Port Hawkesbury (Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Chlamhain) is a municipality in southern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.

In 1605, French colonists established the first permanent European settlement in the future Canada (and the first north of Florida) at Port Royal, founding what would become known as Acadia.

Today the town is largely a service centre for western Cape Breton Island, with many of its residents working in large industries, particularly the pulp and paper plant in the industrial park located in the adjacent community of Point Tupper, Richmond County.

The Town of Port Hawkesbury is governed by a council composed of a mayor and four councillors elected at-large.

[28] Port Hawkesbury is represented in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly by Allan MacMaster, elected to the riding of Inverness, and in Canada's House of Commons by Mike Kelloway, elected to represent the riding of Cape Breton—Canso.

[6] By 2011, the volume of annual tonnage had dropped to 23.7 million tonnes, making it the 7th largest port in Canada.

[9] Located in neighbouring Point Tupper, the Port Hawkesbury Mill began operation in 1962.

Due to the proximity to surrounding bodies of water, seasons tend to be delayed when compared to areas further inland.

Precipitation is high, with the fall and winter being the wettest time of year and summer being the driest.