Put your creativity, ideas, and collaborative skills to the test and help connect the Halifax Seaport district waterfront to Point Pleasant Park with a green, accessible, aesthetically pleasing, and safe pathway for walkers, joggers, wheelchairs, strollers, cyclists, scooters, etc (everything but vehicles).

Click here to register via Eventbrite.

Overarching Challenge Question

How do we create a route from the Halifax Seaport district to Point Pleasant Park that strikes a balance 

between accessibility, safety, aesthetic & green attributes?  This is a blue-sky challenge – anything is possible! 

Challenge Description

The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) is working to create a connected port city that is more inclusive and

accessible. The HPA is taking steps to become a greener and more sustainable organization. Finding new

ways to interact with the community is a key part of our One Port City strategy.

The HPA administers 265 acres of land, most of which is marine industrial land located along the 

waterfront. This includes containerized and non-containerized cargo terminals located in the north end 

and south end of the Halifax peninsula connected by rail tracks. The public is allowed to use the 

industrial roads alongside trucks hauling cargo and containers, dump trucks, and heavy equipment. 

Trains also run through these areas and frequently block Marginal Road near the South End Container 

Terminal as part of their normal operations. 

The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) is looking for creative ways to develop a separate pathway for active 

transportation between the Halifax Seaport district and Point Pleasant Park that won’t interfere with 

port operations has the least environmental impact, and will contribute to active and healthy lifestyles 

for people living in our port city.  

Objectives

• Connect the Halifax Seaport district to Point Pleasant Park. 

• Provide safe passage over rail crossings for path users (including persons on bicycles, 

scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, runners, etc.). 

• Create a destination that is inviting to locals and tourists.

Who should participate?

Challenge participants should be students who are registered in their first

degree/diploma/apprenticeship program at a Nova Scotian post-secondary institution. The best ideas 

come from interdisciplinary teams, so we invite submissions from those studying Arts and Humanities, 

Marketing, Design, Urban Planning, Engineering, Biology, Sustainability, Business, or any other 

program. This Challenge allows participants to work on their own to explore creative ideas or work 

collaboratively in a team environment with others who share similar interests to leverage a variety of 

skills and perspectives. 

Judging and Prizes

Judges will have three days to review the submissions and will then come together to decide on 

winners. Projects will be judged on meeting the objectives listed above, presentation, creativity, and

overall plan. 

• First prize: $1000

• Second prize: $600

• Third prize: $400

The three winning projects will be shared publicly on The PIER and HPA websites, and on social media so 

community members can view the projects and share comments. 

Schedule (all times are in Atlantic Time)

• Monday, September 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.: The Challenge kicks off! The session will 

be hosted at The PIER. It will also be live streamed, recorded, and shared within 24 hours for 

those individuals or teams participating remotely. During the kickoff we will hear from three

subject matter experts and will provide a link to aerial footage of the area. Local participants are 

also welcome to tour the existing route between the Halifax Seaport district and Point Pleasant 

Park to view the area. All participants in attendance will have a chance to ask questions.

• Monday, September 25 by 11:59 p.m.: Concept submissions must be emailed to 

sscully@portofhalifax.ca with “Challenge submission form *TEAM/PROJECT NAME*” in the 

subject line to be eligible for presentation. Judges will review all submissions over the following 

three business days.

• Friday, September 29, at 4:00 p.m. Participants will be contacted with the results, and the 

winning proposals will be shared through social media.

Submissions

• All entries are to be submitted as a video recording/presentation (three-minute maximum).

• Submissions will include a drawn or digital illustration, or a 3D model of the proposed green 

pathway, along with a brief written description of key proposal features. Surprise us! Judging 

will be based on the potential for meeting the key objectives, overall impact, originality, and 

creativity