The City of Halifax has a long and storied history.

Halifax has always been one of the world's best-protected natural deep-water ports in geologic and geographic terms. This feature made it a traditional place, for our earliest inhabitants the aboriginal peoples of Nova Scotia, to set up their encampments, fish its waters, and hunt in its abundant old growth forests.

With the arrival of the earliest white settlers in the early 1600's the social fabric of the province started to change with first the French and then the English laying claim and counter claim to its beautiful woods, lakes, seashores and farm lands. It was not until 1749 under the British military leader Cornwallis that Halifax actually became settled by a permanent community of English soldiers and settlers.

It quickly became an important military asset to counter the French influence at Fortress Louisbourg to the East on Cape Breton Island. It was this role as a military stronghold that was to make Halifax so important in the next fifteen years as the history of the French and English in the New World unfolded. Halifax's strategic position was a key and vital link to the British success in North America.

Today one can visit Halifax and quickly become immersed in its rich history. The Citadel, Old Clock Tower, Privateer's Wharf and St. Paul's church are a few of the many fine examples of what it was like to live here in the good old days. The Maritime Museum recounts our important naval and merchant shipping heritage. It tells the tale of Halifax 's role as a staging area for World War One and Two convoys, the world famous schooner the Bluenose, and recounts the sad history of the Titanic and the Halifax explosion as well. Pier 21 has become a national shrine devoted to telling the story of the tens of thousands of immigrants who first set foot in Canada by landing on its very dock. CFB Halifax attest to the important role that continues on today for the Canadian Armed Forces and Coast Guard.