DESTINATIONS CANADA | HALIFAX


stay


WHERE TO


IN HALIFAX


The Sutton Place Hotel The executive suites overlooking the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site have some of the best views in the city. The suites all have one bedroom and a spacious bathroom decorated in white and gold, with a separate living area providing extra space. There’s a steakhouse on site, and the hotel is next to Argyle Street, which comes alive in the evening. A Standard Room for two adults costs £196 in October.


Muir Hotel Located in the new Queen’s Marque development on the waterfront, this new hotel is part of the Autograph Collection. It’s a property that’s in touch with its surroundings, taking inspiration from Nova Scotia in its decor. There’s a gallery in the hotel with a rotating collection of local artworks, as well as some distinctive venues, including a secret speakeasy. A Standard King Room for two adults costs £300 per night in October.


Moxy Halifax Downtown This hotel, set to open its doors in December, will be Canada’s first Moxy. Guests will check in at the bar in this modern, trendy property, a stone’s throw from the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and about 10 minutes from the waterfront. Rooms will cater to a range of group sizes, from queen and king rooms to a room with two bunk beds, and studios. Prices start at £128 per night.


i 38 19 OCTOBER 2023


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; Halifax Citadel National Historic Site; and Argyle Street in downtown Halifax


PICTURES: Patrick Rojo; Tourism Nova Scotia/Acorn Art & Photography, Scott Munn


‘


m staring up at a sign that reads ‘Welcome to Canada’. It hangs on a wall behind a wooden table and two wooden chairs, just below an old


image of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. The sign is translated into six languages, including


German, Polish and Italian, and has a coat of arms in the middle. I sit on one of the rows of chairs facing the sign and try to imagine what it was like for people who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the first time, looking up at that sign with hopes and dreams of starting a new life in Canada. This is one of the most poignant features in the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, a moving place to visit in itself. It’s said about 43% of Canadians can trace their ancestry back to Pier 21, where one million immigrants arrived between 1928 and 1971 to step onto Canada’s shores. This room is where they were called up to approach the table where immigration officers sat. They’d show their paperwork, medical notes and all their evidence to make the argument for becoming an immigrant to Canada. There are guided tours of the museum, which last about 30 minutes and are included in the £9.30 adult ticket price. It’s well worth doing, not least for the stories told along the way. The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 sits at one end of the nearly three-mile-long boardwalk that


Halifax is the birthplace


of Cunard Line founder Sir Samuel Cunard and there’s a huge naval base


lines part of Halifax’s waterfront. The boardwalk is a hive of activity, especially as it’s a balmy 28C during my visit in late May. Friends gather at a pop-up food festival, where aromas of different cuisines fill the air. Runners pass by the calm harbour water that catches the sunlight. Nearby, couples lay on hammocks right at the water’s edge, basking in the heat.


MAKING A MARQUE


Halifax has an extensive maritime past. It’s the birthplace of Cunard Line founder Sir Samuel Cunard and there’s a huge naval base in the city that dates back to the 18th century. The marine ties were the inspiration behind the design of the Queen’s Marque development, which opened in 2021. Just next to Halifax’s ferry terminal, this area is the only place along the boardwalk where you can actually touch the sea. There’s a beacon, ‘Rise Again’, that stands at the top of a flight of steps and lights up


² travelweekly.co.uk


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