Good Times, Canada’s Magazine named Dartmouth, Nova Scotia a top destination for retirement in Canada.
The article touts Dartmouth’s lakes and its distance to the ocean and walking trails. It speaks of the former city’s many facilities like the Zatzman Sportsplex, which was recently renovated and Brightwood Golf & Country Club. Located in Downtown Dartmouth, it’s the downtown core’s own 18 hole golf course.
As for arts and culture it mentions the Dartmouth Players, the local amateur theater group. Plays done by the Dartmouth North Community Community Food Center and our local not for profit community radio station, Seaside FM. They provide a constant flow of information for the over 50 crowd and put on lots of activities like community dances.
Dartmouth resident, Margaret Ann McHugh says, “You go to the Portland Street Crêperie on a Sunday afternoon in the summer, get a fresh waffle cone, and everybody’s talking with each other. Kids, families, seniors, singles, and couples,” Stewart says. “We still say ‘Hi’ to each other on the street, which I love.”
The Craft Beer scene and local coffee shops are a hit in the walkable downtown area. Mic Mac Mall and Dartmouth Crossing, home of IKEA and Costco, are just two of five shopping districts.
The only negative point Good Times speaks of is the lack of family physicians province wide. It does note that the situation is improving. In fact, family doctors at the Dartmouth Medical Center are currently taking new patients.
McHugh ends with “I feel a real sense of community, along with a philosophy of looking after each other.”