Living Lakeshores
Living Lakeshores aims to increase the resilience of freshwater shorelines, encourage care for the natural environment and share the skills of shoreline naturalization. We're partnering with TransCoastal Adaptations at Saint Mary's University to offer training that gives participants the skills and knowledge they need to help with climate adaptation and build green infrastructure using Green Shores® principles.
Green Shores Level 1 Training
Location: Fairbanks Centre, 54 Locks Road, Dartmouth
Date: July 11, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Link to register.
Green Shores Level 2 Training
Location: Lake Echo Community Recreation Centre | 3168 Nova Scotia Trunk 7, Lake Echo
Date: August 15 and 16, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day
Link to register.
Apply to create a Living Lakeshores mural
The municipality is seeking proposals from artists who have a clear connection to Lake Echo. The artist whose proposal is selected will be commissioned to paint a mural on one side of a standard-sized sea can located at the lake.
The proposed mural must be an original artwork that honours nature and the water, while also showcasing the ecological restoration happening along the lake to increase biodiversity, improve climate resilience and support community wellbeing.
The selected artist(s) will complete their design and paint it onto the storage container (with support, if needed). Artists from Mi’kmaw, African Nova Scotian and/or Acadian communities will be prioritized.
Head over to the Living Lakeshores project page to find out how to get involved.
The municipality is seeking proposals from artists to paint a mural on a sea can on Lake Echo.
Nature and Biodiversity
We’re so lucky to be surrounded by nature in the Halifax region, with forests, beaches, lakes, wetlands and barrens all around us. Keeping these ecosystems healthy is vital, as they provide us with clean water, store extra water during floods, clean our air and lower air temperatures. Healthy ecosystems also sequester carbon, which helps mitigate climate change.
Climate change projections for our region show that we can expect weather that is wetter, wilder and warmer than ever. Understanding how nature can help us adapt to these changing conditions is essential for building resilient communities. What’s more, access to pristine natural areas contributes to the magic of the municipality and attracts visitors, locals and new residents alike. Ecosystem health is also essential for our non-human residents such as birds, insects, mammals and plants. The biodiversity of our region depends on availability of healthy and diverse habitat.
Here are some ways we're working to protect and understand nature in the Halifax Regional Municipality:
- We're working with the Natural Asset Initiative on a pilot project in the Nine Mile River watershed to identify key natural assets that play a role in stormwater management and climate resilience.
- We were recently awarded Bird Friendly City status from Nature Canada, and continue to work with communities to make our region safer for birds and other wildlife.
- We released an Integrated Pest Management plan in 2022, and continue to work towards more effective management of invasive species.
- We use nature-based resilient landscaping such as rain gardens and naturalized areas to manage stormwater in our parks, right of way spaces and municipal property. We also provide resources for residents to manage excess water on their property using nature-based solutions at home.
- We encourage residents to plant perennials in the boulevard right-of-way, to promote biodiversity and habitat for pollinators.