George Atwood
George and Sarah Atwood have been dedicated volunteers in our community from the moment they came to Sackville in 1952. "I always wanted to live in Sackville", says George Atwood, even
though at that time Sackville was considered an outlying area far away from Halifax. In fact, when they first moved to Sackville in 1961, the Atwood's home on Old Sackville Road was surrounded by woods and farming country. Now, 53 years later, housing subdivisions and steady traffic surround that same house. Sarah Atwood says she loved the way it used to be, while her husband says he likes progress. The Atwood’s both served in World War II, Sarah in the air force and George overseas. George Atwood also served as a volunteer firefighter for many years.
"It started in a barn", George says of Sackville's first volunteer fire department, which was located where the GatewayChurch is today. The volunteer area of Sackville's new, bigger fire department on Metropolitan is dedicated to Mr. Atwood, and Sarah is a life member of the fire department's Lady's Auxiliary. The Atwood’s were also deeply involved with the production of a community TV show run out of the Sackville Sports Stadium about 20 years ago. George was president and Sarah, treasurer, of the board that ran the show and both were involved in the actual producing; Sarah did recording, while her husband ran the cameras. According to George Atwood, "anyone who was anyone in Sackville" was invited on the
show to be interviewed. The Winter Carnival, which many long-term residents of Sackville will
remember as, until its ending, an annual, fun-filled string of events held in February, was also a project in which the Atwood’s were heavily involved. Mr. Atwood was a founding member of the Carnival, during which the community of Sackville was divided into districts named for the Seven Dwarfs; the residents of those districts then competed in the various events. The Winter Carnival, say the Atwood’s was a wonderful way to bring the people of Sackville together. In 1958, Mr. Atwood became a part of the oldest organization in Sackville, the Acadia club, which was started in 1924. He was also a founding member of organizations for Sackville's seniors such as the
League of Seniors, served on the board of directors for the Sackville Sports Stadium, and was a member of Sackville's Heritage Society, which was responsible for the restoration of the FultzHouseMuseum. He has been part of countless fledgling organizations, which have been
successful in part because of his dedication and commitment to the betterment of this community, and his ability to inspire others to do the same. Mr. Atwood was even, at one point, a Chairman for the Central Region Senior Games for the Bedford/Sackville area. George Atwood has been a volunteer for Sackville's Meals on Wheels for many years. Mr. Atwood started out delivering meals; he is now a member of the board of directors and is responsible for overseeing the
volunteers for Meals on Wheels and fundraising events for the organization. Mr. Atwood also states that his wife has been very supportive of his many volunteer activities over the years. Sarah Atwood volunteers at many events put on by organizations her husband is involved with.
"I mostly help out with things he does", Mrs. Atwood says, saying that she does things like selling tickets to help out, among other things. Both George and Sarah Atwood were Grand Marshals in last year's Canada Day Parade held along Sackville Drive as part of Sackville's Patriot Days celebrations. The Atwood’s continue to remain active members of the community, through their volunteering and their various athletic activities at the SackvilleHeightsCommunity Center, and the Sackville Sports Stadium, such as aerobics, yoga, tai chi and swimming. When asked what he liked best about Sackville, Mr. Atwood replied, "The people." He went on to indicate that the people of Sackville, through strong leadership, dedication, and concern for the place they
live, have made the community what it is today. Mr. Atwood has received, among other honors, both the Ted B. Blackburn Award and the province of Nova Scotia's Volunteer of the Year Award for his efforts to make Sackville a better place to live.