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Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province Provinces and territories of Canada

Provincial and territorial legislatures are unicameral [i], having no second chamber equivalent to the Canadian Senate [i] ... 

 located on Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in the Maritimes Maritimes

he Maritime provinces, also the Canadian Maritimes or simply the Maritimes, is a region [i] ... 

, and its capital, Halifax Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia

Halifax Regional Municipality, commonly referred to as HRM, is a Canadian [i] regional municipality [i] ... 

, is the economic and cultural centre of the region. Nova Scotia is the second smallest province in Canada, with an area of 55,284 km. Its population of 936,988 makes it the fourth least populous province of the country. Nova Scotia's economy is traditionally largely resource-based, but has in recent decades become more diverse. Industries such as fishing Fishing

Fishing is the activity of hunting [i] for fish [i]. ... 

, mining Mining

Mining is the extraction of valuable [i] mineral [i]s or other geological [i] materials f ... 

, forestry Forestry

Forestry is the art, science, and practice of studying and managing forest [i]s and plantation [i]s, and ... 

 and agriculture Agriculture

Farming redirects here. For Farming in computer games, see Farmer [i]. ... 

 remain very important, and have been joined by tourism Tourism

Tourism is the act of travel [i] for predominantly recreation [i]al or leisure [i] purposes, and also re ... 

, technology Technology

Despite its cultural pervasiveness, technology is an elusive concept.... 

, film Film

Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general.... 

 production, music and other cultural industries.

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Timeline

1744   The third French and Indian War, known as "King George's War," breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia

1760   Great Upheaval Great Upheaval

The Great Upheaval, also known as the Great Expulsion, The Deportation or the Acadian Exp... 

: New England New England

New England is a region of the United States [i] located in the northeastern corner of the country. ... 

 planters arrive to claim land in Nova Scotia Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 taken from the Acadians Acadian

The Acadians are the descendants of the original French [i] settlers of parts of the northeaster ... 

.

1775   September 12 - "Independence Hurricane" from South Carolina South Carolina

South Carolina is a state [i] in the Southern [i] region of the United States [i] ... 

 to Nova Scotia kills 4170, mostly fishermen and sailors.

1782   In Switzerland Switzerland

Switzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked [i] Alpine country [i] in Central Europe [i] ... 

, Anna Goldi in sentenced to death for witchcraft Witchcraft

Witchcraft, in various historical, religious and mythical contexts, is the use of certain kinds of alleg... 

 - the last legal witchcraft senten July 1 - American United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 privateers attack Lunenburg Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (town)

Lunenburg is a small town on the South Shore [i] of Nova Scotia [i], Canada [i] approximatel ... 

, Nova Scotia.

1812   War of 1812 War of 1812

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America [i] and Britain [i] ... 

: ''USS Constitution USS Constitution

USS Constitution, known as "Old Ironsides," is a wooden-hull [i]ed, three-masted [i] ... 

'' defeats the British United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

| align="center" colspan="2"| United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland ... 

 frigate ''Guerrière'' off the coast of Nova Scotia. The British United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

| align="center" colspan="2"| United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland ... 

 shot is said to have bounced off the ''Constitution Constitution

A constitution is a system, often codified [i] as a written document, which establishes the rules and pr ... 

'' 's sides, earning her the nickname "Old Ironsides USS Constitution

USS Constitution, known as "Old Ironsides," is a wooden-hull [i]ed, three-masted [i] ... 

".

1843   Abbeville Abbeville, Louisiana

The small city [i] of Abbeville is the parish seat [i] of Vermilion Parish [i] ... 

 is founded by descendants of Acadians Acadian

The Acadians are the descendants of the original French [i] settlers of parts of the northeaster ... 

 from Nova Scotia.

1867   The British North America Act Constitution of Canada

The Constitution [i] of Canada [i] is the supreme law in Canada. ... 

 receives royal assent, forming the Dominion of Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 in an event known as Confederation Canadian Confederation

Canadian Confederation [i], or the Confederation of Canada, was the process by which the federal [i] ... 

. This unites the Province of Canada, Quebec Quebec

Quebec, or Qubec in French [i], In 1898, the Canadian Parliament passed the first ... 

, Ontario Ontario

Ontario is the most populous and second-largest in area of Canada [i]'s ten provinces [i] ... 

, New Brunswick New Brunswick

New Brunswick , is one of Canada's [i] three Maritime provinces [i], and the only officially bili ... 

, and Nova Scotia as of July 1. Ottawa Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital [i] of Canada [i], and the country's fourth largest city [i]. ... 

 becomes the capital, and John A. Macdonald John A. Macdonald

Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB [i], KCMG [i], PC [i] ... 

 becomes the Dominion's first prime minister Prime Minister of Canada

The Prime Minister [i] of Canada [i] , is the head of the Government of Canada [i]. ... 

.

1873   The British United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

 steamer RMS ''Atlantic'' RMS Atlantic

RMS Atlantic was a steamship [i] of the White Star Line [i] that operated between Liverpool [i], United Kingdom [i] ... 

 sinks off Nova Scotia killing 547.

1950   St. Roch St. Roch

The St. Roch was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police [i] schooner [i], the first vessel to complete a Pacific [i] ... 

, first ship to circumnavigate Circumnavigation

To circumnavigate a place, such as an island, a continent, or the Earth [i], is to travel all the way ar ... 

 North America arrives in Halifax Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia

Halifax Regional Municipality, commonly referred to as HRM, is a Canadian [i] regional municipality [i] ... 

, Nova Scotia.

1977   A 20.2-kg (44-lb.-9-oz.) lobster is caught off Nova Scotia (heaviest known crustacean Crustacean

The crustaceans are a large group of arthropod [i]s , usually treated as a subphylum [i] . ... 

).

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province Provinces and territories of Canada

Provincial and territorial legislatures are unicameral [i], having no second chamber equivalent to the Canadian Senate [i] ... 

 located on Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in the Maritimes Maritimes

he Maritime provinces, also the Canadian Maritimes or simply the Maritimes, is a region [i] ... 

, and its capital, Halifax Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia

Halifax Regional Municipality, commonly referred to as HRM, is a Canadian [i] regional municipality [i] ... 

, is the economic and cultural centre of the region. Nova Scotia is the second smallest province in Canada, with an area of 55,284 km². Its population of 936,988 makes it the fourth least populous province of the country.

Nova Scotia's economy is traditionally largely resource-based, but has in recent decades become more diverse. Industries such as fishing Fishing

Fishing is the activity of hunting [i] for fish [i]. ... 

, mining Mining

Mining is the extraction of valuable [i] mineral [i]s or other geological [i] materials f ... 

, forestry Forestry

Forestry is the art, science, and practice of studying and managing forest [i]s and plantation [i]s, and ... 

 and agriculture Agriculture

Farming redirects here. For Farming in computer games, see Farmer [i].
... 

 remain very important, and have been joined by tourism Tourism

Tourism is the act of travel [i] for predominantly recreation [i]al or leisure [i] purposes, and also re ... 

, technology Technology

Despite its cultural pervasiveness, technology is an elusive concept.... 

, film Film

Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general.... 

 production, music and other cultural industries.

The province includes several regions of the Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaq

The Mi'kmaq are a First Nations [i] people, indigenous to northeastern New England [i], Canada [i]'s Atlantic Provinces [i] ... 

 nation of Mi'gma'gi, which covered all of the Maritimes, as well as parts of Maine Maine

Maine is a U.S. state [i] in the New England [i] region of the northeastern United States [i]. ... 

, the Gaspé Gaspé Peninsula

The Gasp Peninsula, Gaspesia or just the Gasp is a North America [i]n peninsula [i] on the s ... 

, and Newfoundland Newfoundland

Newfoundland is a large island off the east coast of North America [i], and the most populous part o ... 

. Nova Scotia was already home to the Mi'kmaq people when the first European colonists arrived. In 1604, French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 colonists established the first permanent European settlement north of Florida at Port Royal, founding what would become known as Acadia Acadia

Acadia was the name given by the French [i] to a colonial territory [i] i ... 

. The British Empire British Empire

The British Empire was the most extensive empire [i] in world history and for a ... 

 obtained control of the region between 1713 and 1760, and established the new capital at Halifax in 1749. Nova Scotia was one of the founding four provinces to join Confederation Canadian Confederation

Canadian Confederation [i], or the Confederation of Canada, was the process by which the federal [i] ... 

 with Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 in 1867.

History

See also individual articles on .

Paleo-Indians camp Campsite

A campsite is a place used for camping [i].... 

ed at locations in present-day Nova Scotia approximately 11,000 years ago. Archaic Indians are believed to have been present in the area between 1,000 and 5,000 years ago. Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaq

The Mi'kmaq are a First Nations [i] people, indigenous to northeastern New England [i], Canada [i]'s Atlantic Provinces [i] ... 

, the First Nations First Nations

First Nations is a term of ethnicity [i] used in Canada [i]. ... 

 of the province and region, are their direct descendants.

Some believe that the Vikings may have settled in Nova Scotia at some time, though there is little evidence of this and the claim is deeply disputed.

While there is some debate over where he landed, it is most widely believed that the Italian explorer John Cabot John Cabot

Giovanni Caboto , known in English [i] as John Cabot, was an Italian [i] navigator [i] ... 

 visited present-day Cape Breton Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is an island [i] on the Atlantic [i] coast of North America [i]. ... 

 in 1497. . The first European settlement in Nova Scotia was established in 1604. The French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

, lead by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts established the first capital for the colony Acadia Acadia

Acadia was the name given by the French [i] to a colonial territory [i] i ... 

 at Port Royal in 1604 at the head of the Annapolis Basin.

In 1620, the Plymouth Council for New England Plymouth Council for New England

The Plymouth Council for New England was the name of a 17th century [i] English [i] joint stock company [i] ... 

, under King James I & VI James I of England

James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland was King of England [i] ... 

 designated the whole shorelines of Acadia and the Mid-Atlantic colonies south to the Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary [i] in the United States. ... 

 as New England New England

New England is a region of the United States [i] located in the northeastern corner of the country. ... 

. The first documented Scottish settlement in the Americas was of Nova Scotia in 1621. On 29 September 1621, the charter for the foundation of a colony was granted by James VI James I of England

James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland was King of England [i] ... 

 to Sir William Alexander and, in 1622, the first settlers left Scotland Kingdom of Scotland

The Kingdom of Scotland was a state [i] located in Western Europe [i], in the northern third of the isla ... 

.

This settlement initially failed due to difficulties in obtaining a sufficient number of skilled emigrant Emigration

Emigration is the act and the phenomenon of leaving one's native country to settle [i] abroad. ... 

s and in 1624, James VI created a new order of Baronet Baronet

A baronet or his female equivalent, a baronetess, is the holder of a hereditary title awarded by t... 

s; admission to this order was obtained by sending 6 labourers or artisans, sufficiently armed, dressed & supplied for 2 years, to Nova Scotia, or by paying 3,000 merks to William Alexander. For 6 months, no one took up this offer until James compelled one to make the first move.

In 1627, there was a wider uptake of baronetcies, and thus more settlers available to go to Nova Scotia. However, in 1627, war broke out between England Kingdom of England

The Kingdom of England was a state [i] located in western Europe [i], in the southern part of the islan ... 

 and France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 and the French re-established a settlement at Port Royal which they had originally settled. Later that year, a combined Scottish and English force destroyed the French settlement, forcing them out. In 1629, the first Scottish settlement at Port Royal was inhabited. The colony's charter, in law, made Nova Scotia a part of mainland Scotland, this was later used to get around the English navigation acts. However, this did not last long: in 1631, under King Charles I Charles I of England

[i] [[1625]... 

, the Treaty of Suza was signed which returned Nova Scotia to the French. The Scots were forced by Charles to abandon their mission before their colony had been properly established and the French assumed control of the Mi'kmaq and other First Nations territory.

In 1654, King Louis XIV of France Louis XIV of France

Louis XIV ruled as King of France [i] and of Navarre [i] from ... 

 appointed aristocrat Nicholas Denys as Governor of Acadia Acadia

Acadia was the name given by the French [i] to a colonial territory [i] i ... 

 and granted him the confiscated lands and the right to all its minerals. English colonists captured Acadia in the course of King William's War, but England returned the territory to France in the Treaty of Ryswick Treaty of Ryswick

The Treaty of Ryswick was signed on 20 September [i] 1697 [i] and named after Ryswick [i] in the Dutch Republic [i] ... 

 at the wars end. The territory was recaptured by forces loyal to England Kingdom of England

The Kingdom of England was a state [i] located in western Europe [i], in the southern part of the islan ... 

 then Britain Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain
... 

 during the course of Queen Anne's War, and its conquest confirmed by the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. France retained possession of Île St Jean and Île Royale , on which it established a fortress Fortification

Fortifications are military [i] construction [i]s and building [i]s designed for defense [i] in ... 

 at Louisbourg Fortress of Louisbourg

The Fortress of Louisbourg is a Canadian [i] National Historic Site and the location of a partial ... 

 to guard the sea approaches to Quebec Quebec

Quebec, or Qubec in French [i], In 1898, the Canadian Parliament passed the first ... 

. This fortress was captured by American colonial forces then of returned by the British to France, then ceded again after the French and Indian War French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was the nine-year North American chapter of the Seven Years' War [i]. ... 

 of 1755.

Thus mainland Nova Scotia became a British colony in 1713, although Samuel Vetch had a precarious hold on the territory as governor from the fall of Acadian Port-Royal in October 1710. British governing officials became increasingly concerned over the unwillingness of the French-speaking, Catholic Acadians Acadian

The Acadians are the descendants of the original French [i] settlers of parts of the northeaster ... 

, who were the majority of colonists, to pledge allegiance to the British Crown British monarchy

The British monarch or Sovereign is the head of state [i] of the United Kingdom [i] and in the British overseas territories [i] ... 

, then George II George II of Great Britain

George II was King of Great Britain [i] and Ireland [i], Duke of Brunswick-Lneburg [i] ... 

. The colony remained mostly Acadian despite the establishment of Halifax as the province's capital, and the settlement of a large number of foreign Protestants  at Lunenburg in 1753. In 1755, the British forcibly expelled the over 12,000 Acadians in what became known as the Grand Dérangement, or Great Expulsion Great Upheaval

The Great Upheaval, also known as the Great Expulsion, The Deportation or the Acadian Exp... 

.

The colony's jurisdiction changed during this time. Nova Scotia was granted a supreme court in 1754 with the appointment of Jonathan Belcher Jonathan Belcher

Jonathan Belcher was colonial [i] governor [i] of Massachusetts [i], New Hampshire [i], New Jersey [i], ... 

 and a Legislative Assembly in 1758. In 1763 Cape Breton Island Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is an island [i] on the Atlantic [i] coast of North America [i]. ... 

 became part of Nova Scotia. In 1769, St. John's Island became a separate colony. The county of Sunbury was created in 1765, and included all of the territory of current day New Brunswick New Brunswick

New Brunswick , is one of Canada's [i] three Maritime provinces [i], and the only officially bili... 

 and eastern Maine Maine

Maine is a U.S. state [i] in the New England [i] region of the northeastern United States [i]. ... 

 as far as the Penobscot River. In 1784 the western, mainland portion of the colony was separated and became the province of New Brunswick New Brunswick

New Brunswick , is one of Canada's [i] three Maritime provinces [i], and the only officially bili... 

, and the territory in Maine entered the control of the newly independent American state of Massachusetts Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the northeastern [i] ... 

. Cape Breton would again became a separate colony in 1784 only to be returned to Nova Scotia in 1820.


Ancestors of more than half of present-day Nova Scotians arrived in the period following the Acadian Expulsion. Between 1759 and 1768, about 8000 New England Planters responded to Governor Charles Lawrence's request for settlers from the New England colonies. Several years later, approximately 30,000 United Empire Loyalists United Empire Loyalists

The name United Empire Loyalists is given to those British Loyalists [i] who resettled in British North America [i] ... 

  settled in Nova Scotia following the defeat of the British United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

 in the American Revolutionary War American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between... 

. Of these 30,000, 14,000 went to New Brunswick and 16,000 to Nova Scotia. Approximately 3,000 of this group were slaves of African Africa

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... 

 ancestry, about a third of which soon relocated themselves to Sierra Leone Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa [i]. ... 

 in 1792. Large numbers of Gaelic-speaking Scottish Gaelic in Canada

Canadian Gaelic is the dialect of Scots Gaelic [i] spoken on Cape Breton Island [i] ... 

 Highland Scots Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands are the mountain [i]ous regions of Scotland [i] north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault [i] ... 

 emigrated to Cape Breton and the western portion of the mainland during the late 18th century and 19th century. About one thousand Ulster Scots Ulster-Scots

The flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Flag and not this flag which is the flag of the Ulster Unionist Part... 

 settled in mainly central Nova Scotia during this time, as did just over a thousand farming migrants from Yorkshire Yorkshire

Yorkshire is the largest historic county [i] of England [i] and Great Britain [i] ... 

 and Northumberland Northumberland

Northumberland is a county [i] in northern England [i]. ... 

 between 1772 and 1775.

Nova Scotia was the first colony in British North America and in the British Empire British Empire

The British Empire was the most extensive empire [i] in world history and for a ... 

 to achieve responsible government in January-February 1848 and become self-governing through the efforts of Joseph Howe Joseph Howe

Joseph Howe, PC [i] was born the son of John Howe [i] and Ma ... 

. Pro-Confederate premier Charles Tupper Charles Tupper

Sir Charles Napier Tupper, GCMG [i], CB [i], PC [i] ... 

 led Nova Scotia into the Canadian Confederation Canadian Confederation

Canadian Confederation [i], or the Confederation of Canada, was the process by which the federal [i] ... 

 in 1867, along with New Brunswick New Brunswick

New Brunswick , is one of Canada's [i] three Maritime provinces [i], and the only officially bili... 

 and the Province of Canada.

In the Provincial election of 1868, the Anti-Confederation Party won 18 out of 19 Federal seats, and 35 out of 38 seats in the provincial legislature. For seven years, William Annand and Joseph Howe led the ultimately unsuccessful fight to convince British Imperial authorities to release Nova Scotia from Confederation. The government was vocally against Confederation, contending that it was no more than the annexation of the Province to the pre-existing province of Canada:

"the scheme [confederation with Canada] by them assented to would, if adopted, deprive the people [of Nova Scotia] of the inestimable privilege of self-government, and of their rights, liberty, and independence, rob them of their revenue, take from them the regulation of trade and taxation, expose them to arbitrary taxation by a legislature over which they have no control, and in which they would possess but a nominal and entirely ineffective representation; deprive them of their invaluable fisheries, railroads, and other property, and reduce this hitherto free, happy, and self-governed province to a degraded condition of a servile dependency of Canada."


A motion passed by the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1868 refusing to recognize the legitimacy of Confederation has never been rescinded. Repeal, as anti-confederation became known, would rear its head again in the 1880s, and transform into the Maritime Rights Movement in the 1920s. Some Nova Scotia flags flew at half mast on Canada Day as late as that time.

Government

The government of Nova Scotia is a parliamentary Parliamentary system

|
|-
|
|}
A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government [i] ... 

 democracy Democracy

Democracy is a form of government [i] for a nation state, or for an organiz ... 

. Its unicameral Unicameralism

Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliament [i]ary chamber. ... 

 legislature -- the Nova Scotia House of Assembly -- consists of 52 members. As Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

}
|-
|
|}
Elizabeth II is the Queen [i] of 16 independent sovereign [i] state [i] ... 

 is the Government of Nova Scotia's chief executive. Her duties in Nova Scotia are carried out by the Lieutenant-Governor, Mayann E. Francis. The government is headed by the Premier, Rodney MacDonald, who took office February 22, 2006. Halifax is home to the House of Assembly and Lieutenant-Governor.

The province's revenue comes mainly from the taxation of personal and corporate income, although taxes on tobacco and alcohol, its stake in the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, and oil and gas royalties are also significant. In 2006/07, the Province passed a budget of $6.9 billion, with a projected $72 million surplus. Federal equalization payments account for $1.385 billion, or 20.07% of the provincial revenue. While Nova Scotians have enjoyed balanced budgets for several years, the accumulated debt exceeds $12 billion , resulting in slightly over $897 million in debt servicing payments, or 12.67% of expenses. The province participates in the HST, a blended sales tax collected by the federal government using the GST tax system.

Nova Scotia has elected three minority governments over the last decade. The Progressive Conservative government of John Hamm, and now Rodney MacDonald, has required the support of the New Democratic Party Nova Scotia New Democratic Party

[i] party in [[Nova Scotia]... 

 or Liberal Party Liberal Party of Nova Scotia

The Liberal Party of Nova Scotia is a political party in Nova Scotia [i], Canada [i]. ... 

 since the election in 2003. Nova Scotia's politics are divided on regional lines in such a way that it has become difficult to elect a majority government. Rural mainland Nova Scotia has largely been aligned behind the Progressive Conservative Party, Halifax Regional Municipality has overwhelmingly supported the New Democrats, with Cape Breton Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is an island [i] on the Atlantic [i] coast of North America [i]. ... 

 voting for Liberals with a few Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats. This has resulted in a ? split of votes on a Province wide basis for each party, and difficulty in any party gaining a majority. Progressive Conservative Premier Dr. Hamm announced his retirement in late 2005 and was replaced by Rodney MacDonald after MacDonald won a closely contested leadership convention, defeating former finance minister, and the race's frontrunner, Neil LeBlanc on the first ballot and Halifax businessman Bill Black on the second. MacDonald is the second youngest premier in Nova Scotia's history.

The last election on June 13th 2006 elected 23 Progressive Conservatives Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia

The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act ... 

, 20 New Democrats Nova Scotia New Democratic Party

[i] party in [[Nova Scotia]... 

 and 9 Liberals Liberal Party of Nova Scotia

The Liberal Party of Nova Scotia is a political party in Nova Scotia [i], Canada [i]. ... 

, leaving Nova Scotia with a Progressive Conservative minority government.

See also: List of Nova Scotia Premiers

Geography


The province's mainland is a peninsula Peninsula

A peninsula is a geographical [i] formation [i] consisting of an extension of land [i] ... 

 surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

, including numerous bays and estuaries. Cape Breton Island Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is an island [i] on the Atlantic [i] coast of North America [i]. ... 

, a large island Island

An island or isle is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.... 

 to the northeast of the Nova Scotian mainland, is also part of the province, as is Sable Island Sable Island

Sable Island is a small Canadian [i] island situated 111mi southeast of Nova Scotia [i] in the... 

, a small island notorious for its shipwreck Shipwreck

A shipwreck is the remains of a ship after it has sunk or been beached as a result of a crisis at sea... 

s, approximately 175 km from the province's southern coast. Nova Scotia is Canada's second smallest province in area , and no point in Nova Scotia is more than 56 km from the sea.

See also individual articles on and below Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province [i] located on Canada [i]'s southeastern coast. ... 

 for a map.

Ten Largest Municipalities

Municipality20011996
Halifax Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia

Halifax Regional Municipality, commonly referred to as HRM, is a Canadian [i] regional municipality [i] ... 

359,111342,851
Cape Breton Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Regional Municipality, or CBRM as it is commonly known, is a regional municipality [i] ... 

105,968114,733
Lunenburg County47,59147,561
Kings County47,15947,486
Pictou County46,96522,671
Colchester County35,64135,161
Yarmouth County26,84325,467
East Hants20,82119,767
Annapolis County18,42918,937
Cumberland County16,18317,738

Map


Demographics & Statistics


Population of Nova Scotia since 1851

YearPopulationFive Year
% change
Ten Year
% change
Rank Among
Provinces
1851 276,854 n/a n/a 3
1861 330,857 n/a 19.5 3
1871 387,800 n/a 17.2 3
1881 440,572 n/a 13.6 3
1891 450,396 n/a 2.2 3
1901 459,574 n/a 2.0 3
1911 492,338 n/a 7.1 4
1921 523,837 n/a 6.4 7
1931 512,846 n/a
7
1941 577,962 n/a 12.7 7
1951 642,584 n/a 11.2 7
1956 694,717 8.1 n/a 7
1961 737,007 6.1 14.7 7
1966 756,039 2.6 8.8 7
1971 788,965 4.4 7.0 7
1976 828,570 5.0 9.6 7
1981 847,442 2.3 7.4 7
1986 873,175 3.0 5.4 7
1991 899,942 3.1 6.2 7
1996 909,282 1.0 4.1 7
2001 908,007
0.9 7
2005 937,900 ? ? 7
2006 ? ? ? ?



Population

Nova Scotia is the seventh most populated province in Canada with an estimated 936,988 residents as of January 1, 2006. It accounts for 3% of the population of Canada. The population density Population density

Population density is a measurement of population [i] per unit area or unit volume. ... 

 is approximately 17.2 persons/km². Roughly 60% of the population live in rural parts of the province.

Employment

Unemployment is 9.5% of the work force, as of February 2006.

Per capita income

In 2005, per capital income was $28,114 .

Gross Domestic Product

Nova Scotia GDP Gross domestic product

A region's gross domestic product, or GDP, is one of the several measures [i] ... 

 is presently approximately $33 billion annually.

Other facts

Nova Scotia is in the Atlantic Standard Time Atlantic Standard Time Zone

The Atlantic Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting four hours from Co... 

 zone.

The schooner Bluenose Bluenose

For other uses, see Bluenose [i]
... 

, which appears on the back of the Canadian ten-cent piece and current Nova Scotia license plate Vehicle registration plate

A vehicle registration plate, usually called license plate or number plate is a small metal ... 

 was built in Lunenburg, a town on the South Shore.

500–1000 Nova Scotians today are fluent in Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic in Canada

Canadian Gaelic is the dialect of Scots Gaelic [i] spoken on Cape Breton Island [i] ... 

 - nearly all live in Antigonish County Antigonish County, Nova Scotia

Antigonish County, Nova Scotia is a county [i] in the Canadian [i] province [i] of Nova Scotia [i] ... 

 or on Cape Breton Island Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is an island [i] on the Atlantic [i] coast of North America [i]. ... 

. No native Nova Scotians speak Scots Scots language

Scots refers to the Anglic [i] varieties [i] spoken in parts of Scotland [i]. ... 

.

There has been talk that Nova Scotia might invite Turks and Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands are an overseas territory [i] of the United Kingdom [i] consisting of two ... 

 to join the province, should these Caribbean islands ever become part of Canada. This would bypass the problems with admitting Turks and Caicos as a separate province.

In November 1761, a furious storm sent the merchant ship Auguste to its doom, taking with it 114 people bound for France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 and all of their earthly possessions. One of seven survivors, Monsieur St. Luc de la Corne, made an epic trek of almost one thousand miles in winter back to his family in Montreal. Almost 250 years later, what is left of the Auguste and her valuable cargo of gold and silver lies at the bottom of Cape Breton's Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is an island [i] on the Atlantic [i] coast of North America [i]. ... 

 Aspy Bay. Underwater explorer, Joe Amaral, and his team have sifted through the sands of Aspy Bay looking for treasure and answers to what really happened during this devastating shipwreck. So far, they have found several cannon, lead sheathing from repairs to the ship, a few coins, and a spoon.

Halifax Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia

Halifax Regional Municipality, commonly referred to as HRM, is a Canadian [i] regional municipality [i] ... 

 played a key role in the aftermath of the loss of the RMS Titanic RMS Titanic

RMS [i] Titanic was an Olympic class passenger liner [i] that became... 

 on April 15, 1912, becoming the final resting place of many of her unclaimed victims. Three Halifax ships were involved in the grim task of recovering victims - many of whom were laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a maritime museum [i] located in downtown [i] Halifax, Nova Scotia [i] ... 

 on the Halifax waterfront has an exhibition of items recovered from the disaster, including the passenger list and one of the few deck chairs from the Titanic known to exist.

In 1621, King James I James I of England

James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland was King of England [i] ... 

 granted Sir William Alexander, the land between New England New England

New England is a region of the United States [i] located in the northeastern corner of the country. ... 

 and Newfoundland Newfoundland

Newfoundland is a large island off the east coast of North America [i], and the most populous part o ... 

 as New Scotland Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province [i] located on Canada [i]'s southeastern coast. ... 

 . The Baronets of Nova Scotia were created as a settlement. A piece of land is now under the Esplanade Esplanade

An esplanade or promenade is a raised walkway [i] area.... 

 of Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is an ancient stronghold which from its lofty position dominates views of the city of Edinburgh [i] ... 

 to claim their Baronetage is deemed Nova Scotia under Scottish Law. The law has never been repealed.

Halifax also played a key role during the events of 9/11, as Halifax International Airport was a principal landing point for many airborne planes that could not land in the U.S. following the FAA ban on domestic air traffic. On September 11th 2006, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended a ceremony in Halifax to honour and thank the residents of Halifax for helping stranded passengers.

Further reading

  • Beck, J. Murray. Joseph Howe Volumes I & II : Conservative Reformer 1804-1848; The Briton Becomes Canadian 1848-1873
  • Beck, J. Murray. The Government of Nova Scotia University of Toronto Press, 1957, the standard history
  • Beck, J. Murray. Politics of Nova Scotia. vol 1 1710-1896; vol 2: 1896-1988. Tantallon, N.S.: Four East 1985 438 pp.
  • Bell, Winthrop P. The "Foreign Protestants" and the Settlement of Nova Scotia: The History of a Piece of Arrested British Colonial Policy in the Eighteenth Century. . reprint Fredericton, N.B.: Acadiensis for Mount Allison U., Cen. for Can. Studies, 1990. 673 pp.
  • Bickerton, James P. Nova Scotia, Ottawa and the Politics of Regional Development. U. of Toronto Press 1990. 412 pp.
  • Brebner, John Bartlet. New England's Outpost. Acadia before the Conquest of Canada
  • Brebner, John Bartlet. The Neutral Yankees of Nova Scotia: A Marginal Colony During the Revolutionary Years
  • Byers, Mary and McBurney, Margaret. Atlantic Hearth: Early Homes and Families of Nova Scotia. U. of Toronto Press, 1994. 364 pp.
  • Campey, Lucille H. After the Hector: The Scottish Pioneers of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Toronto: Natural Heritage Books, 2004. 376 pp.
  • J. A. Chisholm, ed. Speeches and Public Letters of Joseph Howe 2 vol Halifax, 1909
  • Choyce, Lesley. Nova Scotia: Shaped by the Sea. A Living History. Toronto: Penguin Books Canada, 1996. 305 pp.
  • Conrad, Margaret and Moody, Barry, ed. Planter Links: Community and Culture in Colonial Nova Scotia. Fredericton, : Acadiensis, 2001. 236 pp.
  • Conrad, Margaret, ed. Intimate Relations: Family and Community in Planter Nova Scotia, 1759-1800. Fredericton, : Acadiensis, 1995. 298 pp.
  • Conrad, Margaret, ed. Making Adjustments: Change and Continuity in Planter Nova Scotia, 1759-1800. Fredericton: Acadiensis, 1991. 280 pp.
  • Creighton, Wilfred. Forestkeeping: A History of the Department of Lands and Forests in Nova Scotia, 1926-1969. Halifax: Nova Scotia Dept. of Lands and Forests, 1988. 155 pp.
  • Cuthbertson, Brian. Johnny Bluenose at the Polls: Epic Nova Scotian Election Battles, 1758-1848. Halifax: Formac, 1994. 344 pp.
  • Donald A. Desserud; "Outpost's Response: The Language and Politics of Moderation in Eighteenth-Century Nova Scotia" American Review of Canadian Studies, Vol. 29, 1999
  • Donovan, Kenneth, ed. Cape Breton at 200: Historical Essays in Honour of the Island's Bicentennial, 1785-1985. Sydney, N.S.: U. Coll. of Cape Breton Pr., 1985. 261 pp.
  • Earle, Michael, ed. Workers and the State in Twentieth Century Nova Scotia. Fredericton: Acadiensis, 1989.
  • Faragher, John Mack. A Great and Noble Scheme: The Tragic Story of the Expulsion of the French Acadians from Their American Homeland
  • Fingard, Judith; Guildford, Janet; and Sutherland, David. Halifax: The First 250 Years Halifax: Formac, 1999. 192 pp.
  • Frank, David. J. B. McLachlan: A Biography - the Story of a Legendary Labour Leader and the Cape Breton Coal Miners. Toronto: Lorimer, 1999. 592 pp.
  • Fraser, Dawn. Echoes from Labor's Wars: The Expanded Edition, Industrial Cape Breton in the 1920's, Echoes of World War One, Autobiography and Other Writings. Wreck Cove, N.S.: Breton Books, 1992. 177 pp.
  • Frost, James D. Merchant Princes: Halifax's First Family of Finance, Ships, and Steel Toronto: Lorimer, 2003. 376 pp.
  • Girard, Philip; Phillips, Jim; and Cahill, Barry, ed. The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, 1754-2004: From Imperial Bastion to Provincial Oracle U. of Toronto Press 2004.
  • Gwyn, Julian. Excessive Expectations: Maritime Commerce and the Economic Development of Nova Scotia, 1740-1870 McGill-Queen's U. Pr., 1998. 291 pp.
  • Hornsby, Stephen J. Nineteenth-Century Cape Breton: A Historical Geography. McGill-Queen's U. Pr., 1992. 274 pp.
  • Johnson, Ralph S. Forests of Nova Scotia: A History. Tantallon: Nova Scotia Dept. of Lands and Forests; Four East Publ., 1986. 407 pp.
  • Johnston, A. J. B. Control and Order in French Colonial Louisbourg, 1713-1758. Michigan State U. Pr., 2001. 346 pp.
  • Krause, Eric; Corbin, Carol; and O'Shea, William, ed. Aspects of Louisbourg: Essays on the History of an Eighteenth-Century French Community in North America. Sydney, N.S.: U. Coll. of Cape Breton Pr., 1995. 312 pp.
  • Lanctôt, Léopold. L'Acadie des Origines, 1603-1771 Montreal: Fleuve, 1988. 234 pp.
  • Loomer, L. S. Windsor, Nova Scotia: A Journey in History. Windsor, N.S.: West Hants Hist. Soc., 1996. 399 pp.
  • McKay, Ian. The Quest of the Folk: Antimodernism and Cultural Selection in Twentieth-Century Nova Scotia. McGill-Queen's U. Pr., 1994. 371 pp.
  • McKay, Ian. The Craft Transformed: An Essay on the Carpenters of Halifax, 1885-1985. Halifax, N.S.: Holdfast, 1985. 148 pp.
  • MacKinnon, Neil. This Unfriendly Soil: The Loyalist Experience in Nova Scotia, 1783-1791. McGill-Queen's U. Pr., 1986. 231 pp.
  • Mancke, Elizabeth. The Fault Lines of Empire: Political Differentiation in Massachusetts and Nova Scotia, ca. 1760-1830 Routledge, 2005. 214 pp.
  • Marble, Allan Everett. Surgeons, Smallpox, and the Poor: A History of Medicine and Social Conditions in Nova Scotia, 1749-1799. McGill-Queen's U. Pr., 1993. 356 pp.
  • March, William DesB. Red Line: The Chronicle-Herald and Mail-Star, 1875-1954. Halifax, N.S.: Chebucto Agencies, 1986. 415 pp.
  • Morton, Suzanne. Ideal Surroundings: Domestic Life in a Working-Class Suburb in the 1920s. U. of Toronto Pr., 1995. 201 pp. about Richmond Heights
  • Pryke, Kenneth G. Nova Scotia and Confederation, 1864-74
  • Reid, John G. et al. The "Conquest" of Acadia, 1710: Imperial, Colonial, and Aboriginal Constructions. U. of Toronto Pr., 2004. 297 pp.
  • Robertson, Allen B. Tide & Timber: Hantsport, Nova Scotia, 1795-1995. Hantsport, N.S.: Lancelot, 1996. 182 pp.
  • Robertson, Barbara R. Sawpower: Making Lumber in the Sawmills of Nova Scotia. Halifax: Nimbus; Nova Scotia Mus., 1986. 244 pp.
  • Sandberg, L. Anders and Clancy, Peter. Against the Grain: Foresters and Politics in Nova Scotia. U. of British Columbia Pr., 2000. 352 pp.
  • Sandberg, L. Anders, ed. Trouble in the Woods: Forest Policy and Social Conflict in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Fredericton, N.B.: Acadiensis, 1992. 234 pp.
  • Waite, P. B. The Lives of Dalhousie University. Vol. 1: 1818-1925, Lord Dalhousie's College. McGill-Queen's U. Pr., 1994. 338 pp.
  • Walker, James W. St. G. The Black Loyalists: The Search