A winter storm warning couldn’t keep residents away from the city’s first meeting on the future of Mill Cove, where neighbors gathered to share their vision for the area’s development over the next 25 years.
Mill Cove community engagement session, 2026. PHOTO BY NATALIE CHIASSON /Acadia Broadcasting
Project leaders presented their key objectives and outlined how they hope the community will participate in the process, providing each table with sticky notes, sharpies, and a map to sketch out ideas.
Attendees then discussed what additional changes they’d like to see beyond plans already set in motion such as the Regional Halifax Library branch and the new ferry terminal linking Bedford to downtown Halifax. Some of the main topics of interest included improving walking trails and community spaces, and addressing infrastructure, environmental, and safety concerns.
Mill Cove community engagement session, 2026. PHOTO BY NATALIE CHIASSON /Acadia Broadcasting
‘There’s no emergency exit’
One older man voiced concern about the limited accessibility to the Bedford Waterfront. Project planners noted plans for a bridge leading to the future ferry terminal site, but resident Gary Demonte pointed out that past attempts have failed.
Demonte said he was one of the first people to live on the side of the railroad tracks closest to the coast. “About five or six years into the process, they had an issue with the bridge and we couldn’t cross it to leave,” he said. “If you have a fire, need the police, or an ambulance, how do you get them down to you?”
Mill Cove community engagement session, 2026. PHOTO BY NATALIE CHIASSON /Acadia Broadcasting
‘A transit focused design for the area is quite exciting’
The province has identified Mill Cove as a suburban growth area, meaning land-use planning will guide the community’s sustainable growth and development.
Senior planner Dali Salih, with the Plan, Growth, and Strategic Projects team, says it’s exciting to work with the community to envision how the area could evolve. “One of my favorite parts of any planning project is engaging with residents and having one-on-one conversations about their vision and aspirations for their neighborhoods.”
Salih says she discussed the cove’s potential to become a world-class tourist destination with the VP of Discover Halifax, Brian White. So far, ideas envisioned include festivals, housing developments, and multimodal connections with bike lanes and improvements to the Bedford Highway.
Mill Cove community engagement session, 2026. PHOTO BY NATALIE CHIASSON /Acadia Broadcasting
Next steps
According to Salih, community input from this session will help guide phase two — analysis, detailed review, and scenario development. A second engagement session is scheduled for the fall, with a final report expected to go to HRM staff by December.
