The Town of Kentville is the centre of the Annapolis Valley's legal, professional, financial, government, and health services. With a population of around 6,300, it is the largest Town in the Annapolis Valley. Yet Kentville retains a strong sense of community.
Kentville's architecture includes many beautiful heritage homes. Its downtown core is compact enough to walk around. Downtown is also large enough to meet your shopping needs—with a choice of cafés, restaurants and pubs. And you're only steps from Miner's Marsh, a birdwatcher's paradise.
Nearby is the Valley Regional Hospital, a major health centre and employer for the Annapolis Valley.
History and culture
Kentville has been home to the Mi'kmaq for thousands of years. Acadian settlers were followed by New England Planters and United Empire Loyalists. Today, Kentville's vision for sustainability includes fostering diversity.
You'll love Kentville's vibrant arts and music scene. CentreStage Theatre offers live theatre productions year round. (When the pandemic shut the theatre's doors to live audiences, its volunteer cast and crew put on radio plays). Tides Contemporary Art Gallery is an artist-run cooperative of established and emerging Valley artists. Live musicians perform at many venues.
Recreation
Want to play outdoors? Head over to the Parks and Recreation page. It shows you where you can hike the trails, bike, play ice hockey, skate, snowshoe, sled, swim, test your skills at the skatepark, and more. The Kentville Centennial Arena hosts hockey, figure skating, and indoor public skating year round. Kentville also has a large indoor soccer arena and many outdoor baseball and soccer fields, plus children's playgrounds. Kentville Memorial Park is considered one of the best baseball parks in eastern Canada. The park's amenities include tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, and an outdoor pool (with swimming lessons and aquafit classes).
Business
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business ranked Kentville as the seventh best place in Canada to start a new business—and the #1 place in Atlantic Canada. The Town's low-cost infrastructure, geographic accessibility and educated workforce make Kentville a good place to operate your business. Kentville Business Park is the Valley's most active business centre. The Kentville Business Community is thriving.
Innovation
Research and Development are second nature here. The Town is next door to Acadia University. Kentville itself hosts research facilities at Nova Scotia Community College's Kingstec Campus, Kentville Research and Development Centre, and Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc.
Contact us to learn more about Kentville. We want to hear from you.