Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia History

Nova Scotia is no more than 130 km (87 miles) wide at any point, thus the sea plays a major role in the lives of its people. Nova Scotia's indigenous Algonquian people had been living off the area's bountiful waters for thousands of years before the first European explorers began their navigation and exploration.

Nova Scotia Joins Canada

Throughout the 17th century the English and French fought for control of Nova Scotia with its vast natural resources and as a strategic naval and military location. Finally, in 1713, The Peace of Utrecht gave the British control of Nova Scotia, although France retained Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island.

By the 1860s, unification of all the Canadian provinces was being proposed. Though there was some opposition to joining the Union, Nova Scotia's Premier, Sir Charles Tupper, agreed to the terms of the Quebec Conference of 1864 and Nova Scotia entered the Dominion of Canada three years later in 1867.

Economic Boom and Bust

Trade and industry faltered after the American Civil War concluded in 1865 and many Nova Scotians emigrated from the area. During World Wars I and II, Nova Scotia provided many war materials and became a chief transit point for shipping munitions and other supplies to Western Europe, providing a substantial boost to the economy.

Nova Scotia Today

The province is bordered to the west by New Brunswick and the state of Maine in the U.S., with Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland to the north.

Nova Scotia's population is over 940,000 and its capital city of Halifax is the economic hub of the region. Nova Scotia has traditionally had a wealth of natural resources, but has diversified its economy since the end of WWII.

New industries, including tourism, technology and finance have joined mainstays such as mining, fishing, agriculture and forestry giving Nova Scotia one of the fastest growing economies in Canada. The Halifax area is also one of Canada's most attractive places to live with above average family incomes and highly affordable real estate.