Eastern Zone

If the lively energy of authentic Gaelic culture and the warmth of down-to-earth seaside villages sounds like heaven to you, then the eastern zone of Nova Scotia, including the unbelievably-beautiful Cape Breton Island, may have just the community for you and your family to call home.

Connected by a causeway to the mainland of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island is often named one of the top island destinations in the world. Sydney is its biggest city, home to Cape Breton University and a charming urban main street. Outside of the city, it’s all about high-definition beauty and the great outdoors, including stunning hikes, beaches, skiing at Ski Cape Smokey, and the coastal roller coaster ride of a drive called the Cabot Trail.

On the mainland, the Gaelic culture, seaside villages, and warm communities continue to welcome you home. In the bustling town of Antigonish—the “Highland Heart of Nova Scotia”—students study at one of Canada’s most prestigious universities, St. Francis Xavier University. And Guysborough County (just across the straight from Cape Breton) is where the rugged beauty of land and sea surround you. Life here is defined by quaint fishing villages, safe harbours, and friendly people.

This part of the province is home to two regional hospitals, located in Antigonish and Sydney, 11 community hospitals, and one Collaborative Emergency Centre serving towns nestled between the mountains and the sea. Sydney’s Cape Breton Regional Hospital is the second largest acute care facility in Nova Scotia, and St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, in Antigonish, was founded in 1906 by the Sisters of St. Martha’s congregation, and provides a wide range of healthcare services.