Shannon Park, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Shannon Park is a former military
community on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour
in the Halifax Regional Municipality
(HRM) in Nova Scotia
, Canada
. It is immediately south of the A. Murray MacKay Bridge
in the city of Dartmouth
. It straddles several transportation routes, namely, Highway 111
and a CN Rail
freight line, as well as Halifax Harbour and is bordered on the south by Tuft's Cove.
Although presently unused, Shannon Park remains part of the CFB Halifax
defence complex. Shannon Park, along with the adjacent military community of Wallace Heights, was primarily used for housing the families of personnel serving with the Canadian Navy
. It was built in the 1950s to remedy the shortage of housing which plagued sailors and their families in Halifax during World War Two.
With defence cutbacks reducing the number of personnel serving in the navy and expanded housing available on the civilian market, Shannon Park and Wallace Heights were closed in 2004 and remaining residents were moved to military housing at Willow Park. The former housing structures have fallen into decay, leading residents to refer to the area as 'Little Detroit'. The former Shannon Park high school is now an elementary school.
Immediately north of the community on the Bedford basin adjacent to the MacKay bridge lies the Bedford Institute of Oceanography
, as well as a Canadian Coast Guard
communication centre, and a Canadian Food Inspection Agency
laboratory.
Until the HRM withdrew their bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games
, urban planners envisioned Shannon Park to be used for locating the proposed sports stadium, athletes village and several additional venues. Disposal of the land is being planned by the Canada Lands Company
crown corporation. Mi'kmaq from the Millbrook Reserve near Truro
have applied for a portion of the land. Shannon park now has a French immersion
school.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
community on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
in the Halifax Regional Municipality
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...
(HRM) 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...
. It is immediately south of the A. Murray MacKay Bridge
A. Murray MacKay Bridge
The A. Murray MacKay Bridge locally known as "the new bridge" is the second suspension bridge linking the Halifax Peninsula with Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and opened on July 10, 1970....
in the city of Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
. It straddles several transportation routes, namely, Highway 111
Nova Scotia Highway 111
Highway 111 is a 13-kilometre controlled access freeway in Nova Scotia, Canada.Highway 111 varies from 4-12 lanes and is known informally as the Dartmouth "Circumferential Highway", or, more recently, "The Circ", since it is a partial orbital road. The highway runs from Pleasant Street in the...
and a CN Rail
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
freight line, as well as Halifax Harbour and is bordered on the south by Tuft's Cove.
Although presently unused, Shannon Park remains part of the CFB Halifax
CFB Halifax
Canadian Forces Base Halifax is Canada's east coast navy base and home port to the Atlantic fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic....
defence complex. Shannon Park, along with the adjacent military community of Wallace Heights, was primarily used for housing the families of personnel serving with the Canadian Navy
Canadian Forces Maritime Command
The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...
. It was built in the 1950s to remedy the shortage of housing which plagued sailors and their families in Halifax during World War Two.
Immediately north of the community on the Bedford basin adjacent to the MacKay bridge lies the Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
The Bedford Institute of Oceanography is a major Canadian government ocean research facility located in Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia. The Bedford Institute of Oceanography is the largest ocean research station in Canada...
, as well as a Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
communication centre, and a Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is a science based regulatory agency that is dedicated to the safeguarding of food, animals, and plants, which enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy...
laboratory.
Until the HRM withdrew their bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
, urban planners envisioned Shannon Park to be used for locating the proposed sports stadium, athletes village and several additional venues. Disposal of the land is being planned by the Canada Lands Company
Canada Lands Company
Canada Lands Company Limited is an arms length, self-financing Crown corporation reporting to Parliament through the Honourable John Baird, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons...
crown corporation. Mi'kmaq from the Millbrook Reserve near Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
have applied for a portion of the land. Shannon park now has a French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
school.