The Westin Nova Scotian Blog

On May 12 & 13, Downtown Halifax will host OpenCity to showcase the unique experience of our seaport city. This weekend is a great way to get out and explore this city we call home. A variety of shops, restaurants and Halifax attractions will open their doors to encourage Haligonians and visitors to take part in all the fun, delicious and amazing things our city has to offer!

The TD Canada Trust Atlantic Jazz Festival is the ultimate summer Halifax attraction.  Take in Atlantic Canada's largest and best known music festival, featuring an unforgettable mixture of blues, jazz, world music, and more.

Combine your musical experience with a rejuvenating stay at our Halifax hotel, an official festival sponsor which is conveniently located steps away from the festivities.

On Wednesday night, Robert Herjavec spoke to an audience of approximately 550 people in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The crowd was a mix of young entrepreneurs, sponsors and seasoned business people.  His message was clear, do what you love and the money will come.  People know when you are not genuine and happy and his motto has been to always be “wonderful” when people ask how he is.

We’re excited for the 2012 Regional Communications Gemstone Awards on May 10^th at our Halifax hotel. The Halifax-known TV host, actor and writer, Nancy Regan will host the awards. Nancy Regan is well-known in the Maritimes as the former host CTV’s Live at 5 for 15 years.

April 15, 2012 marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Halifax, Nova Scotia played a large role in the days following the disaster. We were the first port city called to help in the rescue and recovery of the passengers and wreckage. In honour of the centennial anniversary, Halifax is hosting several commemorative events during the month of April and continuing throughout the summer months.

The Westin Nova Scotian will be turning out the lights at the Halifax hotel during Earth Hour 2012. On Saturday March 31, 2012 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM Atlantic Standard Time, the Westin Nova Scotian will join million of people around the world by turning out the lights and reducing power consumption.

Our Halifax Hotel will be hosting the 2012 Atlantic Canada Wine Symposium (ACWS) on May 27 to 29. The 4th-annual event is the only Atlantic-focused wine conference and is specific to the needs, climate and interests of East Coast grape growers, winemakers, winery owners and wine enthusiast.

Take part in the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon and experience the Halifax race of a lifetime. This annual Halifax attraction draws thousands to this beautiful maritime city for the weekend's activities. Looking for a challenge? This spring Halifax marathon offers options for children, seasoned athletes, and everyone in between.

The Westin Nova Scotian is the proud official sponsor hotel of the 2012 Halifax ComedyFest. Stay with us and enjoy the ultimate weekend of laughter and rejuvenation in the best of Halifax accommodations.

On February 9^th the Progress Club of Halifax hosted their 40^th annual Sport Celebrity Dinner.  The Halifax event is a fundraiser to support two of the Club’s local charities; The Progress Centre for Early Intervention and King’s Meadow Home.  The Westin Nova Scotian has been a proud sponsor of the event for the past six years. 

Saltscapes East Coast Expo is hosting its 8th annual show at Exhibition Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 27th, 28th & 29th, 2012. The expo is one of the fastest growing consumer shows that highlights the best of Atlantic Canada.

The countdown is on for one of Halifax, Nova Scotia’s big events – The Halifax ComedyFest. The four day event is just over 3 months away! Many of the Halifax events will take place at different establishments in the downtown core from April 25^th to 28^th 2012.

Motorcycle enthusiasts of every level will discover something unique from the latest in accessories to unique touring destinations. Join us in February in Halifax Nova Scotia for the Halifax International Motorcycle Show presented by Joe Rocket Canada and produced by Bikerboy Powersports Ltd.  This is the first show of its kind east of Quebec and will showcase everything new for the 2012 riding season.

When the Titanic’s maiden voyage ended, the story of the liner’s connection to Halifax began. April 15, 2012 marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and Halifax, Nova Scotia will be hosting a 100th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony.

On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic left Southampton for its journey to New York City with 2 223 passengers. Only 4 days into the sail on April 15th, the Titanic collided with an iceberg and sunk approximately 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Christmas with your loved ones? Join your family & friends this holiday season for a new tradition unlike any other. Attend The Waterfront Christmas Market at Bishop's Landing from December 8^th to 11^th in Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Join Halifax Nova Scotia in celebrating this festive season and the spirit of the holidays for the 16th Annual Holiday Parade of Lights. The Chronicle Herald Parade of Lights is on November 19, 2011 and brings over 100,000 spectators to Downtown Halifax.

Join Halifax Nova Scotia and the celebrations for the 2011 Halifax Pop Explosion. Halifax events are planned from October 18 to 22, 2011 throughout Halifax. There will be over 150 bands, 18 venues, 5 days and over 17, 000 fans joining in on the festivities.

Halifax Nova Scotia is home to many local & talented musicians. Join us this November to celebrate the Men of Song with Symphony Nova Scotia at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

April 15, 2012 marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Halifax Nova Scotia will be hosting a 100th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony in April 2012 and acknowledging the events and tragedies of 1912 during the Titanic 100.

The Atlantic Film Festival is a ten-day celebration held every September in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is currently underway! The celebrations highlight film, music and video from Atlantic Canada, across Canada and around the world.

Sands at Salter, an outdoor leisure space on the Halifax Waterfront designed for the upcoming 2011 SWATCH Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Junior World Championships. The kick off to this space is this Sunday August 21!

The annual Bluenose Marathon is quickly approaching. More than 10,000 people will hit the streets on May 20-22, 2011 to celebrate active living in Nova Scotia. The event is a significant fundraiser for the Halifax Regional Municipality, with over $130,000 in donations last year to 17 different charities.

The Bluenose Marathon began in 2004 because Halifax wanted its own marathon like other cities throughout North America. Organizers decided to take the event one step further by creating a weekend that celebrates active lifestyles by people in our communities.

There will be fun activities planned for all ages, levels, and abilities. There are options to participate in a full marathon, ½ marathon, 10 K run, 5K walk-run, and a youth run.

April is the first full month of spring and activity is starting to pick up! There are so many things to do in Halifax this month. Here are our top 10 things to do in Halifax for April:

1. Neptune Theatre presents "Westside Story" - April 5-May 29 - Neptune Theatre

West Side Story, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents. Phone: (902) 429-7070
Website: www.neptunetheatre.com

2. Jackson Browne in Concert - April 12 at the Halifax Metro Center

Tickets are $73 each including tax and service charge. Tickets are subject to an additional $2 per order fee for online/phone purchases. Phone: (902) 451-1221
Website: www.ticketatlantic.com .....

Savour is over for another year. Last night over 800 people wandered the aisles of booths in our Atlantic & Commonwealth ballrooms noshing on delicious samples of food, wine, beer and cocktails from restaurants, bars, caterers, wineries & breweries located in Halifax & beyond. It was a wonderfully warm and satisfying evening on a cold March night. Many of our hotel associates & I were there to ensure the event's success and I believe we met our challenge. Plates and glasses were stocked and restocked over & over again as dirty dishes were washed and returned to be filled with food & drink before making their way back to stewarding for another bath!

Exhibitors at the event showcased their specialties, cooking and creating dishes in front of your eyes. Scanway Catering offered Uni's famous Florentines, Chives Bistro stacked pulled pork sandwiches with winter slaw, Hamachi House displayed platters of sushi as works of art (see below), Chez Tess offered their signature crepes, Delta hotels served up braised pork belly, and our own chefs from the Westin Nova Scotian kept diners full with three unique sliders (crab cake, Tandoori chicken and beef), just to name a few. Drinks were flowing with Mosaic cocktails, draft from Garrison and Propeller breweries, wines from local wineries & distributors and Guinness from Durty Nelly's Irish Pub.

Photo courtesy of Savour Food and Wine Show 2010

Are you looking for an incredible culinary experience that showcases Nova Scotia food and beverage? Well, you've come to the right spot! Tonight is the 8th annual Savour Food and Wine show that is being held here in our Commonwealth Ballroom.

The Savour Festival is a month long event held throughout our beautiful province. Events showcase the culinary capabilities of many chefs and foodies, along with our fabulous wineries and sommeliers. The moth long festival ends each year with the Savour Food and Wine Show. There will be over 60 restaurants, chefs, and sommeliers showing off the best they have to offer.

Can you believe that this is the final weekend for the 2011 Halifax Canada Games? We can't! It flew by so quickly. It's been a great 2 weeks. We've been really busy here at the hotel hosting many of the sponsors, coaches, families, and VIP's. There has been a volunteer station set up here as well for the volunteers. Two of our staff members have also been volunteers for the event. Check out the blog post about Ashley and Glenn and what they brought to this year's Canada Games. We are very proud of the athletes and Halifax for pulling together such an incredible event.

Ticket sales were very high. We will know more next week but Halifax could go on record for having the highest tickets sales to date!

What have you participated in? Please share your stories, photos, and more! Stay tuned for highlights of the 2011 Halifax Canada Winter games.

Wine...Chocolate...Wine...Food...Wine...SAVOUR! This month is all about indulging. It's cold outside, warm inside, comfort food keeps calling my name. I don't think I'm alone, at least the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia agrees that there are more people like me around town. RANS members have created signature events to be enjoyed in February:

‘Decadence' Wine & Chocolate pairing evening was on February 3rd .

I attended the ‘Rare & Fine Wine Tasting' at Windows in the World Trade & Convention Centre on Friday night. I was so excited to taste expensive wines that aren't always available in Nova Scotia, and are not in my price range! To see a list of the night's wines go to http://www.bishopscellar.com/news/rare/. The best of the reds were: Chateau Teyssier Le Dome 2007, Bordeaux, France ($185), Marques de Caceres Gaudium 2004, Spain ($82.00), Brancaia Il Blu 2007, Tuscany, Italy ($78.50). We tasted the Marques de Caceres Gaudium first and it was actually our favourite when we made our way back to it at

The day has finally come- it's Febraury 11 and the Halifax 2011 Canada Games have arrived. The city is bustling with all the teams arriving, visitors checking out the city, and the volunteers rallying to make this Canada Games the best one yet!

We are a proud sponsor of Team Nova Scotia and we are also hosting the VIP's of the event- former athletes, politicans, speakers, and distinguished guests. The Harbour Suites, one of our Halifax conference rooms, is buzzing with volunteeers with the VIP's.