Sambro, Nova Scotia

Sambro is a rural fishing community on the Chebucto Peninsula in the Halifax Regional Municipality, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Located on the Atlantic Ocean at the head of Sambro Harbour, the community is immediately west of the entrance to Halifax Harbour. Sambro is located at the end of Route 306.

Sambro Island is located within the community southeast of the harbour and is home to the Sambro Island Lighthouse, the oldest operational lighthouse in the Americas (since 1758). It stands 62 feet on the top of the rocky island. The original lens from the lighthouse is on display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

Three years after the founding of Halifax in 1752, 26 families settled and worked on Sambro Island after Governor Edward Cornwallis saw the need to populate the area with British settlers to prevent a French attack by sea. The community has evolved into a fishing and tourist community over the centuries, although many residents currently commute into Halifax for employment.

Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park is situated in Sambro Creek. Crystal Crescent Beach is a stretch of three white sandy beaches backing onto Nova Scotia Province parkland. This secluded stretch of sand offers a range of attractions for active visitors and residents and a crystal blue-green ocean vista for those who prefer relaxing on the shore.

Stroll along boardwalks on two of the beaches and hop over the rocks to the third. From the beach you can join a scenic and meandering hiking trail along the coastline. Pack some snacks and follow the trail all the way to Pennant Point, 6 miles (10 kilometers) away. Complete the full 8 mile (13 kilometer) trek that loops along the coast and features some diverse hiking terrain over beaches, boardwalks, stairs and rocks. Be sure to bring your own water, as this hike requires a full day.

Area Schools:

Sambro Elementary
Sambro-Ketch Harbour Elementary

Sackville, Nova Scotia

First settled in August 1749 by Captain John Gorham, acting on orders from Governor Edward Cornwallis to establish a military fort named Fort Sackville (The community was named after George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville. Lower Sackville is now one of the fastest growing communities in Nova Scotia, and contains a mix of residential and commercial development in the Sackville River valley, immediately north of the former town of Bedford.

Before amalgamation into the Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996, Lower Sackville was an unincorporated part of Halifax County. This area of HRM experienced a 7% population growth rate between 1996-2001. In the 1950s and 60s it was a popular destination for Haligonians seeking entertainment at the drive-in theater, WW2 bomber plane ice cream attraction and Sackville Downs harness racing track which provided entertainment until it closed in 1986.

The community’s growth reflects its central location, near both Halifax and Dartmouth, with easy access to Highway 102, Highway 101 and Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Proximity to downtown Halifax and Burnside and Bayers Lake Industrial Parks gives the suburbs of Lower Sackville the advantages of employment opportunities and services of a larger city, and is typical of most commuter communities experiencing growth in North America.

Lower Sackville has experienced ribbon/strip-style commercial development since the 1960s. Current retail chains include Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Canadian Tire, Dollarama and Giant Tiger. There are numerous independent retailers located in this area as well. Most of the restaurants in the area are of the fast food or family dining variety, in addition to others offering Chinese-Canadian food and pizza.Lower Sackville has always displayed an abundance of community spirit, and excelled within the HRM as a strong leader of excellence in sports as well as academics.

Recreational pursuits in the community revolve around sports fields at local schools and parks, as well as the Sackville Sports Stadium, which is equipped with two swimming pools, gymnasium, curling rink, and one of Lower Sackville’s two ice hockey arenas. The majority of Lower Sackville’s suburbs were built in the 1970s on the southern edge of First Lake which offers outdoor recreational opportunities. The Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway is a crushed gravel covered trail running beside the Sackville River from the intersection of Cobequid Road and Sackville Drive to Bedford Place Mall.

Local Schools:

• Sackville High School
• Cavalier Drive Elementary School
• Millwood Elementary School
• Sackville Heights Junior High School
• Sackville Heights Elementary School

Purcell’s Cove and Herring Cove, Nova Scotia

Purcell’s Cove is a community within the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the west side of Halifax Harbour from the Northwest Arm to Ferguson’s Cove along Route 253. Purcell’s Cove is named after Bill Purcell who ferried people to and from Halifax in the 1940s. 

Purcell’s Cove Road real estate has developed into a prime real estate location in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Just past the Armdale Rotary The drive is very scenic, with several yacht clubs, historic forts, and breathtaking ocean views.

The Backlands Hiking Trail:

The Backlands encompass 1350 hectares between Williams Lake, Colpitt Lake, McIntosh Run, Powers Pond, Herring Cove and Purcell’s Cove roads. Trails and access points (except the protected area) are unmarked and unofficial. Exploring here requires navigational, ecological and land ownership considerations.

This ecologically unique land is composed of granite and bluestone glacially sculpted rock. The area had been used as a quarry from the mid-late 1700s through to the 20th century. Much of the stone used to construct Halifax’s fortified defences and historic buildings was quarried from this area.

York Redoubt National Historic Site:

High on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour sits a fortification that has helped protect this historic port throughout three centuries of Canadian history. Part of Halifax’s formidable Defence Complex, York Redoubt was constructed in 1793 just as war broke out between Britain and France. Perched on a bluff at the narrowest point of the outer harbour, it offers superb views. Bring your camera and zest for adventure.

Herring Cove:

A little further along the coast from Purcell’s Cove is Herring Cove. It is situated on the eastern shore of the Chebucto Peninsula, 15 kilometres south of Downtown Halifax. It is near the western approaches to Halifax Harbour, and can be reached both via Purcell’s Cove along the coastal road and from inland via the Herring Cove Road through Spryfield. There are local amenities in Herring Cove and two schools in Herring Cove, William King Elementary and Herring Cove Junior High.

Prospect, Nova Scotia

Prospect is a coastal community on the Chebucto Peninsula in the Halifax Regional Municipality,Nova Scotia. Located 22km from Bayers Lake Business Park, Halifax on the western shore it was founded by Irish and English fishermen in the 1750’s. For the past 250 years the families who settled here have carved out a living amongst the rocky shores and continue to do so today.

The peninsula at Prospect is a jewel, located in the heart of Nova Scotia’s most stunning ocean playground. The hiking trails at Indian Point reveal spectacular ocean vistas and monumental islands of rock that inspire
both awe and respect for Canada’s natural beauty. The pristine and historic village of Prospect is a wonderful place to explore, and it also provides a perfect launch site for kayaking the islands and islets that dot the surrounding area.

Peggy’s Cove:

Only 28 minutes form the spectacular rock formations of Peggy’s Cove, it offers everything you could
want for year round or summertime ocean living. In this small fishing village, 19km from the Peninsula
at Bayside, you can see rock formations that have attracted nature-lovers from around the world.
Combined with the somber beauty of the Swiss Air Monument a mile down the coast, this stretch of
ocean and rugged, rocky coastline remains one of Canada’s truly natural wonders.

Granite Springs Golf:

Golf enthusiasts will be rewarded with the challenging and lush 18 hole championship course at Granite Springs, only 1.6km. The Granite Springs Golf Club is a Championship18 hole course with an elevation that overlooks the Atlantic ocean, Granite Springs offers golf enthusiasts a truly wonderful golfing experience.

Sea Kayaking:

Kayaking the islands and islets off the Peninsula at Bayside offers an incredible variety of natural beauty. These sheltered routes, amongst seal colonies and bird sanctuaries,provide an opportunity to experience the diversity of wildlife found on Nova Scotia’s South Shore.

Area Schools:

Atlantic Memorial (PR-05)
Brookside (06-09)
Halifax West (10-12)

Lunenburg is a port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Situated on the province’s South Shore, it is located on the Fairhaven Peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay.The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Lunenburg is steeped in art, music and culture. it has an active heritage society, book clubs, writing clubs, a museum that always exceeds expectations and a robust community of artists. Lunenburg boasts some of the finest restaurants in the Maritimes yet you will find that favourite little coffee shop or a pub to meet with friends and family. Art galleries are found on almost every street and live theatre or musical event is never far away.

There are festivals galore such as Folk Harbour Music Festival, Festival of Crafts, Folk Art Festival, Street Festival,Newfie Days, Schooner Races and a magical Santa Claus Parade. Music Royale presents world famous classical musicians year round in the National Heritage St. John’s Anglican Church and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival features folk,world, jazz and rock artists throughout the year, though the main event is during the warm nights of August.

Recreation is abundant. Tennis courts, a curling rink, bowling alley, swimming pool and a community centre overflow with stimulating activities. We have a golf course with one of the finest views in the world (Lunenburg), hiking trails and a historic working waterfront which is gradually revealing its charms. Lunenburg has an active ship-building industry and was the home port of that historic and majestic schooner on the Canadian dime, the Bluenose.Lunenburg Harbour is home to the tall ship Picton Castle and a popular a port-of-call for many touring Tall Ships and recreational vessels.
Lunenburg has wonderful neighbours in the small beautiful historic towns of Chester and Mahone Bay, and the larger town of Bridgewater, an active community 15-20 minutes away which contains the big shopping stores as well as a multiplex theatre.

Local Schools:

Bluenose Academy
Lunenburg Academy
Lunenburg School of Arts
South Shire Waldorf School & Kindergarten