The Halifax Convention Centre's Local Program brings Nova Scotia's amazing people, culture, and products inside our space so every visitor gets a chance to experience Nova Scotia at its finest.
As the operator of the largest convention centre in the region welcoming 90,000+ guests a year, we have a responsibility to ensure the impact of our business is felt across the province. Our Local Program is one way we can do that. We’re incredibly proud of our province and will continue to look for ways to showcase all that makes Nova Scotia great.
Relaunch of the Local Program
The Halifax Convention Centre launched its new and enhanced Local Program to showcase and support local businesses, producers, and culture in Nova Scotia through the events we host. To deepen the Centre’s impact on our local community and businesses, and to create authentic Nova Scotia experiences for guests, the reimagined Local Program includes three components:
- An enhanced menu featuring 70+ Nova Scotian suppliers, farmers, and producers;
- Partnerships with Taste of Nova Scotia and Craft Nova Scotia to deliver Local Pop-Up Markets during events to showcase local producers and artists, and create purchase opportunities for guests; and
- A series of client packages, giving event organizers a range of opportunities to showcase and serve local products, including on-site activations, customized receptions, and more.
“Programs like Nova Scotia Loyal and the Local Program show pride in our province, the wonderful people who live here, and the quality products that are made here. When our local businesses succeed, we all succeed. This program provides visitors with a taste of the very best of Nova Scotia, and we’re thrilled to support it.”
-The Honourable Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Economic Development
“As we welcome the world to our city, the Halifax Convention Centre has taken the lead in supporting local business and showcasing local products. Visitors are in for a treat when they get a taste of our Nova Scotian food and drink and exceptional hospitality.”
-Mike Savage, Mayor of Halifax
Java Blend
In 2022, the Halifax Convention Centre partnered with Java Blend Coffee Roasters as the first-ever local supplier of coffee for our Centre. The team at Java Blend strives to deliver the best coffee to coffee lovers everywhere. Their beans are carefully selected and all specialty grade, as defined by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). We know our guests from near and far will be excited to taste amazing local coffee for their events. This partnership with Java Blend allows the Halifax Convention Centre to support a local business and offer our guests a unique coffee experience with a local touch.
“It was a special moment for us when we were chosen to be the exclusive coffee partner at the Halifax Convention Centre. We all cheered when I dropped the news on the whole team.. It’s really important to support local because when we do that it means giving back to the community that we live in, it helps our economy grow, and it makes us a better, stronger province.”
– Adam Bose, Co-owner, Java Blend Coffee Roaster
New Partnerships with Local Partners
This year, we proudly partnered with Craft Nova Scotia to enhance the offerings at our Local Pop-Up Markets. Craft Nova Scotia is a non-profit, charitable service organization that works to encourage and promote both the craft movement in Nova Scotia and the public awareness and appreciation of craft products and activities. Craft Nova Scotia works alongside our partners at Taste of Nova Scotia to deliver our Pop-Up Markets, which give guests a chance to sample and purchase products from our local makers. Artisans across all fields are represented and help us to create an experience for all the senses – from the taste of our wild Oxford blueberries to the smells from our handcrafted candle-makers to the feel of our textile art, and the works of our visual artists.
“Craft Nova Scotia is excited to be able to showcase local makers through our partnership with the Halifax Convention Centre Local Program. This initiative just makes sense. It supports our craftspeople, and helps contribute to the overall social, cultural, environmental, and economic sustainability of our communities.”
- Kelly Jerrott, Executive Director, Craft Nova Scotia 
Local-Inspired Menu
This year the Halifax Convention Centre launched a new menu to highlight more than 70 local suppliers. The Centre is known for its delicious food offerings, but what makes our venue stand out from the rest is our in-house culinary team – a rarity in our industry. Our culinary team is composed of highly skilled and experienced chefs who provide exceptional cuisine for our guests. They work closely with local farmers and producers to ensure that we use only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. In addition, they are constantly experimenting with new recipes and techniques to keep our menu fresh and exciting. We can’t wait for you to try some of our new dishes inspired by the tastes of our province.
