For most of this area’s history—long before the Public Gardens or the Halifax Common existed—the Mi’kmaq lived, and fished and hunted, amidst trees, bogs, and ponds here. In the next Public Gardens landmark, we’ll hear more about this…

What we now call the Public Gardens, the Halifax Common, Halifax, and Nova Scotia are all a part of Mi’kma’ki, or the land of the Mi’kmaq. Long before there were flower beds, bandstands, and ornate gates, the Mi’kmaq lived here. They hunted…

As the Halifax Common and later the Public Gardens emerged, they became the source of settler civic pride. Of course, the land on which the Public Gardens sits is part of the traditional and contemporary territory of the Mi’kmaq. Before we go any…

Halifax’s Public Gardens may not have been open to everyone, all the time, but the Gardens certainly catered to many tastes. The Gardens have been the site of agricultural shows, concerts, public readings, and more informal meetings: strolls,…

Did you know that Halifax’s Public Gardens were home to what is most likely the first covered skating rink in North America? Another fun fact: the Public Gardens also had the first public lawn tennis court in Canada. Given how indoor hockey rinks…

The Public Gardens are known for their natural beauty—their flower and trees, the pond and waterfowl. To get a taste of this beauty, we’ll turn to one of Canada’s most beloved writers, celebrated for her descriptions of nature: Anne of Green…