Bedford

History

edit] Eighteenth Century
EnlargeScott Manor House (built 1770)Father Le Loutre's War began when Edward Cornwallis arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on June 21, 1749.|[2] By unilaterally establishing Halifax the British were violating earlier treaties with the Mi'kmaq (1726), which were signed after Dummer's War.|[3] The British quickly began to build other settlements. To guard against Mi'kmaq, Acadian and French attacks on the new Protestant settlements, British fortifications were erected in Halifax (1749), Dartmouth (1750), Bedford (Fort Sackville) (1751), Lunenburg (1753) and Lawrencetown (1754).

The history of Bedford began when Governor Edward Cornwallis organised his men and began the construction of a road leading to Minas Basin on the Bay of Fundy after establishing the garrison at Halifax. To protect it, he hired John Gorham (military officer) and his Rangers to erect a fort on the shore of Bedford Basin. It was named Fort Sackville after Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset.|[4] The area around the fort became known as Sackville until the mid-1850s when it became Bedford.

In 1752, among the first to receive a large land grant was military officer George Scott in the Fort Sackville area. George Scott later participated in the Expulsion of the Acadians, specifically the St. John River Campaign (1758). George Scott's brother Joseph, was paymaster at the Halifax Garrison in the 1760s received two grants in 1759 and 1765. He built Scott Manor House in 1770.

edit] Nineteenth Century
Anthony Holland established the Acadian Paper Mill on the Basin around 1819 to provide paper to produce the Halifax newspaper Acadian Recorder.

When the railway went through the station named Millview, the Moirs, Son and Co. moved a part of the Moirs Mill factory to Bedford. The Moirs Mill generating station built in the early 1930s to supply the necessary electricity required to run the factory.

The village adopted the name Bedford around 1850. The name is in honour of John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford and Secretary of State for the colonies in 1749. In 1896 the name became official by an Act of Legislation.

edit] Twentieth Century
Bedford was incorporated as a town on July 1, 1980. On April 1, 1996, Bedford was amalgamated with Halifax, Dartmouth, and Halifax County Municipality to form the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) for the municipal level of government however the place name still exist for 911, mail, legal and other services.

The current mayor of the HRM is Peter J. Kelly, who was the mayor of Bedford at the time of amalgamation. The very first mayor of Bedford was Francene Jen Cosman. 1980.

Macleans Magazine rated Bedford as being the "Best Community to Live in Canada," in an issue dated March 23, 1997.

edit] Sports and recreation
There is a popular walkway along much of the Bedford Basin waterfront that begins at DeWolf park, and continues as the Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway, a crushed gravel covered trail that meanders along the Sackville River. There is an outdoor 25m pool and smaller splash pool located at the Lions Park on Shore Drive. In the summer there are numerous lakes suitable for swimming. The topography of the area limits the possible locations for soccer and football fields. However, there are fields at Basinview Drive School, Sunnyside Elementary (Eaglewood location), Bedford Junior High, Charles P. Allen High School, and Range Park. The community is currently home to six ice surfaces, at the Lebrun Centre, Gary Martin Bubble Dome and the BMO Centre. Bedford is a well-established sailing community, and is home to the Bedford Basin Yacht Club and Marina. Its also home of the Basinview Bedford Street Hockey League/Championship

edit] Traditions
Bedford Days has occurred annually at the end of June and beginning of July for over 30 years. Currently, most events take place at Dewolf Park. There is an Opening Celebration, Rubber Duck Dash, Free pancake breakfast, Dog show, Scott Manor House Tea Party, Kids' Extravaganza, Kids' Triathlon, Movies in the Park and a Canada Day Celebration.|[5]

The Light Up Bedford Parade is an annual parade that goes along the Bedford Highway from Bedford Place Mall and ends at DeWolf Park. At the park there is a hot chocolate stand, Christmas carol singing and contests and prizes. At the conclusion of the parade, a Christmas Tree is lit. In addition to bringing the community together to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season, the parade serves as a fundraiser for the Turkey Club Society, which raises funds to ensure all residents of HRM are able to provide a Christmas dinner for their families. The parade takes place on the Sunday following the Light Up Halifax Parade, which is usually mid-November.

edit] Area schools
Depending on where they live, students may attend the following schools in the Bedford area: Bedford area also has two private schools : The Bedford School System is considered one of the best school systems in Nova Scotia. It has two smaller elementary schools and two larger elementary schools a Primary to nine school a junior high (7-9) and a senior high (10-12) a FLEC school a 100% French school and two private schools.
 * Fort Sackville Elementary - Grades Primary and grade one, offers early French immersion
 * Waverley Road Elementary - Grades Primary to 3
 * Basinview Drive Elementary School - Grades Primary to 6
 * Bedford South School - Grades Primary to 9
 * Eaglewood Drive Elementary - Grade 2 to grade 6, offers early French immersion
 * Bedford Junior High School [1] - Grades 7 to 9
 * Charles P. Allen High School - Grade 10 to Grade 12
 * École Beaubassin - Grades Primary to 9, entirely Francophone
 * FLEC's (Flexible Learning Education Centres) - Grades 10 to 12, "A Different High School Option"
 * Bedford Academy - Grades Primary to 9
 * Sandy Lake Seventh Day Adventist Academy - Grades Primary to 12

edit] Transportation
Bedford is served by Halifax Regional Municipality's transit authority, Metro Transit. Routes 66, 81, 82, 86, 88 and 89 directly serve Bedford while many more routes serve the nearby Cobequid terminal in Lower Sackville.

There is a fast ferry service planned for the Mill Cove area that would connect to the Ferry Terminal in Downtown Halifax. However, this proposed service is controversial due to disputes over projected costs and ridership levels.

Bedford is well serviced by taxis, buses, roads, highways, and sidewalks/walking paths. &nbsp