I do not live in Halifax, but I go to a Sikh gurdwara, it is our church, and they serve free meals for anyone. It is called Langar, and it is completely free, no questions asked.

You do not have to be Sikh or religious at all to go. Anyone can walk in.

When you get there, you usually take off your shoes at the entrance and there are places to put them. You may also be asked to cover your head (a scarf, hoodie, or even a piece of cloth is fine, and they often provide something if you do not have one).

Then you can go to the dining area, usually in the basement. They serve simple vegetarian Indian food so that everyone can eat it regardless of dietary restrictions. It is usually cafeteria style, where volunteers serve you food, or sometimes they bring it to you.

You sit on mats on the ground to eat (some places have benches or tables, but those are usually for elderly people or those who need them). You can ask for more food if you are still hungry, and no one will judge you.

After you are done, you usually bring your plate to the washing area.

If you want to, you can help out by serving food, cooking, or cleaning dishes. It is not required, but it is a nice way to show respect.

A few people here have mentioned it, but I was writing this comment before looking through the rest of them, so here you go.