Choose Halifax for any number of reasons; incredible oceanfront views and a walkable downtown core, or its world-class convention centre and thriving cross-sector innovation. No matter the reason, the outcome is always the same: inspired meetings, engaged delegates, and lasting impressions.
Discover Halifax’s extraordinary selection of historic and modern venues and accommodations—all offering versatile settings to host inspiring meetings, unforgettable receptions against the backdrop of our beautiful sea-side city.
Unlock a world of curated supplier partnerships, sustainable planning tools, and exclusive delegate-saving privileges designed to elevate your event and not your budget.
Find the support you need to simplify logistics, maximize ROI, and create a bespoke event that is tailored to your group in a way that only Halifax can. As a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) we’re here to help every step of the way, free of charge.
Create an event where more people can participate, connect and feel welcome
Halifax offers event planners access to a range of programs, services and local partners that can help support more inclusive meetings and conventions. From accessibility services and inclusive transportation to bilingual programming and 2SLGBTQI+ accredited suppliers, these resources can help planners address specific delegate needs and connect with the right support locally.
DEI Consultants & Speakers
Halifax has a range of local consultants, facilitators and speakers who can support events with DEI strategy, inclusive event design, workshops, panels, keynotes and facilitated conversations. Expertise is available across areas such as accessibility, anti-racism, 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion, newcomer engagement, African Nova Scotian perspectives, inclusive leadership and organizational culture.
Local consultants include:
Sea Change CoLab Consulting, which provides accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion and facilitation services
Mutinda Consulting, offers DEI, accessibility, facilitation and event-planning support
Ashanti Leadership & PDS, provides DEI consulting, facilitated workshops, speaking engagements, organizational reviews and professional development
For speakers, Speakers Nova Scotia maintains a searchable provincial registry and can connect planners directly with presenters.
Halifax offers a range of accessibility resources to help planners support delegates with physical, sensory and communication needs. Accessible venues and transportation are complemented by local services such as ASL interpretation, CART captioning, braille transcription, sighted guides and accessibility training, giving planners options to address accessibility across the full event experience.
For an overview of accessible venues, transportation options, local service providers and planning considerations, explore Business Events Halifax’s Events for Everybody: Accessibility in Halifax resource.
Transportation accessibility can be incorporated into both individual delegate travel and larger event transportation plans. Halifax Transit’s conventional bus and ferry fleet is accessible, while Access-A-Bus provides specialized transportation for eligible passengers who are unable to use conventional transit because of a disability.
For larger gatherings, Halifax Transit also operates an Event Transit Fares Program for events with more than 100 attendees. Organizers can purchase discounted event fares that provide attendees with round-trip access to Halifax Transit buses and ferries.
This can give you another option for building accessible and inclusive transportation into citywide event plans.
Food and beverage requirements can also be an important part of inclusive event planning.
The Halifax Convention Centre culinary team works with planners to accommodate dietary requirements identified in advance, allowing organizers to incorporate delegate dietary needs into event menus and meal planning. For events taking place at hotels, restaurants or off-site venues, planners can work directly with their catering or venue partners to identify available accommodations and communicate delegate requirements before the event.
Halifax’s hotels & venues are also well versed in supporting space accommodation requires as well, such as a prayer room, breastfeeding space, hospitality suites, or quiet, sensory-friendly spaces.
Planners looking to incorporate 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion into their venue and supplier selection can use Halifax’s network of Rainbow Registered businesses. Rainbow Registered is a national accreditation program that assesses businesses and organizations against established standards for 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion.
Halifax is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for delegates. The city has the third-highest number of Rainbow Registered businesses in Canada, including hotels, venues, attractions and visitor services that have met national standards for 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion. Accredited organizations such as the Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 give planners an existing network of accredited businesses to draw from when selecting venues, accommodations, attractions and visitor services.
Connecting with Halifax’s local communities can help planners build events that are more representative of the destination and create richer experiences for delegates. Local organizations and partners can provide connections to community leaders, speakers, suppliers, cultural programming and experiences rooted in the histories and cultures that shape Halifax and Nova Scotia.
Mi’kmaq & Indigenous Communities – Events in Halifax take place in Kjipuktuk, within Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.
African Nova Scotian Communities – Nova Scotia is home to more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities, with a history in the province spanning more than 400 years.
Multicultural & Newcomer Communities – Halifax’s growing newcomer and multicultural communities provide additional opportunities for planners seeking diverse local perspectives, cultural programming, speakers, businesses and community partnerships.
Acadian & Francophone Communities – Halifax is part of a province with deep Acadian roots and an active contemporary Francophone community.
The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)’s Special Events Task Force provides an Accessible Events Checklist that planners can use when assessing event accessibility.
The guidance addresses physical, sensory and communication needs and includes recommended lead times for arranging certain services. For example, HRM recommends planning ahead for services such as ASL interpretation, braille transcription and accessible transportation, which may require advance booking.
The resource can be used alongside venue-specific accessibility information when evaluating event spaces, programming and delegate services.
Every event, and every delegate group, has different requirements. Discover Halifax’s Business Events team can help connect planners with the venues, suppliers, community organizations and local resources that best match their event.
Whether you’re looking for an ASL interpreter, a Rainbow Registered supplier, bilingual event support, accessible transportation or connections within Halifax’s Mi’kmaq community, we can help you identify where to start.
