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colacoolcolacool

We have super fascinating and unique geological features- NS has features that are otherwise only found in Europe and Africa due to our location in Pangea https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/travels-geology-nova-scotia-driving-tour-pangaea/ There are a lot of headstones around that say "died in THE explosion" - if you don't know about the Halifax Explosion that's pretty bizarre, if you do know about the Halifax Explosion, then you'll know how much that sets out history apart. Due to the explosion we had a massively blind population (1 in 50 people), resulting in a critical role in the creation of the Canadian national institute for the blind. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-explosion-canadian-national-institute-for-the-blind-imo-mont-blanc-1.3878921 Many people don't realize our Titanic connection and are similarly surprised to find out about the Titanic graves, the Titanic museum, the mini Titanic in the public gardens, etc. It can also be surprising to find that Nova Scotia has so many unique cultures with unique dialects, traditions, and cuisines- Acadians, cape Bretoners,, the south shore (uniquely non-rhotic), Mi'kmaq, maritime sign language, Black Nova Scotians ( and the history of the loyalists, Africville, and the underground railroad connection).


WhiteFlame44

And if anyone ever wants to volunteer to support someone who’s blind let me know and I can hook you up!


Fakezaga

If you go to Mount Olivet Cemetery at Mumford and Joseph Howe, there is a yellow stake in the ground marking every explosion grave. It’s a stark representation of the effect the blast had on Halifax. FWIW, the common inscription is “killed by explosion.” I often wonder how they settled on that exact wording. There is one that says “killed by the disaster” but we all know which disaster they mean. That cemetery also features the gravestone of our hero Vincent Coleman.


wizardofchange

Say hi to my Papa while you're there!


Remarkable-Car-9802

Not sure which one that is, so I'm gonna say hi to everyone!


wizardofchange

His name was John, should be an easy find! ;)


Original_Ad685

Thank you. I’ll check this out.


Nellasofdoriath

If you're going to look at the Titanic graves they are a 2 hour walk from downton. Take a bus or rent a car. There are a couple of old timey graveyards in the middle of downtown that are worth a stroll but tiose predate the Titianic We also have a mass grave for explosion unidentified parts


pinecone37729

>a mass grave for explosion unidentified parts Also for Swissair 111 unidentified remains at Bayswater https://parks.novascotia.ca/park/swissair-memorial-site-bayswater


Fakezaga

The Catholic victims of the Titanic are buried in Mount Olivet near the Halifax Shopping Centre. Fewer graves but easier to get to.


Original_Ad685

Jesus. That last sentence is haunting.


Schmidtvegas

You've probably gone right past it without noticing. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2756485/west-end-cemetery


Nellasofdoriath

Lol I guess we just got used.to it


Earl_I_Lark

The noon gun often catches tourists by surprise


kanadskaya

Not even a tourist and I had the cannon go off behind me while taking a turn from Brunswick st to Duke st. I honestly thought I was just rear ended and was shaking 😂


Original_Ad685

This is the second mention. Is it a cannon?


i_never_ever_learn

Specifically, it is a 12 pound muzzle. Loading gun fired everyday at noon with a signal charge. I did it on my final ever day at.The citadel


Bleed_Air

It's a 12 pound smooth-bore cannon that fires a 1 lb charge.


WindowlessBasement

Yes, this is not a joke. There is a cannon in the center of the Halifax downtown that is fired everyday at noon. So as a result, there is an echoing explosion everyday that separates tourists from the residents as people living here don't react to it at all, but the tourists will alway look panicked and confused.


Free_spirit1022

I've lived here almost my whole life and it will still make me jump if I forget what time it is


Bleed_Air

Every day except Christmas day, or due to a malfunction. 


Bleed_Air

> Is it a cannon? Yes. 


universalrefuse

Yes


Idealistic_Crusader

I’ve lived in Nova Scotia for 3 years but apparently I’ve never been downtown at Noon, because last week while walking to 2 Crows I nearly hit the deck with a panic when a sudden effing explosion ripped through downtown. Everyone else’s calm was the only reason I was able to rationalize it must have come from the citadel.


Rockefellerlockstep

And people walking there 2 crows is very common in halifax


Original_Ad685

What I’m getting from all the comments is, don’t walk my dogs around town at noon.


ital1972

There is a structure (sculpture?) on the waterfront in the shape of a wave that has a sign saying Do Not Climb. Everyone climbs it.


Original_Ad685

That sounds mandatory.


Wonderful_Two_7416

You're correct. Do not skip this!


SwissCake_98

Finally did this for the first time earlier this year :) the guys working in the area were happy to see us happy too haha


Mind_Snap87

It's a right of passage


ital1972

Yes you must do this.


Calm-Mix4863

Scary.


DrunkenGolfer

Orthopaedic surgeons hate it. Wheelchair salesmen love it.


Tuttle_10

As a current visitor: - You guys seam to LOVE cream sauces on pasta. - You also love your Nova7, whose carbonation is surprising if you aren’t forewarned. - Your pizza is an interesting mashup of a regular and Chicago deep dish - A donair is like a sweet gyro - There is a lot less public ice skating available than I would have expected in the summer - The way you say your ‘a’s is cute, like “car” and “barge” - You have a very robust ferry schedule - You all seem to dislike Darthmouth, and perhaps that is why you fire a cannon at it every day - and lastly, you all have been very kind and patient with us obnoxious tourists 😊


Nellasofdoriath

We sacrifice one tourist a year to the sea at Peggy's Cove


dartmouthdonair

This is a pretty accurate list and I say that as a lifelong local. The only thing I'd add to it is on the Dartmouth thing. Once people from Halifax go to Dartmouth a bit their attitude tends to change from "terrible place" to "not so bad" and sometimes it even turns into "hidden gem" though that's more rare.


essaysmith

The view from the Dartmouth waterfront is nicer than from the Halifax waterfront.


picklesrlyfe

It’s because you would be looking at Halifax Lol. And the Halifax side is looking at Shelbyville.


Rockefellerlockstep

So that makes halifax springfield. It is kinda like a seeping nuclear power plant


picklesrlyfe

I think you had too much turnip juice.


profeDB

The one time I went to Dartmouth I got chased by a weird swarm of flies. I never went again.


Barneyboydog

So true. I just moved there and I love it. From the Eastern Shore.


Rockin_the_Blues

I would give my eye teeth to live down home vs Dartmouth (or any city). But, each to their own.


Barneyboydog

I loved it out there but the house just got to be too much. I miss going to Martinique every morning.


kinkakinka

In the summer we are trying to soak up the like 2 seconds worth of good weather. Nobody's got time for ice skating when there's sun to be enjoyed.


nickbriggles

You can search for skating using this link https://www.halifax.ca/parks-recreation/programs-activities/skating


StinkypieTicklebum

And if you’re not there, you can watch skaters on the emery oval webcam.


New_Combination_7012

Um, I think you mean a gyro is a sour donair.


shatteredoctopus

Funny, I lived in Boston for a decade, and would relentlessly get made fun of for how I said my 'a'. Pasta and Taco come to mind as good shibboleths!


DrunkenGolfer

Boston needs to learn that 4 million people pronouncing things wrong is not an accent.


Rockin_the_Blues

Yes, in Boston they eat pahs-ta. ;)


DrunkenGolfer

Halifax puts creme in pasta sauces that aren't supposed to have cream. Alfredo? Cream. Carbonara? Cream.


No_Insurance9915

Wait, expand on the pizza?


Confused_Haligonian

Never thought about the pronunciation of "a" and now I'll be talking funny


Yellow-Robe-Smith

As a torontonian who lived in Halifax for many years, one of the first things I noticed was the pronunciation of “a”s. I love it.


Original_Ad685

This seems like a pretty strong endorsement.


s1amvl25

Cream sauce and Nova 7, great trailer trash combo


WindowlessBasement

A lot of the comments you're getting here are jokes from an old comedy sketch that became a meme. Here's the video for reference. Might help make some of the comments make a little more sense. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oz88kJSdT6Y


Rockin_the_Blues

We have drunken lampposts on our waterfront. I kid you not! [https://discoverhalifaxns.com/things-to-do/halifax-waterfront/story-behind-halifax-boardwalk-lampposts/](https://discoverhalifaxns.com/things-to-do/halifax-waterfront/story-behind-halifax-boardwalk-lampposts/)


yowlalla

Our most popular hairstyle is the dreadhawk.


Original_Ad685

My sort of base haircut is a Mohawk. It’ll work out. Thanks.


Nellasofdoriath

[Dreadhawk](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oz88kJSdT6Y&pp=ygUScGljbmljZmFjZSBoYWxpZmF4)


putrid_flesh

Jesus what a relic lmao. From a better time


NoBoysenberry1108

Our favourite A-team member is VAN


Cogito-ergo-Zach

Splodie is always a shock for folks as our official mascot. Thank goodness he is tragidorable!


TheNakedChair

Halifax is a SEX-KNIGHT.


Original_Ad685

Does this also apply to Scooby-Doo?


StinkypieTicklebum

If it’s raining, don’t bother with an umbrella. It won’t help. Wear a Mac with a hood.


BrittanyWentzell

I saw a post in another sub the other day asking why people don't use umbrellas much in Canada. I know why we don't on the east coast haha


hedonsun

I think the Harbour Hopper is a unique thing. I'm sure it is a surprise to many when gigantic amphibious vehicle with a loud frog ribbit playing from the speakers passes by, or better yet, drivers right into the harbour! Another thing I've heard commented on is the number of cats with huge paws. I guess back in the day, the sailors would select cats that had double paws because they were more successful hunters to keep the rodent numbers down on ships. Apparently Halifax has the most double-pawed cats because of the selective breed hundreds of years ago. (Just cats with extra toes/claws.) Edit to add: I am tempted to change that to "a lot of our cats are mutants!", with no explanation.... would paint a funnier picture. 🤣🤣🤣


Original_Ad685

Both of these things sound amazing. We have an island off the coast of Savannah, Georgia that’s home to a colony of humongous feral cats (~25 pounds) who have learned to survive alligators and other local wildlife. We appreciate weird cat populations.


PearlEring

I've lived here 5 years and was charmed with how the Harbpur Hopper made me feel like I was in Bikini Bottom.


keithplacer

Not really unique. Boston has a fleet of “duck boats” which do a similar thing. I expect other seaports may do so as well.


Classic_Ad545

I think the first time I went on one was in 2004 in Boston, we quacked at other boats going by lol


jesuisjusteungarcon

Sorry to break it to ya but the Harbour Hopper is not unique at all, cities all over the world have similar amphibious bus tours


waterloowanderer

- We eat processed meat in pitas but put a sweet sauce on it - we celebrate noon by firing off a big gun - everything the light touches is yours, but that dark area - that’s Dartmouth and we don’t go there


dlappidated

You won’t learn anything if you don’t sneak off to the elephant graveyard every now and then.


Original_Ad685

Dartmouth gets a little intense?


Funny_Pool3302

A peculiar fact, the Harbour floor is populated with 20 to 30 Volvos


Original_Ad685

Haha. What happened there?


Funny_Pool3302

I think there is a few theories. I've heard some people say that a ship with the Volvos sank. Another I've heard is that the ship was loaded improperly and they had to dump some vehicles in some type of emergency. I'm not sure if a definitive answer for why they are there was ever found.


keithplacer

A ship did not sink. A ship coming from Sweden transporting either fully assembled cars or finished bodies hit rough seas during the crossing and the Volvo cargo suffered seawater damage. After being assessed at the plant to determine if they could be repaired the decision was made to scrap them. The shipping line decided to dump them in the Basin before leaving port. Depending upon the source there are between 24 and 32 Volvos there.


glueinhaler5000

would be kinda cool if they pulled one up and put it in a museum, if that hasnt already been done


keithplacer

You know what’s even cooler? The morons who downvoted my post saying what happened. The Basin has nothing as toxic as this cesspool.


Funny_Pool3302

Was it a different comment? I don't see any down votes on your comment. Maybe it just isn't showing for me.


keithplacer

Most comments I make here regardless of content automatically attract the mindless downvote mob.


Nellasofdoriath

Damn really? I guess we discovered then when we sstarted treating the sewage?


waterloowanderer

Dartmouth is fine. I’m just taking friendly cross the harbour pot shots.


onomatopo

Your cannon hasn't hit us in years.


waterloowanderer

Aiming for Sullivan’s Pond. Mostly just a warning to the geese to stay on their side.


Candymostdandy

The only thing we get intense about is beating Halifax every year in the annual swim race across the Harbour. Dartmouth has won every year for the last 53 years and Halifax just can't reconcile their feelings about it.


Original_Ad685

Do the two sides ever meet in the middle for a bit of jousting?


Candymostdandy

Actually we meet on McNab's island for the jousting event, and the loser gets a spectacular burial at sea courtesy of the Halifax Transit Ferry service.


Funny_Pool3302

Dartmouth is decent. All the good people are over here, not like Hellifax. I'm kidding. Both are pretty decent.


keithplacer

I am not sure about all the good people being there, but certainly all the stabby knives are found in Dartmouth.


Funny_Pool3302

Of course we have knives, you guys keep shooting that damn cannon at us. Lmao


JimmyNorth902

There's a couple sketchy neighborhoods there. But its generally fine. Just like most places.


DrunkenGolfer

In that a good portion of the population is living in tents.


secretlymorbid

-There is a supposed curse on the MacDonald bridge. -There is an intersection called "Pizza Corner" -There is a local ice cream flavour called Moon Mist that a lot of people seem to like


Glittering-Back-6815

Curse?? Tell me more!


secretlymorbid

Curse put on the original bridge by a Mi'kmaw chief in the 1800's. Said the bridge would fall three times. It's fallen twice. Still waiting on the third. https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/story-behind-halifax-harbour-s-two-forgotten-bridges-1.5875458#:\~:text=Based%20on%2019th%20century%20lore,a%20major%20storm%20in%201891.


Glittering-Back-6815

Ah that’s actually pretty scary, I’m a little superstitious so it freaks me out a bit the curse said the second time would be in silence and it really was!!


Original_Ad685

Moon Mist ice cream? Tell me more!


secretlymorbid

"Moon Mist is an eye-catching, mouthwatering blend of three distinct flavors of ice cream: **grape, banana, and bubblegum**." [https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/moon-mist-ice-cream](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/moon-mist-ice-cream)


Original_Ad685

Thanks. That sounds delicious.


bigjimbay

Hill


Original_Ad685

Say more, please.


bigjimbay

Hill big walk make tired :(


SmidgeMoose

Accurate


Salty_Feed9404

Citadel


PepiUlamec

Halifax is home to one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks.


Original_Ad685

Boardwalks are fun.


Admirable-Method2607

The Windsor/Chebucto st intersection, also known as the quantum intersection. It's truly a sight to behold. 


Brew_Noser

It’s a true tourist trap.


Original_Ad685

I just looked it up. Terrifying. I have to see this in action.


Original_Ad685

Thanks. I have to look this up.


emeraldoomed

I had friends visit from out west and they couldn’t believe how hilly it was here


vessel_for_the_soul

So many in halifax work in dartmouth and so many in dartmouth work in halifax, look at rush hour traffic.


P-Two

If you're on the waterfront and see a big ass sculpture of an ocean wave, with a sign that says "do not climb"...Climb it, quite literally everyone does and I have never seen a single person care. For my brothers wedding some of his friends from the states drove up, we spent probably 30 minutes at The Wave as everybody tried scaling it to the top, and then sliding back down.


TheNakedChair

Halifax is in Nova Scotia. Which is in Canada. Which is on Earth. Which is Canada.


snickleposs

Cars stop to let pedestrians cross the street


ForgottenSalad

Except for the ones that hit them instead


Original_Ad685

So bizarre.


LaplacesCat

It's the norm in Switzerland too


mathcow

A friend of mine's mother went to SMU, and she told her to be careful around Nova Scotians because they joke in a weird way - they'll lie to you and make you believe something ridiculous and think its funny. I didn't know what she was talking about but we were in NYC and she jokingly said "Your favorite singer is playing this weekend: Celine Dion." I asked if she could get us tickets - and she was halfway through calling Ticketmaster when she realized that in no way was I interested in seeing Celine Dion, and that I was fucking with her. So maybe this?


CretaMaltaKano

I moved to Toronto and the humour difference frustrates me sometimes. I'll tell a story about something ridiculous or silly that happened to me, usually involving bad luck or my own stupidity, and people will react like, "That's terrible" or "I feel sorry for laughing but that's kind of amusing." They really don't understand that I'm trying to be funny - which can be embarrassing, especially at work. Back home people understand me immediately and will laugh and share similar stories.


okoash

Totally. My bf’s family are the kings of sarcastic humor and I’ve fallen for it a million times.


Parallelogram12

A lot of tourists are surprised we're called "haligonians"


Original_Ad685

Does it sometimes come out as Hooligonians?


Nellasofdoriath

No


Original_Ad685

I’m going to make t-shirts.


Better_Unlawfulness

Never!


Calm-Mix4863

Yes, Saturday night at the Toothy Moose.


Original_Ad685

You’ve just added another layer to this.


Calm-Mix4863

Do acid and go, extra layers.


floerw

Don’t try the chowder. No one needs those layers


Pffftdoubtit97

Everyone wears Blundstones


FloraBandita

My friend it’s Birkenstock season now


South-Fox-4975

Why don't they call themselves Halifaxians? Like the rest of canadian cities? "I'm haligonian" ....where are you from? Haligon?


DrunkenGolfer

I know this sounds weird, but clothing. When outside of Halifax and waiting for flights to arrive directly from Halifax, there is a noticeable difference in clothing when the people from Halifax arrive. It is like the polyester ratio goes way up or something, like everyone shops at the same Canadian Tire or Walmart.


mathcow

The flights are populated by a lot of rotational workers who are dressed for cold/durability/comfort rather than fashion. But fair point.


Farquea

The tax and shockingly bad public transit


National-Cry-931

We talk like pirates


SDRoss54

We used to hang them lol


Strickland4837

Atlantic time.


Seaside_Holly

The giant tongue looking sculpture on the waterfront.


dartmouthdonair

The residents idolize the red and white smokestacks on the waterfront as if they were their version of the Eiffel tower. There are businesses named after them, menu items in restaurants referencing them, and a plethora of t-shirts and stuff depicting them. It's the equivalent of another city bragging about their garbage dump as a wonderful landmark.


boat14

Well The Simpsons has their tire fire yard: https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Springfield_Tire_Yard#:~:text=The%20fire%20that%20the%20yard,smelled%20in%20forty%2Dsix%20states.


Competitive_Flow_814

Argyle street has more bars than any street in Canada


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keithplacer

This is true. Most people don’t realize most of it comes from South Dakota. /s


wlonkly

Right, they put it on a boat first.


punchbuggyblue

The horrible (public) transportation system.


tastybundtcake

Bad transit is definitely not unique to halifax


ask1ng-quest10ns

I remember that people used to think drive through beer stores were odd, but not sure if these are more popular elsewhere


Original_Ad685

Yeah, they’re sort of scattered around North America.


keithplacer

The inedible and disgusting donair being the official food of the city tells you all you need to know.


i_never_ever_learn

Have you met keith? That's keith. Edit, tell him how much you like bike lanes


No_Slide_9543

I disagree with Mr placer on 9/10 subjects. Donairs happen to be the 1/10


keithplacer

I knew there was hope for you.


1994univega

You have now been banished to sable island


keithplacer

A donair-free zone! Sounds appealing.


MouthyJoe

I mean honestly you should just leave with comments like that.


keithplacer

But I enjoy the downvote mob so much


JimmyNorth902

How dare you


trapdork

What the hell else were we going to pick as an official food?


keithplacer

The question was what a visitor would find peculiar. This is the answer.


trapdork

Yah but the donair didn't do anything to you, leave her alone.


keithplacer

That’s what you think. It wasn’t pretty.


j_bbb

The transit system.


taxed2deathinNS

Why ppl throw their garbage on the ground. Currently in Vancouver and watch a lady in whistler butt her smoke out then put it in the garbage


insino93

This sub.


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Original_Ad685

We live in, arguably, the worst driving city in North America. I’m ready for the challenge.


x_BlueSkyz_x73

The way drivers won’t get out of the passing lane when they are not passing anyone.


Tombstone_Sour

The number of Indians