Walk Historic Halifax

Richard Wilbur is supervisor of the Legislative Research Service at the
New Brunswick Legislature, and the author of The Rise of French New
Brunswick.

This tour guide reaffirms the fact that Halifax has always been, perhaps
until very recently, predominantly a military centre. Present in almost
all of the seven tours that are featured are forts and the remains of
military installations.

In addition to a 37-page introduction, there are well-placed maps and
illustrations, and boxed inserts that expand on subjects mentioned in
the tour descriptions. For example, there is a two-page account of the
history and demolition of Africville. The history of St. George’s
Church and its restoration after a fire in 1994 is the subject of
another insert.

Unfortunately, there is some overlapping and repetition. And at times
there seems to be almost too much detail. Nevertheless, this is a lively
and scrupulously researched account of Halifax’s eventful (and very
military) history.