Devils Island (Nova Scotia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Devils Island
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Island community
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Lighthouse on Devils Island
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 Devils Island
Location in Nova Scotia
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Nova Scotia |
| Municipality | Halifax Regional Municipality |
| District | 9 |
| Founded | 1711 |
| Area
(Island)
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| • Total | .12 km2 (0.04633224 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 4.6 m (15.1 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) |
| GNBC Code | CAJKW |
| Website | http://www.devilsisland.ca/ |
Devils Island, Nova Scotia, is a small island located right at the entrance of Halifax Harbour. It's part of the Halifax Regional Municipality and sits off the coast of Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia. The island is quite small, only about 12 hectares in size.
Discovering Devils Island
The name "Devils Island" actually came from an early French merchant. It was first spelled "Deville's Island."
Island History
People first started living permanently on Devils Island in 1830. By 1850, there were already three houses and even a school on the island. The community grew quite a bit, and by 1901, there were 18 houses.
Many people who lived on Devils Island shared interesting stories and traditions. A famous Canadian folklorist named Helen Creighton collected these stories. One notable person who helped her was Ben Henneberry.
During World War II, most of the island's residents moved to the mainland for safety. The last person to live there permanently was a Norwegian artist, who moved off the island in the year 2000. Today, the island is owned by a businessman from Halifax named Bill Mont.
The Lighthouse and Lifeboat
A very important building on Devils Island is the Devils Island Lighthouse. It was built in 1877. This lighthouse replaced an even older one that was built in 1852. The lighthouse is still standing, but it doesn't work anymore and is at risk of falling apart.
For many years, Devils Island was also home to a rescue lifeboat station. This lifeboat was very important for saving sailors. It helped rescue the crews of many ships that got stuck on the shallow areas near the entrance to Halifax Harbour. The rescue lifeboat station operated until the 1950s.
