Western Zone

The best of the land matched with the best of the sea.. Between the countless lighthouses that dot the coastline, authentic fishing villages bring in their catch. And thanks to the valley’s fertile soil, there’s always a bounty of fresh produce to accompany your just-caught seafood.

The Western Zoneis home to three regional hospitals—in Bridgewater, Yarmouth, and Kentville—five community hospitals, two community health centres and one Collaborative Emergency Centre. Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville is the regional referral centre for Annapolis Valley and beyond, offering a wide range of healthcare services, including medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, intensive care, emergency, psychiatry, and addictions.

With the Bay of Fundy on one side, and the Atlantic on the other, life in this zone continues to be defined and influenced by the sea. Between these two saltwater coastlines you find the Annapolis Valley. The agricultural heartland of the province, this region has cultivated an award-winning wine industry and features countless charming communities to call home.

Just over one of the mountain ranges that defines the Valley, the Bay of Fundy flexes its powerful muscles. Twice each day, 160 billion tons of seawater flow in and out of the Bay of Fundy—more than the combined flow of all the world’s freshwater rivers. No wonder it’s been named one of the seven wonders of North America. 

Continue to the southern tip of Nova Scotia, and you become engulfed by a rugged and charming coastline, dotted with lighthouses. The southwest is ground zero for the intersection of two founding cultures in Nova Scotia, the French-speaking Acadians and English-speaking communities, creating modern towns and villages of great character and warmth.

Travel further around the tip to the South Shore, and discover historic communities such as Lunenburg (home base for the Bluenose II Schooner), Liverpool, and Mahone Bay. This area was traditionally defined by fishing and shipbuilding. Today it’s also rich territory for award winning breweries and wonderful dining and shopping.

If the magic and character of historical fishing villages pulls at your heartstrings, this zone brings a modern flair to that dream. Between lighthouses, rugged coastline, and the fertile Valley are towns and villages where history lives brightly, and modern amenities make family life a joy to experience.