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| Accessibility for all Visitors |
The Canadian Paraplegic Association of Nova Scotia has a mission to assist persons with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities to achieve independence, self reliance and full community participation.
They have developed a barrier free design data base to search on accessible accommodations, restaurants, attractions and more.
Please see www.thespine.ca (Accessibility Index)
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| Alcoholic Beverages |
Anyone aged 19 or over can buy liquor, wine or beer from government liquor stores located throughout Nova Scotia. Usual hours are 10 am - 6 pm (Fridays to 10 pm). Selected liquor stores throughout the province, usually in major communities, have extended hours. All Nova Scotia Liquor Commission outlets are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Restaurants that serve wine, beer and spirits are usually advertised as "Licensed". Liquor may be served on Sundays in licensed public establishments. Patrons of licensed restaurants must place a food order to receive an alcoholic beverage. Wine, beer and spirits cannot be served to anyone under 19 years of age. An underage person who is accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or spouse may enter a beverage room or lounge for dining purposes until 8:30pm, unless the establishment posts a sign stating otherwise.
On-premise consumption hours are: dining rooms and restaurants, 11am-2am daily; beverage rooms and taverns, 10am-1am Monday to Saturday, noon to closing on Sunday; lounges, 11am-2am Monday to Saturday, noon-2am Sunday; cabarets, 11am-3:30am Monday to Saturday, 4pm-3:30am Sunday; and clubs 10am-1am.
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| Weather |
Weather forecasts and reports in Nova Scotia are given in Celsius measurements. For approximate temperature conversion, use this easy calculation:
Fahrenheit to Celsius: subtract 30 and divide by 2
Celsius to Fahrenheit: multiply by 2 and add 30
Current weather forecasts are available from Environment Canada Weather Centre. Click here for the current forecast or check by phone at (902) 426-9090 (English) or (902) 426-9095 (French) (Please note long distance charges may apply).
Nova Scotia is positioned between 44° and 47° latitude and has a temperate climate. Summer temperatures range from daytime highs of 20° - 25° C (68° - 77° F) to evening lows of 10° - 14° C (50° - 57° F). Invigorating sea breezes near the coast are often best enjoyed with a sweater on or near at hand. Inland the air may be warmer by 5° C (10° F), and lakes, rivers, woods and farms are pleasantly warm. Temperatures in spring and autumn average a pleasant 10° cooler
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| Language |
In Nova Scotia, English is the primary language used. Services are often available in French as well.
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| Metric System |
Canada has adopted the metric system, so highway speeds are given in kilometres per hour, temperatures in Celsius, etc. However, you will probably notice some use of imperial measurements.
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| Public Holidays in Nova Scotia |
Some accommodations, campgrounds, parks and attractions are open seasonally, with the dates of operation beginning or ending on a holiday weekend. Also, some attractions and businesses may be closed on public holidays. The following public holidays are observed in Canada:
New Year's Day (Jan 1)
Good Friday; Easter Monday
Victoria Day (first Monday after May 20)
Canada Day (July 1)
Natal Day/Civic Holiday (first Monday in Aug)
Labour Day (first Monday in Sept)
Thanksgiving Day (second Monday in Oct)
Remembrance Day (Nov 11)
Christmas Day (Dec 25); Boxing Day (Dec 26)
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| Reduce, Re-use, Recycle |
Nova Scotians and our visitors are conscious of our clean and beautiful environment. You will be happy to know that Nova Scotia has a progressive waste-resource management plan. Blue bins for recyclables and green bins for compostables are available at many sites.
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Beverage containers are subject to a 10¢ charge; when the empty containers are taken to an Enviro-Depot, half of that charge is refunded. Many coffee shops give a discount to customers who bring their own mugs.
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| Time Zone |
The province of Nova Scotia is entirely within the Atlantic Time Zone, which is four hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time and one hour later than the Eastern Time Zone. For example, when it is 8 am in Nova Scotia, it is noon in Greenwich and 7 am in New York City and in Montreal. Daylight Saving Time is in effect annually in Nova Scotia from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.
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| Sunday Shopping |
Nova Scotia now has Sunday shopping for those retailers that wish to open. Usual hours on Sundays are anywhere from 10am through 6pm, again determined by the retailer.
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| Smoke Free Places Act |
The Smoke-free Places Act requires on DECEMBER 1, 2006, that all
indoor workplaces and public places to be smoke-free. The Act requires all outdoor licensed areas and patios of all restaurants, lounges, beverage rooms and cabarets to be smoke-free.
Smoke Free
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| Child Safety Seat Information |
New regulations took effect Jan. 1, 2007, and help parents
choose the right kind of car seat, based on the size and age of their child.
Under the rules:
Drivers of vehicles transporting children must make sure that children are in the proper car seat, booster seat or seat belt.
- Infants must be secured in a rear-facing child seat until at least 1 year old and 10 kg (22 lb)
- Children who weigh at least 10 kg (22 lb) and are at least one year old may face forward;
- Children who weigh less than 18 kg (40 lb) must be in child seats.
- Children who weigh more than 18 kg (40 lb) must be in a car seat or booster seat if they are younger than nine years of age and/or less than 145 cm (57 in) tall.
Penalties under the law:
Failure to use a car seat, booster seat or seat belt can result in fine of $157.50, and two demerit points for a first offence.
The regulation`s reasoning:
Motor vehicle collisions claim more lives and cause more injuries for children and youth than any other cause in Canada.
The new changes will require children to be buckled into a
proper-fitting booster seat until they are old enough, or large enough, to safely use an ordinary seatbelt.
Securing children into the right kind of car seat makes a huge
difference. When correctly used and installed, child car seats can
reduce deaths by about 90 per cent and injuries by 70 per cent.
If you would like additional information about car seat safety in Nova Scotia, please go to www.momsanddads.ca or call toll-free line 1-866-288-1388.
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