HALIFAX, ARCHDIOCESE OF. — City and archdiocese in Canada (North America). On 15 February 1842, Pope Gregory XVI erected the diocese of H., separating it from Québec. Pius IX granted it the title of archdiocese with the creation of the ecclesiastical province on 4 May 1852. This province consists of the dioceses of H. (metropolitan see), Charlottetown (Île-du-Prince-Édouard), and Antigonish (Nouvelle Ecosse).
The civil territory of the metropolitan see comprises the entire peninsula of Nova Scotia (less three counties) and also the Bermuda Islands (an English possession in the Atlantic). The total population is 391,000 inhabitants, of whom 82,000 are Catholics; 95 priests and 49 religious (Eudists, Congregation of Holy Cross, Oblates of Mary Immaculate) exercise the sacred ministry in the 64 churches with a resident priest and in the 32 missions with a church. There are also 1 seminary, 2 colleges for boys, 5 colleges for girls, 1 orphanage, and 1 hospital. The total area of the archdiocese of H., excluding the suffragan dioceses, is 13,900 sq. mi.