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John Williams – At Home Here in Nova Scotia

Occupation: Former publishing magnate turned office grunt, hack photographer and Halifamous blogger.

Place of Birth: I was born in Sandy Point, Nova Scotia, but raised in Greater Metropolitan Lockeport, Shelburne County (birthplace of Maggie Hupman, Canada’s smallest woman; and Dennis Page, father of Oscar-nominated actress Ellen JUNO Page; plus the brief home to fake physician Dr. Stephen Weaver who delivered babies and treated patients for four months in 1979 before being arrested for and deported to his native USA).

Currently resides: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Where’s your favourite place in Nova Scotia to grab a pint?

It’s hard to pick between the Henry House on Barrington Street, the Split Crow at Duke and Granville and Dartmouth’s Celtic Corner.

Where’s your favourite place to shop in Nova Scotia?

It’s hardly Nova Scotian, but when the going gets tough, the tough go to Homesense.

Where in Nova Scotia would we stand to see your favourite view?

Anywhere you can sit quietly and watch the sun set on the water.

Name 3 things we’ve gotta do when we visit Nova Scotia:

1. Visit Peggy’s Cove at Sunset. The lighthouse there made an unplanned cameo in Carly Rae Jepson’s "Call Me Maybe" video - click here for the story.

2. Do the Cape Split hike near Canning in the Annapolis Valley. I took this trek for the first time earlier this month and while the view from the top is gorgeous, the 16 km hike is killer.

3. During the summer months, drive to Chester, and hop aboard the William G. Ernst, aka the Tancook Island Ferry and take a spin around Mahone Bay. For just $5.25 roundtrip, you can visit Little and Big Tancook Islands and get a glimpse of Clearwater co-founder John Risley’s Lobster Point compound from the water. One of the cheapest and most pleasant water excursions the province has to offer. Link:

What makes Nova Scotia such a special place on earth for you?

In addition to being born and raised here, my family has Nova Scotian roots dating back to the Loyalist migration of 1783. Those personal and historic attachments alone will always make NS special to me. But my large circle of friends, sense of community and close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean have frequently led me to change my mind about relocating.