HRM's climate is heavily influenced by its location on Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast. The weather is usually milder or cooler than that of central Canada, with the temperature remaining between about -5°C and 28°C inland but the coast can be milder in the winter and cooler in the summer with the maritime influence.

Economy and Job Opportunities for Immigrants
The Halifax Regional Municipality is a major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Major employers and economic generators include the Department of National Defense, as well as the Port of Halifax. The municipality has a growing concentration of manufacturing industries and is becoming a major multi-modal transportation hub through growth at the port, the Halifax International Airport, and improving rail and highway connections. A real estate boom in recent years has led to numerous new property developments, including the gentrification of some former working-class areas.

Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of HRM, offering opportunities for both unskilled and skilled immigration workers. The majority of agriculture & forestry of the Halifax Regional Municipality is the Musquodoboit Valley. The total number of farms in HRM is 150, of which 110 are family owned and as of the 2001 Census. Fishing harbours are located along all coastal areas with some having an independent harbour authority, and others being managed as small craft harbours under the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Education for Dependant Children and Post Secondary
Families with small children interested in immigrating to the Halifax Regional Municipality can take advantage of the well-developed network of public and private schools, providing instruction from primary to grade 12; 150 public schools are administered by the Halifax Regional School Board as well as three public schools administered by the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial, whereas the fourteen private schools are operated independently.

The municipality is also home to the following post-secondary educational institutions: Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University, University of King's College, Atlantic School of Theology, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, Mount Saint Vincent University, and the Nova Scotia Community College.

Dalhousie University is the largest post-secondary educational institution in the Maritime Provinces, it offers a wide array of programs, including a Medical Program and the Dalhousie Law School.

Arts and Culture
The Halifax Regional Municipality's urban core is the largest population centre in Atlantic Canada and is the major cultural centre within the region. The municipality's urban core also benefits from a large population of post-secondary students who strongly influence the local cultural scene. HRM has a number of art galleries, theatres and museums, as well as most of the region's national-quality sports and entertainment facilities. The region is noted for the strength of its music scene. HRM has also become a significant film-production centre, with many American and Canadian filmmakers using the streetscapes, often to stand in for other cities that are more expensive to work in.

Halifax is a sister city of Halifax, England, Hakodate, Japan (1982), and Norfolk, Virginia (April 27, 2006).

Halifax was selected as Canada's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in 2006 but withdrew from the international competition in advance of the November 9, 2007 selection date on March 8.

The municipality was selected as the host community for the 2011 Canada Winter Games in February 2007.