Homes For Sale in Eastern Passage

Transportation

Shopping, Food and Nightlife

Greenery & Character

Why live in Eastern Passage?

Eastern Passage is a suburban community in Halifax that is bursting with charm and picturesque beauty. First, the neighbourhood is on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, which means waterfront views practically anywhere you go. It also makes for a great place to live if you love getting outside. From strolling on the area’s many beaches to swimming, boating, hiking, golfing, and fishing, there is no shortage of outdoor recreational activities in Eastern Passage. MacCormacks Beach Provincial Park is a must-visit spot, with plenty of walking paths, including a 1.5-kilometre-long boardwalk, as well as facilities like change rooms, picnic tables, and washrooms. Angel’s Beach is another great spot for relaxing by the water, as is Morris Lake, which is on the edge of Dartmouth, bordering Eastern Passage. Morris Lake also happens to be the longest and deepest lake in Dartmouth. McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park is another fantastic spot to visit if you want to spend a day outdoors. It features over 22 kilometres of hiking trails that will take hikers through both forest and sandy coastline. Other popular hiking trails are the Shearwater Flyer Trail and Tanner's Eastern Passage Trail. There is also excellent hiking in the neighbouring community of Cole Harbour, with one of the most popular trails being the Salt Marsh Trail. This trail was originally a CN Rail line, but when CN Rail abandoned the area, it was made into a hiking trail. Other attractions that are not to be missed in Eastern Passage include Fisherman’s Cove Heritage Centre and Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club. Many boat charter companies also operate out of Eastern Passage, like A&M Sea Charters and Blue Shark Charters. Although Eastern Passage tends to be a sleepier, nature-oriented community, you won’t have to travel far to experience some of the best nightlife and dining that Halifax has to offer. Dartmouth and its many breweries and restaurants are only a 15 minute drive from Eastern Passage, while downtown Halifax is roughly 25 minutes by car. This accessibility is another major benefit of living in Eastern Passage.

Quality and diversity of education in Eastern Passage

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education is the school board that operates all public schools in the Halifax Regional Municipality, which includes the community of Eastern Passage. Eastern Passage is currently home to five schools: Ocean View Elementary School, Horizon Elementary School, Seaside Elementary, Eastern Passage Education Centre (junior high), and finally, Island View High School. The latter opened in 2018 after many years of the community pushing for the establishment of a high school in Eastern Passage. While there are none in Eastern Passage, a number of private schools can be found in nearby Dartmouth and Halifax, like Dartmouth South Academy, Kings View Academy, Shambhala School, Churchill Academy, and Halifax Independent School. Further, when it comes to post-secondary education, Eastern Passage residents won’t have to go far for a quality education. Post-secondary institutions can be found all over the Halifax Regional Municipality, like Nova Scotia Community College in neighbouring Dartmouth, as well as Dalhousie University, St. Mary’s University, Mount Saint Vincent University, NSCAD University, University of King’s College, and the Atlantic School of Theology. It is also worth noting that Acadia University, one of Nova Scotia’s top universities, is just over an hour from Eastern Passage in Wolfville.

Most populous cities in Eastern Passage

Eastern Passage is such a small suburb of Halifax (home to just over 11,000 inhabitants) that it does not have distinct neighbourhoods. That said, the neighbourhoods that surround Eastern Passage are Shearwater, Cow Bay, Cole Harbour, and Dartmouth.

Quality of infrastructure for Eastern Passage

Halifax Transit provides public transportation services to Eastern Passage. Specifically, Halifax Transit bus routes 6B and 6C pass through Woodside into Eastern Passage. That said, most Eastern Passage residents get around by car. NS-322 is the main road running through Eastern Passage, leading straight to Dartmouth and downtown Halifax. Another option is to drive to Woodside (roughly 10 minutes by car from Eastern Passage) and take the ferry to downtown Halifax. The Halifax–Dartmouth Ferry, which is the oldest saltwater ferry in North America and the second oldest in the world, has two routes leaving from downtown Halifax, ending in Alderney Landing and Woodside (Woodside is the closest ferry port to Eastern Passage). Travelling outside of Halifax is also relatively easy if you live in Eastern Passage. For instance, Maritime Bus and Via Rail both have stations and stops in Halifax. With Maritime Bus, you can take a coach bus to many cities in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Eastern Quebec, while Via Rail can transport you by train to cities all over Canada, like Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver. Travelling by air is also convenient from Eastern Passage given that Halifax Stanfield International Airport is less than half an hour by car. Finally, the largest healthcare facility in the region is Dartmouth General Hospital in Dartmouth. Residents can also take advantage of being near the largest, most advanced hospital in the Maritimes, the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in downtown Halifax.

Safety and security for Eastern Passage

The East Division (Dartmouth) of the Halifax Regional Police operates in Eastern Passage. That said, the community is relatively safe, with the biggest threat being storm damage during hurricane season. Emergency services are always available by calling 9-1-1 at any time.

Eastern Passage property market

Eastern Passage has a strong housing market, though it remains a relatively affordable place to buy a home. The market in this community is largely dominated by single-family detached homes and row houses. Roughly one third of the homes in the area were built after 2000, though many date back to the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Standard of living in Eastern Passage

Eastern Passage offers a high standard of living to those who live here. Not only is it affordable but it has everything you need in a suburban community. It’s also located on the water, which many people love as it makes it easy to stroll along the beach, as well as kayak, hike, golf, and swim. On top of all of this, Eastern Passage is conveniently located near Dartmouth, downtown Halifax, and the Halifax airport.

Something wonderful about Eastern Passage

Eastern Passage has a fascinating military history. First, in 1754, a gun battery known as Fort Clarence was erected beside Eastern Passage to be used during the French and Indian War. It was built to defend the harbour, and worked in conjunction with the gun batteries on Georges Island and McNabs Island. Later on, during the American Civil War, a Confederate naval cruiser called the Tallahassee sailed into Halifax harbour to restock their coal supplies. However, they ended up having to escape via the Eastern Passage channel as they believed Union forces to be waiting for them. Fast forward to the next century when the United States built a naval air station at Eastern Passage to patrol for German submarines during World War I. Following the First World War, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) took control of the base and it became an important air base during World War II.