Shared Growth
By the early 2010s, Halifax was growing faster and competing more confidently on a national and global stage. Population growth accelerated, youth retention and immigration bolstered the workforce, and ambitious economic targets were well on track. But growth also brought new pressures around housing, infrastructure, inclusion, and climate resilience. Halifax Partnership helped align partners around a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.
An Ambitious Plan for Growth
In 2016, Halifax Partnership and Halifax Regional Municipality launched the Halifax Economic Growth Plan, the city’s third five-year economic strategy, which set some of the most ambitious targets in the city’s history: growing Halifax’s population to 550,000 and GDP to $30 billion by 2031.
Matt Hebb, who chaired both Halifax Partnership’s Board of Directors and the Economic Strategy Advisory Committee, remembers the plan as a turning point in how Halifax approached growth. “What we tried to do was set stretch goals for the city that were big enough to be genuinely reflective of ambition,” he said.
Rather than organizing the strategy around sectors, the plan focused on Halifax’s long-term value proposition and what would need to change to compete more confidently with other North American cities. Matt says it was a period of growing optimism, with new companies emerging, more talent arriving, and Halifax beginning to see its growth potential.
“Halifax has an opportunity to establish a new and more profound relevance for the country anchored not only in defense, but in all of the incredible things that we’re capable of. Our location is terrific. Our geography is amazing. We’re blessed with an incredibly beautiful province. There is nowhere I’d rather be.”
Matt HebbVice President Strategic Engagement, Dalhousie University
Selling Halifax Together
By the mid-2010s, Halifax was gaining momentum, but it lacked a consistent way to market and sell its strengths to investors, businesses, and talent. “The importance of a shared story is simple. We did not have one,” says Kevin McCann, Managing Partner and Head of Innovation and Strategy, Canada, at NATIONAL. “Halifax needed an organization capable of articulating a vision, partners willing to align around it, and consistency in carrying that message to the market. The Partnership played that central role.”
Expanding Access to Global Talent
Launched in 2017 as part of the Atlantic Growth Strategy, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) gave employers a direct pathway to access global talent and address persistent labour shortages. Halifax Partnership worked with ACOA and the Province of Nova Scotia to designate employers, connect them to candidates, and support hiring and retention. The employer-driven model, combined with settlement supports, made immigration a practical workforce solution.
Between 2016 and 2019, immigrant retention in Nova Scotia rose from 21.5% to 67.6%. This success led to the AIP becoming permanent in 2021, reinforcing immigration as a driver of population and economic growth in the region.
Halifax Convention Centre Opens
When the Halifax Convention Centre opened in 2017, it became both a catalyst for downtown revitalization and a symbol of Halifax’s growing confidence. The project helped transform the heart of the city and create a new destination for residents and visitors alike. For Suzanne Fougere, President and CEO of Events East Group, the convention centre’s significance extends beyond its physical presence. It has helped Halifax compete for major conferences, events, and visitors, contributing more than $4 million to our economy.
Accelerating Innovation-Driven Growth
Starting in 2017, Halifax Partnership worked with business, government, and post-secondary partners to define Halifax’s Innovation District and strengthen the ecosystem to drive innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Together, we supported the growth of hundreds of startups and scaleups, increased R&D and commercialization, and positioned Halifax to attract innovative companies, highly-skilled talent, and new investment.
Halifax has become one of Canada’s most exciting technology and innovation hubs, fuelling the growth of startups and scaleups in oceans, defence, clean tech, financial services, healthcare and IT.
Leading Through Crisis
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted businesses and economies around the world, Halifax Partnership and Halifax Regional Municipality led a coordinated economic response and recovery plan with private, public, and post-secondary partners. Through direct outreach to more than 500 businesses, Halifax Partnership helped companies navigate shutdowns, reopening, and government relief programs while connecting them to timely information and support. Programs including ShopHERE powered by Google, Digital Main Street, and the Business Continuity Toolkit helped businesses adapt during a period of extraordinary uncertainty. The response showed the value of trusted networks and quick coordination during crisis, and that same approach continued through later wildfire and disaster response efforts across the region.
On the Road to Economic Prosperity
Launched in 2021, the African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity (ANSREP) is built on the idea that community development and growth are strongest when shaped and led by those it’s meant to benefit. Guided by the principle “For Us, By Us, With Us”, ANSREP aims to improve socio-economic outcomes and prosperity for African Nova Scotians. The initiative has established community-led governance structures, launched the African Nova Scotian Prosperity and Well-being Index, and supported planning, entrepreneurship, and workforce development initiatives in ANS communities across HRM and the province.
In 2025, ANSREP developed its 6-11-Year Plan (2026-2031) and established the African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity Secretariat Society, an independent community-led not-for-profit organization governed by its Advisory, Elder, and Youth Councils.
Building a More Inclusive Economy
In 2022, Halifax Partnership and Halifax Regional Municipality launched People. Planet. Prosperity. Halifax’s Inclusive Economic Strategy 2022–27. Shaped by input from more than 2,500 business leaders, residents, and partners, the strategy marked a shift in how Halifax defined economic success. Growth was no longer measured only by population and GDP, but also by inclusion, sustainability, and well-being. The plan focused on ensuring more residents could participate in and benefit from Halifax’s economic momentum and prosperity.
Climate Action Leadership
Launched in 2023 by Halifax Partnership and Halifax Regional Municipality, the CEO Climate Action Charter positions climate action as a strategic business and economic imperative. Co-created with CEOs from the Partnership’s Investor network, this initiative supports business and post-secondary leaders in taking measurable action to reduce emissions and demonstrate climate leadership within their organizations and the broader community.
Developed as part of People. Planet. Prosperity, the Charter connects climate action to long-term sustainable growth, resilience, and competitiveness. In 2025, the Partnership and HRM convened senior leaders at the inaugural CEO Climate Action Summit and are working with signatories to advance a three-year action plan for 2026–2029.
Defining Moment
Halifax’s Population Surpasses500,000
Built for Defence and Energy
Rising defence spending and the global push for clean energy are positioning Halifax for major national and international investment. As Canada’s Defence City, anchored by CFB Halifax and the $84 billion National Shipbuilding Strategy, the region has deep defence, innovation, and workforce capacity. At the same time, Nova Scotia’s clean power transition and offshore wind ambitions are driving large-scale energy opportunities. Halifax Partnership is working with governments, industry, and post-secondary partners to align these strengths, advance strategic projects, and promote Halifax globally. This coordinated approach is generating investment interest, strengthening local supply chains, and positioning the region to secure long-term, high-value growth across defence and energy.
The Productivity Puzzle
Launched in 2025, The Productivity Puzzle elevated Nova Scotia’s long-standing productivity challenge to a shared priority. Led by Halifax Partnership, the initiative convened business, government, and post-secondary leaders to examine the key drivers of productivity, deepen understanding of its connection to economic growth and living standards, and identify practical ways to improve performance. By tackling this complex issue and aligning leaders around the need for action, Halifax Partnership has positioned stronger productivity as essential to long-term growth, well-being, and prosperity.
Thirty Years of Growth
Today, Halifax is in a new phase of growth. The city’s population has surpassed half a million, and the economy has grown consistently, with real GDP increasing by 2.3% in 2025 to $26.9 billion, surpassing the 2027 economic strategy target two years early. In 2026, business confidence rebounded with improved sentiment on Halifax as a place to do business, while over three-quarters (75.3%) of surveyed residents said they were satisfied with Halifax as a place to live.
Looking ahead, Halifax’s population is projected to continue growing between 2025 and 2050. Predicted 2050 population figures for Halifax range from roughly 593,000 to 743,000. GDP growth is forecast at 1.5% in 2026 and 1.8% annually through 2030. These projections point to a city whose next chapter will be defined by continued growth and opportunity, built on the confidence, collaboration, and momentum of the past three decades.