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Truro, Nova Scotia

Truro (2006 population 11,765 ; urban area population 22,777 , conglomeration area population 45,777 ) is a town in central Nova Scotia, Canada. Truro is the shire town of Colchester County and is located on the south side of the Salmon River floodplain, close to the river's discharge point into the eastern end of Cobequid Bay.

History

The town was first settled in 1761 by Presbyterians of predominantly Ulster Scottish origin who came from Ireland via New England. It is named after the city of Truro in Cornwall, England. Originally a small farming community, the construction of the Nova Scotia Railway between Halifax, and Pictou in 1858 caused the municipality to experience a fast rate of growth. It was officially incorporated in 1875.

Infrastructure

Truro is known as the Hub of Nova Scotia as it is located at the junction between the Canadian National Railway, running between Halifax and Montreal, and the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway, running between Truro and Sydney. Until the 1980s, Truro also hosted a junction between the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway's former Dominion Atlantic Railway line running through Windsor and down the Annapolis Valley to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

An important highway interchange is located just north of Truro in the rural community of Onslow where Highway 102 (Veterans Memorial Highway) ends at Highway 104, a part of the Trans-Canada Highway. Trunk 2 and 4 intersect in the town as with the Glooscap Trail and Route 236.

Notable natives and residents of Truro

Sir Adams George Archibald, Father of Confederation
Cory Bowles, actor/dancer/musician
Dave Brown, drummer for world renowned hardcore band Career Suicide
Lyle Carter, retired professional (ice) hockey goaltender (originally from Brookfield)
Richard Chipman, founder and brewer of Golden Glow wine
Jeff Douglas, actor (Joe of I Am Canadian)
John Gray, playwright
Lewis MacKenzie, retired Major-General
Sandy MacKenzie, professional (ice) hockey player
Leo McKay, Jr., Novelist, Literary Arts Teacher for Cobequid Educational Centre
Barry Stagg, singer-songwriter/playwright/musician
Robert Stanfield, former premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal government opposition
Bill White, composer/politician/social activist
Jack White, labour union activist / politician
Portia White, singer
William A. White, church minister and father to Bill, Jack and Portia
Lenore Zann, actress
Stan Chook Maxwell, professional (ice) hockey player
David Brine, professional (ice) hockey player (originally from Bible Hill)
Dr. Anil Makkar, co-developer of the Pure Power Edge (mouthpiece, mouth guard)

Other facts

The neighbouring village of Bible Hill is home to the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, the only university-level agricultural institution in Atlantic Canada (it is operated by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture).

Bible Hill is also home to the Truro Mosque, the first mosque or masjid in Atlantic Canada. Next to the Truro Mosque is the Islamic Cemetery.

Truro itself is home to a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, located on the campus of the former Nova Scotia Teachers College which was a normal school that had been operated by the Nova Scotia Department of Education.

The Salmon River runs along Truro's northern boundary and is renowned for the natural occurrence of a tidal bore, one of the largest in North America, and a direct result of the power of the tides of the Bay of Fundy.

Truro features unique wooden sculptures created from the stumps of elm trees which were lost due to Dutch Elm disease. The tree sculptures are located throughout the downtown core. These tree sculptures have led to Truro now being known as "the tree sculpture capital of Nova Scotia"

Victoria Park is a 160 hectare (400 acre) urban park which contains a protected forest on the southern boundary of the town. It contains a section of Lepper Brook below the town's reservoir; the brook has two waterfalls that may be enjoyed from several walking trails.

Truro is home to one of Canada's last remaining successful textile mills, Stanfield's Limited. Stanfield's is known throughout Canada for its t-shirts, socks and undergarments. Other products manufactured in Truro include carpeting, Crossley Carpet Mills, woven/coated/film plastic products [Intertape Polymer Group], and molded plastics.

Truro is also known to locals as 'Hubtown' as its center location in the province results in many visiting travelers and tourists.

The town and surrounding area have a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including a bike race held by Hub Cycle.

Four sections of the Berlin Wall are displayed in an empty lot (once occupied by a Zellers store) on Prince Street in the central business district.

The neighboring unincorporated community of Salmon River on the town's eastern boundary was named Hockeyville in a national competition held in the Spring of 2006.