Supporting Our Local Community

Hosting exceptional events is our point of pride. Our teams at the Halifax Convention Centre go above and beyond and savour the delivery of incredible guest experiences as much as our clients do. This year, we hosted local events that supported our provincial colleges and universities, local non-profit and charitable organizations, and celebrated our local business, tourism, and hospitality partners, including the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia.

In April, the Savour Food & Wine Show returned to the Halifax Convention Centre. Welcoming over 1,000 guests, the show is the largest non-profit restaurant and hospitality trade show in Canada and showcases the incredible food and beverage producers, creative mixologists, and one-of-a-kind establishments that make our region unique. Working with our partners, the Savour Food & Wine Show reinforces what makes Halifax one of the best event destinations in the world. We always encourage our guests and delegates to explore our city and province, from incredible restaurants to homegrown businesses. The Savour Food & Wine Show is a celebration of our partners who help us welcome the world, driving vibrancy, economic impact, industry, culture, and community across Nova Scotia.

This year, we were proud to host 87 local galas and events, some as part of our Local Gala Program, which support, fundraise, or celebrate local organizations in our community. With our partners at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, we hosted the Chamber’s 2024 Spring Dinner, 2024 Fall Dinner, 2025 Halifax Business Awards, and two Chamber member luncheons featuring former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister Mélanie Joly, who both remarked on the unique culture and growth potential of Nova Scotia. 

We were proud to also host fundraisers that make a difference in our community, including the Arthritis Society’s 30th Celebrity Roast Gala, which commemorated the last 30 years of roasts with more than 500 guests. The event raised funds to support over 475,000 people living with arthritis in Atlantic Canada. In September, we hosted the Grocery Foundation Gala, which celebrated 25 years of helping kids and families across the region and raised over $10M for hospitals and charities since 1999. In November, we hosted the Mobius Awards of Environmental Excellence Gala for the region’s innovators in environmental technology. As the event planner shared: “The Halifax Convention Centre has running events down to a science.”  

November also welcomed back the Discovery Awards, which recognized leading youth in science and tech, and 800 guests for Kent’s Great Big Dig, which raised over $1.1M to purchase critical care monitors and stretchers at the redeveloped IWK Emergency Department. To support youth and women in our community, we welcomed back the Phoenix Youth Holiday Luncheon that raised funds for 16 locations that provide care for youth ages 11 to 24. In December, the Brunch for Bryony House fundraised for the 24-room shelter that provides safety and support to 500 women and children fleeing dangerous situations each year.

"At the Halifax Convention Centre, our priority has always been the impact that our events have on our local community, and the experience we create for our guests. We are deeply connected to our city and province, and we want this to be felt by everyone who visits.”

- Carrie Cussons, President & CEO, Halifax Convention Centre

In December, we proudly co-sponsored the 2024 Dreamers’ Gala to celebrate the conservation efforts of Ulnooweg Education Centre. Through land acquisition initiatives, Ulnooweg has preserved over 7,000 hemlock trees in southwest Nova Scotia. The evening was a celebration of Indigenous art, music, and food, and captured the spirit of Indigenous culture. More than 800 guests from nations across the Atlantic region enjoyed a recitation of three-act play Amawhle, produced by Neqotkuk First Nation poet, Samanqai Coahaq. The piece dramatized three women on reserve sharing stories while Wabanaki band Hello Crows accompanied the narrative with a haunting score. The evening also featured a performance from artist and poet Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers, a blending of spoken word, jazz, and ambient orchestral music, with 2024 JUNO-nominated Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney. From the décor to the custom menu featuring Bannock, the evening cultivated the power of Indigenous art and raised awareness for continued land preservation in the region.

"Thanks to your support, we are closer to ensuring that the Eastern Hemlocks of Asitu’lɨsk remain a vital part of Mi'kma'ki's; landscape, preserving a place for land-based learning, cultural connection, and healing for generations to come."

- Ulnooweg Education Centre.

In February, the Halifax Convention Centre was the proud co-sponsor of the second African Heritage Month Gala Dinner. Over 1,200 guests celebrated Black excellence in arts and culture with musical performances from aRENYE, Reeny Smith, and more, to honour more than 400 years of history and culture in Nova Scotia.


The Halifax Chamber’s 2025 Spring Dinner was a celebration of all things local, with a seven-course local menu prepared by our culinary team that featured flavourful, fresh Atlantic salmon and juicy Oxford-grown blueberries. The evening reinforced that supporting our local industries will continue to support Nova Scotia’s long-term growth. In May, were also honoured to host the 15th Annual Cedar & Maple Gala and 16th Annual Cedar & Maple Gala. Presented by the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, the Cedar & Maple Gala is a celebration of the Lebanese business community, which has helped build Halifax since the 1930s, and continues to drive growth and development across the region and Canada. With over 600 guests, the Cedar & Maple Gala recognizes the communities and people that strengthen Nova Scotia.

"Hosting the Cedar & Maple Gala at the Halifax Convention Centre has been an exceptional experience year after year. From planning to execution, the professionalism, flexibility, and warmth of the Convention Centre team have made all the difference. The Gala is more than just an event -- it's a celebration of the contributions of Lebanese Canadians to the fabric of this country. Held in the heart of downtown Halifax, the Convention Centre provides the perfect backdrop to honour stories of entrepreneurship, cultural pride, and community spirit. We're proud to partner with a venue that not only understands the importance of these moments but elevates them."

- Norm Nahas, President, Lebanese Chamber of Commerce Nova Scotia.

This year, the Halifax Convention Centre was proud to feature over 100 local food and beverage suppliers from all seven regions of Nova Scotia. Our Local Flavours menu is a feature component of our Local Program and showcases the industry and creativity of the amazing food and beverage offerings from all corners of the province. Our Local client packages allow our guests to sip and savour the best of Nova Scotia with local wine tasting sessions. In 2024-25, approximately 60% of our food and beverage spend was with our local suppliers. We are proud to showcase the best of our province to guests and visitors from around the world.

"Our culinary team is dedicated to sourcing the freshest local ingredients, which not only supports the local economy but ensures that our guests experience the best of what Nova Scotia has to offer. Our Local Program helps us support local business, which is one of our core values."

- Suzanne Fougere, Executive Vice-President, Halifax Convention Centre.

In 2024-25, we hosted 14 Local Pop-Up Markets with our partners at Taste of Nova Scotia, Craft Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia Loyal. The Local Pop-Up Markets bring Nova Scotia-made crafts, gifts, and products directly to our national and international visitors. In March, we hosted our annual Welcome Weekend event, inviting the community to experience the Halifax Convention Centre. Presented in partnership with Nova Scotia Loyal, Welcome Weekend showcased more than 20 local vendors, and featured blessings from the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, musical performances from African Nova Scotian Music Association artists, treats from our culinary team, displays from Curling Nova Scotia, Halifax PRIDE, the Halifax Thunderbirds, and the Halifax Mooseheads, mascots, door prizes, education booths, and more.