George and Sarah 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 Atwoods 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 Gateway Church 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 Atwoods 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 Atwoods 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 Atwoods, was a
wonderful way to bring the people of Sackville together.
In 1958, Mr. Atwood became a part of the oldest organisation in
Sackville, the Acadia club, which was started in 1924. He was also a
founding member of organisations 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 Fultz House Museum.
He has been part of countless fledgling organisations, 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
organisation.
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 organisations 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 Atwoods continue to remain active members of
the community, through their volunteering and their various athletic
activities at the Sackville Heights Community 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 honours, 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.

-Shawna Stone