Nova Scotia - Wikipedia Nova Scotia For other uses, see Nova Scotia ( disambiguation ). This article 's lead section may not adequately summarize key points of its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. Please discuss this issue on the article 's talk page. ( July 2016 ) Nova Scotia Nouvelle - Écosse ( French ) Alba Nuadh ( Gaelic ) New Scotland ( English ) Flag Coat of arms Motto : Munit Haec et Altera Vincit ( Latin : One defends and the other conquers ) BC AB SK MB ON QC NB PE NS NL YT NT NU Confederation July 1, 1867 ( 1st, with ON, QC, NB ) Capital Halifax Largest metro Halifax Government Type Constitutional monarchy Lieutenant Governor Arthur Joseph LeBlanc Premier Stephen McNeil ( Liberal ) Legislature Nova Scotia House of Assembly Federal representation ( in Canadian Parliament ) House seats 11 of 338 ( 3.3 % ) Senate seats 10 of 105 ( 9.5 % ) Area Land 52,942 km ( 20,441 sq mi ) Area rank Ranked 12th Population ( 2016 ) Total 923,598 Estimate ( 2017 Q2 ) 953,173 Rank Ranked 7th Density 17.4 / km ( 45 / sq mi ) Demonym ( s ) Nova Scotian Official languages English ( de facto ) GDP Rank 7th Total ( 2011 ) C $40.225 billion Per capita C $42,640 ( 12th ) Time zone Atlantic : UTC - 4 Postal abbr. NS Postal code prefix ISO 3166 code CA - NS Flower Mayflower Tree Red spruce Bird Osprey Website novascotia.ca Rankings include all provinces and territories Nova Scotia ( / ˈnoʊvə ˈskoʊʃə / ; Latin for `` New Scotland '' ; French : Nouvelle - Écosse ; Scottish Gaelic : Alba Nuadh ) is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces, and one of the four provinces which form Atlantic Canada. Its provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is Canada 's second - smallest province, with an area of 55,284 square kilometres ( 21,300 sq mi ), including Cape Breton and another 3,800 coastal islands. As of 2016, the population was 923,598. Nova Scotia is the second most - densely populated province in Canada with 17.4 inhabitants per square kilometre ( 45 / sq mi ). Contents 1 Etymology 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 3 History 3.1 Overview 3.2 17th and 18th centuries 3.3 19th century 4 Demography 4.1 Population since 1851 4.2 Counties by population 4.3 Ethnic origins 4.4 Language 4.5 Religion 5 Economy 6 Government, law and politics 7 Culture 7.1 Fine arts 7.2 Film and television 7.3 Literature 7.4 Music 7.5 Sports 7.6 Cuisine 7.7 Events and festivals 7.8 Tourism 8 Education 9 See also 10 Notes 11 Bibliography 12 External links Etymology `` Nova Scotia '' means `` New Scotland '' in Latin and is the recognized English language name for the province. In Scottish Gaelic, the province is called Alba Nuadh, which also simply means `` New Scotland ''. The province was first named in the 1621 Royal Charter granting the right to settle lands including modern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and the Gaspé Peninsula to Sir William Alexander in 1632. Geography Looking over the narrowest part of the Annapolis Valley towards Bridgetown from Valleyview Provincial Park Main article : Geography of Nova Scotia See also : List of provincial parks in Nova Scotia and List of protected areas of Nova Scotia Köppen climate types of Nova Scotia Map of Nova Scotia. Topography of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is Canada 's smallest province in area after Prince Edward Island. The province 's mainland is the Nova Scotia peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, including numerous bays and estuaries. Nowhere in Nova Scotia is more than 67 km ( 42 mi ) from the ocean. Cape Breton Island, a large island to the northeast of the Nova Scotia mainland, is also part of the province, as is Sable Island, a small island notorious for its shipwrecks, approximately 175 km ( 110 mi ) from the province 's southern coast. Nova Scotia has many ancient fossil - bearing rock formations. These formations are particularly rich on the Bay of Fundy 's shores. Blue Beach near Hantsport, Joggins Fossil Cliffs, on the Bay of Fundy 's shores, has yielded an abundance of Carboniferous age fossils. Wasson 's Bluff, near the town of Parrsboro, has yielded both Triassic and Jurassic age fossils. The province contains 5,400 lakes. Climate Main article : Climate of Nova Scotia Nova Scotia lies in the mid-temperate zone. Since the province is almost surrounded by the sea, the climate is closer to maritime than to continental climate. The winter and summer temperature extremes of the continental climate are moderated by the ocean. However, winters are still cold enough to be classified as continental -- still being nearer the freezing point than inland areas to the west. The Nova Scotia climate is in many ways similar to the central Baltic Sea coast in Northern Europe, only wetter and snowier. This is in spite of Nova Scotia being some fifteen parallels south. Areas not on the Atlantic coast experience warmer summers more typical of inland areas, and winter lows a little colder. Described on the provincial vehicle - licence plate as Canada 's Ocean Playground, Nova Scotia is surrounded by four major bodies of water : the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the north, the Bay of Fundy to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southwest, and Atlantic Ocean to the east. Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected locations in Nova Scotia Location July ( ° C ) July ( ° F ) January ( ° C ) January ( ° F ) Halifax 23 / 14 73 / 58 0 / − 8 32 / 17 Sydney 23 / 12 73 / 54 − 1 / − 9 30 / 14 Kentville 25 / 14 78 / 57 − 1 / − 10 29 / 14 Truro 24 / 13 75 / 55 − 1 / − 12 29 / 9 Liverpool 25 / 14 77 / 57 0 / -- 9 32 / 15 Shelburne 23 / 12 73 / 54 1 / − 8 33 / 17 Yarmouth 21 / 12 69 / 55 1 / − 7 33 / 19 History Main articles : History of Nova Scotia and Military history of Nova Scotia Overview The province includes regions of the Mi'kmaq nation of Mi'kma'ki ( mi'gama'gi ). The Mi'kmaq people inhabited Nova Scotia at the time the first European colonists arrived. In 1605, French colonists established the first permanent European settlement in the future Canada ( and the first north of Florida ) at Port Royal, founding what would become known as Acadia. The British conquest of Acadia took place in 1710. The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 formally recognized this and returned Cape Breton Island ( Île Royale ) to the French. Present - day New Brunswick then still formed a part of the French colony of Acadia. The British changed the name of the capital from Port Royal to Annapolis Royal. In 1749, the capital of Nova Scotia moved from Annapolis Royal to the newly established Halifax. In 1755 the vast majority of the French population ( the Acadians ) were forcibly removed in the Expulsion of the Acadians ; New England Planters arrived between 1759 and 1768 to replace them. Port Royal, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, situated on the Annapolis River where it widens to form the Annapolis Basin In 1763, most of Acadia ( Cape Breton Island, St. John 's Island ( now Prince Edward Island ), and New Brunswick ) became part of Nova Scotia. In 1769, St. John 's Island became a separate colony. Nova Scotia included present - day New Brunswick until that province 's establishment in 1784, after the arrival of United Empire Loyalists. In 1867, Nova Scotia became one of the four founding provinces of the Canadian Confederation. 17th and 18th centuries Fort Edward -- the oldest blockhouse in North America ( 1750 ). A View of Louisburg in North America, November 11, 1762. The warfare on Nova Scotian soil during the 17th and 18th centuries significantly influenced the history of Nova Scotia. The Mi'kmaq had lived in Nova Scotia for centuries. The French arrived in 1604, and Catholic Mi'kmaq and Acadians formed the majority of the population of the colony for the next 150 years. During the first 80 years the French and Acadians lived in Nova Scotia, nine significant military clashes took place as the English and Scottish ( later British ), Dutch and French fought for possession of the area. These encounters happened at Port Royal, Saint John, Cap de Sable ( present - day Port La Tour, Nova Scotia ), Jemseg ( 1674 and 1758 ) and Baleine ( 1629 ). The Acadian Civil War took place from 1640 to 1645. Beginning with King William 's War in 1688, six wars took place in Nova Scotia before the British defeated the French ( and ultimately expelled much of their population ) and made peace with the Mi'kmaq : King William 's War ( 1688 -- 1697 ), Queen Anne 's War ( 1702 -- 1713 ), Father Rale 's War ( 1722 -- 1725 ), King George 's War ( 1744 -- 1748 ), Father Le Loutre 's War ( 1749 -- 1755 ) The Seven Years ' War, also called the French and Indian War ( 1754 -- 1763 ) The battles during these wars took place primarily Port Royal, Saint John, Canso, Chignecto, Dartmouth ( 1751 ), Lunenburg ( 1756 ) and Grand - Pré. Despite the British conquest of Acadia in 1710, Nova Scotia remained primarily occupied by Catholic Acadians and Mi'kmaq, who confined British forces to Annapolis and to Canso. The Mi'kmaq signed a series of peace and friendship treaties with Great Britain, beginning after Father Rale 's War ( 1725 ). In 1725, the British signed a treaty ( or `` agreement '' ) with the Mi'kmaq, but the authorities have often disputed its definition of the rights of the Mi'kmaq to hunt and fish on their lands. Monument at Millbrook, near Truro, Nova Scotia paying tribute to Glooscap -- a legendary figure to Mi'kmaq people of Nova Scotia. A generation later, Father Le Loutre 's War began when Edward Cornwallis arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on June 21, 1749. A General Court, made up of the governor and the Council, was the highest court in the colony at the time. Jonathan Belcher was sworn in as chief justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court on October 21, 1754. The first legislative assembly in Halifax, under the Governorship of Charles Lawrence, met on October 2, 1758. During the French and Indian War of 1754 -- 63 ( the North American theatre of the Seven Years ' War of 1756 - 1763 ), the British deported the Acadians and recruited New England Planters to resettle the colony. The 75 - year period of war ended with the Burial of the Hatchet Ceremony between the British and the Mi'kmaq ( 1761 ). After the war, some Acadians were allowed to return and the British made treaties with the Mi'kmaq. This church at Grand Pre, Nova Scotia, commemorates the beginning of the Acadian expulsion where the men were gathered to hear their fate from the British in 1755. The American Revolution ( 1775 -- 1783 ) had a significant impact on shaping Nova Scotia. Initially, Nova Scotia -- `` the 14th American Colony '' as some called it -- displayed ambivalence over whether the colony should join the more southern colonies in their defiance of Britain, and rebellion flared at the Battle of Fort Cumberland ( 1776 ) and at the Siege of Saint John ( 1777 ). Throughout the war, American privateers devastated the maritime economy by capturing ships and looting almost every community outside of Halifax. These American raids alienated many sympathetic or neutral Nova Scotians into supporting the British. By the end of the war Nova Scotia had outfitted a number of privateers to attack American shipping. British military forces based at Halifax succeeded in preventing American support for rebels in Nova Scotia and deterred any invasion of Nova Scotia. However the British navy failed to establish naval supremacy. While the British captured many American privateers in battles such as the Naval battle off Halifax ( 1782 ), many more continued attacks on shipping and settlements until the final months of the war. The Royal Navy struggled to maintain British supply lines, defending convoys from American and French attacks as in the fiercely fought convoy battle, the Naval battle off Cape Breton ( 1781 ). An interpretive sign along the Heritage Trail at the Black Loyalist Heritage Society 's Birchtown museum. After the Thirteen Colonies and their French allies forced the British forces to surrender ( 1781 ), approximately 33,000 Tories or Loyalists ( the King 's Loyal Americans, allowed to place `` United Empire Loyalist '' after their names ) settled in Nova Scotia ( 14,000 of them in what became New Brunswick ) on lands granted by the Crown as some compensation for their losses. ( The British administration divided Nova Scotia and carved out the present - day province of New Brunswick in 1784 ). The Loyalist exodus created new communities across Nova Scotia, including Shelburne, which briefly became one of the larger British settlements in North America, and infused Nova Scotia with additional capital and skills. However the migration also caused political tensions between Loyalist leaders and the leaders of the existing New England Planters settlement. The Loyalist influx also pushed Nova Scotia 's Mi'kmaq People to the margins as Loyalist land grants encroached on ill - defined native lands. As part of the Loyalist migration, about 3,000 Black Loyalists arrived ; they founded the largest free Black settlement in North America at Birchtown, near Shelburne. However unfair treatment and harsh conditions caused about one - third of the Black Loyalists to resettle in Sierra Leone in 1792, where they founded Freetown and became known in Africa as the Nova Scotian Settlers. 19th century Statue of Joseph Howe, Province House, created by famed Quebec sculptor Louis - Philippe Hébert During the War of 1812, Nova Scotia 's contribution to the British war effort involved communities either purchasing or building various privateer ships to attack U.S. vessels. Perhaps the most dramatic moment in the war for Nova Scotia occurred when HMS Shannon escorted the captured American frigate USS Chesapeake into Halifax Harbour ( 1813 ). Many of the U.S. prisoners were kept at Deadman 's Island, Halifax. During this century, Nova Scotia became the first colony in British North America and in the British Empire to achieve responsible government in January -- February 1848 and become self - governing through the efforts of Joseph Howe. Nova Scotia had established representative government in 1758, an achievement later commemorated by the erection of the Dingle Tower in 1908. Welsford - Parker Monument, Halifax, Nova Scotia -- the only Crimean War monument in North America Nova Scotians fought in the Crimean War of 1853 -- 1856. The Welsford - Parker Monument in Halifax is the second - oldest war monument in Canada ( 1860 ) and the only Crimean War monument in North America. It commemorates the Siege of Sevastopol ( 1854 -- 1855 ). Thousands of Nova Scotians fought in the American Civil War ( 1861 -- 1865 ), primarily on behalf of the North. The British Empire ( including Nova Scotia ) declared itself neutral in the conflict. As a result, Britain ( and Nova Scotia ) continued to trade with both the South and the North. Nova Scotia 's economy boomed during the Civil War. Soon after the American Civil War, Pro-Canadian Confederation premier Charles Tupper led Nova Scotia into the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867, along with New Brunswick and the Province of Canada. The Anti-Confederation Party was led by Joseph Howe. Almost three months later, in the election of September 18, 1867, the Anti-Confederation Party won 18 out of 19 federal seats, and 36 out of 38 seats in the provincial legislature. Nova Scotia became a world leader in both building and owning wooden sailing ships in the second half of the 19th century. Nova Scotia produced internationally recognized shipbuilders Donald McKay and William Dawson Lawrence. The fame Nova Scotia achieved from sailors was assured when Joshua Slocum became the first man to sail single - handedly around the world ( 1895 ). International attention continued into the following century with the many racing victories of the Bluenose schooner. Nova Scotia was also the birthplace and home of Samuel Cunard, a British shipping magnate ( born at Halifax, Nova Scotia ) who founded the Cunard Line. Throughout the 19th century, numerous businesses developed in Nova Scotia became of pan-Canadian and international importance : the Starr Manufacturing Company ( first skate - manufacturer in Canada ), the Bank of Nova Scotia, Cunard Line, Alexander Keith 's Brewery, Morse 's Tea Company ( first tea company in Canada ), among others. ( Early in the 20th century Sobey 's was established, as was Maritime Life. ) Demography Main article : Demographics of Nova Scotia Population since 1851 Year Population Five year % change Ten year % change 1851 276,854 n / a n / a 1861 330,857 n / a 19.5 1871 387,800 n / a 17.2 1881 440,572 n / a 13.6 1891 450,396 n / a 1901 459,574 n / a 2.0 1911 492,338 n / a 7.1 1921 523,837 n / a 6.4 1931 512,846 n / a − 2.1 1941 577,962 n / a 12.7 1951 642,584 n / a 11.2 1956 694,717 8.1 n / a 1961 737,007 6.1 14.7 1966 756,039 2.6 8.8 1971 788,965 4.4 7.0 1976 828,570 5.0 9.6 1981 847,442 2.3 7.4 1986 873,175 3.0 5.4 1991 899,942 3.1 6.2 909,282 1.0 4.1 908,007 − 0.1 0.9 2006 913,462 0.6 0.5 2011 921,727 0.9 1.5 2016 923,598 0.2 0.11 Counties by population Historical county Historical county seat Population ( 2016 ) Population ( 2011 ) Change Land area ( km2 ) Population density Highest Historical Population Annapolis Annapolis Royal 20,591 20,756 3000205049142416649 ♠ − 0.8 % 7003318848000000000 ♠ 3,188.48 6.5 / km 23,631 ( 1991 ) Antigonish Antigonish 19,301 19,589 2999852978712542750 ♠ − 1.5 % 7003145781000000000 ♠ 1,457.81 13.2 / km 19,589 ( 2011 ) Cape Breton Sydney 98,722 101,619 2999714915517767350 ♠ − 2.9 % 7003247060000000000 ♠ 2,470.60 40.0 / km 131,507 ( 1961 ) Colchester Truro 50,585 50,968 3000248548108617170 ♠ − 0.8 % 7003362794000000000 ♠ 3,627.94 13.9 / km 50,968 ( 2011 ) Cumberland Amherst 30,005 31,353 2999570057091825340 ♠ − 4.3 % 7003427264999999999 ♠ 4,272.65 7.0 / km 41,191 ( 1921 ) Digby Digby 17,323 18,036 2999604679529829230 ♠ − 4.0 % 7003251523000000000 ♠ 2,515.23 6.9 / km 21,852 ( 1986 ) Guysborough Guysborough 7,625 8,143 2999363870809284050 ♠ − 6.4 % 7003404423000000000 ♠ 4,044.23 1.9 / km 18,320 ( 1901 ) Halifax Halifax 403,390 390,328 7000334641634727720 ♠ + 3.3 % 7003549571000000000 ♠ 5,495.71 73.4 / km 403,390 ( 2016 ) Hants Windsor 42,558 42,304 6999600416036308630 ♠ + 0.6 % 7003305173000000000 ♠ 3,051.73 13.9 / km 42,558 ( 2016 ) Inverness Port Hood 17,235 17,947 2999603276313590010 ♠ − 4.0 % 7003383040000000000 ♠ 3,830.40 4.5 / km 25,779 ( 1891 ) Kings Kentville 60,600 60,589 5000000000000000000 ♠ 0.0 % 7003212611000000000 ♠ 2,126.11 28.5 / km 60,600 ( 2016 ) Lunenburg Lunenburg 47,126 47,313 3000604759791177900 ♠ − 0.4 % 7003290990000000000 ♠ 2,909.90 16.2 / km 47,634 ( 1991 ) Pictou Pictou 43,748 45,643 2999584821330762660 ♠ − 4.2 % 7003284562000000000 ♠ 2,845.62 15.4 / km 50,350 ( 1981 ) Queens Liverpool 10,351 10,960 2999444343065693430 ♠ − 5.6 % 7003239863000000000 ♠ 2,398.63 4.3 / km 13,126 ( 1981 ) Richmond Arichat 8,964 9,293 2999645970085010220 ♠ − 3.5 % 7003124424000000000 ♠ 1,244.24 7.2 / km 15,121 ( 1881 ) Shelburne Shelburne 13,966 14,496 2999634381898454750 ♠ − 3.7 % 7003246465000000000 ♠ 2,464.65 5.7 / km 17,516 ( 1986 ) Victoria Baddeck 7,089 7,115 3000634574841883350 ♠ − 0.4 % 7003287085000000000 ♠ 2,870.85 2.5 / km 12,470 ( 1881 ) Yarmouth Yarmouth 24,419 25,275 2999661325420375870 ♠ − 3.4 % 7003212463999900000 ♠ 2,124.64 11.5 / km 27,891 ( 1991 ) Total counties -- 921,727 913,462 6999904799542838130 ♠ + 0.9 % 7004529394400000000 ♠ 52,939.44 17.4 / km county boundaries contiguous with those of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. county boundaries contiguous with those of the Halifax Regional Municipality. county boundaries contiguous with those of the Region of Queens Municipality. Ethnic origins According to the 2006 Canadian census the largest ethnic group in Nova Scotia is Scottish ( 31.9 % ), followed by English ( 31.8 % ), Irish ( 21.6 % ), French ( 17.9 % ), German ( 11.3 % ), Aboriginal origin ( 5.3 % ), Dutch ( 4.1 % ), Black Canadians ( 2.8 % ), Welsh ( 1.9 % ) Italian ( 1.5 % ), and Scandinavian ( 1.4 % ). 40.9 % of respondents identified their ethnicity as `` Canadian ''. Nova Scotia has a long history of social justice work to address issues such as racism and sexism within its borders. The Nova Scotia legislature was the third in Canada to pass human rights legislation ( 1963 ). The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission was established in 1967. Language See also : Maritimer English, Cape Breton English, Acadian French, and Canadian Gaelic Mother tongue in Nova Scotia : Red -- majority anglophone, Orange -- mixed, Blue -- majority francophone. The 2011 Canadian census showed a population of 921,727. Of the 904,285 singular responses to the census question concerning mother tongue the most commonly reported languages were : Rank Language Population Percentage 1. English 836,085 92.46 % 2. French 31,105 3.44 % 3. Arabic 5,965 0.66 % 4. Algonquian languages 4,685 0.52 % Mi'kmaq 4,620 0.51 % 5. German 3,275 0.36 % 6. Chinese 2,750 0.30 % Mandarin 905 0.10 % Cantonese 590 0.06 % 7. Dutch 1,725 0.19 % 8. Spanish 1,545 0.17 % 9. Tagalog 1,185 0.13 % 10. Persian 1,185 0.13 % Peggys Cove Harbour Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single - language responses. Nova Scotia is home to the largest Scottish Gaelic speaking community outside of Scotland, with a small number of native speakers in Pictou County, Antigonish County, and Cape Breton Island, and is taught in a number of secondary schools throughout the province. Religion In 1871, the largest religious denominations were Protestant with 103,500 ( 27 % ) ; Roman Catholic with 102,000 ( 26 % ) ; Baptist with 73,295 ( 19 % ) ; Anglican with 55,124 ( 14 % ) ; Methodist with 40,748 ( 10 % ), Lutheran with 4,958 ( 1.3 % ) ; and Congregationalist with 2,538 ( 0.65 % ). According to the 2001 census, the largest denominations by number of adherents were the Roman Catholic Church with 327,940 ( 37 % ) ; the United Church of Canada with 142,520 ( 17 % ) ; and the Anglican Church of Canada with 120,315 ( 13 % ). There are also 8,505 ( 0.9 % ) Muslims according to 2011 census. Economy Lobster fishing boats in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia 's per capita GDP in 2010 was $38,475, significantly lower than the national average per capita GDP of $47,605 and a little more than half of Canada 's richest province, Alberta. GDP growth has lagged behind the rest of the country for at least the past decade. Nova Scotia 's traditionally resource - based economy has diversified in recent decades. The rise of Nova Scotia as a viable jurisdiction in North America, historically, was driven by the ready availability of natural resources, especially the fish stocks off the Scotian Shelf. The fishery was a pillar of the economy since its development as part of New France in the 17th century ; however, the fishery suffered a sharp decline due to overfishing in the late 20th century. The collapse of the cod stocks and the closure of this sector resulted in a loss of approximately 20,000 jobs in 1992. Other sectors in the province were also hit hard, particularly during the last two decades : coal mining in Cape Breton and northern mainland Nova Scotia has virtually ceased production, and a large steel mill in Sydney closed during the 1990s. More recently, the high value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar has hurt the forestry industry, leading to the shut down of a long - running pulp and paper mill near Liverpool. Mining, especially of gypsum and salt and to a lesser extent silica, peat and barite, is also a significant sector. Since 1991, offshore oil and gas has become an increasingly important part of the economy, although production and revenue are now declining. Agriculture remains an important sector in the province, particularly in the Annapolis Valley. Nova Scotia 's defence and aerospace sector generates approximately $500 million in revenues and contributes about $1.5 billion to the provincial economy annually. Corn growing at Grafton in the Annapolis Valley in October 2011 To date, 40 % of Canada 's military assets reside in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has the fourth - largest film industry in Canada hosting over 100 productions yearly, more than half of which are the products of international film and television producers. In 2015, the government of Nova Scotia eliminated tax credits to film production in the province, jeopardizing the industry given most other jurisdictions continue to offer such credits. The Nova Scotia tourism industry includes more than 6,500 direct businesses, supporting nearly 40,000 jobs. 200,000 cruise ship passengers from around the world flow through the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia each year. This industry contributes approximately $1.3 billion annually to the economy. The province also boasts a rapidly developing Information & Communication Technology ( ICT ) sector which consists of over 500 companies, and employs roughly 15,000 people. In 2006, the manufacturing sector brought in over $2.6 billion in chained GDP, the largest output of any industrial sector in Nova Scotia. Michelin remains by far the largest single employer in this sector, operating three production plants in the province. As of 2012, the median family income in Nova Scotia was $67,910, below the national average of $74,540 ; in Halifax the figure rises to $80,490. The fishing boats are completely aground at low tide along the rich fishing grounds of Fundy Bay, at Hall 's Harbour, Nova Scotia. The province is the world 's largest exporter of Christmas trees, lobster, gypsum, and wild berries. Its export value of fish exceeds $1 billion, and fish products are received by 90 countries around the world. Nevertheless, the province 's imports far exceed its exports. While these numbers were roughly equal from 1992 until 2004, since that time the trade deficit has ballooned. In 2012, exports from Nova Scotia were 12.1 % of provincial GDP, while imports were 22.6 %. Government, Law and politics See also : Government of Nova Scotia and Politics of Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is ordered by a parliamentary government within the construct of constitutional monarchy ; the monarchy in Nova Scotia is the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II, who also serves as head of state of 15 other Commonwealth countries, each of Canada 's nine other provinces, and the Canadian federal realm, and resides predominantly in the United Kingdom. As such, the Queen 's representative, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia ( presently Arthur Joseph LeBlanc ), carries out most of the royal duties in Nova Scotia. In 1937, Everett Farmer was the last person hanged ( for murder ) in Nova Scotia. Halifax, the provincial capital The direct participation of the royal and viceroyal figures in any of these areas of governance is limited, though ; in practice, their use of the executive powers is directed by the Executive Council, a committee of ministers of the Crown responsible to the unicameral, elected House of Assembly and chosen and headed by the Premier of Nova Scotia ( presently Stephen McNeil ), the head of government. To ensure the stability of government, the lieutenant governor will usually appoint as premier the person who is the current leader of the political party that can obtain the confidence of a plurality in the House of Assembly. The leader of the party with the second-most seats usually becomes the Leader of Her Majesty 's Loyal Opposition ( presently Jamie Baillie ) and is part of an adversarial parliamentary system intended to keep the government in check. Each of the 51 Members of the Legislative Assembly in the House of Assembly is elected by single member plurality in an electoral district or riding. General elections must be called by the lieutenant governor on the advice of the premier, or may be triggered by the government losing a confidence vote in the House. There are three dominant political parties in Nova Scotia : the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Progressive Conservative Party. The other two registered parties are the Green Party of Nova Scotia and the Atlantica Party, neither of which has a seat in the House of Assembly. 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. The province participates in the HST, a blended sales tax collected by the federal government using the GST tax system. Nova Scotia no longer has any incorporated cities ; they were amalgamated into Regional Municipalities in 1996. Culture Fine arts Hector Pioneer by Nova Scotian sculptor John Wilson, Pictou, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia has long been a centre for artistic and cultural excellence. The capital, Halifax, hosts institutions such as Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre, Dalhousie Arts Centre, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre, Ship 's Company Theatre and the Symphony Nova Scotia. The province is home to avant - garde visual art and traditional crafting, writing and publishing and a film industry. Lion carved by George Lang, Welsford - Parker Monument Much of the historic public art sculptures in the province were made by New York sculptor J. Massey Rhind as well as Canadian sculptors Hamilton MacCarthy, George Hill, Emanuel Hahn and Louis - Philippe Hébert. Some of this public art was also created by Nova Scotian John Wilson ( sculptor ). Nova Scotian George Lang was a stone sculptor who also built many landmark buildings in the province, including the Welsford - Parker Monument. Some of the province 's greatest painters were William Valentine, Maria Morris, Jack L. Gray, Mabel Killiam Day, Ernest Lawson, Frances Bannerman, Alex Colville, Tom Forrestall and ship portrait artist John O'Brien. Some of most notable artists whose works have been acquired by Nova Scotia are British artist Joshua Reynolds ( collection of Art Gallery of Nova Scotia ) ; William Gush and William J. Weaver ( both have works in Province House ) ; Robert Field ( Government House ), as well as leading American artists Benjamin West ( self portrait in The Halifax Club, portrait of chief justice in Nova Scotia Supreme Court ), John Singleton Copley, Robert Feke, and Robert Field ( the latter three have works in the Uniacke Estate ). Two famous Nova Scotian photographers are Wallace R. MacAskill and Sherman Hines. Three of the most accomplished illustrators were George Wylie Hutchinson, Bob Chambers ( cartoonist ) and Donald A. Mackay. Film and television Main article : Actors and filmmakers in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia has produced numerous film actors. Academy Award nominee Ellen Page ( Juno, Inception ) was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia ; five - time Academy Award nominee Arthur Kennedy ( Lawrence of Arabia, High Sierra ) called Nova Scotia his home ; and two time Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland ( MASH, Ordinary People ) spent most of his youth in the province. Other actors include John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells, Mike Smith and John Dunsworth of Trailer Park Boys and actress Joanne Kelly of Warehouse 13. Nova Scotia has also produced numerous film directors such as Thom Fitzgerald ( The Hanging Garden ), Daniel Petrie ( Resurrection -- Academy Award nominee ) and Acadian film director Phil Comeau 's multiple award - winning local story ( Le secret de Jérôme ). Nova Scotian stories are the subject of numerous feature films : Margaret 's Museum ( starring Helena Bonham Carter ) ; The Bay Boy ( directed by Daniel Petrie and starring Kiefer Sutherland ) ; New Waterford Girl ; The Story of Adele H. ( the story of unrequited love of Adele Hugo ) ; and two films of Evangeline ( one starring Miriam Cooper and another starring Dolores del Río ). There is a significant film industry in Nova Scotia. Feature filmmaking began in Canada with Evangeline ( 1913 ), made by Canadian Bioscope Company in Halifax, which released six films before it closed. The film has since been lost. Some of the award - winning feature films made in the province are Titanic ( starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet ) ; The Shipping News ( starring Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore ) ; K - 19 : The Widowmaker ( starring Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson ) and Amelia ( starring Hilary Swank, Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor ). Nova Scotia has also produced numerous television series : This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Don Messer 's Jubilee, Black Harbour, Haven, Trailer Park Boys, Mr. D, Call Me Fitz, and Theodore Tugboat. The Jesse Stone film series on CBS starring Tom Selleck is also routinely produced in the province. Literature Main article : Writers in Nova Scotia Original cover 1900 There are numerous Nova Scotian authors who have achieved international fame : Thomas Chandler Haliburton ( The Clockmaker ) ; Alistair MacLeod ( No Great Mischief ) ; Margaret Marshall Saunders ( Beautiful Joe ), Laurence B. Dakin ( Marco Polo ), and Joshua Slocum ( Sailing Alone Around the World ). Other authors include Johanna Skibsrud ( The Sentimentalists ), Alden Nowlan ( Bread, Wine and Salt ), George Elliott Clarke ( Execution Poems ), Lesley Choyce ( Nova Scotia : Shaped by the Sea ), Thomas Raddall ( Halifax : Warden of the North ), Donna Morrissey ( Kit 's Law ), Frank Parker Day ( Rockbound ). Nova Scotia has also been the subject of numerous literary books. Some of the international best - sellers are : Last Man Out : The Story of the Springhill Mining Disaster ( by Melissa Fay Greene ) ; Curse of the Narrows : The Halifax Explosion 1917 ( by Laura MacDonald ) ; `` In the Village '' ( short story by Pulitzer Prize -- winning author Elizabeth Bishop ) ; and National Book Critics Circle Award winner Rough Crossings ( by Simon Schama ). Other authors who have written novels about Nova Scotian stories include : Linden MacIntyre ( The Bishop 's Man ) ; Hugh MacLennan ( Barometer Rising ) ; Ernest Buckler ( The Valley and the Mountain ) ; Archibald MacMechan ( Red Snow on Grand Pré ), Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ( long poem Evangeline ) ; Lawrence Hill ( The Book of Negroes ) and John Mack Faragher ( Great and Nobel Scheme ). Music Main article : Music of Nova Scotia Denny Doherty ( left ) of The Mamas & the Papas Nova Scotia has produced numerous musicians. The Grammy Award winners include Denny Doherty ( from The Mamas & the Papas ), Anne Murray, and Sarah McLachlan. Other musicians include country singer Hank Snow, country singer George Canyon, jazz singer Holly Cole, opera singers Portia White and Barbara Hannigan, multi-Juno Award nominated rapper Classified, Rita MacNeil, Matt Mays, Sloan, Feist, Todd Fancey, The Rankin Family, April Wine, Buck 65, Joel Plaskett, Grand Dérangement, and country music singer Drake Jensen. There are numerous songs written about Nova Scotia : The Ballad of Springhill ( written by Peggy Seeger and performed by Irish folk singer Luke Kelly a member of The Dubliners, U2 ) ; numerous songs by Stan Rogers including Bluenose, The Jeannie C ( mentions Little Dover, NS ), Barrett 's Privateers, Giant, and The Rawdon Hills ; Farewell to Nova Scotia ( traditional ) ; Blue Nose ( Stompin ' Tom Connors ) ; She 's Called Nova Scotia ( by Rita MacNeil ) ; Cape Breton ( by David Myles ) ; Acadian Driftwood ( by Robbie Robertson ) ; Acadie ( by Daniel Lanois ) ; and My Nova Scotia Home ( by Hank Snow ). Nova Scotia has also produced some significant songwriters such as Grammy Award winning Gordie Sampson. Sampson has written songs for Carrie Underwood ( `` Jesus, Take the Wheel '', `` Just a Dream '', `` Get Out of This Town '' ), Martina McBride ( `` If I Had Your Name '', You 're Not Leavin Me `` ), LeAnn Rimes ( '' Long Night ``, `` Save Myself '' ), and George Canyon ( `` My Name '' ). Another successful Nova Scotia songwriter was Hank Snow whose songs have been recorded by The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. Music producer Brian Ahern is a Nova Scotian. He got his start by being music director for CBC television 's Singalong Jubilee. He later produced 12 albums for Anne Murray ( `` Snowbird, '' Danny 's Song '' and `` You Wo n't See Me '' ) ; 11 albums for Emmylou Harris ( whom he married at his home in Halifax on January 9, 1977 ). He also produced discs for Johnny Cash, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell, Don Williams, Jesse Winchester and Linda Ronstadt. Another noted writer is Cape Bretoner Leon Dubinsky, who wrote the anthem, `` Rise Again '', among many other songs performed by various Canadian artists. Sports Main article : Sports people in Nova Scotia Sidney Crosby from Cole Harbour Sport is an important part of Nova Scotia culture. There are numerous semi pro, university and amateur sports teams, for example, The Halifax Mooseheads, 2013 Canadian Hockey League Memorial Cup Champions, and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, both of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Halifax Hurricanes of the National Basketball League of Canada is another team that calls Nova Scotia home, and were 2016 league champions. The Nova Scotia Open is a professional golf tournament on the Web.com Tour since 2014. The province has also produced numerous athletes such as Sidney Crosby ( ice hockey ), Nathan Mackinnon ( ice hockey ), Brad Marchand ( ice hockey ), Colleen Jones ( curling ), Al MacInnis ( ice hockey ), TJ Grant ( mixed martial arts ), Rocky Johnson ( wrestling, and father of Dwayne `` The Rock '' Johnson ), George Dixon ( boxing ) and Kirk Johnson ( boxing ). The achievements of Nova Scotian athletes are presented at the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Cuisine The cuisine of Nova Scotia is typically Canadian with an emphasis on local seafood. One endemic dish ( in the sense of `` peculiar to '' and `` originating from '' ) is the Halifax donair, a distant variant of the doner kebab prepared using thinly sliced beef meatloaf and a sweet condensed milk sauce. As well, hodge podge, a creamy soup of fresh baby vegetables, is native to Nova Scotia. The province is also known for blueberry grunt. Events and festivals See also : Category : Festivals in Nova Scotia There are a number of festivals and cultural events that are recurring in Nova Scotia, or notable in its history. The following is an incomplete list of festivals and other cultural gatherings in the province : Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival Atlantic Theatre Festival Atlantic Film Festival Atlantic Band Festival Cape Breton International Drum Festival Celtic Colours Evolve Festival Halifax Comedy Festival Halifax Pride Halifax Pop Explosion Nova Scotia Gaelic Mod Stan Rogers Folk Festival Stoked for the Holidays Strategic Partners Summer Rush The Word on the Street ( literary festival ) Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre Virgin Festival Tourism Nova Scotia 's tourism industry showcases Nova Scotia 's culture, scenery and coastline. The Cabot Trail viewed from the Skyline Hiking Trail Nova Scotia has many museums reflecting its ethnic heritage, including the Glooscap Heritage Centre, Grand - Pré National Historic Site, Hector Heritage Quay and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. Others museums tell the story of its working history, such as the Cape Breton Miners ' Museum, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Nova Scotia is home to several internationally renowned musicians and there are visitor centres in the home towns of Hank Snow, Rita MacNeil, and Anne Murray Centre. There are also numerous music and cultural festivals such as the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Celtic Colours, the Nova Scotia Gaelic Mod, Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Atlantic Film Festival and the Atlantic Fringe Festival. The province has 87 National Historic Sites of Canada, including the Habitation at Port - Royal, the Fortress of Louisbourg and Citadel Hill ( Fort George ) in Halifax. Nova Scotia has two national parks, Kejimkujik and Cape Breton Highlands, and many other protected areas. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tidal range in the world, and the iconic Peggys Cove is internationally recognized and receives 600,000 plus visitors a year. Acadian Skies and Mi'kmaq Lands is a starlight reserve in southwestern Nova Scotia. It is the first certified UNESCO - Starlight Tourist Destination. Starlight tourist destinations are locations that offer conditions for observations of stars which are protected from light pollution. Cruise ships pay regular visits to the province. In 2010, Halifax received 261,000 passengers and Sydney 69,000. A 2008 Nova Scotia tourism campaign included advertising a fictional mobile phone called Pomegranate and establishing website, which after reading about `` new phone '' redirected to tourism info about region. Education The Minister of Education is responsible for the administration and delivery of education, as defined by the Education Act and other acts relating to colleges, universities and private schools. The powers of the Minister and the Department of Education are defined by the Ministerial regulations and constrained by the Governor - In - Council regulations. Nova Scotia has more than 450 public schools for children. The public system offers primary to Grade 12. There are also private schools in the province. Public education is administered by seven regional school boards, responsible primarily for English instruction and French immersion, and also province - wide by the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial, which administers French instruction to students for whom the primary language is French. The Nova Scotia Community College system has 13 campuses around the province. The community college, with its focus on training and education, was established in 1988 by amalgamating the province 's former vocational schools. In addition to its community college system the province has 10 universities, including Dalhousie University, University of King 's College, Saint Mary 's University, Mount Saint Vincent University, NSCAD University, Acadia University, Université Sainte - Anne, Saint Francis Xavier University, Cape Breton University and the Atlantic School of Theology. There are also more than 90 registered private commercial colleges in Nova Scotia. See also Acadia portal Nova Scotia portal Outline of Nova Scotia Index of Nova Scotia - related articles Acadiensis, scholarly history journal covering Atlantic Canada Bibliography of Nova Scotia Scotia, California named for Nova Scotia Notes ^ Jump up to : `` Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 census ''. Statcan.gc.ca. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2011 and 2006 censuses ''. Statcan.gc.ca. January 24, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Population by year of Canada of Canada and territories ''. Statistics Canada. September 26, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Gross domestic product, expenditure - based, by province and territory ( 2013 ) ''. Statistics Canada. November 5, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2015. Jump up ^ Scottish Settlement. Novascotia.com. Retrieved on July 12, 2013. Jump up ^ Nova Scotia : The Royal Charter of 1621 to Sir William Alexander. Toronto : University of Toronto Press ( Reprinted from the Transactions of the Royal Canadian Institute, Vol. XIV, Part 1 ). 1922. Jump up ^ Harrison, Ted ( 1993 ). O Canada. Ticknor & Fields. Jump up ^ Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Sable Island Lifesaving and Ship Wrecks Info Sheet Archived October 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine... Museum.gov.ns.ca ( July 27, 1999 ). Retrieved on 2013 - 07 - 12. Jump up ^ `` Gaspe, Canada ''. Princess Explorations Café ( Powered by The New York Times ). 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` The Climate of Nova Scotia ''. The Climates of Canada. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2015. Jump up ^ `` National Climate Data and Information Archive ''. Environment Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2015. Jump up ^ The territory of the Nation of Mi'kma'ki also includes the Maritimes, parts of Maine, Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula. Jump up ^ Info Sheet -- The Mi'kmaq. Museum.gov.ns.ca. Retrieved on July 12, 2013. Jump up ^ Morton, Desmond ( November 30, 1999 ). Canada : A Millennium Portrait. Dundurn. p. 19. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4597 - 1085 - 6. Jump up ^ Nova Scotia Archives -- An Acadian Parish Remembered. Gov.ns.ca ( December 1, 2009 ). Retrieved on 2013 - 07 - 12. Jump up ^ In 1765, the county of Sunbury was created. This included the territory of present - day New Brunswick and eastern Maine as far as the Penobscot River. Jump up ^ The other provinces were New Brunswick and the Province of Canada ( which became the separate provinces of Quebec and Ontario ). Jump up ^ John G. Reid. `` An International Region of the Northeast : Rise and Decline, 1635 -- 1762 ''. In Buckner, Campbell and Frank ( eds ) The Acadiensis Reader : Volume 1. Third Edition. 1998. p. 31 Jump up ^ Until 1784, New Brunswick administratively formed part of Nova Scotia. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ ( 2 ) Jump up ^ Grenier, John. The Far Reaches of Empire. War in Nova Scotia, 1710 -- 1760. Norman : U of Oklahoma P, 2008 Jump up ^ Thomas Beamish Akins History of Halifax, Brookhouse Press. 1895. ( 2002 edition ). p 7 ^ Jump up to : `` Timeline History of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court '' Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Statutes at Large of Nova Scotia, Volume 1, 1758 -- 1804. Jump up ^ Roger Marsters ( 2004 ). Bold Privateers : Terror, Plunder and Profit on Canada 's Atlantic Coast, pp. 87 -- 89. Jump up ^ John Boileau. Half - hearted Enemies : Nova Scotia, New England and the War of 1812. Halifax : Formac Publishing. 2005. p. 53 Jump up ^ Beck, J. Murray. ( 1983 ) Joseph Howe : The Briton Becomes Canadian 1848 -- 1873. ( v. 2 ). Kingston & Montreal : McGill - Queen 's University Press. ISBN 0 - 7735 - 0388 - 9 Jump up ^ Paul R. Magocsi ; Multicultural History Society of Ontario ( 1999 ). Encyclopedia of Canada 's Peoples. University of Toronto Press. p. 165. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8020 - 2938 - 6. Jump up ^ Marquis, Greg. In Armageddon 's Shadow : The Civil War and Canada 's Maritime Provinces. McGill - Queen 's University Press. 1998. Jump up ^ `` Nova Scotia -- Canada 's population clock ''. Statcan.gc.ca. November 18, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2011. Jump up ^ Grenier, Éric ( February 8, 2017 ). `` Census 2016 : Canada 's population surpasses 35 million ''. CBC News. CBC. Retrieved February 8, 2017. The four Atlantic provinces recorded the lowest growth in the country Jump up ^ `` History of County Boundaries ''. Province of Nova Scotia : Department of Municipal Affairs. October 8, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2016. Jump up ^ Foster Stockwell ( 2004 ). `` A Sourcebook for Genealogical Research : Resources Alphabetically by Type and Location ''. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 205. Retrieved December 29, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Population and dwelling count highlight tables, 2016 Census ''. Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017. Jump up ^ Statistics Canada ( January 2005 ). `` Population by selected ethnic origins, by province and territory ( 2006 Census ) ( Nova Scotia ) ''. Retrieved July 9, 2015. Jump up ^ Bridglal Pachai, ( Ed ). Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission : 25th Anniversary : A History 1967 -- 1992. 1992. Jump up ^ Detailed Mother Tongue ( 186 ), Knowledge of Official Languages ( 5 ), Age Groups ( 17A ) and Sex ( 3 ) ( 2011 Census ) Jump up ^ A history and geography of Nova Scotia by John Burgess Calkin : p. 88 Jump up ^ `` Religions in Canada ''. 2.statcan.ca. Retrieved October 6, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Province of Nova Scotia Jump up ^ Fish in Crisis. `` The Starving Ocean ''. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Jump up ^ Province of Nova Scotia, `` Summary of Nova Scotia Mineral Production, 1994 and 1995 '' Jump up ^ Nova Scotia Business Inc. Defence, Security & Aerospace. Retrieved on : October 10, 2008. Jump up ^ Nova Scotia Business Inc. Defence, Security & Aerospace. Retrieved on : April 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation Production Statistics for the 12 Month Period Ended March 31, 2008. Retrieved on : October 10, 2008. Jump up ^ CTV Atlantic ( 3 ). Jump up ^ Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia. Tourism Summit 2008. Retrieved on : October 10, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Going Global, Staying Local : A Partnership Strategy for Export Development '' ( PDF ). Government of Nova Scotia. Retrieved October 10, 2008. Jump up ^ Nova Scotia Business Inc. `` Key Facts ''. Retrieved April 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Trade Team Nova Scotia. `` Information and Communications Technology ''. Retrieved April 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Invest In Canada. `` Nova Scotia '' ( PDF ). Retrieved April 16, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Median total income, by family type, by province and territory ''. Statistics Canada. 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Median total income, by family type, by census metropolitan area ''. Statistics Canada. 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2014. Jump up ^ Tower Software. `` The Nova Scotian Economy ''. Retrieved April 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Trade Team Nova Scotia. `` Fisheries & Aquaculture ''. Retrieved April 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Nova Scotia 's Merchandise Trade with the World ( 4 ). Jump up ^ Canadian Heritage ( February 2009 ). `` Canadian Heritage Portfolio '' ( PDF ) ( 2nd ed. ). Queen 's Printer for Canada : 3 -- 4. ISBN 978 - 1 - 100 - 11529 - 0. Retrieved May 23, 2011. Jump up ^ Library of Parliament. `` The Opposition in a Parliamentary System ''. Queen 's Printer for Canada. Retrieved May 23, 2011. Jump up ^ Dawson, R. MacGregor ; Dawson, WF ( 1989 ). Ward, Norman, ed. Democratic Government in Canada. University of Toronto Press. pp. 16 -- 17, 59 -- 60, 66. ISBN 0 - 8020 - 6703 - 4. Jump up ^ `` RootsWeb : CAN - NS - GUYSBOROUGH - L JOHN WILSON, Sculptor, 1877 -- 1954 ''. Archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved July 6, 2012. Jump up ^ Sherman Hines Museum of Photography : Macaskill Collection. Shermanhinesphotographymuseum.com. Retrieved on July 12, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Emmylou Harris Story ''. Insurgentcountry.net. September 19, 1973. Retrieved December 13, 2011. Jump up ^ Ahern, Brian. `` Brian Ahern -- Credits ''. AllMusic. Retrieved July 6, 2012. Jump up ^ Cooke, Stephan ( October 1, 2012 ). `` Talented artist loved family, music ''. The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Halifax Rainmen file for bankruptcy in ' disappointing ' end ''. CBC. CBC. Retrieved July 15, 2015. Jump up ^ Hodge podge recipe Jump up ^ Blueberry grunt recipe Jump up ^ `` Peggy 's Cove : Assessment of Capacity Issues and Potential Tourism Opportunities '' ( PDF ). THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on January 21, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011. Jump up ^ Acadian Skies & Mi'kmaq Lands : Starlight Reserve & Destination Jump up ^ UN-backed award recognizes N.S. nighttime sky reserve The Chronicle Herald Jump up ^ `` 2010 Nova Scotia Tourism Indicators '' ( PDF ). Province of Nova Scotia. Retrieved December 26, 2011. Jump up ^ Pomegranate phone ? Nova Scotia ad budget goes to cellphone concept video -- latimes.com. Latimesblogs.latimes.com ( October 30, 2008 ). Retrieved on 2014 - 04 - 12. Jump up ^ Government of Nova Scotia ( 1996 ). `` Education Act ''. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Registered Colleges for 2010 -- 2011 ''. Province of Nova Scotia. 2010. Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010. Bibliography Main article : Bibliography of Nova Scotia The Nova Scotia Atlas. Nova Scotia Geomatics Centre. Province of Nova Scotia. 2006. ISBN 0 - 88780 - 707 - 0 Brebner, John Bartlet. New England 's Outpost. Acadia before the Conquest of Canada ( 1927 ) Brebner, John Bartlet. The Neutral Yankees of Nova Scotia : A Marginal Colony During the Revolutionary Years ( 1937 ) Creighton, Helen ( 1966 ). Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia. Dover Publications. ISBN 0 - 486 - 21703 - 5 Griffiths, Naomi. E.S. From Migrant to Acadian, 1604 -- 1755 : A North American Border People. Montreal and Kingston, McGill / Queen 's University Press, 2004. Grenier, John. The Far Reaches of Empire. War in Nova Scotia, 1710 -- 1760. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 2008. ( ISBN 9780806138763 ) Landry, Peter. The Lion & The Lily. Vol. 1, Trafford Publishing, Victoria, BC., 2007. ( ISBN 1425154506 ) Murdoch, Beamish. History of Nova Scotia, Or Acadie. Vol 2. BiblioBazaar, LaVergne, TN, 1865. Pryke, Kenneth G. Nova Scotia and Confederation, 1864 -- 74 ( 1979 ) ( ISBN 0 - 8020 - 5389 - 0 ) Thomas Akins. History of Halifax, Brookhouse Press. 1895. ( 2002 edition ) ( ISBN 1141698536 ) External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nova Scotia. Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Nova Scotia. 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15th century 1415 -- 1640 Ceuta 1458 -- 1550 Alcácer Ceguer ( El Qsar es Seghir ) 1471 -- 1550 Arzila ( Asilah ) 1471 -- 1662 Tangier 1485 -- 1550 Mazagan ( El Jadida ) 1487 -- 16th century Ouadane 1488 -- 1541 Safim ( Safi ) 1489 Graciosa 16th century 1505 -- 1541 Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué ( Agadir ) 1506 -- 1525 Mogador ( Essaouira ) 1506 -- 1525 Aguz ( Souira Guedima ) 1506 -- 1769 Mazagan ( El Jadida ) 1513 -- 1541 Azamor ( Azemmour ) 1515 -- 1541 São João da Mamora ( Mehdya ) 1577 -- 1589 Arzila ( Asilah ) Sub-Saharan Africa 15th century 1455 -- 1633 Anguim 1462 -- 1975 Cape Verde 1470 -- 1975 São Tomé 1471 -- 1975 Príncipe 1474 -- 1778 Annobón 1478 -- 1778 Fernando Poo ( Bioko ) 1482 -- 1637 Elmina ( São Jorge da Mina ) 1482 -- 1642 Portuguese Gold Coast 1508 -- 1547 Madagascar 1498 -- 1540 Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500 -- 1630 Malindi 1501 -- 1975 Portuguese Mozambique 1502 -- 1659 Saint Helena 1503 -- 1698 Zanzibar 1505 -- 1512 Quíloa ( Kilwa ) 1506 -- 1511 Socotra 1557 -- 1578 Accra 1575 -- 1975 Portuguese Angola 1588 -- 1974 Cacheu 1593 -- 1698 Mombassa ( Mombasa ) 17th century 1645 -- 1888 Ziguinchor 1680 -- 1961 São João Baptista de Ajudá 1687 -- 1974 Bissau 18th century 1728 -- 1729 Mombassa ( Mombasa ) 1753 -- 1975 Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe 19th century 1879 -- 1974 Portuguese Guinea 1885 -- 1974 Portuguese Congo Part of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1753. Or 1600. A factory ( Anosy Region ) and small temporary coastal bases. Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879. Part of Portuguese Angola from the 1920s. Middle East ( Persian Gulf ) 16th century 1506 -- 1615 Gamru ( Bandar Abbas ) 1507 -- 1643 Sohar 1515 -- 1622 Hormuz ( Ormus ) 1515 -- 1648 Quriyat 1515 -- ? Qalhat 1515 -- 1650 Muscat 1515 ? -- ? Barka 1515 -- 1633 ? Julfar ( Ras al - Khaimah ) 1521 -- 1602 Bahrain ( Muharraq Manama ) 1521 -- 1529 ? Qatif 1521 ? -- 1551 ? Tarut Island 1550 -- 1551 Qatif 1588 -- 1648 Matrah 17th century 1620 -- ? Khor Fakkan 1621 ? -- ? As Sib 1621 -- 1622 Qeshm 1623 -- ? Khasab 1623 -- ? Libedia 1624 -- ? Kalba 1624 -- ? Madha 1624 -- 1648 Dibba Al - Hisn 1624 ? -- ? Bandar - e Kong Indian subcontinent 15th century 1498 -- 1545 Laccadive Islands ( Lakshadweep ) 16th century Portuguese India 1500 -- 1663 Cochim ( Kochi ) 1501 -- 1663 Cannanore ( Kannur ) 1502 -- 1658 1659 -- 1661 Quilon ( Coulão / Kollam ) 1502 -- 1661 Pallipuram ( Cochin de Cima ) 1507 -- 1657 Negapatam ( Nagapatnam ) 1510 -- 1961 Goa 1512 -- 1525 1750 Calicut ( Kozhikode ) 1518 -- 1619 Portuguese Paliacate outpost ( Pulicat ) 1521 -- 1740 Chaul ( Portuguese India ) 1523 -- 1662 Mylapore 1528 -- 1666 Chittagong ( Porto Grande De Bengala ) 1531 -- 1571 Chaul 1531 -- 1571 Chalé 1534 -- 1601 Salsette Island 1534 -- 1661 Bombay ( Mumbai ) 1535 Ponnani 1535 -- 1739 Baçaím ( Vasai - Virar ) 1536 -- 1662 Cranganore ( Kodungallur ) 1540 -- 1612 Surat 1548 -- 1658 Tuticorin ( Thoothukudi ) 1559 -- 1961 Daman and Diu 1568 -- 1659 Mangalore ( Portuguese India ) 1579 -- 1632 Hugli 1598 -- 1610 Masulipatnam ( Machilipatnam ) 1518 -- 1521 Maldives 1518 -- 1658 Portuguese Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) 1558 -- 1573 Maldives 17th century Portuguese India 1687 -- 1749 Mylapore 18th century Portuguese India 1779 -- 1954 Dadra and Nagar Haveli East Asia and Oceania 16th century 1511 -- 1641 Portuguese Malacca ( Malaysia ) 1512 -- 1621 Maluku ( Indonesia ) 1522 -- 1575 Ternate 1576 -- 1605 Ambon 1578 -- 1650 Tidore 1512 -- 1665 Makassar 1557 -- 1999 Macau ( China ) 1580 -- 1586 Nagasaki ( Japan ) 17th century 1642 -- 1975 Portuguese Timor ( East Timor ) 19th century Portuguese Macau 1864 -- 1999 Coloane 1851 -- 1999 Taipa 1890 -- 1999 Ilha Verde 20th century Portuguese Macau 1938 -- 1941 Lapa and Montanha ( Hengqin ) 1975 is the year of East Timor 's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor 's independence was fully recognized. North America & North Atlantic 15th century ( Atlantic islands ) 1420 Madeira 1432 Azores 16th century ( Canada ) 1500 -- 1579 ? Terra Nova ( Newfoundland ) 1500 -- 1579 ? Labrador 1516 -- 1579 ? 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Question: what language is spoken in halifax nova scotia
Answer: English