Al Smith
Whether he's developing an outline for a proposed historical publication, admiring the jet-like approach of a flock of teal, or cheering his daughters on in their bid for national curling championships, Al Smith has spent a lifetime immersed in all the things he is most passionate about.
"I've been very fortunate, really," Smith says of the fact that his entire career in wildlife management was spent right here in Sackville and right on the brink of the Tantramar Marsh, the very place that fostered his love of the environment and natural history. "I certainly had opportunities to go elsewhere in the country, but I was always happy to stay right here at home. This town has very special meaning to me."
With degrees from both Mount Allison and Acadia universities, Smith spent 31 years as head of the Regional Habitat Program, based out of the Sackville office of the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Retiring in 1997, he now devotes a good deal of his time to the Tantramar Heritage Trust, a group of more than 200 area residents dedicated to the preservation of both the natural and human heritage of the greater Sackville region.
A founder and past-president of the heritage group, Smith has spearheaded, or at least been involved with, numerous projects undertaken by the Trust, including the publication of at least 10 books and historical accounts from the area. That list includes an enlightening look into the history of Sackville's street names in a book he authored entitled, Aboushagan to Zwicker - An historical guide to Sackville's street nomenclature.
But the Trust only represents a portion of Smith's involvement in the community. In fact, as he and wife Elaine managed their busy careers and raised their two daughters, he was a tireless volunteer with the town, involving himself in everything from Boy Scouts to development of the spectacular and much photographed Sackville Waterfowl Park.
"I'm glad to contribute and give back what I can to a community which has meant so much to me and my family," Smith says.
The wildlife biologist's modesty conceals a lifetime of giving. His extensive resumé of volunteer efforts includes being a founding member of the Chignecto Naturalists' Club, camp director with the Girl Guides and involvement with the Downtown Sackville Redevelopment Plan.
Smith also sat on the Waterfowl Park Advisory Committee, he was a founding director of Wings of the Wind Inc., he was a driving force behind the former Atlantic Waterfowl Celebration, he was chair of Yorkshire 2000, and the list goes on.
Today, as he divides his retirement time between cottage life in Upper Cape and his ongoing duties with the Heritage Trust, Smith also finds some energy for the town's Heritage Advisory and Parks Advisory committees, as well as the Tantramar Historic Sites and Monuments Committee.
But above and beyond all his duties, even now that his children are grown, Smith, like he has always done, puts his family at the very top of his priority list.
"Definitely my family is the most important aspect of my life," he says with a broad-faced grin that grew as he continued to speak. ""We have three grandchildren now and everybody's been visiting with us at the cottage this summer."
Daughters Krista and Heather are both married and live on opposite ends of the country, with Krista, the eldest, living in Vancouver and her sister in Halifax.
The products of the Sackville Curling Club's junior program, an initiative fostered by their father when he was club president in 1983, the girls are among the best women curlers in the country.
With Krista as skip, Smith coached the sisters to their first national competition in 1990 and since that time they have been in world championships, they've played twice in the Scott Tournament of Hearts and together they won a mixed national championship in 1994.
Heather and her husband, current Briar champion Mark Dacey, took the national mixed championship again in 2001.
"They both have their sights set on getting an Olympic berth eventually," their beaming father offered.
Smith is his daughters' biggest fan, just as he is one of Sackville's greatest supporters.
His passion for the things he loves most has been evident to all who know him, and his motivation can be found within that passion.
"I've always loved this town and the environment here," he says. "We're right on the edge of the marshes, which is a rich environment and it was so important to our development here.
"Part of keeping this town special is to maintain its heritage values and to put some orderly development together in order make sure we are maintaining the unique character of the town.
"All these things are really important to me and if I can contribute in some small way through the volunteer work I do then I'm happy about that," Smith concluded.