Downtown Halifax

Downtown Halifax is the primary central business district of the Halifax, Nova Scotia, Municipality of Halifax. Located on the central-eastern portion of the Halifax Peninsula, on Halifax Harbour. Along with Downtown Dartmouth, and other de facto central business districts within the Halifax, Nova Scotia, Municipality (e.g. Cole Harbour, Lower Sackville, Spryfield), Downtown Halifax serves as the business, entertainment, and tourism hub of the region.

Geography

Downtown is located within the central-eastern portion of the Halifax Peninsula. The terrain varies from on the harbour's edge, to about atop Citadel Hill (Fort George).

Sourced from ''Defining Canada’s Downtown Neighbourhoods: 2016 Boundaries'', Downtown Halifax covers of landmass.

Culture

The culture of Downtown Halifax is-influenced-by-and-is-similar-to the culture of Atlantic Canada, but is forever changing. With the ever-diversifying demographics of the Halifax urban area, the stereotypical idiosyncracies that are often associated with people from Atlantic Canada are slowly withering. The rapid growth of the area between 2016 Canadian census, 2016-and-2021 Canadian census, 2021 showed not only the diversification, importance, and resilience of Downtown Halifax, but of the Halifax, Nova Scotia, Municipality and of the urban area of Halifax itself.

Events and festivals

The Scotiabank Centre is one of the largest buildings in Downtown Halifax, as well as the largest arena in Atlantic Canada. It is the home of the Halifax Mooseheads hockey team, and it also plays host to most of the major sporting events and concerts that visit Halifax. The Nova Scotia International Tattoo is held here every year. It is connected to the Downtown Halifax Link, and directly to the World Trade and Convention Centre. The Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Jazz Festival and the Halifax Pop Explosion also take place in some downtown venues.

The Halifax Convention Centre offers more than of space for meetings and events.

Demographics

Statistics Canada's 2021 Census article ''Table 5 Population by proximity to downtown, census metropolitan areas, 2016 to 2021'' recorded 25,555 people who lived within Downtown Halifax.

From 2016 to 2021, the population increased by 5,288 people (an increase of over 26%) from the 2016 population of 20,267 people.

Furthermore, the population density of the area increased from approximately 49 people per hectare in 2016 to approximately 62 people per hectare in 2021. Between 2016 and 2021, Downtown Halifax's population fastest compared to all other Downtowns in Canada.

Economy

Downtown Halifax, like the Halifax, Nova Scotia, municipality and the urban area, has a very diverse economy. Many Crown corporations of Canada, Crown corporations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector, private-sector organizations, have corporate headquarters and/or do business within downtown. As the most populous downtown in Atlantic Canada, that is encompassed by the most populous municipality--and--most populous urban area within Atlantic Canada, Downtown Halifax is a bustling area that hosts many industries.

Financial services

Downtown Halifax is the financial centre of the Halifax, Nova Scotia, urban area of Halifax, the Nova Scotia, Province of Nova Scotia, and the Atlantic Canada, region of Atlantic Canada. The Bank of Canada has one of its five Canadian regional offices located within the central business district, and all Big Five banks, ''Big Five'' Canadian banks have major operations within the area. Manulife, along with many other private financial institutions, also do business within downtown.

Gambling

Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation operates its headquarters at 1601 Lower Water Street.

Marketing communications

Trampoline (advertising agency), Trampoline is located within the area.

Telecommunication

Eastlink (company), Eastlink, a cable television and telecommunications company is headquartered within the vicinity.

Transportation

Maritime Bus operates a station within the district.

Utilities

Emera, the Canadian successor company, successor holding company, is headquartered in Downtown Halifax. Its Nova Scotia subsidiary, Nova Scotia Power, used to be a Crown corporations of Canada, Provincial Crown corporation until Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia leader Donald Cameron (Nova Scotia Premier), Donald Cameron privatized the company in 1992.

Parks and recreation

Downtown Halifax has an array of attractions, a plethora of events-and-festivals, and many restaurants.

Accommodation

Many of the Halifax region's hotels are located in the downtown area, with many major hotel chains maintaining a location here. There are also a number of small hostels nearby.

Hotels within Downtown

Art galleries

There are several art galleries within the Downtown Halifax area:

*Argyle Fine Art
*Art 1274 Hollis
*Centre for Craft Nova Scotia
*Anna Leonowens Gallery
*Khyber Centre for the Arts
*Port Loggia Gallery
*Karl Penton Gallery
*The Prow Gallery
*Studio 21 Fine Art
*Teichert Gallery
*Zwicker's Gallery

Landmarks

Boardwalk

The Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk runs along the Halifax Harbour, harbour from Casino Nova Scotia in the northern-part of Downtown-to-the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in the southern-part of Downtown. It is a 24-hour public footpath, and at in length, it is one of the longest urban footpaths in the world.

Halifax Town Clock, Old Town Clock

On 20 October 1803, Halifax Town Clock, Halifax's town clock started keeping time. Located off Brunswick Street, the clock faces the harbour and is another example of Palladian architecture within the urban area of Halifax.

Citadel Hill

Citadel Hill (Fort George), Citadel Hill, a star-shaped fort, is another historic attraction in the downtown. Originally established with the arrival of Edward Cornwallis and the out break of Father Le Loutre's War (1749), the current fort was built in the Victorian Era as the hub of the historic defence system for the port. As a result, there is viewplane legislation that restricts vertical development that might block the direct line of sight from Citadel Hill to the harbour and Georges Island (Nova Scotia), George's Island in particular. Recent developments have challenged the viewplane limits.

Province House (Nova Scotia), Province House

Finished construction in 1819, Province House (Nova Scotia), Province House is a fantastic example of Palladian architecture in North America.

Granville Mall

One of the few blocks to have retained its heritage character is Granville Mall (Halifax), Granville Mall, a pedestrian mall formerly part of Granville Street, made up of an array of shops and pubs in a conglomeration of rowed historic buildings built in the 1860s. It is known for the stone facades on each building. Historic Properties (Halifax), Historic Properties, a collection of 19th-century warehouses converted into shops and restaurants, is located nearby. Despite the heritage focus of these remaining blocks of heritage buildings, none are protected as heritage districts.

Museums

Downtown Halifax hosts several museums, including:

*Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
*Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
*Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
*Sea Turtle Centre

Pier 21, an immigrant entry point prominent throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, was opened to the public as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1999. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a maritime museum containing extensive galleries including a large exhibit on the , over 70 small craft and a steamship . In summertime the preserved World War II Flower-class corvette, corvette operates as a museum ship and Canada's naval memorial. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is housed in a 150-year-old building containing over 9,000 works of art.

Parks

There are a number of parks within the urban setting of Downtown Halifax.

*Citadel Hill off-leash dog park
*Halifax Commons
*Halifax Public Gardens
*Peace and Friendship Park
*Victoria Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Victoria Park

Restaurants and nightlife

The area is home to approximately 200 restaurants and bars, providing an interesting array of world cuisine. There are also over 60 sidewalk cafes that open in the summer months. The nightlife is made up of bars and small music venues as well as Casino Nova Scotia, a large facility built partially over the water. Pizza Corner (Halifax), Pizza Corner, located at the intersection of Blowers Street and Grafton Street, is a common location for pizzerias serving Donair#Canada, Halifax-style donairs and other street food for the neighbouring bars and pubs.

Shopping

Downtown Halifax, being home to many small shops and vendors, is a major shopping area in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Municipality of Halifax. Notable retail areas include Park Lane (mall), Park Lane, Spring Garden Road, Halifax, Spring Garden Road and Scotia Square.

Theatre

Neptune Theatre (Halifax), Neptune Theatre, located on Argyle Street, is Halifax's largest theatre with a 458-person capacity. Since 1 July 1963, it has performed, and performs an assortment of professionally produced plays year-round.

The Shakespeare by the Sea, Halifax, Shakespeare by the Sea theatre company performs at nearby Point Pleasant Park.

Although not in Downtown Halifax, the Eastern Front Theatre performs at Alderney Landing in Downtown Dartmouth which is accessible from the area via the Halifax Transit ferry service.

Venues

Nova Centre

Completed in 2017, the Nova Centre is Halifax's premier convention center, conference centre, and has over of event space.

Scotiabank Centre

Formerly, and colloquially, known as the ''Halifax Metro Centre'', the Scotiabank Centre was opened on 17 February 1978. It has a concert-capacity of up-to 13,000-people, and has hosted musical ensemble, bands-and-musicians, comedians, multi-sport event, multi-sport events and motivational speakers.

Government

Downtown Halifax is the home of the Halifax Regional Council chamber at Halifax City Hall. Offices for the mayor, city councillors, and additional staff can also be found downtown.

At the provincial level, the downtown area is the home of Nova Scotia's Province House (Nova Scotia), Province House where the Nova Scotia House of Assembly meets. Government House (Nova Scotia), Government House, where the Lieutenant-Governors of Nova Scotia, Lieutenant-Governor resides, is located on Barrington Street. The provincial government also has offices in several other downtown office buildings.

Canada's federal government also maintains a significant presence in the area, working from various buildings including the Dominion Public Building (Halifax), Dominion Public Building, the Ralston Building, and previously, the Maritime Centre.

Transportation

Pedestrian

Streets within Downtown Halifax are set in a grid-pattern. Pedestrians are recommended to be cautious, to know your route, and to use good footwear. Downtown Halifax is similar to other central business districts where it has many varied crosswalks, hills, paths, and sidewalks.

Spring Garden Road (Halifax), Spring Garden Road is a street approximately in total-length that goes in an east-west direction from Barrington Street-to-Robie Street.

Barrington Street traverses approximately through Downtown in a north-south direction. Its total-length from Nova Scotia Highway 111, Highway 111 in the North End, Halifax, North End-to-Inglis Street in the South End, Halifax, South End is approximately .

Road

The streets in the downtown area are set in a grid pattern like the rest of the Halifax Peninsula, the way the town officials originally planned in the 18th century.

Halifax Transit, Public transit

Halifax Transit provides public transit routes from several points throughout Downtown Halifax via different modes of transport.

Bus routes

=Lower Water Street terminal

=
*Route 2 (''Fairview'')
*Route 29 (''Barrington'')
*Route 90 (''Larry Uteck'')

=Scotia Square terminal

=
*Route 1 (''Spring Garden'')
*Route 2 (''Fairview'')
*Route 5 (''Scotia Square'')
*Route 7 A (''Peninsula'') (clockwise)
*Route 7 B (''Peninsula'') (counter-clockwise)
*Route 8 (''Sackville'')
*Route 9 (''Herring Cove'')
*Route 10 (''Dalhousie'')
*Route 29 (''Barrington'')
*Route 41 (''Dalhousie-Dartmouth'')
*Route 84 (''Glendale'')
*Route 93 (''Bedford Highway'')
*Route 123 (''Timberlea Express'')
*Route 127 (''Cowie Hill Express'')
*Route 135 (''Flamingo Express'')
*Route 136 (''Farnham Gate Express'')
*Route 137 (''Clayton Park Express'')
*Route 138 (''Parkland Express'')
*Route 158 (''Woodlawn Express'')
*Route 159 (''Colby Express'')
*Route 161 (''North Preston Express'')
*Route 165 (''Caldwell Express'')
*Route 168 B (''Cherry Brook Express'')
*Route 182 (''First Lake Express'')
*Route 183 (''Springfield Express'')
*Route 185 (''Millwood Express'')
*Route 186 (''Beaver Bank Express'')
*Route 194 (''West Bedford Express'')
*Route 196 (''Basinview Express'')
*Route 320 (''Airport/Fall River MetroX'')
*Route 330 (''Tantallon/Sheldrake Lake Regional Express'')
*Route 370 (''Porters Lake Regional Express'')

Ferry routes

=Lower Water Street terminal

=
*Alderney (Downtown Dartmouth)
*Woodside (Woodside, Nova Scotia, Woodside)

See also

* Downtown Halifax Link
* Kate Carmichael
* The Khyber
* Texpark site

References

External links

Halifax Regional MunicipalityDowntown Halifax Business CommissionWaterfront Development Corporation LimitedTourism Nova Scotia

{{Communities of Halifax Peninsula

Busking venues
Central business districts in Canada, Halifax
Communities in Halifax, Nova Scotia