LE3 .A278 2015

2015

Powers, Ann Marie

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

Sociology

Sociology

The community of Bedford sits on the edge of the Bedford Basin located within Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) in the Province of Nova Scotia. This community has over a 200-year history from its beginnings as a small outpost surrounding Fort Sackville to a modern-day community of over 20,000 people. In this thesis I will explore the community via interviews and historical analysis and how it has changed over time in relation to local governance, population growth, physical changes in size, economic changes within the community, and outside forces such as provincial and national governments. To do so, I will utilize Cohen’s and Bernard’s theories of community along with the classical theory proposed by Tonnies. These theories focus on the symbols of community, the power relations within, and the rural or urban nature of the community. The research was conducted using both face-to-face interviews with participants in the community and archival research conducted in local archives held by the Fort Sackville Association. Through this process symbols were found that represent the community such as the Bedford Basin, town police and a vibrant parks and recreation system. I will examine the civic power structure that existed in different eras. This research finds the community of Bedford alive and well within the Halifax Regional Municipality after undergoing massive change through the Bedford Service Commission era, Town of Bedford era, and the current period of the HRM.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1273