Lower Sackville



Lower Sackville (2006 pop: 32,307) is a suburban community located in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is part of the urban area of Halifax.

First settled in August of 1749 by Captain John Gorham, acting on orders from Governor Edward Cornwallis to establish a military fort named Fort Sackville, Lower Sackville is now one of the fastest growing communities in Nova Scotia, and contains a mix of residential and commercial development in the Sackville River valley, immediately north of the former town of Bedford. Before amalgamation into the Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996, Lower Sackville was an unincorporated part of Halifax County (2001 pop.: 27,941). This area of HRM experienced a 7% population growth rate between 1996-2001 (2006 pop.: approx. 35,000).

As a result of its unincorporated status before 1996, Lower Sackville and adjacent unincorporated communities such as Middle Sackville and Upper Sackville did not benefit from appropriate planning and are examples of urban sprawl[citation needed]. The community's growth reflects its central location, near both Halifax and Dartmouth, with easy access to Highway 102 and Highway 101. Proximity to downtown Halifax and Burnside Industrial Park gives the suburbs of Lower Sackville the advantages of employment opportunities and services of a larger city, and is typical of most commuter communities experiencing growth in North America.

Recreational pursuits in the community revolve around sports fields at local schools and parks, as well as the Sackville Sports Stadium, which is equipped with two swimming pools, gymnasium, curling rink, and one of Lower Sackville's two ice hockey arenas. The majority of Lower Sackville's suburbs were built in the 1970s on the southern edge of First Lake which offers outdoor recreational opportunities. The Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway is a crushed gravel covered trail running beside the Sackville River from the intersection of Cobequid Road and Sackville Drive to Bedford Place Mall. Prior to the opening of the trail in 2006, there was no easy way to walk from Lower Sackville to Bedford. A provincial park reserve borders the northern edge of the community at Second Lake.

Lower Sackville has experienced ribbon/strip-style commercial development along Highway 1 since the 1960s. Current retail chains include Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Canadian Tire, Cleves, Dollarama, Reitmans and Walmart. There are numerous independent retailers located in this area as well. Tom's Restaurant is the only "fine dining" available in Lower Sackville, with most restaurants being of the fast food variety, as well as those offering Chinese-Canadian food and pizza.

The community hosts two high schools: Sackville High School and Millwood High School, along with a community run museum, Fultz House. &nbsp