The Westin Nova Scotian is a Canadian hotel located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, owned and operated by New Castle Hotels and Resorts. It was built in 1928 by the Canadian National Railway as the Nova Scotian Hotel and after several changes of owners and names in the late 20th century became the Westin Nova Scotian in 1996. The hotel has been called Halifax's "grande dame" and has played host to numerous dignitaries, royalty, and celebrities over 85 years of existence. History The hotel was built by the Canadian National Railways. Construction began in 1928 and it opened on 23 June 1930 as the Nova Scotian Hotel. The hotel was the final part of the South End terminal project which had seen the new Halifax Railway Station moved from the north end to the south end of Barrington Street as well as the opening of the Halifax Ocean Terminal, which included Pier 21, a trans-Atlantic Ocean liner passenger terminal. The hotel was directly connected by an interior walkway to the Halifax Railway Station and by an overhead walkway to Pier 21. The hotel, like others opened by Canadian National Hotels, was designed by Archibald and Schofield, comprising the Canadian architects John Smith Archibald and John Schofield. It was designed as a complex with the Halifax railway station and the Cornwallis Park across the street. The central axis of the park is aligned with the front entrance of the Nova Scotian. The hotel had 130 rooms and five suites over eight storeys. The Atlantic Ballroom could accommodate up to 275 dinner guests. In 1933 the ballroom held host to the largest fraternity gathering in the city for the chartering of local fraternity Delta Tau to a Sigma Chi Fraternity. chapter Gamma Rho. A new wing was built to the north in 1959, adding 161 more rooms including nine more suites. In 1966, the name was changed to the Hotel Nova Scotian. Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada has stayed in the hotel twice, once in the 1950s and once in the 1970s. Prince Charles and Princess Diana attended a state dinner on 15 June 1983 at the Hotel Nova Scotian hosted by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The 700 guests enjoyed a dinner of Canadian wines and cuisine and Trudeau told the Royal couple they had begun their visit in "the most friendly part of Canada." A crowd of thousands grew outside the hotel