Knowledge and Curiosity: David McCorquodale

01 Jun 2026

For over thirty years David McCorquodale taught biology at Cape Breton University, and was deeply involved in the conservation space for over 35 years. Now retired, David dedicates himself to conservation by volunteering and spending his time outside taking photos for iNaturalist and monitoring as a Property Guardian for the Nature Trust.

Paddling and Paintbrushes: Mark Brennan

01 May 2026

Mark Brennan is a Canadian artist who works primarily as a landscape painter and photographer, and is one of our Wilderness Property Guardians and Bird's Eye View volunteer. His commitment to conservation can be traced back to early involvement in wilderness protected areas in Nova Scotia in the 1990s. Paddling by canoe, with canvas and paintbrushes, he captured the wild landscapes in hopes of protecting these places.

All seasons of life and adventures: Barry Spencer

02 Apr 2026

In anticipation of a new season in life, where he will be retiring from his career as a high school teacher, Barry Spencer has reflected on one of the things that really means a lot to him, which is the preservation of nature. It seemed natural to find an organization like the Nature Trust as a way to give back.

Rooted in community: Hilary and Meghan Marentette

26 Feb 2026

The Marentette family’s journey with the Nature Trust began in the spring of 2023, when Hilary’s husband passed away and they generously set up a plan to donate a portion of his life insurance proceeds to the Nature Trust. Looking for a way to meet people and to build community, Meghan gently nudged her mother to get in touch with the organization.

Building a Relationship With the Wild: Ciaran’s Journey

02 Feb 2026

When Ciaran Purdome moved from out West, they quickly noticed how differently access to public land was here. In Nova Scotia, exploring nature required more intention; their search led them to the Nature Trust and the Wilderness Property Guardian program.

Paddling With Purpose: Sarah De Coutere

28 Nov 2025

Becoming a Property Guardian has given Sarah De Coutere a protective lens over this place she calls home on the Eastern Shore; as she puts it, “they’re my islands to look after now.”

Sarah Hudgins: Finding a Different Perspective

03 Nov 2025

For Sarah, volunteering as a Wilderness Property Guardian is an opportunity to explore places she'd never have known about otherwise - and to gain a new perspective to bring back to her work as a physician.

A compass set to acts of service: Marjan and Craig Willett

01 Oct 2025

For Marjan and Craig Willett, adventure and service have always gone hand in hand. From running a native plant nursery in rural Ontario to traveling widely with their family, they’ve carried with them a spirit of exploration and a commitment to giving back. When they retired to Nova Scotia, they found a natural way to continue that spirit of service to the place they now call home.

Small, quiet acts of care: Kim McCallum

02 Sep 2025

Kim McCallum finds volunteering as a Property Guardian restorative: it allows her to give back to her community without a direct public facing role, but by doing the behind the scene work that needs to be done to help protect somewhere precious and dear to her and others.

Twenty Years in the Wild: Harold and Diane Clapp

01 Aug 2025

For over 20 years, Harold and Diane Clapp have protected Nova Scotia’s wild places—starting with turtles and evolving into forest stewardship.