'We probably have the most livable city in the country,' says the CEO of Corporate Research Associates

Don Mills believes Halifax has a bright future.

There was a time when the pollster feared the city wouldn't reach its potential, but he says things have changed.

He now thinks Halifax will be recognized as one of the best places to live in Canada within the next 10 years.

"We probably have the most livable city in the country in terms of being able to get around the city, and on top of that we have all the amenities of all the other major cities," he tells NEWS 95.7's The Rick Howe Show. "We don't have the crime, we don't have the pollution, we're close to nature."

"We have so many assets now and it's really come about, only in the last 5 or 6 years that we've really started to see the redevelopment of the urban core that's allowed us to get excited about the future."

The CEO of Corporate Research Associates says signs indicate Halifax is starting to attract the 25-to-35 year old demographic.

He points to Halifax's vibrant music scene, arts and culture sector, shopping and restaurants as reasons for that influx.

"Young people make choices on where they want to live based on the quality of life of the places they choose," he says. "We're starting to make some real progress on this."

"I think we are making great strides in becoming the kind of progressive, interesting city to live and the population growth is supporting that change."

Mills also believes the addition of more sports franchises will solidify Halifax's status on the national stage.

Both the HFX Wanderers Football Club and new National Lacrosse League franchise will join the Halifax Mooseheads and Halifax Hurricanes on the city's sports roster.

In addition, Maritime Football is trying to bring a CFL franchise to the region; however, the Atlantic Schooners still need a place to play.

"Every major city in the country has a stadium. Most of it, all of it in fact, has been supported by public money. It's the only way you build these things, it won't happen any other way," he says.

"When it comes to the proposal that the proponents are doing, they're not asking to take it out of existing funds," Mills explains. "They're talking about using the property taxes on a much bigger facility that would include not just a stadium, but multi-mix usage of residential and commercial retail, and the property taxes on that would be used to offset the cost of the stadium."

Mills says we need to start thinking about the kind of city we want to build for the next generation.

"I love Halifax. I want Halifax to prosper, I want people to see it as a place to move to, to build the economy here," he says. "We have that going right now. We have momentum in the city."