Nova Scotia
Some historians believe that Celtic monks from Iceland settled in Cape Breton Island in 875AD.[1] John Cabot first visited Nova Scotia in 1497 and the first permanent settlement was established in 1605. The capital city is Halifax, and Nova Scotia joined as on of the founders of confederation in 1867.In 1848 it was the first British colony to have responsible government. Pre-confederation, Nova Scotia was the richest region in what is now Canada due to booming fishery and wooden boatbuilding industries. Nova Scotia lost it's great source of early wealth with both the advent of steam powered sea vessels and the decline of the fisheries. It has a total area of 55,490 km2 with a population of 899,942 (1991) accounting for 3.3% of the national total. The per capita provincial income in 1992 was $19,530. The current Premier of Nova Scotia is the Honourable Rodney MacDonald, former Minister of Sport and sucessor to John Hamm. Nova Scotia is also home to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. [2]