HALIFAX, ARCHDIOCESE OF. – City and archdiocese in Canada (North America). On 15 Feb. 1842, Pope Gregory XVI erected the diocese of H., separating it from Québec. Pius IX raised it to the rank of archdiocese with the creation of the ecclesiastical province on 4 May 1852. This province comprises the dioceses of H. (metropolitan see), Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) and Antigonish (Nova Scotia).
The civil territory of the metropolitan see includes the whole peninsula of Nova Scotia (except for three counties) and also the Bermuda Islands (a possession in the Atlantic). The total population is 391,000, 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 64 churches with resident priests and in 52 missions with a church. There are also a seminary, 2 colleges for boys, 5 colleges for girls, 1 orphanage and 1 hospital. The total area of the archdiocese of H. without its suffragans is 13,900 sq. miles.