Canning, Nova Scotia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Canning
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Village
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Province | ![]() |
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County | Kings | |
Established | 1760 | |
Population
(2021)
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• Total | 716 | |
• Density | 384.2/km2 (995/sq mi) | |
Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) | |
Postal code |
B0P 1H0
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Area code(s) | 902 | |
Telephone Exchange | 582 | |
NTS Map | 021H01 | |
GNBC Code | CAGBD | |
Website | canning.ca |
Canning is a small village in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located where two main roads, Route 221 and Route 358, meet.
Contents
History of Canning
The land where Canning now stands was first settled by a group of people called the Acadians. They were forced to leave in 1755 during a big event known as the Acadian Expulsion.
After the Acadians left, new settlers arrived in 1760. These were the New England Planters and later, some Dutch families after World War II. The village was first called Apple Tree Landing. Later, it was known as Habitant Corner. The name Canning was chosen to honor a British prime minister named George Canning.
Canning's Past Industries
Canning was once a very busy place. It was a major center for shipbuilding and a hub for shipping goods. Farmers in Kings County used Canning to send their crops by train.
The people of Canning even started their own railway, the Cornwallis Valley Railway. It ran from 1889 to 1961. This railway connected Canning to a bigger train line in Kentville, Nova Scotia. The village faced tough times with three large fires in 1866, 1868, and 1912.
Famous People from Canning

Sir Frederick William Borden, a Canadian politician, lived in Canning. He was a cousin of another famous politician, Sir Robert Borden. Sir Frederick was in charge of the military before the First World War.
Canning has a special statue for Harold Lothrop Borden. He was Sir Frederick's son and a famous Canadian soldier. Harold died in the Second Boer War during the Battle of Witpoort.
The famous country singer Wilf Carter also had strong ties to Canning. He was made an honorary citizen of the village in 1978. Wilf was born in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, but he spent a lot of his childhood working and visiting the farms around Canning.
Canning Lighthouse
The Canning Lighthouse was built in 1904. It helped guide ships to the port at Borden's Wharf. After many years of not being used, it was fixed up in the 1990s. The village used it as a tourist information center. In 2003, the lighthouse was moved to a new spot by the Habitant River. Students from NKEC helped rebuild its top section.
Education in Canning
Canning is home to two important schools.
- Glooscap Elementary School teaches younger students. It has over 200 students.
- Northeast Kings Education Centre (NKEC) is a school for middle and high school students. About 1000 students and 80 staff work there. NKEC was the first school in Nova Scotia to offer the AP Capstone program. It was also the first in the world to offer the virtual AP Capstone program.
Population and Community
In 2021, the village of Canning had a population of 716 people. These people lived in 311 homes. The village covers a land area of about 1.86 square kilometers.
Places to Visit and Explore
Canning and its surrounding area offer several interesting places.
- Merritt Gibson Memorial Library
- Bigelow Trail
- Blomidon Look-off Provincial Park
- Bruce Spicer Park
- Scots Bay Provincial Park