Mumford Homestay
“ Thinking of relocating to Nova Scotia? Let us be your home between homes ”
7015 Mumford Road. Halifax Nova Scotia.
Telephone June at 902 446-0766 Email: info@mumfordbedandbreakfast.com
Here at Mumford Homestay we specialize in accommodating visitors who are on fact finding trips to Nova Scotia,. Research trips are a vital part of the immigration process, they can also be time consuming and expensive. Here at Mumford we offer as much first hand support and no nonsense advice as we can so you get the most out of your a trip.
Having emigrated over ten years ago from UK we understand how far a helping hand can go!
We started writing for "Emigrate Canada" prior to leaving England in 1996 and since arriving in Halifax have hosted many succesful migrants from Britain, and also from Taiwan, China ,Iran and Turkey.
Our experience is that our homestay guests find our ideal location next to the mall , buses downtown etc.is a huge convenience .
We are also within walking distance to Halifax Service Canada offices to obtain a S.I.N. (social insurance number), Access Nova Scotia for driving licences/ driving test info and registry of vehicles and M.I.S.A. (Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Agency)
Homestay guests have access to high speed internet, free parking, laundry facilities and use of kitchen if required.
Our resource page has some valuable information for newcomers.
If you would like an estimate for home-stay call or email June Spindloe.
Except from an early article.
Halifax: Canada’s best-kept secret?
In August 2006 my husband Mark and I will be celebrating ten years of living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, writes June Spindloe
And the things that first attracted us to the city when we came here for a flying visit a decade ago are the same things that make Halifax, in my opinion, the best kept secret in Canada. Personally it brings me great pleasure to be sitting here typing this article, because when I was in the process of emigrating it was a rare event to find any information about the kind of lifestyle on offer in this wonderful city we now call home.
Anyone who does choose to relocate here will find that Halifax has everything that they need at their fingertips, while Brits will no doubt notice the city's many British connections. For the history buffs out there Halifax has a rich British heritage. Founded by General Cornwallis with 2,500 British colonists in tow, the city was once the home port of the Royal Navy, and was an extremely patriotic place towards the UK.
Eating out
Over the years Halifax has developed into a vibrant community with a reputation for friendliness and fine dining. There is an eclectic mix of restaurants to choose from for those who wish to dispense with cooking for an evening, far too numerous to mention here, in fact. A few of mine and Mark's favourites include Ryan Duffy's Steak House, where you can choose a fabulous steak from a cut which you select at the table, and Mckelvies, which is renowned for its seafood, Atlantic salmon and Digby scallops.
If you enjoy simply watching the world go by then you could spend your lunch times sipping coffee at Second Cup coffee shop on Spring Garden Road or join the crowds sitting outside the Spring Garden Library where 'Bud the Spud' the chip wagon parks almost everyday, offering delicious 'English-style' chips right out of the paper. Almost all dining in downtown Halifax is accompanied by live music, ranging from traditional Maritime toe tapping fiddle music to jazz and popular live bands.
To check out the local music scene, entertainment and events it's wise to take a look at the city's popular weekly free newspaper The Coast. By law every restaurant in Halifax must be entirely non-smoking, and while smoking in bars is still allowed this is only the case in separately enclosed areas. As a non-smoker I have never missed the smoke-filled places that we used to visit in Britain. The closest thing to a British pub atmosphere in Halifax can be found at Maxwell Plum's, which is well known for stocking all Nova Scotian brewed draught beer along with many imported beers. This is also a popular haunt for football (soccer) fans. When I'm having an English food craving I visit Pete's Frootique owned and operated by Pete Luckett, an expat and a local success story.
Hitting the shops
The city has a number of shopping districts. The most popular is the downtown/waterfront area where the small streets are crammed full of lots of different shops, featuring handcrafts made by local artisans, boutiques, restaurants, roof-top patios and Halifax's famous Farmers Market on a Saturday morning. If you enjoy shopping for fresh vegetables, organic produce and delicious baked goods then this market is the place for you.
A major plus of shopping in downtown Halifax is that you'll never get lost. Just remember, it's downhill to the waterfront and uphill to our famous city landmark 'The Citadel'. Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada where retail shopping outlets are still closed on a Sunday, so there will be no popping to Sainsburys or the DIY store after breakfast on a Sunday morning. However, the downtown tourist area remains open on a Sunday and there are plenty of flea markets and craft markets around for you to visit, which should replace any cravings you may have for car boot sales.
Like most cities, Halifax has a number of shopping malls, born out of the necessity to shop during inclement weather. Once again shopping malls are not open on Sundays but stores are generally open open from 9.30am to 9.30pm six days a week, and there is always plenty of free parking available.
Finally as far as shopping for food is concerned you will have no trouble selecting from a huge variety of food items at the many grocery stores in Halifax. The one I love to shop in is the Atlantic Superstore, which has everything under one roof. There is a gym, child-minding facilities, community centre and even a doctor's office. You will find ample parking, groceries are packed into shopping bags at the check out for you and there are even parcel pick ups for days when you don't want to load the car yourself.
General entertainment
On a final note let's not forget the other amenities that Halifax has to offer. These include the Rebecca Cohen and Neptune Theatres, an art gallery, several cinemas including an Imax theatre, as well as a number of libraries and community centres. There is also lots of space and a number of parks and public gardens, hence Halifax's nickname 'The City of Trees'.
The Public Gardens, located right in the centre of town, is one of my two personal favourite places to visit. It has winding pathways, fountains and stately trees and is surrounded by Victorian flower beds and a band stand where concerts are played on summer afternoons. My other favourite place is the Point Pleasant Park, given to the residents of Halifax in 1873 by Queen Victoria. Its 186 acres covers the southern tip of the peninsular, and is a popular spot all year round due to its walking trails, which appeal to joggers and cyclists as much as they do to strollers.
Halifax: General facts
Halifax is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, which is latin for New Scotland.
Halifax is currently Canada's 13th most populous city, with a population of 379,000.
The city endures an average annual temperature of 60C, although summers are fairly hot.
Halifax is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time .
.
Please note that recent changes to Sunday Shopping now means that most malls are open 12-5p.m. on Sundays.
Subscribe to Emigrate Canada newspaper go to www.emigrate2.co.uk for full details on how to subsribe.
