.5</tr>
| [[French Canadian|French]] || {{commas|66,400}} || 18.0</tr>
| [[Canadians of German ethnicity|German]] || {{commas|44,615}} || 12.1</tr>
| [[Canadians of Dutch descent|Dutch]] || {{commas|14,640}} || 4.0</tr>
| [[First Nations]] || {{commas|12,650}} || 3.4</tr>
| [[Canadians of Welsh descent|Welsh]] || {{commas|8,220}} || 2.2</tr>
| Other [[British Canadian|British Isles]] || {{commas|7,045}} || 1.9</tr>
| [[Italian Canadians|Italian]] || {{commas|6,700}} || 1.8</tr>
| [[Polish Canadians|Polish]] || {{commas|5,375}} || 1.5</tr>
| [[Acadians|Acadian]] || {{commas|5,270}} || 1.4</tr>
| [[Ukrainian Canadian|Ukrainian]] || {{commas|4,030}} || 1.1</tr>
| [[Canadian of Lebanese origin|Lebanese]] || {{commas|3,895}} || 1.1</tr>
| [[Chinese Canadian|Chinese]] || {{commas|3,720}} || 1 </tr>
| Other [[African Canadian|African]] || {{commas|3,480}} || 0.9 </tr>
| [[Black Canadian|Black]] || {{commas|3,205}} || 0.8 </tr>
|}
<ref>Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census</ref> [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=CSD&Code=1209034&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000]
===Religious belief===
* 45.38% [[Protestant]]
* 37.23% [[Catholic]]
* 01.40% other Christian
* 00.86% [[Muslim]]
* 00.79% [[Christian Orthodox]]
* 00.44% [[Jewish]]
* 00.42% [[Buddhist]]
* 00.27% [[Hindu]]
* 00.05% [[Sikh]]
* 00.10% other Eastern religions
* 00.17% other religions
* 12.90% no religious affiliation declared
==Sister cities==
* [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|border|25px]] [[Hakodate]], [[Japan]] (1982). The cities chose to twin because they both have [[star fort]]s.[http://www.halifax.ca/mediaroom/pressrelease/pr2000/000704fortressconf.html]
* [[Image:Flag of Mexico.svg|border|25px]] [[Campeche, Campeche|Campeche]], [[Mexico]] (1999). Campeche was chosen because, like Halifax, it is "a capital of a state" and is "a city of similar size to Halifax on or near the coast having rich historical tradition".[http://www.halifax.ca/council/Minutes/1998/c980113.pdf]
* [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|border|25px]] [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[United States]] (2006). Norfolk was chosen because, like Halifax, its economy "depends heavily on the presence of the Armed Forces, and both cities are very proud of their military history".[http://www.halifax.ca/mediaroom/pressrelease/pr2006/060426HRMtoTwinwithNorfolkVirginia.html]
==Major parks==
[[Image:Point Pleasant.JPG|thumb|right|[[Point Pleasant Park]], a popular forested seaside park on peninsular Halifax.]]
{{main|List of parks in the Halifax Regional Municipality}}
* [[Dartmouth Commons]]
* [[Citadel Hill|Halifax Citadel National Historic Site]]
* [[Halifax Commons]]
* [[Point Pleasant Park]]
* [[Halifax Public Gardens|Public Gardens]]
* [[Shubie Park]]
* [[Sir Sandford Fleming Park]]
* [[York Redoubt|York Redoubt National Historic Site]]
* [[Long Lake Provincial Park (Nova Scotia)|Long Lake Provincial Park]]
==Notables==
*[[Alexander Keith]]- Founder of [[Alexander Keith's]] Beer.
*[[Sidney Crosby]]- Famous Hockey player for the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]
*[[Sarah McLachlan]]- Famous singer and songwriter.
*[[Ellen Page]]- Famous [[Academy Award|Oscar]] nominated actress.
==See also==
*[[Halifax Harbour]]
**[[Halifax Port Authority]]
**[[Halifax Explosion]]
*[[Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency]]
*[[Halifax Regional Police]]
*[[Halifax Regional Water Commission]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons|Halifax}}
* [http://www.halifax.ca/ Halifax Regional Municipality]
* [http://tourismhalifax.com/ Tourism Halifax]
* [http://www.trailcanada.com/canada-guides/halifax.asp Guide to Halifax]
* [http://www.halifaxwebcam.ca/ Live Webcam of Halifax Harbour]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/ns/webcam/harbourcam.jpg CBC Webcam]
* [http://ns1763.ca/hfxrm/hfxrmndx.html Photographs of historic monuments in Halifax Regional Municipality]
* [http://www.fotw.net/flags/ca-ns-hf.html Flags of Halifax and Halifax Regional Municipality]
* [http://eservices.halifax.ca:80/wmsconnector/com.esri.wms.Esrimap/hrm_wms?&REQUEST=GetMap&VERSION=1.1.1&LAYERS=LAKE,POLLING_DISTRICT_2004,GSA_POLYGON,STREET,CIVIC_ADDRESS&SRS=EPSG:4326&BBOX=-64.2423729147,43.98254766543007,-62.070065096600004,45.700516593469935&FORMAT=image/png&WIDTH=765&HEIGHT=605&TRANSPARENT=FALSE&STYLES= GIS Map from GIS HRM showing communities]
* [http://142.176.62.108/arcexplorer/link.html?&link=20070527120531609_70 GIS Map link to GEO Nova]
*[http://maps.halifax.ca/ExploreHRM Interactive GIS Map of the Halifax Regional Municipality]
[[Image:hfxpan1.jpg|thumb|center|650px|Halifax Panorama, Chebucto Community Net.]]
<br/>
----
</br>
{{Halifax Regional Municipality}}
{{Subdivisions of Nova Scotia}}
{{Canada capitals}}
{{Census metropolitan areas by size}}
{{coor title dms|44|51|16|N|63|11|57|W|}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Halifax Regional Municipality| ]]
[[Category:Port cities in Canada]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Canada]]
<!--Other languages-->
[[af:Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
[[zh-min-nan:Halifax Tē-khu Chhī (Nova Scotia)]]
[[ca:Halifax]]
[[cs:Halifax (Nové Skotsko)]]
[[da:Halifax]]
[[de:Halifax (Nova Scotia)]]
[[el:Χάλιφαξ]]
[[es:Halifax (Nueva Escocia)]]
[[eo:Halifakso (Nov-Skotio)]]
[[fa:هالیفاکس]]
[[fr:Halifax (Nouvelle-Écosse)]]
[[io:Halifax]]
[[id:Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
[[it:Halifax (Canada)]]
[[kw:Halifax]]
[[lt:Halifaksas]]
[[nl:Halifax (Nova Scotia)]]
[[ja:ハリファックス]]
[[no:Halifax (Nova Scotia)]]
[[nn:Halifax]]
[[pl:Halifax]]
[[pt:Halifax]]
[[ro:Halifax (Nova Scotia)]]
[[ru:Галифакс]]
[[simple:Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
[[sk:Halifax (Nové Škótsko)]]
[[sr:Halifaks]]
[[fi:Halifax (Kanada)]]
[[sv:Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
[[ta:ஹாலிஃபாக்ஸ்]]
[[tr:Halifax]]
[[vo:Halifax]]
[[zh:哈利法克斯]]