Why Antigonish

Discover Antigonish – Where Small Town Charm Meets Big Ideas

Welcome to Antigonish, Nova Scotia – a vibrant small town with an urban vibe and a bold entrepreneurial spirit. Known for its welcoming community and forward-thinking mindset, Antigonish is the perfect place to live, work, study, and grow your business.

We’re proud of our strong roots in tourism, healthcare, education, and the service sector. Our business community includes long-standing establishments with over 100 years of experience, alongside fresh startups bringing innovative ideas to life.

Explore Our Business Hubs:

• • Downtown Main Street – bustling with local shops, cozy cafés, and lively pubs
  • James & West Streets – a hub for services and retailers
  • Antigonish Mall – offering convenience, variety and big-box stores
  • Post Road/ Hwy 4 – home to major retailers and big-box stores

In the heart of downtown, you’ll find an eclectic mix of restaurants, boutiques, services, and even a scenic campground – all just steps from St. Francis Xavier University (StFX). Be sure to check out the StFX Centres of Excellence, StFX Centre for Online Learning & Professional Studies offering innovative programs for lifelong learners and entrepreneurs alike.

Antigonish is more than a destination – it’s a lifestyle. Surrounded by natural beauty, cultural richness, and a thriving food scene, the town is also home to:

• • StFX University, a national leader in undergraduate education
  • St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, a cornerstone of healthcare excellence
  • The Antigonish Movement, a historic hub for cooperative economics and community empowerment
  • Keppoch Mountain, offering outdoor adventure year-round, and
  • Signature events like the Antigonish Highland Games

Whether you’re looking to invest, explore, or settle in, Antigonish is ready to welcome your ideas and your energy. Come experience the best of small-town living with big-time potential.

“Out and About Antigonish is based on my explorations of Antigonish and Northeastern Nova Scotia.

I grew up in Sydney NS and graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 1969. As a child, my family visited Antigonish many summers. During my 45 years of living and working overseas I would be back to Antigonish almost yearly after the 1980s when my Mom and Dad, Joe and Audrey Chiasson, moved to Antigonish to work at Coady International Institute.

In 2010 I decided to move back permanently to Antigonish to be closer to my family. It was at this point that I really realized the beauty and variety that we had here and I was inspired to share my photography and explorations by creating Out and About Nova Scotia (www.outandaboutns.com)

This led to travel writing and publication of Nova Scotia travel articles in SaltScapes, The Casket, The Cape Breton Post, At Home on the North Shore, Trivago Magazine, Issuu, Travel World Magazine, and of course Out and About Nova Scotia. (denisedavies.contently.com)

This book is based on content from many of these articles and trips around Antigonish County, Guysborough County, Pictou County and a foray into Cape Breton. It is amazing how much you can see and do within a 2hr drive of Antigonish Town”.

– Denise Davies

Read more about Antigonish in Denise Davies’ book, titled Out and About Antigonish.