About Antigonish

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Living in Antigonish

Events and Recreation in Antigonish

Visiting Antigonish

Aereal photo showing Antigonish Nova Scotia

Our small town in the northeastern corner of Nova Scotia (pop 5,195) is a hub and service center for the rural communities surrounding it. With a diverse and growing population, Antigonish is a family friendly town with lots of opportunity, access to good education at all levels, recreation, sports and culture activities. It is surrounded by rolling countryside with hiking and beautiful beaches.

Antigonish is home of St Francis Xavier University which has a strong reputation across Canada and internationally. StFX is well known for its school spirit and the “X-Ring”. Alumni around the world celebrate their connections to the university and the town. The University brings a wealth of expertise and diversity to the community through its faculty and students and doubles our population during the school session.

The Antigonish Movement which began in the 1930s as a co-operative movement of local fishermen and farmers has now spread around the globe through The Coady International Institute. Antigonish hosts hundreds of international participants yearly for courses in leadership and development.

We enjoy a vibrant culture in the arts with music, performing arts, visual arts and crafts, and fabulous festivals throughout the year. Gaelic culture is strong in the area and the Antigonish Highland Games have been celebrated here for over 150 years.

The People’s Place Library is a hub of community life. There is always something going on whatever your interest and the friendly and helpful staff are eager to answer your questions. It won the Canada Great Places award in 2014 for Great Public Spaces.

Enjoy the small town charms but the lively life of a larger community. There are numerous community groups to get involved in community development, the arts, sustainable communities, energy and conservation. Sports and recreation opportunities are numerous with several arenas and sports fields, and teams involved at the local, regional and national level.

The competitive business environment, state of the art educational facilities, regional healthcare facilities and our location all invite you to enjoy Antigonish.

The Town of Antigonish works collaboratively with the Municipality of the County of Antigonish to improve access to services and to further the joint interests of the Town and County.

Business groups offer educational opportunities, networking, business development advice and opportunities for marketing and HR development for staffing.

Blessed with natural beauty, outdoor enthusiasts have a lot to choose from in the Antigonish area - from beaches along the Northumberland shore to hiking through rolling countryside, coastal trails and woodlands.

Living in Antigonish

The Town of Antigonish provides many services that include water from the James River Dam via our water treatment facility, power from our independent Electric Utility, and more. Our Infrastructure and Engineering team, including Public Works, along with our service providers work year round to provide resources to Town residents and institutions within Town. For more information please navigate to the pages below, or call us directly and someone will connect you with helpful information.

Town Hall, 902-863-2351

Infrastructure and Engineering

Residential Waste Collection Information

Building, Planning, and Development

Parking

Snow Removal and Seasonal Maintenance

 

By-Law Enforcement/Dog Control 

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: 902-870-7503

Events and Recreation in Antigonish

Events are regularly updated on Coastal Nova Scotia's events calendar

Visit the Antigonish Tourism Association website or their booth in the People's Place Library on Main Street for resources on where to stay, eat, and play while you're in our region.

Our vibrant Main Street boasts many amenities and attractions with unique stores and restaurants to suit any cravings.

Our local galleries and weekly Antigonish Farmers’ Market showcase the amazing talent of our local artisans and crafters, as well as the bountiful local agriculture, sweets and preserves that we have available right here in our community.

Antigonish’s Celtic connections run strong and proud, especially as we play host to the oldest continuous Highland Games held outside of Scotland.

Do you think you may have family ties in Antigonish? Visit the Antigonish Heritage Museum and trace your roots back in time to see.

Nestled in the heart of Antigonish is the picturesque campus of St. Francis Xavier University. Before you’ve even visited Antigonish you may have seen a piece of our local history on the hands of your colleagues, friends, Prime Ministers, CEOs or famous artists – the X-Ring. The third most recognizable ring in the world is a legacy that brings people together to remember time spent learning and growing in the community of Antigonish.

Visitors can head in any direction to communities around Antigonish County and find wharves that tell stories of generations of local fishermen, enchanted beaches that will capture your heart, and genuine outdoor exploration for the thrill seekers and laid-back wanderers alike.

Antigonish is proud to host fun filled festivals and events that allow you to live like a local. 

The Town of Antigonish Recreation department also offers lots to do throughout the year. From summer camps for youth through the warmer months, to ski and boot rentals when there's snow on the ground, we are happy to connect with you and help you and your family find what Antigonish has to offer!

To find local sports teams, camps, and classes, PlayFinder connects you to local organizations and registration for programming in the region. 

Visiting Antigonish

Visit Antigonish and Coastal Nova Scotia are great starting points for planning your visit to Antigonish and the surrounding communities.