It is situated 6 kilometres east of the central business district of Dartmouth and takes its name from Cole Harbour, a natural harbour fronting the Atlantic Ocean.
Cole Harbour is adjacent to and immediately east of the former city boundary of Dartmouth; prior to municipal amalgamation and the creation of the Halifax Regional Municipality in 1995, Cole Harbour was an unincorporated village within the Municipality of the County of Halifax. Because of amalgamation in the Halifax region, Canada Post recognizes most of Cole Harbour's residents as living in neighbouring Dartmouth.
Transportation
The centre of Cole Harbour is at the intersection of Forest Hills Parkway and Route 207 (Cole Harbour Road). A small business district is situated along Route 207 with several residential subdivisions
such as Forest Hills and Colby Village located north and south of this road.
The Forest Hills Parkway links the community to Highway 107, while Cole Harbour Road becomes Portland Street further to the west in Dartmouth and links to Highway 111.
Extensive residential and commercial development took place during the 1970s and 1980s following completion of Highway 111 and the widening of Cole Harbour Road.
Cole Harbour Place is the main recreation center in Cole Harbour offering swimming and aquatics, skating, fitness classes, and a gym. Housed within Cole Harbour Place is a branch of the Halifax Regional Library - offering for loan books, movies, and reference materials. Many special interest classes are held within the library space.[4]
Sea Cadets
Cole Harbour is home to Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps IROQUOIS, recipient of the Convoy Shield for the most proficient Sea Cadet Corps in the Maritime area.