Herring Cove, Nova Scotia, a suburban and former fishing community in Canada's Halifax Regional Municipality, is a hidden gem on the eastern shore of the Chebucto Peninsula. With a population of 2,790 as of 2006, this quaint community is located just 15 km south of Downtown Halifax. It is easily accessible via Purcell's Cove along the coastal road or inland via the Herring Cove Road through Spryfield.
The indigenous Miꞌkmaq people originally named the cove "Moolipchugechk," which translates to a narrow and deep chasm or valley. The first European settlers arrived in the late 1700s, with many current residents being descendants of the original Irish-Catholic settlers.
In 1777, during the American Revolution, eleven fishermen from Herring Cove captured seven American privateers, earning a reward for their bravery. The community also played a significant role in the rescue of passengers from the frigate HMS Tribune, which ran aground on nearby shoals in 1797.
The community was initially named Dunk Cove after George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax. However, the present name, Herring Cove, may have been attributed to the surname of early settlers or the abundance of herring in the cove.
At its peak, Herring Cove hosted 25 commercial fishing boats operating out of a small government wharf and private jetties and fish sheds. However, the last working fisherman, Reg Dempsey, retired in 2018. Today, former fishing wharves and sheds are now used for small recreational boats.
Herring Cove is notable as the landing point for several transatlantic communications cables, providing the fastest connectivity between London, England, and New York City. The 2,800 m2 cable landing station at Hospital Point on Herring Cove remains the densest cluster of sub-70 millisecond connectivity on the north Atlantic.
The community is known for its annual Herring Cove Polar Bear Dip, a charity event where participants jump from Government Wharf into the frigid Atlantic waters on New Year's Day. The event celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019.
Herring Cove is located at the intersection of Route 253 and Route 349, local roads servicing the southeastern side of the Chebucto Peninsula. The community boasts several hiking trails, including one that begins at 'Hayes's garden's' and leads to "The Monument," a popular picnic spot with a splendid view of the Atlantic. At the highest point on the cliffs, there are two stone monuments constructed of granite boulders in memory of George Brown, a Canadian and Olympic rowing athlete.
