Charming Town with Big Ambitions

How a historic Nova Scotia community is balancing growth with community needs as it approaches its 150th anniversary.

Positioned an hour from Halifax, Truro, Nova Scotia offers the perfect blend of small-town atmosphere with forward-thinking ambition. Since its incorporation in 1875, this historic municipality has grown into a vibrant center primed for expansion, according to Mayor Cathy Hinton and Chief Administrative Officer Michael Dolter.

“Our logistic location is perfect,” explains Mayor Hinton. “Being an hour away from the major city of Halifax, many people live in rural areas and work in the metro area.” This strategic positioning has made Truro increasingly attractive for residents and businesses looking for proximity to Halifax without the urban cost of living.

The town boasts notable credentials as both a university town hosting Dalhousie University and a community college hub. Its manufacturing heritage continues today, with Stanfields—one of Canada’s oldest manufacturing plants—maintaining international recognition while operating from its Truro facility. The clothing manufacturer, established in 1856, has been producing its renowned thermal underwear and apparel in Truro for over 165 years, creating a significant industrial anchor for the community.

“We’re growing at a rapid pace and it’s a town with a small-town feel, but we are looking to the future,” Mayor Hinton notes. This growth is evident in recent development statistics: approximately 1,800 residential units have received approval, with over 500 currently under construction, a departure from the minimal development activity of a decade ago. Dolter points out this transformation: “I got here 10 years ago and there was really nothing being constructed. And now we’ve got five or six major multi-unit buildings under construction.”

Downtown Revitalization and Walkable Community

At the heart of Truro’s development strategy is a vibrant downtown core supported by an extensive network of walking paths and recreational spaces. “We have an active downtown community,” Mayor Hinton says. “We have a beautiful, restored library, and as we approach our 150th anniversary of incorporation this year, this is a very exciting time. We’ve got major developments with housing happening, and for the first time we’ll have housing very close to and in the downtown area so people can live, work, and shop within walking distance.”

Central to this transformation is the town’s civic square, which serves dual purposes throughout the year. “In the wintertime, people can skate on a nice surface. It’s like a Norman Rockwell picture where you see people skating in front of our restored library,” Dolter explains. “In the summertime, it becomes an area for concerts or community celebrations. It brings people downtown all year round, with as many as 5,000 people attending our Canada Day fireworks or holiday tree lighting ceremonies.”

The town has recently completed a municipal planning strategy that emphasizes downtown revitalization and pedestrian accessibility. A notable development includes Stanfield’s 512-unit project that will incorporate a trail network along the Salmon River, connecting with existing active transportation routes.

“We’ve finished our active transportation master plan and are completing the engineering plan to start building the required infrastructure,” says Dolter. “This will make walking or cycling a reality for people in town.”

The trail system will link downtown with what the locals call “uptown” – the retail mall areas – enabling residents to travel between commercial zones without vehicles. This approach follows contemporary urban planning principles that prioritize human-scale development, which increases property values while reducing carbon emissions and improving public health outcomes.

Infrastructure for Growth

Truro’s ambitious development plans rest on a foundation of robust infrastructure investments that position the municipality for sustainable expansion. “A number of years ago we had high-speed internet and high-speed fiber brought directly into town,” Dolter says. “We’re actually a route for one of the major telecommunications networks, which is available to commercial users who require it.” This digital infrastructure gives Truro a competitive advantage over many similarly sized communities, particularly as remote work continues to reshape residential preferences in Atlantic Canada.

The town’s approach to water and sewer systems shows foresight in municipal planning. “We’ve done a lot of work being ready with our storm and sanitary services. We’re completely separated, unlike many smaller or even larger communities that have combined sewer and stormwater systems,” Dolter points out. “We’re now looking at climatizing our stormwater systems to make sure we’re prepared for climate change issues.”

Water security has been a priority for decades, with tangible benefits for current development. “Over 30 years ago, we expanded our reservoir capacity, ensuring we always have a constant supply through our watershed,” explains Dolter. “We run our own water treatment plant, which is properly sized with plenty of water for the community. All residents within town are on our treated water supply and full sewer, and we can expand as required.”

Maintaining this infrastructure requires vigilance and investment. “We have a robust asset management program in place so we’re replacing infrastructure before it fails,” says Dolter. “We’re trying to be proactive while being fiscally responsible and making sure we can afford what we’re doing. It’s challenging at times, but we’re doing well trying to keep ahead of things.”

Housing Boom and Development Strategy

Truro’s approach to residential development balances rapid growth with thoughtful planning, addressing affordability while prioritizing environmental considerations. “We’re no different than any other small town facing housing issues right now,” Mayor Hinton acknowledges. “The cost of building housing and trying to provide it at rates people can afford is challenging, because what may be affordable to one person is not affordable to another.” To address these concerns, the town has recently held several meetings bringing key partners together to discuss housing issues.

The town is seeing a remarkable surge in residential construction, with approximately 1,800 units approved and over 500 currently under construction. Many developments feature strategic locations that support sustainability goals. “What I like about some of these developments is that they are walkable and close to our civic square,” says Mayor Hinton. “They’re completely walkable to all amenities.”

One notable project, Station 85, is being built on Young Street near the farmers’ market, while another development is rising on the same street as the high school. Mayor Hinton has also advocated for car-sharing options at new developments. “What I ask every developer when they bring something to the council is to have a car-share program, so people who need a car occasionally have that option at the facility.”

The town has cultivated a reputation for efficiency in its development processes. “We’ve got a fairly streamlined development process,” Dolter explains. “While we do our due diligence making sure projects fit with the town and meet requirements, we’ve developed a process that’s not too onerous to developers. From initial application to being in a position to sign a development agreement should be about five to six months, which is much faster than many communities that take over a year.”

Economic Partnerships and Opportunities

Truro’s economic development strategy leverages its geographic position and strong partnerships to create a business-friendly environment. “We love to say we’re open for business and we’d love more industry to come to Truro,” Mayor Hinton states. “We feel our geographic location makes us absolutely prime for businesses because we’re so close to a major city. With all these new developments going up, that’s also going to draw industry.”

The town’s industrial park hints at this success. “We have a great industrial park and it’s full, with just a few lots still available,” Dolter says. “We’re focused more on an expansion area for light industrial or commercial development as opposed to heavy industrial.” While provincial programs enable tax incentives for businesses, Dolter notes they’ve never needed to use them because demand for space in Truro has remained strong.

A cornerstone of Truro’s economic strategy is the Truro & Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity (TCPEP), which functions as part of Nova Scotia’s regional enterprise networks. “It’s an economic partnership focused on regional prosperity and sharing knowledge of what works where,” explains Dolter. “It gives people who want to come into the community a one-stop site to go to.”

The partnership addresses critical community needs beyond traditional economic development. “They also look at things that concern the community, like physician recruitment and workforce development,” Dolter adds. A particular focus has been attracting skilled trades to support construction projects. The TCPEP works with Nova Scotia Community College to develop programs addressing labor shortages in the construction sector.

Recreation and Tourism

Truro’s exceptional recreational amenities and natural assets are a key attraction for residents and visitors, offering quality-of-life benefits far beyond what typical towns of its size provide.

“Victoria Park is our jewel in the crown,” Mayor Hinton declares. “Three thousand acres of complete natural beauty.” While Hurricane Fiona caused significant damage, with countless trees lost, the town is actively replanting and rebuilding. “We have beautiful natural waterfalls and lots of parks. Our recreation department is probably the envy of any town.”

The programming available through Truro’s recreation department serves town residents and attracts participants from surrounding areas. “The programs we offer our residents are from A to Z and are well utilized by town residents and those who live outside town boundaries,” Mayor Hinton says. “That’s one of our selling points—we have huge recreation services.”

Athletic facilities include the historic track grounds, which will soon be transformed. “It’s been around since the 1800s, a dirt running track. As of next summer, it will be a world-class track and field facility,” Dolter says. The town is also building a major baseball field to complement existing diamonds.

The Rath Eastlink Centre, jointly owned with Colchester County, enhances the recreational offerings. “It’s a fitness, entertainment, and hockey facility that we built about 13-14 years ago,” Dolter adds. Local businesses have capitalized on these assets by developing programming around town amenities, supporting both business growth and community engagement.

These investments in recreation have earned recognition, with Truro being voted one of Canada’s most active communities. “People here are busy doing things. They try to get outside and enjoy the community,” Dolter observes. “There’s always people walking in the park or using our facilities.”

Vision for the Future

As Truro prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary, town leaders have outlined clear priorities to guide future growth while preserving the community’s character that residents value.

“For me, it would be to build on what we’ve got—to keep our small-town feel but to move forward and grow,” Mayor Hinton explains. “We have to grow.” This balance between heritage and progress has become central to the town’s planning ethos, like how many successful small cities across North America have managed expansion without losing their identity.

Public transportation ranks high on the town’s agenda. “Public transportation is an absolute key to success,” Mayor Hinton emphasizes. “We’re growing so fast, we need that public transportation, but we have to work with our community partners to do that.” The town has already initiated a regional transportation study in partnership with the County of Colchester, responding directly to residents’ expressed needs.

Mayor Hinton takes particular pride in the town’s staff and their approach to development. “I’m very proud of the staff for the Town of Truro. They care, they’re passionate, they want the best for the town, and they’re visionaries and positive thinkers.”

This forward-looking attitude covers the town’s overall positioning. “We have a vision and we’re moving forward, saying ‘Come to Truro, we’d love to have you,'” Mayor Hinton says. “We want people to feel safe and happy in this community and to be part of it. Truro has become a very welcoming community, focusing on our diversity and moving forward with that, having our shared common goals of a safe, happy community that has something to offer every single person.”

AT A GLANCE

Who: Town of Truro
What: A rapidly developing municipality with strong recreational assets, downtown revitalization efforts, and a streamlined approach to development
Where: Nova Scotia, Canada
Website: truro.ca/home.html