The Halifax Common is one of Canada’s oldest public lands, granted in 1763 for the “use of the inhabitants of the town forever.” That promise is still at risk and still worth defending.
Halifax is one of the oldest cities in Canada, having been founded in 1749. In 1763, King George III granted 240 acres of common land “to and for the use of the inhabitants of the Town of Halifax forever”.
Of course, the land was not King George III’s to give as it was the ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq. The story of the Common is that of the colonial people who displaced the Mi’kmaq throughout the Province.
What remains of the Halifax Common is affectionately called “the Commons” and is a well-used aspect of life in Halifax.
How Large is the Common?
The Common was originally 240 acres. This is an area equal to 181.5 football fields or 2,224.34 basketball courts, so a very large area. The grant included land bordered on the west by Robie and east by North/South Park Streets and south and north between Cunard and South Streets.
The Common was originally used to graze cattle.
Over the next two and a half centuries, public institutions were added to the common as these were seen as appropriate public uses.
How did this happen?
In the early years, the land was considered a bit of a wasteland. Over many decades, Common land was used for institutions and significant parcels were sold to private owners. What may have seemed like a positive civic step years ago is now seen in a diffident light as green space on the peninsula is at a premium.
There have been various plans put in place for the use and management of the Halifax Common. On January 23, 2024, Halifax Regional Council adopted the Halifax Common Master Plan. Unfortunately, management of the Wanderers Block was absent from the Halifax Common Master Plan and its future is a major concern for the FHC.
The most recent Halifax Common Master Plan, can be found here.
Friends of Halfax Common (FHC) acknowledges our location in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) People first signed with the British Crown in 1725.
We are all Treaty People. We honour the enduring presence and contributions of the Mi'kmaq people, and we are dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
