Hantsport’s Leading Edge Bylaw: A Case Study from Nova Scotia

Good things come in small packages. Such is the case in Hantsport, Nova Scotia: a rural town and seaport of just over 1,000 people situated on the Avon River in western Hants County. With a town motto of “The Haven of Hospitality,” Hantsport has a history of social innovation. In 2008 Hantsport distinguished itself by becoming the first municipality in Nova Scotia to offer free wireless high speed internet service for the community. Unfortunately, the town has suffered economically in recent years with the closures of Fundy Gypsum Company and a pulp and paper mill.