Noteworthy: Heather MacDonald

A Hello Oxford series on the movers and shakers, sometimes loud but often quiet, who contribute to our community. If you think someone in our community deserves to be recognized, drop us a line at info@hellooxford.ca

Heather MacDonald: The somebody every community needs

If we are lucky, we each know someone like Heather MacDonald. If we are luckier, we work with someone like Heather MacDonald, and if we are the luckiest, we can learn from someone like her. Oxford, count yourselves lucky.

We did the silliest things

Ask Heather MacDonald about how times have changed, and she will tell you about her 25 years of involvement at Pugwash High School. From 1972 to 1997, Heather taught family studies—oh, and a few other things—to just about every student who walked through the doors. While that contact with students was important, it pales in comparison to what she truly gave them. As an advisor to the student council, she organized dances, dunk tanks, variety shows, pie-throwing contests, and the ever-popular cow-patty bingo. That’s right, cow-patty bingo. And when the school suggested they “needed somebody to do” whatever it was that came up next, it was Heather who raised her hand. Despite raising three children of her own, she opened up her calendar to ensure students had a rewarding educational experience because schooling doesn’t happen only in the classroom. Times are different now—no more monthly dances, no more cow-patty bingo (which might be for the best), no more silly traditions.

Making Connections

Having grown up in Bedford, Heather completed Nova Scotia Teachers College and then studied at St. F.X. before accepting her job at Pugwash High School. Moving to Oxford in 1975, she knew no one. She and her husband, Dale, established themselves on Main Street, and she felt that the best way to meet people was simply to go out and meet them. Curling offered opportunities for connection, but another opportunity arrived when she joined the Oxford’s Lionettes Club – the women’s affiliate of the Lions Club. Though the original purpose of Lionettes clubs was to permit women related to Lions to get involved in community service, the club took on a life of its own. The women, mostly the same age, did their share of fundraisers, but the meetings became social events where the women got together to talk about their mission while enjoying a bite to eat and an occasional glass of wine. With no social media to depend on, people congregated at the bi-annual dances hosted by the Lionettes. Now, though the Lionettes have mostly disbanded, they still maintain one precious mandate.

Christmas for Kids

Certainly, one integral project that the Lionettes cherish is the Christmas Food Box distribution – an activity headed up by the Oxford Christmas Committee. For their part, the Lionettes receive the names of families from Christmas for Kids, and the goal is to spread holiday spirit and provide food for families who struggle to make ends meet. Every year, there are around 45 requests for Christmas meals. This makes it more important than ever that monetary donations – which used to pour in from a wide network of organizations – continue to arrive, even as many of those groups, such as the Pythian Sisters, have disappeared. Each family that makes a request receives two boxes of food and other necessities for a traditional Christmas dinner.

Giving Back

Heather is troubled that, now with the changing economy and ever-increasing prices, more families are in need than ever. But she notes that the need was present even 25 years ago, when the Oxford and Area Food Bank opened its doors. As secretary of the board since its inception, Heather and her colleagues have had a hands-on approach. They receive donations from Feed Nova Scotia, stock the shelves, and distribute provisions. It has been tough. Donations are down, and food that used to come from churches now comes from some loyal local contributors. Everyone is feeling the pinch. Fortunately, unlike some other provincial food banks, the Oxford and Area Food Bank Association has no rent to pay, and its water and sewer services are provided by the town. Still, space is limited, preventing them from offering other necessities, such as extra clothing.

A Renewed Passion

At one point in her life, Heather felt diminished, as though she’d lost her purpose – a feeling that anyone might experience. But rather than dwell on it, she took some time to catch up with her life and breathe; since then, she has invested herself in others. Her passion for the food bank is a prime example: she covers shifts, raises funds, and encourages a new generation of volunteers to share ideas. She hopes the group will be able to keep supporting people for as long as needed.

Finding Balance

Heather does make time to take a break, though. She spends her summers at the beach and has traveled to Portugal, whereas before, she and Dale would vacation in the States. She admits, though, that she is busy a lot of the time.

Giving to the Church

Another group commitment is her role as the chair of United Board of Trinity. It is a daunting task. She explains that costs have risen while congregation size has dropped. The challenge of heating a building—especially when the price of natural gas has gone up and the two ten-year-old furnaces meant to keep the building warm have both had to be replaced—is real. Yet a smile lights her face as she talks about the choir and the luck the church has had in finding new talent. With an organist who recently moved to the region from BC and a new minister who loves to sing (and sings well), things are looking up. If the church can bring in new members, there might be less need for the pre-recorded hymns sung by the choir during the week and played on Sunday mornings. Heather is aware that all of the community churches are suffering in their own way.

No time for boredom

If Heather has one complaint, it is that she doesn’t have time to slow down! She is amazed when retirees claim they’re bored, as she struggles to find a free moment. Sewing—an activity that she enjoys—has fallen by the wayside. During her free moments, she works in her garden, but she is often on the go.

True kindness

With great empathy, Heather speaks of the challenges faced by newcomers to Oxford – dealing with unfamiliar customs, languages, and routines. Through her travels, she has learned to open her eyes to others and has seen how kind people can be. She has reaped the rewards of sharing her skills with the community and knows that people are grateful. She also knows that social media and hectic family life make it hard for younger people to get involved. It is a common theme for all those who give of their time, but like other volunteers, she points out that it is good to be appreciated.

And silliness again

Heather MacDonald remains realistic about today’s world and the impact of actions we cannot control. Understandably, she is nostalgic for the simpler days, when friends got together to share their lives in person rather than over a social media post. She does have her family, though, and feels fortunate that many of her children and grandchildren are close by. But she giggles again when she speaks of the early days of the Lionettes: “We had a lot of fun.”

Heather MacDonald was recognized as Oxford’s Volunteer of the Year at the 49th Provincial Volunteer Awards in Halifax on September 25, 2023.

---

Joy Blake is a former Oxford resident with an interest in community life. She now lives in Quebec but heads back to the rivers and shores of Cumberland County throughout the year. She teaches and produces educational films at the Cegep de Granby: Virtual Reality.