The Athenæum Society of Nova Scotia was founded in January 2007 by a small group of local residents who recognized the pool of knowledgeable and talented people living in the area and wanted to bring that talent to a larger audience in a friendly and social forum. The concept is based on that of the Athenæum Club in London, England which was founded in 1824 as a "Club for Literary and Scientific men and followers of the Fine Arts". Past members of that original club include, Joseph Conrad, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, W. Holman Hunt, Thomas Huxley, Rudyard Kipling and John Ruskin. 
 
Based in the picturesque fishing village of Northwest Cove on the South Shore, the Society has proved very popular with the local and broader community, with membership currently standing at over 250 members. Membership dues are kept to an extremely reasonable $10 per annum; there is no charge for attendance (normally around 50) at presentations.