Fairview, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Geography
Fairview is named after Fairview Cove, which forms the extreme southern end of Bedford BasinBedford Basin
Bedford Basin is a large enclosed bay, forming the northwestern end of Halifax Harbour on Canada's Atlantic coast.-Geography:Geographically, the basin is situated entirely within the Halifax Regional Municipality and is oriented northwest-southeast, measuring approximately 8 kilometres long and 5...
at the northern edge of the isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
connecting the Halifax Peninsula
Halifax Peninsula
The Halifax Peninsula is a community and planning area located in the urban core of Halifax Regional Municipality in the province of Nova Scotia. Halifax Peninsula is home to Downtown Halifax, the financial and economic heart of the region, which was also the site of the original settlement and...
with the larger Chebucto Peninsula
Chebucto Peninsula
The Chebucto Peninsula is a Canadian peninsula located in central Nova Scotia entirely within the Halifax Regional Municipality on the Atlantic coast....
.
As such, Fairview sits astride and is bisected by several major transportation corridors:
- CN RailCanadian National RailwayThe Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
lines from yards in nearby RockinghamRockingham, Nova ScotiaRockingham is a community located in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality. It is part of a large suburban area along the western shore of Bedford Basin, north of Clayton Park and south of Bedford.-Geography:...
to the Halifax Ocean Terminal, as well as to the Richmond Terminals, and to the Bayer's Lake Business ParkBayer's Lake Business ParkBayers Lake Business Park is a business park in the Halifax, Nova Scotia on a plateau beside Highway 102, near Clayton Park. It had its beginnings in the mid 1980s and today occupies over . It has various retail and major warehousing, trucking, distribution, and manufacturing operations...
. - Highway 102Nova Scotia Highway 102Highway 102 is a north-south freeway in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia that runs from Halifax to Truro. It is the busiest highway in Atlantic Canada....
expressway, (Bicentennial Drive or "Bi-Hi") which crosses through the neighbourhood on a 1960s-era overpass which crosses several major streets and rail lines - Trunk 2, (the Bedford Highway), which has its southern terminus in Fairview along the shore of Bedford Basin and connects to the North EndNorth End, HalifaxThe North End of Halifax is a neighbourhood located in the urban core of Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality, occupying the northern part of the Halifax Peninsula.-Geography:...
community of Halifax via the 1950s-era Fairview Overpass - Joseph Howe Drive, which runs the length of the Halifax Peninsula's isthmus
- Dutch Village Road, which in 2002 was shortened to operate as a small loop through the old business district in Fairview - it originally ran along much of the alignment for Joseph Howe Drive
- Bayers Road, which used to run from Halifax's North EndNorth End, HalifaxThe North End of Halifax is a neighbourhood located in the urban core of Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality, occupying the northern part of the Halifax Peninsula.-Geography:...
neighbourhood to Bayers Lake, a freshwater lake northwest of Fairview - and now runs to an intersection with Joseph Howe Drive
History
The area known as Fairview was established at the junction of several railway lines operated by various donald monks in the 19th century. Fairview Station was located in a former German settlement of Dutch Village.The Dutch Village was one of the original homes of the Foreign Protestants
Foreign Protestants
The "Foreign Protestants" were a group of immigrants to Nova Scotia in the mid-18th century and the ethnonymical basis behind the name "New Brunswick", as well as support behind naming "Prince Edward Island" for a representative of the Braunschweiger dynasty....
that arrived in Halifax in the 1750s. First known as the Westerwald (western forest), it was called the Dutch (Deutsch) Village by non-German locals. Some of the passengers of the Foreign Protestant ships were settled temporarily in the Dutch Village while they waited for a more permanent settlement in Lunenburg County
Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg County is a county located on the South Shore of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, It ranges from Hubbards to the east and Vogler's Cove to the west.-History:...
.
A section of what once was Joseph Howe Drive that had been an exit to Highway 102 was renamed "Westerwald Street" in November 2002 in honour of the old settlement. Dutch Village Road now forms the main commercial street at the foot of Fairview's slope.
In a series of corporate mergers following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, railway lines in the Fairview area came under control of Canadian National Railways (CNR). CNR established its new locomotive servicing shops and roundhouse for the Halifax area in the community, which was named Fairview Station on March 1, 1921.
Until the 1950s, the majority of Fairview's residents were employed by the railway. Most of the current suburban street network in the area was established in the early 20th century, forming a regular grid pattern up the eastern slope of Geizers Hill, facing toward Halifax and the Bedford Basin.
The community name was shortened to Fairview on January 19, 1956.
In the early 1960s all of the homes on School Avenue's southern side were appropriated by the province and demolished to make way for the construction of the Bicentennial Highway. School Avenue itself is still owned by the Province of Nova Scotia and is the only civic street in the area not under municipal authority.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Fairview developed into a major shopping destination after Halifax's first suburban shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, the Bayers Road Shopping Centre, was constructed. The 1969 amalgamation of unincorporated Halifax County
Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
communities such as Fairview, Rockingham, and Spryfield
Spryfield, Nova Scotia
Spryfield is a community in Mainland Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was founded about 1770, by Captain William Spry, who purchased land there and established the settlement with the aid of stationed soldiers from the nearby Halifax garrison...
saw the village become part of the City of Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. Fairview also became home to one of Halifax's first suburban high schools in 1958 when Halifax West High School opened on Dutch Village Road.
Through the 1960s, Fairview continued to fill in as its housing densified and the last subdivision to be completed in the community was Keystone Court in 1990. Newer residential developments in outlying areas during the 1970s-1990s, such as the modern development in adjacent Clayton Park
Clayton Park, Nova Scotia
Clayton Park is a Canadian suburban development in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality inside the city of Halifax.-Original development:...
, along with a demand by families for larger homes, saw Fairview's working class neighbourhoods of smaller homes become a less desirable location over time. Gradually, certain streets in the community became known for criminal activity, culminating in the late 1990s when the Nova Scotia chapter of the Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
outlaw motorcycle gang established a club house in the centre of the old business district.
Following police action and a community outcry, Fairview has been gradually gentrifying
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
as urban professionals seeking shorter commutes into Halifax are rediscovering the neighbourhood and its century-old charm.
In 1996, the City of Halifax was merged with all other municipalities in Halifax County to form the new Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Under HRM, Fairview (along with its 1969 amalgamation neighbours of Rockingham and Spryfield) was jurisdictionally placed in Mainland Halifax
Mainland Halifax
Mainland Halifax is a region in central Nova Scotia, Canada that refers to the central-eastern part of the Chebucto Peninsula in the Halifax Regional Municipality...
.
Community
Sport facilities are located near the centre of the neighbourhood in W.D. Piercey Park.Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
(Fairview Branch No. 142) is on Hillcrest Street.
The food bank had operated out of Saint John's basement, but In September 2005 the food bank was forced to close. It has since found a new location at the Salvation Army on 50 Gesner Street.
The Fairview Freemason's Hall (formerly St. Pius X Church) is at 165 Coronation Avenue. home of the Oldest Masonic Lodge in the British Commonwealth outside of England itself. ST. Andrew's Lodge No.1 established in 1750 AD.
Fairview United Church is home to the "Parent'n Tot Meeting Place" which offers a variety of programs.
The West End Ecumenical Food Bank is located at the Salvation Army on 50 Gesner Street. It is open on Tuesdays.
St Lawrence Roman Catholic Church was demolished in November of 2010 after the parish was relocated to the new St Benedict's Roman Catholic Church on Radcliffe Drive in adjacent Clayton Park.
Places of worship
- Alive Christian Church, 28 Willett Street
- Bayers Road Baptist Church, 7077 Bayers Road
- Calvary Tabernacle (United PenecostalUnited Pentecostal Church InternationalThe United Pentecostal Church International is a Pentecostal Christian denomination, headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood, Missouri. It is a part of the Oneness or "Apostolic" portion of the Pentecostal Movement, and was formed in 1945 by a merger of the former Pentecostal Church,...
), 20 Gesner Street - Church of Scientology Mission of Halifax, 3441 Dutch Village Road
- Convoy Avenue Church of Christ, 48 Convoy Avenue
- Halifax Victory ChurchPentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North AmericaThe Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America is an interdenominational fellowship of Pentecostal and charismatic churches and denominations in North America, existing for the purpose of promoting cooperation and understanding. It is a successor to the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America...
, 12 Hillcrest Street - House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries (HIPM) Asian Christian Church of Halifax (Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada - PAOC), 19 Alma Crescent (basement/rear entrance).
- Our Lady of Lebanon Antiochian Maronite Catholic ChurchMaronite ChurchThe Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
, 3844 Dutch Village Road - St. John's Anglican ChurchAnglican Church of CanadaThe Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, 3415 Dutch Village Road (DeconsecratedDeconsecrationDeconsecration is the act of removing a religious blessing from something that had been previously consecrated by a minister or priest of that religion. The same act when performed by a member of a differing religion may be considered a curse by some religions and not a complete removal of the...
on January 21, 2007) - St. Lawrence Rectory (Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
), 3473 Dutch Village Road (Demolished 2010) - St. Mena Coptic Orthodox Church, 167 Willett Street
- The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
: Fairview Citadel, 50 Gesner Street
Education
Public school education in Fairview is governed by the Halifax Regional School BoardHalifax Regional School Board
The Halifax Regional School Board is the public school board responsible for 137 elementary, junior high, and high schools located within the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. The current Superintendent of the HRSB is Carole Olsen, who has held the position since 2002...
. Fairview lies within District 7.
Current schools
- Fairview Junior High (1973–present)
- Clayton Park Junior High - like Halifax West, this school is outside Fairview's traditional boundaries but many students from Fairview go there.
- Fairview Heights Annex Elementary
- Fairview Heights Elementary
- Ecole Burton Ettinger Elementary
Notable residents
Well-known natives of Fairview include "The Dutch Village Philosopher", Titus Smith, Jr. (1768–1850), a writer, surveyor, geologist and botanist; Tim Garrigan, leader of the 1970s rock band Pepper Tree. Fairview is also home to Sarah McLachlanSarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, and two of the members of the band Sloan
Sloan (band)
Sloan is a Toronto-based alternative rock quartet from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout their 20-year tenure Sloan has released 10 LPs , two EPs, a live album, a "best of" collection and no less than thirty singles...
. Also home to NHL hockey player Eric Bolton.
Political representation
- Russell Walker, CouncillorHalifax Regional CouncilHalifax Regional Council is the governing body for the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia.In April 1996, the councils for the City of Halifax, the City of Dartmouth, Town of Bedford, and Municipality of the County of Halifax were dissolved when those municipalities were amalgamated into...
for District 15 (Fairview-Clayton Park) - Graham SteeleGraham SteeleGraham Steele is Nova Scotia's Minister of Finance and Minister of Acadian Affairs in Darrell Dexter's Cabinet. As a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, he represents the constituency of Halifax Fairview...
, Member of the Legislative AssemblyNova Scotia House of AssemblyThe Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
(NDPNova Scotia New Democratic PartyThe Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is aligned with the federal New Democratic Party . Originally founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing...
) for Halifax FairviewHalifax FairviewHalifax Fairview is a provincial electoral district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.It was created in the re-distribution of 1993... - Geoff ReganGeoff ReganGeoffrey Paul Regan, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He has the prenomial "the Honourable" and the postnomial "PC" for life by virtue of being made a privy councillor and a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. Regan grew up in a strong political family...
, Member of ParliamentParliament of CanadaThe Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
(LiberalLiberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
) for Halifax WestHalifax WestHalifax West is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979. Its population in 2006 was 88,756.-Demographics:From the 2006 census Ethnic groups:*White: 90.8%...