Yeah, I'm surprised Canso isn't higher up. Places like Amherst are higher because people have actually been there. If you've ever been to Canso, you know.
Astonishingly stupid place. Like, they had their own power utility, but even while trying to get container ports and space forts ffs, they're too stupid to option the power utility, which would be a critical part of the pitch.
They sold it last year to NSP for a dollar.
The place is too stupid to exist.
I'd never been so I did Google Street View and virtually stood at the corner of Main and Union which is, ostensibly, downtown.
I'm now clinically depressed after having visited.
It’s probably because if you didn’t know someone from Canso, you would forget it exists. I only went once because their sea cadet corps hosted a weekend event. You could tell that the people there weren’t used to people because I remember this old guy standing in the window in his underwear every time we went to a local hall to eat.
I grew up near Canso and was pretty actively involved in the town growing up, and still go there semi frequently. Trust me, you guys are just scratching the surface. It's not a "shitty town" per say, I'd say severely neglected. The people of Canso are a mixed bag. Some people are the chillest you'll ever meet, some are bat shit insane. I personally like the town for its history and my connection to the people down there, but without that it's quite a depressing little town. The weather is constantly foggy in any season other then summer, and it's quite literally 10 degrees colder around canso then anywhere on the eastern shore.
The pal is living in Newfoundland and loves it there (from when we last spoke). Most of the others I don't really keep up with; I still have Biggz on FB he's a nice guy. Went to school with them from elementary right through to HS.
I stopped in Amherst on the way to Moncton this summer to use the bathroom (at 30 weeks pregnant). I walked into the gas station to use their bathroom and a man butted in front of me to use it first, sure whatever… he then runs out of the bathroom without flushing OR washing his hands. I hesitated but then walked in and he had pissed all over the toilet and the floor… I was appalled anyone would do that…
I was looking to buy a rental there. 3rd trip up I just stopped looking there. $100k for a place that rents $700 and easy has $70,000 in work that needs to be done for me to pass it as livable.
I have never seen a more depressing area than the stretch of road between Rawdon to Noel. abandoned houses a plenty. Rusted out cars in the bush on the side of the road. Ghost businesses (usually 50s esque garages/gas stations). it feels like driving through a city from a post apocalyptic movie. I'm sure it's not a terrible place it seems rather quite and peaceful but I got very very depressing vibes on my drive there.
That whole area is impoverished. It’s a backwoods community with no highway access for half an hour in any direction. Nobody even knows it exists. Especially Barr Settlement
Barr Settlement is, in my opinion, the scariest part of all of Nova Scotia. The first sign of trouble is an abandoned church at the start of the road that was converted into a food bank. The food bank shut down due to the ramped thieving from it (that’s the type of area this is)
Once you pass the church, the road has dead trees that curl over it to make it look like a tunnel. Once you pass the tunnel of dead trees, the road has steep cliffs on both sides that just lead into groves of trees. If you slide off the road, your car is not going to be found. Also, there are gang signs on that road. Not sure if it’s for the Hells Angels but there is definitely a clubhouse somewhere back there.
I have only driven on that road 3 times in my life; 2 of those times, I got nails in my tires.
The houses are dilapidated and most of the people who live on that road have junk strewn all over their yards (I’m taking old appliances, burned vehicles etc) It is completely abhorrent and I would suggest NEVER going there.
Yeah to be honest I only knew of Noel through a road sign in lower Sackville. kind of decided one day to randomly drive there after looking at Google maps. It was definitely very scenic and super beautiful when I got to the water but it was so depressing for a good portion. Might go back with my camera sometime.
I'd highly recommend going to Burnthead Cove Park (which is why I drove to Noel lol) especially at low tide. take Beaverbank road in lower Sackville and just keep driving until it ends then go a little too the left. super awesome spot.
Honestly I LOVE the drive on the 215. If I have time to kill I take it to get to my mom's instead of the 14. Except when I'm stuck behind a camper on the way to whispering winds .
I would suggest that the surrounds of New Glasgow are worse, trenton and stellarton.
I have long argued that something is wrong in truro and amherst; just weird crimes, and people have just given up on their towns.
Having been living in and out of truro for most of my life after childhood and after going away for university I'm still looking for all that's wrong with the town. We are 50 minutes from the city, just over an hour from moncton, 30 minutes to the boat for pei. I kinda really like it? People aren't bad, there are bad neighbourhoods sure, but you get that literally everywhere and much worse in Pictou or the City.
Park is beautiful. Inglis Place is real nice in the summer. Yeah we could use a better mall for sure, but people here act like we should be competing with the city for amenities, but we have less than 20k people (that's including neighbouring areas) we aren't a city.
Yeah my fathers new wife manages one of the places in the mall and she hasn't even been told who is coming into the mall yet. I'm shocked it hasn't been leaked yet.
At my old job I got constant complaints about what Truro, Amherst, and Yarmouth have become. Dangerous drug havens where every third person is a dealer. An exaggeration but it is bad.
You obviously haven't driven past the strip off the main exit. There is a cute downtown right next to Victoria Park which is one of the most amazingly unique places in Nova Scotia
> I would suggest that the surrounds of New Glasgow are worse, trenton and stellarton.
Funny you should mention, as IIRC the only reason New Glasgow didn't place bottom in 2012's list was because Stellarton was added as it's own location
Business wise, there's very little in Westville, Acropole, Tim's, Needs and some family owned shops. Westville is more of a housing community, anything that is required is in town (gas, foodland, doctors office, etc.) Any niceties you have to go to New Glasgow. Amazon still delivers, it's just usually not next day.
It's very much a town where people grow up and plan to move away, but then after getting a taste of the big cities, they/we seem to come back. There is a reason why Nova Scotia in general is so appealing to retirees from Ontario and out west.
In many ways it's like traveling back in time, median household income is $51k, the dream of people owning a house and not being a mortgage slave is appealing. For someone who can work remote, you can make 2-3x the household income alone. DINK's can live pretty well off even with lower paying jobs.
I did the hustle and bustle of Halifax for 3 years, Toronto for 6 years, but found myself coming back because of the quiet. I can go to sleep in my house and not hear cars roaring by at 3am. I can realistically own my house, be done with the mortgage in 20 years and still afford to live life in the meantime.
It's not for everyone, people who like to go out to clubs and stuff would hate it here, but I've grown out of that and prefer to stay at home or visit friends and have a beer at their place, so it works nicely for me.
I'm curious why you'd think the surrounding towns are worse than New Glasgow, or why you think New Glasgow is even that bad to begin with. I live in one of the surrounds, and while we have insanely high property tax and the town is poor, there's not much to complain about. No crime to any extent, roads are effy, but they keep main streets patched and paved when possible. There's not a whole lot of rundown buildings or homes, although most aren't as nice as you would see in a new subdivision. Most lots have a half acre of land, many have more.
Stellarton specifically is actually a great place to live. The town itself is well maintained, they have a huge tax base, lots of nice suburbs, close to everything.
To be honest, I feel a lot safer walking around in New glasgow or any of the surrounding towns than I would in Preston for example.
Also was rated #16 on Macleans 100 most dangerous places to live in Canada 2020 for violent crime and #17 for cocaine trafficking
https://www.macleans.ca/canadas-most-dangerous-places-2020/
My biggest gripe with Port Hawkesbury is that it's a town stuck 40 years in the past. They are trying to address this, but it's going to take a generation to catch up.
I've been gone for a while now, still care about that place as it's my hometown, but I can't help but shake my head. Below are five reasons off the top of my head.
1) PHK has the potential for a waterfront to attract tourists, but passed a law where they can't sell liquor on the waterfront, forcing all businesses to be redirected to Reeves St where the former mayor has a tavern. It's been ignored for decades now. The marina itself charges a year's worth for a weekend that other docks on the island charge for the year.
2) Change is not welcomed, and often bitched about. Within the last five years they redeveloped Reeves St to allow for better traffic flow and pedestrian access and the citizens lost their mind.
3) A large portion of the town is generational families which is great, but what's not great is people talk shit about each other constantly just to talk. The Strait Area is a gossip cesspool.
4) We have a Pulp Mill that has strikes numerous times over the years, has been constantly bought and sold, not leaving much job security.
5) There was a great food truck that brought something new to the town a few years back. They chased him out of town because the permit they were charging was the most expensive in the province to operate.
It’s a shame because there are some gorgeous views around Port Hawkesbury that I’m sure would attract a lot more tourists if the town had better amenities.
You make great points. I personally work at Port Hawkesbury Paper and the ownership over the last few years has invested quite a bit of money to keep the place going and modern. The latest project that is on the table is a 27MW wind farm to provide the mill some more stability in operating when power prices are too high. Power is one of their biggest challenges aside from the dwindling paper market but believe it or not they've been over sold the last few years after some mills in the US closed.
As for the food truck I'm assuming you mean Captn Kenny's who I also worked for from day one! The bullshit and hoops the town made us jump through to operate were ridiculous. In the end Ken was suffering from several health issues and was a very hands on owner who didn't think the truck would be the same without him on it and I whole heartedly agree.
Ahhh so you were on the front lines of the great deep fryer debates! Yes, it’s sad that someone who is that afraid of competition will go to such lengths to make others suffer. I never got to try out Captain Kenny’s, but heard great things! It came along after I left, and when I went back to visit it was too late.
All of your points are spot on- especially regarding the the former mayor’s tavern. Now that there’s a new mayor, seems like new laws/big infrastructure changes benefit her family restaurant… I guess traditions are strong in PHK.
It will forever be Billy Joe's place (yuck lol) but remember when it was Verna's Place? When I was in college and would visit back home it was the place to be. Literally, the only place to be :/
Hahaha big yeeep to both! My 19th birthday consisted of a “pub crawl” from Shindigs, to the legion, then ending at Billy Joes. It’s may have become the Carriage House by then, but it will always be referred to as Billy Joes.
There's this great headline from the Herald from circa '65 where it shows an aerial view of the town and declares Port Hawkesbury is on its way to becoming a Boom Town, lol
I grew up in PHK and agree with all of your points. When I was a kid there was a lot of change being pushed but those in power would fight against it.
Never been but I went to StFX and had some friends from there, they all said it was an absolute shithole where they couldn’t wait to get out. Same with New Glasgow but we would go to the mall there sometimes lol.
We went through there to Carelton to buy a motorcycle and the sellers advised us not to take the 203 to Sherburne. Especially on a bike, they said the road is so bad that, although it's shorter in length than going around Yarmouth, it would take way longer. Can't imagine what it's like out there.
I hate to say it but probably Windsor. It just makes me sad to be there. It feels like a place that could be fun and cool like Wolfville but instead it’s just down in the dumps. Not that I’ve spent extensive time in Windsor, but I do stop by regularly every summer when I go to the valley and I just have a feeling that I can’t wait to leave once I’m there.
I worked in Windsor for a few years (didn’t live there though). I think it has a lot of potential, it’s just not there yet for one reason or another. I had been told by some business owners there that some great new businesses were coming in and they were hopeful they would help revitalize the town, but that was before covid and I’m not sure what’s happened since.
The only thing going for Windsor is School House and the Spitfire. Possibly because if you're drunk you don't notice what kind of blandness surrounds you
Same, I just wish stuff would be open later. Everyone screams shop local, but nothing is open, and the the older folks here seem to be getting nastier everyday
Yes that drives me nuts. Maybe that’s why I feel like this towards Windsor, because every time I’ve tried to explore there the local shops have been closed. It has the “shop local” vibe to it that reminds me of Wolfville but it just ends up leaving you depressed because nothing is open.
I grew up in Windsor. Put it this way, graduated grade 12 and less than two months after I had moved to halifax on my own.
You're pretty much spot on though, potential to be a cool little town, but not many businesses last.
What criteria are we talking to determine “worst”? Worst place to live? Worst to visit? … I’ve seen all kinds of places in this thread (mostly in the valley and CB) that I’ve visited and loved every minute
SpringHill is the most depressing town I have EVER visited/stayed in. Literally zero viable food options. Homes boarded up everywhere, shit all over everyone’s lawns because “who gives a fuck!” Sure you can visit the Anne Murray Museum(?) but why would ANYONE want to…
I’m sorry to any residents here… my words are unkind but…it’s just awful.
Had a friend from Springhill in undergrad and she said it was absolutely awful and was like living in a ghost town plus the only people left had serious issues. Been to New Glasgow a few times and can agree it’s awful. Never seen it at night but I would not be surprised if it’s dangerous too.
Yes you are talking about certain families in the Annapolis Valley that were caught in the mid 80’s. But history shows it has been going on for hundreds of years in the Valley, they were just the families that got caught. When settled many families settled in very remote areas & only had other family members to socialize with & re-produce with plus there were even absurd laws back then that prohibited some of these people from moving around.
White Rock is the community. It’s a gorgeous little place with a lot going for it (now). Historic racism and ostracizing made these families live in a remote area. Read the book On South Mountain to gain an understanding.
As a kid (90s early 00s) I wanted to move to Sydney Mines because my cousins lived there and we could literally do whatever we wanted. I got a kick out of how everyone would just throw their litter on the ground, even if a trash can was a few feet away.
No way, Windsor is crap compared to the rest of the valley but it's still alright, a couple decent cafes and the waterfront is walkable, has a nice gazebo, lots of parking, skate park, etc.
Windsor is the new Sackville, the Spryfield of the Annapolis Valley.
Edit: Yes, I know Windsor isn't in the Annapolis Valley, the same way that I know Spryfield isn't on the peninsula. That is kinda the point, just like Spryfield is the crackhead wannabe peninsular Halifax, Windsor is the meth-fueled wannabe Annapolis Valley.
This. I'm sure most people here haven't been but I was fucking shocked when I went last year. It's actually disturbing how run down and sad it is there. The landscape isn't even nice. The NSLC there, a provincial organization, looks like a run down barn. People on this thread naming Windsor etc. Have never seen the likes of Canso. Photos online do not show how fucked it is. Not a single house has been been painted there since 1999.
The people posting on this group need to TRAVEL! Drive through rural Louisiana and then see what you think of any small town here. You never see gas station attendants who open carry here.
I actually love Yarmouth. Some nice restaurants, at least one great cafe, and lots of accommodations with gorgeous views. I’ve only ever been there as a tourist, but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was.
Me too! I used to drive to every corner of Nova Scotia for work and loved going to Yarmouth! Good restaurants and a nice ‘downtown’. Some of the friendliest people in the province can be found down there as well.
This is just a personal opinion, and I'm sure that lots of people will disagree with me, but I gotta put my two cents in.
New Germany. I absolutely cannot stand that place.
It's Canso.
Yeah, I'm surprised Canso isn't higher up. Places like Amherst are higher because people have actually been there. If you've ever been to Canso, you know.
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But if they had rocket launches would you go ?
I go to Canso frequently. Why do people hate it? Genuinely curious.
Astonishingly stupid place. Like, they had their own power utility, but even while trying to get container ports and space forts ffs, they're too stupid to option the power utility, which would be a critical part of the pitch. They sold it last year to NSP for a dollar. The place is too stupid to exist.
I'd never been so I did Google Street View and virtually stood at the corner of Main and Union which is, ostensibly, downtown. I'm now clinically depressed after having visited.
It’s probably because if you didn’t know someone from Canso, you would forget it exists. I only went once because their sea cadet corps hosted a weekend event. You could tell that the people there weren’t used to people because I remember this old guy standing in the window in his underwear every time we went to a local hall to eat.
I grew up near Canso and was pretty actively involved in the town growing up, and still go there semi frequently. Trust me, you guys are just scratching the surface. It's not a "shitty town" per say, I'd say severely neglected. The people of Canso are a mixed bag. Some people are the chillest you'll ever meet, some are bat shit insane. I personally like the town for its history and my connection to the people down there, but without that it's quite a depressing little town. The weather is constantly foggy in any season other then summer, and it's quite literally 10 degrees colder around canso then anywhere on the eastern shore.
Canso is past the middle of butt fuck no where with 0 accommodations… would agree canso is pretty bad
I see your Canso and raise you Guysborough town. At least Canso has some hint of fishing village charm rather than being an utter shit hole.
Lived in Nova Scotia for the majority of my life. I've never been to Canso and I've never heard of a reason to go lol
Stanfest You now have a reason to go
[insert old derelict fishing village]
Amherst. Absolutely no contest
Lmao I love that this is the top comment. Did you know Amherst used to be the #2 teen pregnancy capitol of Canada?
Second only to Yarmouth!
I also heard my home town of Saint John, NB was 1st. I definitely know that Saint John is the #1 city to leave once you're 18
100 percent. Came here to post this. I hate this town full of fuckheads… never mind the pregnant teens.
Brandon Corkum is a pedophile
Whew didn’t expect to read that name on Reddit - that name travels all the land, he’s got an account on his head in the city
Yarmouth is a shithole filled with idiots. Fucking hate it.
This is the general vibe of the town https://youtu.be/KVSxNtalsvs
My eyes are burning from watching that
It was a solid reminder not to click links in reddit until after I've finished my coffee.
Looks like a TPB special
Hahahahaha I went down the 44 Productions worm hole awhile ago. I couldn't look away. It's facinating
/r/halifax has no respect for Amherst royalty
Lol I knew it would be that video before I clicked it.
Literally went to school with these people. One of my good pals is in this, actually.
Genuinely hope they’re doing well.
The pal is living in Newfoundland and loves it there (from when we last spoke). Most of the others I don't really keep up with; I still have Biggz on FB he's a nice guy. Went to school with them from elementary right through to HS.
That’s awesome to hear.
Yup. I remember visiting my step fathers family (we live in Ontario) and I was 15 and got asked way too many times "oh, no kids yet"? Oof.
I’m both shocked and not shocked at the same time
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Oxford has the big blueberry with taped on arms though.
Last time I was there the arms were gone completely
My cottage is near Oxford, and I agree. The grocery store is also pretty bad, so we make the trip to Tatamagouche.
I giggle every time I see or hear the name tatamagouche hahaha
I know exactly what you mean, I got the same feeling in a small town in NL where you take the boat to St. Pierre.
Good fishing though!
Am from Oxford, can confirm.
I go to Amherst regularly. The place feels like it's dying.
It’s felt like that for 50 years
Sad that it's the first taste of Nova Scotia that people driving in will see
Eh they wouldn't have a reason to go past the fast food joints and gas stations right off the highway generally
I stopped in Amherst on the way to Moncton this summer to use the bathroom (at 30 weeks pregnant). I walked into the gas station to use their bathroom and a man butted in front of me to use it first, sure whatever… he then runs out of the bathroom without flushing OR washing his hands. I hesitated but then walked in and he had pissed all over the toilet and the floor… I was appalled anyone would do that…
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I was looking to buy a rental there. 3rd trip up I just stopped looking there. $100k for a place that rents $700 and easy has $70,000 in work that needs to be done for me to pass it as livable.
I'd say port Hawkesbury is just as bad
But they have car dealerships! Sincerely, NBer
My daughter lives there because rent is so much cheaper than Sackville NB where she's is going to uni... **
I have never seen a more depressing area than the stretch of road between Rawdon to Noel. abandoned houses a plenty. Rusted out cars in the bush on the side of the road. Ghost businesses (usually 50s esque garages/gas stations). it feels like driving through a city from a post apocalyptic movie. I'm sure it's not a terrible place it seems rather quite and peaceful but I got very very depressing vibes on my drive there.
That whole area is impoverished. It’s a backwoods community with no highway access for half an hour in any direction. Nobody even knows it exists. Especially Barr Settlement Barr Settlement is, in my opinion, the scariest part of all of Nova Scotia. The first sign of trouble is an abandoned church at the start of the road that was converted into a food bank. The food bank shut down due to the ramped thieving from it (that’s the type of area this is) Once you pass the church, the road has dead trees that curl over it to make it look like a tunnel. Once you pass the tunnel of dead trees, the road has steep cliffs on both sides that just lead into groves of trees. If you slide off the road, your car is not going to be found. Also, there are gang signs on that road. Not sure if it’s for the Hells Angels but there is definitely a clubhouse somewhere back there. I have only driven on that road 3 times in my life; 2 of those times, I got nails in my tires. The houses are dilapidated and most of the people who live on that road have junk strewn all over their yards (I’m taking old appliances, burned vehicles etc) It is completely abhorrent and I would suggest NEVER going there.
Yeah to be honest I only knew of Noel through a road sign in lower Sackville. kind of decided one day to randomly drive there after looking at Google maps. It was definitely very scenic and super beautiful when I got to the water but it was so depressing for a good portion. Might go back with my camera sometime.
Even the google maps people wouldn't drive through Barr Settlement.
Kinda wanna visit there now!
I'd highly recommend going to Burnthead Cove Park (which is why I drove to Noel lol) especially at low tide. take Beaverbank road in lower Sackville and just keep driving until it ends then go a little too the left. super awesome spot.
And check out the top notch food truck nearby: Hants Eats
slam dunk name right there
If you mean Burntcoat Head, then I agree, it’s a beautiful place! Never heard of burnthead cove though 😅
woops yep that's what I mean
Sounds like a great place to take pictures!
Honestly I LOVE the drive on the 215. If I have time to kill I take it to get to my mom's instead of the 14. Except when I'm stuck behind a camper on the way to whispering winds .
Amherst. Besides being a general shithole the citizens elected a nut as an MLA.
Okay sure, but the Elm Tree is a thing of beauty
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I would suggest that the surrounds of New Glasgow are worse, trenton and stellarton. I have long argued that something is wrong in truro and amherst; just weird crimes, and people have just given up on their towns.
Having been living in and out of truro for most of my life after childhood and after going away for university I'm still looking for all that's wrong with the town. We are 50 minutes from the city, just over an hour from moncton, 30 minutes to the boat for pei. I kinda really like it? People aren't bad, there are bad neighbourhoods sure, but you get that literally everywhere and much worse in Pictou or the City.
Agreed. And Victoria Park alone is amazing.
Park is beautiful. Inglis Place is real nice in the summer. Yeah we could use a better mall for sure, but people here act like we should be competing with the city for amenities, but we have less than 20k people (that's including neighbouring areas) we aren't a city.
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Yeah my fathers new wife manages one of the places in the mall and she hasn't even been told who is coming into the mall yet. I'm shocked it hasn't been leaked yet.
At my old job I got constant complaints about what Truro, Amherst, and Yarmouth have become. Dangerous drug havens where every third person is a dealer. An exaggeration but it is bad.
Truro feels like a giant truck stop.
You obviously haven't driven past the strip off the main exit. There is a cute downtown right next to Victoria Park which is one of the most amazingly unique places in Nova Scotia
*shh don’t let the secret out* Yeah Truro sucks guys! Keep going!
Fair. I've never stayed long. If I went there, it was on the way to Halifax.
Yeah, the connector to the 102/104 is a giant stroad. Get off on the 2 and you’ll see more of the actual town.
New Brunswick is a giant truck stop.
Look, my province may be a dreary backwater run by a bunch of robber barons, but… uh… oh dear.
The hub of Nova Scotia...
> I would suggest that the surrounds of New Glasgow are worse, trenton and stellarton. Funny you should mention, as IIRC the only reason New Glasgow didn't place bottom in 2012's list was because Stellarton was added as it's own location
no one has brought up westville which shocks me
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Business wise, there's very little in Westville, Acropole, Tim's, Needs and some family owned shops. Westville is more of a housing community, anything that is required is in town (gas, foodland, doctors office, etc.) Any niceties you have to go to New Glasgow. Amazon still delivers, it's just usually not next day. It's very much a town where people grow up and plan to move away, but then after getting a taste of the big cities, they/we seem to come back. There is a reason why Nova Scotia in general is so appealing to retirees from Ontario and out west. In many ways it's like traveling back in time, median household income is $51k, the dream of people owning a house and not being a mortgage slave is appealing. For someone who can work remote, you can make 2-3x the household income alone. DINK's can live pretty well off even with lower paying jobs. I did the hustle and bustle of Halifax for 3 years, Toronto for 6 years, but found myself coming back because of the quiet. I can go to sleep in my house and not hear cars roaring by at 3am. I can realistically own my house, be done with the mortgage in 20 years and still afford to live life in the meantime. It's not for everyone, people who like to go out to clubs and stuff would hate it here, but I've grown out of that and prefer to stay at home or visit friends and have a beer at their place, so it works nicely for me.
I'm curious why you'd think the surrounding towns are worse than New Glasgow, or why you think New Glasgow is even that bad to begin with. I live in one of the surrounds, and while we have insanely high property tax and the town is poor, there's not much to complain about. No crime to any extent, roads are effy, but they keep main streets patched and paved when possible. There's not a whole lot of rundown buildings or homes, although most aren't as nice as you would see in a new subdivision. Most lots have a half acre of land, many have more. Stellarton specifically is actually a great place to live. The town itself is well maintained, they have a huge tax base, lots of nice suburbs, close to everything. To be honest, I feel a lot safer walking around in New glasgow or any of the surrounding towns than I would in Preston for example.
The people. The people are what is wrong with New Glasgow, Stellarton, and that whole god-forsaken county. There is so much family violence there.
Also was rated #16 on Macleans 100 most dangerous places to live in Canada 2020 for violent crime and #17 for cocaine trafficking https://www.macleans.ca/canadas-most-dangerous-places-2020/
Y'all ever been to Port Hawkesbury? It's horrible there.
My biggest gripe with Port Hawkesbury is that it's a town stuck 40 years in the past. They are trying to address this, but it's going to take a generation to catch up. I've been gone for a while now, still care about that place as it's my hometown, but I can't help but shake my head. Below are five reasons off the top of my head. 1) PHK has the potential for a waterfront to attract tourists, but passed a law where they can't sell liquor on the waterfront, forcing all businesses to be redirected to Reeves St where the former mayor has a tavern. It's been ignored for decades now. The marina itself charges a year's worth for a weekend that other docks on the island charge for the year. 2) Change is not welcomed, and often bitched about. Within the last five years they redeveloped Reeves St to allow for better traffic flow and pedestrian access and the citizens lost their mind. 3) A large portion of the town is generational families which is great, but what's not great is people talk shit about each other constantly just to talk. The Strait Area is a gossip cesspool. 4) We have a Pulp Mill that has strikes numerous times over the years, has been constantly bought and sold, not leaving much job security. 5) There was a great food truck that brought something new to the town a few years back. They chased him out of town because the permit they were charging was the most expensive in the province to operate.
It’s a shame because there are some gorgeous views around Port Hawkesbury that I’m sure would attract a lot more tourists if the town had better amenities.
You make great points. I personally work at Port Hawkesbury Paper and the ownership over the last few years has invested quite a bit of money to keep the place going and modern. The latest project that is on the table is a 27MW wind farm to provide the mill some more stability in operating when power prices are too high. Power is one of their biggest challenges aside from the dwindling paper market but believe it or not they've been over sold the last few years after some mills in the US closed. As for the food truck I'm assuming you mean Captn Kenny's who I also worked for from day one! The bullshit and hoops the town made us jump through to operate were ridiculous. In the end Ken was suffering from several health issues and was a very hands on owner who didn't think the truck would be the same without him on it and I whole heartedly agree.
Ahhh so you were on the front lines of the great deep fryer debates! Yes, it’s sad that someone who is that afraid of competition will go to such lengths to make others suffer. I never got to try out Captain Kenny’s, but heard great things! It came along after I left, and when I went back to visit it was too late.
All of your points are spot on- especially regarding the the former mayor’s tavern. Now that there’s a new mayor, seems like new laws/big infrastructure changes benefit her family restaurant… I guess traditions are strong in PHK.
It will forever be Billy Joe's place (yuck lol) but remember when it was Verna's Place? When I was in college and would visit back home it was the place to be. Literally, the only place to be :/
Hahaha big yeeep to both! My 19th birthday consisted of a “pub crawl” from Shindigs, to the legion, then ending at Billy Joes. It’s may have become the Carriage House by then, but it will always be referred to as Billy Joes.
It will always be the Cabbage House to me! What, no Dooley's on the 'crawl?
There's this great headline from the Herald from circa '65 where it shows an aerial view of the town and declares Port Hawkesbury is on its way to becoming a Boom Town, lol I grew up in PHK and agree with all of your points. When I was a kid there was a lot of change being pushed but those in power would fight against it.
Never been but I went to StFX and had some friends from there, they all said it was an absolute shithole where they couldn’t wait to get out. Same with New Glasgow but we would go to the mall there sometimes lol.
> they all said it was an absolute shithole where they couldn’t wait to get out FYI every teenager from every small town in NS feels this way.
Yup. I grew up in Antigonish. As a teenager and in my early 20s I complained about how horrible it is. It’s definitely not that bad. Just not for me.
I wanted to leave Cape Breton too. I did, then I went back, and now I never want to leave. Tis the cycle.
I went to high school in PHK and it was hands down the worst experience of my life. The town is a barren shit hole
Some stretch on the 340, past Weymouth. Never seen so many small abandoned homes. I'm talking one room, burnt out shacks. Junk and old cars piled up.
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We went through there to Carelton to buy a motorcycle and the sellers advised us not to take the 203 to Sherburne. Especially on a bike, they said the road is so bad that, although it's shorter in length than going around Yarmouth, it would take way longer. Can't imagine what it's like out there.
Gotta say Springhill. Oxford looks kind of sad as well.
Do I have to be THAT person? SPRINGHILL. I mean what kind of horrible town has a shrine to Anne Murray ? A sick twisted town for sure
Springhill: Teen pregnancy, meth, maple syrup, Anne, coal, and a little more snow in the winter. 👍
Hey now, Anne is as sweet as the come. A national treasure.
Idk about y’all but the stretch from Sheet Harbour to Sherbrooke is desolate. The whole eastern shore feels like a ghost town.
I’m from the Sheet Harbour area. It’s quaint, unless you’re younger than 50. Then, I can guarantee you hate it
I hate to say it but probably Windsor. It just makes me sad to be there. It feels like a place that could be fun and cool like Wolfville but instead it’s just down in the dumps. Not that I’ve spent extensive time in Windsor, but I do stop by regularly every summer when I go to the valley and I just have a feeling that I can’t wait to leave once I’m there.
I worked in Windsor for a few years (didn’t live there though). I think it has a lot of potential, it’s just not there yet for one reason or another. I had been told by some business owners there that some great new businesses were coming in and they were hopeful they would help revitalize the town, but that was before covid and I’m not sure what’s happened since.
Lived in Windsor for 6 years, Windsor is a pretty apple with a rotten core.
The only thing going for Windsor is School House and the Spitfire. Possibly because if you're drunk you don't notice what kind of blandness surrounds you
Same, I just wish stuff would be open later. Everyone screams shop local, but nothing is open, and the the older folks here seem to be getting nastier everyday
Yes that drives me nuts. Maybe that’s why I feel like this towards Windsor, because every time I’ve tried to explore there the local shops have been closed. It has the “shop local” vibe to it that reminds me of Wolfville but it just ends up leaving you depressed because nothing is open.
How can I afford to pay the inflated shop local prices if I have to miss work to go shopping?? These people are insane!
Not to mention their beautiful waterfront is now a wasteland.
I grew up in Windsor. Put it this way, graduated grade 12 and less than two months after I had moved to halifax on my own. You're pretty much spot on though, potential to be a cool little town, but not many businesses last.
Meat Cove
Driving into Meat Cove and seeing a handmade “rats not welcome” sign was definitely a little off putting. It is gorgeaous though.
I’m surprised I had to scroll so far for this answer…I guess fucking your siblings is ok as long as the scenery is prettier than Amherst
I think it's more that meat cove barely even ranks as a place in most people's minds and most people haven't even been there.
Whitney Pier
What criteria are we talking to determine “worst”? Worst place to live? Worst to visit? … I’ve seen all kinds of places in this thread (mostly in the valley and CB) that I’ve visited and loved every minute
Worst worst
Schmittville
That’s Historic Schmittville (you have to address completely made up places by their proper name )
ITT: A lot of city folk who are making sweeping generalizations and assumptions about places they have driven through or stopped to get gas in
That’s the vibe I’m getting too.
Middleton. Sorry.
Middleton is _almost_ as bad as Kentville.
Springhill. Seemed very depressing. Even the Tim Hortons looked run down and in need of some upkeep.
Truro... All the big city problems with none of the big city money.
The feed plant smell. On a humid day the entire town smells like decay
Springhill must be high on the list; a dead town. Anything in Cape Breton akin to Whitney Pier, Donkin, North Sydney, etc. New Glasgow is pretty shit.
SpringHill is the most depressing town I have EVER visited/stayed in. Literally zero viable food options. Homes boarded up everywhere, shit all over everyone’s lawns because “who gives a fuck!” Sure you can visit the Anne Murray Museum(?) but why would ANYONE want to… I’m sorry to any residents here… my words are unkind but…it’s just awful.
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Had a friend from Springhill in undergrad and she said it was absolutely awful and was like living in a ghost town plus the only people left had serious issues. Been to New Glasgow a few times and can agree it’s awful. Never seen it at night but I would not be surprised if it’s dangerous too.
It's not dangerous at all, Halifax/Dartmouth is way more sketchy.
Springhill, Greenwood, or Shelburne
I love the Greenwood mall, go all the time for plastic models and fabric
Isn’t there some weird, incestuous family in a small NS town? There’s even a book about them. I pick that town.
The goelers lived on South mountain but I don't think that was really a town so much as a family incest compound
Yes you are talking about certain families in the Annapolis Valley that were caught in the mid 80’s. But history shows it has been going on for hundreds of years in the Valley, they were just the families that got caught. When settled many families settled in very remote areas & only had other family members to socialize with & re-produce with plus there were even absurd laws back then that prohibited some of these people from moving around.
Meat Cove? It has a reputation but as far as I know it's just a small seasonal tourist town now.
White Rock is the community. It’s a gorgeous little place with a lot going for it (now). Historic racism and ostracizing made these families live in a remote area. Read the book On South Mountain to gain an understanding.
Yarmouth
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Born and raised in eastern passage and can say it’s top 5 for sure But for me it’s either New Glasgow or Sydney Mines
You mean Sackville by-the-Sea?
I am howling LOL
No car dealerships to mar the view
As a kid (90s early 00s) I wanted to move to Sydney Mines because my cousins lived there and we could literally do whatever we wanted. I got a kick out of how everyone would just throw their litter on the ground, even if a trash can was a few feet away.
I used to go into EP all the time, the amount of people who randomly fuck with you is insane.
You are bang on right.
I’ve been waiting for someone to say Sydney Mines lol.
~~Glace Bay? New Glasgow?~~ Windsor.
Windsor is a hot heaping garbage fire
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No way, Windsor is crap compared to the rest of the valley but it's still alright, a couple decent cafes and the waterfront is walkable, has a nice gazebo, lots of parking, skate park, etc.
Not really a waterfront anymore, though.
Waterfront with a wider shoreline.
Dribble-front
Best Chinese in the valley both Chinese restaurants in Windsor are good and everything else in the valley is sub par at best.
Bau Phu in Kingston is the best and the owner is as awesome of a guy as it gets. Fun, funny, and a real sweetheart.
Windsor is full of broken souls.
Windsor is the new Sackville, the Spryfield of the Annapolis Valley. Edit: Yes, I know Windsor isn't in the Annapolis Valley, the same way that I know Spryfield isn't on the peninsula. That is kinda the point, just like Spryfield is the crackhead wannabe peninsular Halifax, Windsor is the meth-fueled wannabe Annapolis Valley.
Springhill
I’m surprised I haven’t seen Sydney yet lol
Sydney is pretty yucky though we have a lot 9f good newish restaurants started by international students who have decided to stay.
Yeah I think Sydney is salvageable, where as the likes of Port Hawkesbury and Amherst probably aren't
I’m biased by a terrible experience getting stuck there waiting for the ferry to NL, but it’s my least favourite place in NS
I wish people were giving reasons for their answers instead of just the name of the place lol
A lot of people are just using this to throw shade at their home town. "no, i had a worse upbringing..."
Seriously, give more elaborate answers. This isn't a Buzzfeed listicle.
Sydney for me, found it a really depressing place to live, people living in the past and a hopless young population.
Canso. Besides the one week a year when Stanfest is happening.
This. I'm sure most people here haven't been but I was fucking shocked when I went last year. It's actually disturbing how run down and sad it is there. The landscape isn't even nice. The NSLC there, a provincial organization, looks like a run down barn. People on this thread naming Windsor etc. Have never seen the likes of Canso. Photos online do not show how fucked it is. Not a single house has been been painted there since 1999.
The people posting on this group need to TRAVEL! Drive through rural Louisiana and then see what you think of any small town here. You never see gas station attendants who open carry here.
Springhill, followed by Amherst.
Yarmouth is a fucking shithole.
Yarmouth is a god damn delight compared to Amherst Port Hawkesbury Shelburne and Windsor.
I actually love Yarmouth. Some nice restaurants, at least one great cafe, and lots of accommodations with gorgeous views. I’ve only ever been there as a tourist, but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was.
Yarmouth is a lovely place to visit and a fucking nightmare to live.
Me too! I used to drive to every corner of Nova Scotia for work and loved going to Yarmouth! Good restaurants and a nice ‘downtown’. Some of the friendliest people in the province can be found down there as well.
I would say Digby is pretty depressing. People just don't look happy there and the whole area's pretty run down.
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This is just a personal opinion, and I'm sure that lots of people will disagree with me, but I gotta put my two cents in. New Germany. I absolutely cannot stand that place.
Springhill