Many people move to Nova Scotia to enjoy a slower pace of life. But what does that mean, exactly? People are more relaxed and less rushed in Nova Scotia, for the most part. Which can lead to some culture shock when you’re relying on other people to feel a sense of urgency when it comes to fixing your heat pump, serving you dinner, or other related services.
My wife was born and raised in Nova Scotia, while I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. And while we visited the east coast often before moving here permanently a few years ago, there were still quite a few things about life in Nova Scotia that I wasn’t expecting, and they’re directly related to the slower pace of life on the east coast.
The Trades
First, tradespeople are in high demand, but that doesn’t mean tradespeople are working lots of overtime and taking on evening and weekend jobs. While some might burn the candle at both ends, it’s much more common for homeowners to find it difficult to get a tradesperson to return your calls, show up at the appointed time (or at all), send the promised quote, or even remember to send an invoice. Tradespeople in Nova Scotia will be prioritizing time with family or enjoying the beautiful outdoors (that may be why you’re moving here too!), and typically aren’t as driven as they are in larger cities.
Open for business (or not?)
There are many small businesses in Nova Scotia, from little consignment stores to independently owned restaurants, and a lot of them are very flexible in their adherence to their hours of operation.
The business hours shown on Google, Facebook, or their website are often incorrect, and many shops will close for bad weather, family plans, or because walk in customers slowed so they closed up early. Don’t leave picking something up until the last minute, and if you’re going out of your way to visit a small business, you’ll get used to calling first to ensure they’ll actually be open!
Winter weather blues
Speaking of closing, if you have school aged children you’ll want to have backup care arranged in advance of winter. Nova Scotia schools close a good deal for bad weather and poor roads. In fact, we lead the country in weather related closures for schools.
Halifax typically has 4.4 snow days a winter on average, with the rural number being even higher. In comparison, schools in Winnipeg have not had a snow day in 30 years! During bad weather, businesses are also quick to close early, open late once the roads have cleared, or just not open at all for the day.
A different kind of party
Another part of Nova Scotia’s slower pace of life is being more connected to the environment. More beach days, more walks in the woods, more time connecting with friends and loved ones, more time for fishing or gardening (and maybe even raising chickens).
If you’re in a rural area, there’s less opportunity to get dressed up and head out for an expensive night of drinking, dinner, dancing, theatre, etc. People are more likely to throw on their flannel jacket and hang out around someone’s rustic camp or head to a kitchen party with a six pack. Rural residents especially don’t typically have access to costly gyms, pricy salons, high end shopping, ritzy private schools, etc.
Still considering a move to Nova Scotia? I can help. Download my free Guide to Buying a Home in Nova Scotia for Out of Province Buyers, or give me a call at (902) 349-1022.
