Halifax Regional Municipality
The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is a Nova Scotia Regional Municipality created on April 1, 1996 as a result of the Province of Nova Scotia amalgamating the municipalities of the Cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, the Town of Bedford and the County Of Halifax. The municipality has an area of 5,490 square kilometres, which is larger than the Province of Prince Edward Island, and the total population in 2006 was 372,679. It contains over 200 communities diverse as urban centres, suburban neighbourhoods, seaside fishing villages and farming communities. The three largest are the metropolitan areas of Halifax and Dartmouth and the community of Bedford. HRM is divided into 23 districts with each having one councillor, which forms the Halifax Regional Council with a mayor who elected at large. The elected Regional Council and a Chief Administrative Officer form of government govern the municipality. The Chief Administrative Officer reports to the elected Halifax Regional Council.