As someone dedicated to pursuing a greener future on behalf of all Nova Scotians and as a supporter of the Nova Scotia Nature Trust since 2017, David Stevenson was someone whose name you might have heard ‘in the wind’ and, although he passed away suddenly in May, we’re honoured to be able to share some of his story of stewardship and sustainability.

Born and raised in Truro, Stevenson’s affinity for nature was first fostered by his father Roy, a professor at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Growing up, David would often help his dad in their backyard garden and accompany him on field trips related to his work with blueberries.

After graduating high school, David met his first wife, whose family roots were in Tatamagouche. Her father had been instrumental in purchasing and protecting land in the area and David was inspired to do the same, buying an old farmstead 30 acres in size. “I knew I didn’t want to be a farmer or a forester, but I did want to add value back to the land,” recalled David. “Along with my brothers, we reforested the property with two thousand red pines, which I found to be an incredibly rewarding experience.” Energized and encouraged, David went on to help establish a forestry co-op in the area, volunteering to acquire and save more land on behalf of the organization.

Decades later, after moving to Dartmouth, David met his second wife, Judy Manchester. She, like him, was a lover of the outdoors. “One of the first things I did was take her to the old farmstead property,” recalled David. The two quickly decided to build a camp there, a quarter of a mile in. Carrying in all the supplies and completing all the construction themselves was hard work, but in a few years, the cabin was finished, complete with a stove and proper chimney. “We were as happy as can be, enjoying our time alone together and caring for the trees and the property.”

David described how one day, leaving to fetch a newspaper at the local store, he discovered the power feeding the area had been out for hours. “Of course, we had no idea, all tucked away in the woods,” laughed David.

Enamoured with each other and the area, David and Judy decided to move permanently back to Tatamagouche and Judy notes that David was a cheerful light in the community; he was often sighted along Main Street in Tatamagouche shoveling snow in his driveway while wearing shorts!

In time, they became friendly with a group of residents interested in wind power and how it could benefit their community. Enlisting the help of engineer David Swan, David helped create the Colchester-Cumberland Wind Field through the Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF) program. Shares were sold to local community members, and soon enough, turbines were erected to generate enough power to supply hundreds of homes and reduce provincial greenhouse gas emissions by 4,000 tonnes each year.

As well, David helped advocate for an electric vehicle highway network, which led to the installation of charging stations across Nova Scotia. He also earned a Clean50 award for his exceptional accomplishments. And his many other community-minded contributions included roles on the North Shore Area Community Health Board and the Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage.

Given David’s work towards making Nova Scotia a greener place, an old friend from Halifax, Paul Scott, introduced David and Judy to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust by inviting them to attend the annual fundraising gala. Impressed by the experience, David and Judy decided to become ardent supporters. The pair became not only monthly donors but also Champions of the Wild, a special group of donors whose generosity allows the organization to act quickly when and where it’s most important.

A true force of nature, David Stevenson helped push forward the work of the Nature Trust and the future of Nova Scotia. And no matter which way the wind blew, his generosity and leadership were an inspiring example for future generations. David recently concluded, “It’s now come time for me to step back and allow younger people to step up and keep us moving in the right direction.”