The Alpinas are hardy enough for your zone.

There are many.

summerf, do you mean you are looking for one that does not bloom on previous season's wood? also, i assume you have a place to put it in the ground (versus potted on the deck)..?

maybe others up in canada can chime in here, but i would think you would want a type 3 that blooms on new wood so any winter kill on the stems will not affect your season's blooms. there are many that i've read are hardy to z3/4, and i would consider the viticellas as great candidates.

alpinas mentioned by buyorsell888 as well as macropetalas and many in the atragene group are hardy down to you zone too. i have c. macropetala blue bird and markham's pink and they are simply beautiful this year.. although of course i've had no practical with growing in zone 5 much less nova scotia!

I have a friend in Saskatchewan who has Blue Bird. Gotta be as cold here as Nova Scotia.