District 15 has a population of approximately 28,300 residents and is comprised of the communities of Lower Sackville and Beaver Bank.
Sackville was founded in 1749 by Captain John Gorham on orders from Governor Edward Cornwallis of England to establish a military fort named Fort Sackville. Prior to colonization, Sackville was traditional hunting and fishing ground of the Mi’kmaq people. Today, Lower Sackville is one of the fastest growing communities in Nova Scotia.
Lower Sackville is approximately 25 kilometres or a 20-minute drive from downtown Halifax, and its close proximity to the capital gives Lower Sackville the advantages of local employment opportunities and infrastructure of a larger city. The district is very typical of many “commuter communities”, experiencing exponential growth in recent years.
Residents have many opportunities for recreational pursuits in Lower Sackville. Sports fields, tennis courts, baseball fields, parks, swimming pools, gyms, arenas and the modern Sackville Sports Stadium help make Sackville a friendly, healthy, and family-oriented place to live.
The majority of Lower Sackville's suburbs were built in the 1970s on the southern edge of First Lake which offers various outdoor recreational opportunities. A provincial park reserve borders the northern edge of Lower Sackville at Second Lake.
The community of Beaver Bank dates back to 1776 when Loyalists from Boston settled there. Today, it is a developed community made up of many subdivisions and unique residential areas. Beaver Bank’s motto, “People Together with Nature”, reflects the many lakes, rivers and forests enjoyed by residents in the surrounding area.
The Beaver Bank station, once a hotel next to a busy train station, is now a popular pub and restaurant enjoyed by many locals. The community is also home to two golf courses, and several community facilities including the Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre, a non-profit organization serving as a multi-purpose gathering place for residents of all ages. The Centre offers a wide range of programming from Yoga, Kung Fu and Zumba, to bingo and cribbage.