District 9 has a population of approximately 26,500 people and is made up of a mix of urban and suburban dwellers in the communities of Armdale, Ardmore, Armview, Bayers and Westwood, Chocoloate Lake, Cowie Hill, Flinn Park, Springvale and Fairmount, Jollimore, Kline Heights, Melville Cove, Quinpool, Westmount, and Williams Lake.
A large portion of the district hugs the Northwest Arm, a historic inlet that is part of Halifax Harbour and which defines the Western side of the Halifax peninsula. The Arm is approximately 3.5 km in length and was first called the “Waygwalteech”, translated to “salt water all the way up”, by the Mi’kmaq people who originally occupied the lands surrounding the arm. Today, much of the shoreline of the Northwest Arm is fronted by private residences and several parks and there are many key public access points for the public to enjoy the Arm and all its beauty.
Sir Sandford Fleming Park is a beautiful, 95-acre park featuring wooded and open areas as well as hilly terrain, walking trails, a playground, small sandy beach, a wharf and a boat launch. It was donated to Halifax in 1908 by Sir Sandford Fleming, the creator of Standard Time Zones. The iconic Dingle Tower sits on the park lands, and was dedicated in 1912 to commemorate 150 years of representative government.
Melville Island and Deadman’s Island are situated nearby, and carry particular historic importance for both Halifax and Canada. The islands’ served as both a prison and medical facility for prisoners of war early in the city’s history, and today offers a rare glimpse of both prison conditions and military detention from the late 1700s to late 1930s. Today, Melville Island is the site of the Armdale Yacht Club, established in 1947.
District 9 offers many outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. It includes a large portion of the Chain of Lakes Trail System, the newest, paved converted rail trail. It is a very popular route for cyclists, rollerbladers, cross-country skiers , and all forms of active transportation.
Chocolate Lake Beach is a true urban gem and features a small, sandy beach and swimming lake that is very popular with locals in the summer months. The area surrounding the Lake includes the Chocolate Lake Recreation Centre which features free equipment rentals, a gymnasium, public meeting space, outdoor tennis courts and a playground. St. Andrew’s Community Centre is another recreational facility in the region.
The Old Ashburn Golf Course, among the most historic golf courses in Canada, is also located within the district.
Located just minutes from downtown Halifax, District 9 provides residents with access to many shops and services including the Halifax Shopping Centre.