Why Halifax
Halifax, and Nova Scotia more broadly, is at a unique turning point:
Population
in
halifax
500,000+
Post-secondary students in Nova scotia every year
60,000+
Annual visitors to nova scotia (pre-pandemic)
2.4M
average household income
vs
canadian national average
10 - 15% lower
Population Growth: Halifax’s population surpassed 500,000 in 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing mid-sized cities in Canada. Nova Scotia’s overall population is now over 1 million, driven by immigration and inter-provincial migration.
Student & Talent Base: Nova Scotia welcomes over 60,000 post-secondary students annually, including thousands of international students who are digitally savvy but often lack community integration.
Tourism Potential: Nova Scotia attracts over 2.4 million visitors per year (pre-pandemic levels), mostly from other Canadian provinces, the U.S., and Europe. However, local tourism spending per visitor is below the Canadian average, indicating room for growth.
Economic Challenges: The province still struggles with outmigration—young graduates often leave for bigger cities like Toronto or Vancouver. Average household income remains 10–15% lower than the Canadian national average, and small businesses face difficulties reaching customers.
Our
Vision
By leveraging Halifax as Canada’s first pilot city for a
Digital Community Economy
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Digital Opportunity
Despite the above challenges, Halifax has an emerging tech and digital sector (IT, fintech, ocean tech) and relatively affordable living costs compared to major Canadian cities, making it an ideal testbed for digital-first community innovation.
We aim to:
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Empower local merchants with accessible digital tools.
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Retain young talent by providing opportunities in innovative community projects.
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Attract national and international attention to Nova Scotia as a hub grassroots innovation.