By Air
The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is serviced by Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines/American Eagle, Continental, Delta, Northwest, and United Airlines, and a number of regional and charter carriers. The airport is located approximately 35 km (22 mi) from downtown Halifax and Dalhousie.
Ground Transportation from the Airport
Transportation from the airport to the city is available via taxi ($53 CAD per car one way), limousine ($56 CAD per car one way), the Airporter shuttle service ($21 CAD per passenger one way), or rental car. All ground transportation services are located just a few metres from the arrivals area. Reservations are not normally necessary, but some of the taxis and limousines do offer pre-arranged service.
The Airporter shuttle runs a regular route between the airport and several downtown hotels. It does not normally stop at either Risley Hall or the Garden South Park Inn, but will do so upon request; just say that you’re attending the ABLE conference when you board the shuttle. Reservations are not necessary. Airporter is also offering a $3 CAD discount on a round trip to ABLE conference attendees.
If you need to give a driver directions (not likely), the Garden South Park Inn is on South Park St., across from the Victoria General Hospital (“the VG”). Risley Hall is on Lemarchant St. (anglicized pronunciation: luh-MAR-chuhnt), near South St.
For the return trip to the airport after the conference, Airporter will also pick up at Risley Hall and the Garden South Park Inn, by pre-arrangement. Depending on numbers and schedules we may also be able to arrange for a separate Airporter shuttle to bring ABLE members directly to the airport; any such arrangements will be announced during the conference.
If you are driving yourself (PDF) to Dalhousie from the airport (or anywhere else via highway 102), the shortest routes into the city will take you across one of two harbour bridges, which both carry a $0.75 CAD toll, quarters only. You can get change from one of the manned tollbooths if necessary. On the MacDonald Bridge (“the old bridge”), watch out for the reversing centre lane, which runs Halifax-bound (toward Dalhousie) from midnight until noon, and Dartmouth-bound (away from Dalhousie) from noon until midnight.
Please visit NovaScotia.com and Destination Halifax for additional travel information about the region.
By Land and Sea
The Trans Canada Highway connects to all major highways throughout Canada and the US. There is a year-round car ferry service between Saint John, NB and Digby, NS* . Additionally, Halifax is serviced by Via Rail Canada and the regional bus carrier Acadian Lines, which connects with the Voyageur bus service in Montreal and Greyhound from New York, with additional intraprovincial connections to most major Nova Scotia communities.
Some road rules to note: in Nova Scotia it is against the law to text message or to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. All drivers and passengers must wear a seat belt. All children under the age of 9 years or 145 cm (4’9”) tall must use a child restraint system appropriate to their age and weight while traveling in a motor vehicle. One section of the Trans Canada highway from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia on the Nova Scotia side (the Cobequid Pass, part of highway 104) is a toll road; current rates are $4.00 CAD per vehicle one way. And posted speed limits are in kilometres (not miles) per hour!
Weather
Nova Scotia’s climate is temperate; June temperatures typically range from 10 to 19°C (50 to 66°F); average rainfall is 102 mm (4 in). Be prepared for sunshine, rain, fog, and moderate to high humidity, and don’t be surprised to get it all in one day! Visit the Environment Canada Weather office for the local forecast; click on the °C/°F symbol under “Current Conditions” to switch back and forth between metric and imperial temperature.
* Car ferry service between Maine (Bar Harbor and Portland) and Yarmouth, NS may not operate during the 2010 season.