Walter Regan

Walter Regan is a totally committed Sackville Nova Scotia Volunteer who has sacrificed employment opportunities and his home life to ensure the betterment of his community and the local environment. His efforts on behalf of the community have been truly outstanding and his commitment of such a rare high standard that he has been recognized throughout HRM and the Province of Nova Scotia for his work. When Walter wasn’t involved in his normally arduous activities, he worked to assist other community organizations to accomplish their goals. He has been a tireless worker and his efforts throughout the years have enabled Sackville, Nova Scotia to be recognized as a community of willing volunteers, people dedicated to the betterment of their community. He has set a very high standard for all volunteers to emulate.

Walter Regan first became involved with the Sackville Rivers Association in 1988 and has been one of their most active members since that time. He was appointed Executive Director four years later and now serves as President of the Association. He served on the Halifax Harbour Clean-Up Advisory Committee until its demise 3 years ago. He was a founding member of the Halifax Regional Development Association’s Sackville Central Region Local Development Association, and as Chairman of its Natural Resources Committee, pioneered the trails movement in HRM. He continues to serve as a member of the N.S. Provincial Trails and HRM Trails Federations. He is a founding member of the Sackville Community Development Association, the Sackville Heritage Park Advisory Committee, and the Second Lake Regional Park Association. He is a very active member of the N.S. Salmon and the Atlantic Salmon Associations and was recently named to the ASF Role Of Honour, a distinct honour recognized throughout the Maritimes. In addition to the aforementioned, Walter currently serves on the Bedford Watershed Advisory Board, the Sandy Lake Ratepayers Association, the Sackville Patriot Days Committee, the First Lake Patriot Days Fishing Tournament Committee, and was a committed member of the Northwest Community Council’s Sackville Drive Design Study Area Advisory Committee. His work with this latter committee was invaluable and his leadership enabled this team of volunteers to produce a plan for development of Sackville which recognized the historic, economic, environmental, and recreational needs of the community, a plan which will be of tremendous benefit to the community and its residents for many years to come.

In 2002, President Walter Regan of the SRA led the battle which forced the NS Environment Department to recognize the man-made environmental disaster which killed thousands and thousands of young fish in the Sackville River, a calamity which will require years to overcome. His outstanding leadership and exemplary efforts on behalf of the community in this affair resulted in a major clean-up of corrosive acidic slate from the area where it had been stored and will eventually result in restocking of the river with young fish.

To protect the interests of the Community of Sackville and ensure that his many valid concerns are heard, Walter Regan attends all Northwest Community Council sessions. His eloquent and thorough reports and requests keep our Councillors informed and involved in many affairs of the community, a community he serves tirelessly and with complete dedication.

Walter Regan is employed by the Department of National Defence and lives in Lower Sackville with his wife Ann, their five children and two grandchildren.

Awards:

1995
Finalist, Le Prix Sauver La Planete, Caring For The Earth Award for leadership in sustained development and conservation in Eastern Canada and New England

1999
HRDA Volunteer Commitment award

2000
Sackville 250th Anniversary Medalion

2001
Atlantic Salmon Role of Honour Award

2001
Sport Fishery of Nova Scotia Award

2002
Awarded the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding volunteer activities.

- Article by Gordon Morgan