Here are some province-wide basics. Scroll down for region-specific info.
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Nova Scotia is a coastal province with friendly communities, dramatic shorelines, and a pace of life that feels easy and grounded. It combines the comfort of small-town living with the culture and creativity of a growing region, where historic fishing villages sit alongside lively arts scenes, wineries, and university hubs. Many people come for the ocean views (Fun fact: you’re never more than 30 minutes away from the ocean in Nova Scotia!), but stay because it quickly feels like home.
Nova Scotians, by and large, value community, diversity, and a comfortable balance between getting the job done and enjoying our free time with loved ones. Even in our cities, there is a distinctly slower pace and general ease of living. You’ll find Nova Scotians to be a pretty active group of people, and our province is a great place to live if you love the outdoors!
We probably consume more than our fair share of seafood, live music, and bonfires on the beach, but there’s plenty to go around!
We won’t lie, it’s probably colder here than wherever you might be coming from. That said, Nova Scotia has some of the mildest temperatures in Canada, and experiences all four seasons, each with its own distinct beauty.
Say hello to foggy spring mornings, crisp fall walks, cozy winters by the fire, and breezy, jam-packed summers! When the weather is nice, everyone is out! When it’s not so nice…. you’ll still find many of us embracing it.
*But you just got here!*
We’re kidding, of course. Nova Scotians know that work-life balance is important, and we value our time spent in nature, exploring new places, and seeing the world. Here’s some key information on how we get around.
Driving: It would only take about 8 hours to drive from the southernmost point near Yarmouth to the northernmost point of Cape Breton. This means Nova Scotians often keep their travel local. From road trips to one of hundreds of local festivals and events, to camping under dark-sky preserves, to days spent at the beach, Nova Scotia has so much to offer.
Ferry: Local ferries can be found throughout the province. Nova Scotia is connected to other provinces by land, but also by sea. Longer-distance ferries are located in Digby (to Saint John, New Brunswick), North Sydney (to Port-aux-Basques or Corner Brook, Newfoundland) or Caribou (to Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island). There is even an international ferry from Yarmouth to Bar Harbour, Maine! Learn more here.
International travel: Halifax Stanfield International Airport is quickly becoming a hub for international travel. As of late 2025, direct flights are available to many major US and Caribbean destinations, as well as more than a dozen European cities (London Heathrow/Gatwick, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Brussels, Madrid, Paris, Dublin, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Frankfurt, Zurich and Saint Pierre). Learn more here.
Nova Scotia is full of commuters, so you may decide that you want to live in a specific area and commute to work. There are healthcare opportunities in 74 Nova Scotia Communities.
Below are the four Nova Scotia Health Authority management zones, with some points about what makes each area unique!