Canadian Growth City No. 8: Halifax Lures Immigrants, Sea Lovers

Feb 24, 2016

Arrivals Account for 61.7 Percent of U-Haul Traffic in Halifax

Halifax at Night

Halifax at Night. Credit: Scott Munn, Destination Halifax.

Nova Scotia’s capital city offers numerous entertainment options, engaging outdoor activities and a cost-conscious blend of historic Canada and modern living. It’s no wonder that U-Haul rental customers are still flocking to Halifax.

“As of late, we know there has been an improvement in attracting and retaining residents,” said Valerie Payn, president and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber has a strategic goal of being one of the top three growth-city economies in Canada by 2018.”

Quote about Halifax Growth

This city has already witnessed progress. In the third quarter of 2015, the Chamber recorded 1,071 immigrants moving to Nova Scotia, the best quarterly performance since 1996.

Plan Ahead: Reserve a Truck in Advance for Your Summer Move

Halifax seized the No. 8 spot in the U-Haul Top 10 Canadian Growth Cities rankings for 2015. Growth rankings are determined by the net gain of incoming one-way U-Haul truck rentals versus outgoing rentals for the past calendar year.

U-Haul locations here saw 61.7 percent of truck rental customers coming into the city as opposed leaving. The capital of Nova Scotia welcomed 2 percent more U-Haul arrivals year-over-year, while its departures were up 13 percent over the same period. The overall increase in U-Haul traffic made the maritime destination a more active place for do-it-yourself movers.

That activity seems to have only encouraged the city’s ever-expanding skyline.

“With more cranes in the Halifax skyline, increased business confidence and thousands of talented young people graduating from our seven post-secondary institutions, Halifax is a destination for business growth and global talent,” said Ron Hanlon, president and CEO of the Halifax Partnership.

Even with a bustling downtown and new housing being built, this city prides itself in making the great outdoors just a hop, skip and a jump away.

This is the only Nova Scotia destination to make the Top 10 Growth Cities list for 2015. Continue following the countdown on myuhaulstory.com each weekday through March 4 to see the No. 1 city revealed.

Additional photo credits: Destination Halifax (Citadel Gateway, featured image, and Point Pleasant Winter, thumbnail).

Halifax growth facts

More on Halifax

  1. This is a town of good ale and entertainment. With more pubs and clubs per capita than almost any other Canadian city, it makes sense that the most famous brewmaster here was elected to city office three times. Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery was opened in 1820. Keith was elected mayor in 1843.
  2. Immigration has a detailed history in this city. Between 1928 and 1971, more than one million immigrants came to Canada through Pier 21 located in the port of Halifax. In fact, this city is home to more than half of Atlantic Canada’s immigrants and a whopping 80 percent of Nova Scotia’s immigrants, helping this city become a multicultural destination.
  3. The Nova Scotia U-Haul SuperGraphic is among the most popular and recognizable that U-Haul has put on the side of its trucks.

Quotable

  • “We are not at all surprised that Halifax is one of the Top 10 Canadian Growth Cities for 2015. Halifax is a great place to raise a family and plan for the future. It is a desirable city based on its size – large enough to have choices in career, cultural experiences and activities, while still having a strong sense of community.” — Ross Jefferson, president and CEO of Destination Halifax
  • “Everywhere you look in downtown Halifax there are new condo buildings being built, a sign of the ever growing population. There is still a lot of green space in the city, great ocean views and a very friendly population. Downtown has kept its historic feel and you can be hiking at a beach within 20 minutes.” — Tracey Higgs, U-Haul Company of Atlantic Canada president

For tips on moving to this city click here!

What is your favorite thing about living in or visiting this city?  Share tips in the comments.

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