Leaving the gift of hope: Brenda and Geordie Bell

As the days grow longer, they carry the promise of warmer weather ahead. Another season outdoors is unfolding, and Geordie is drawn to the ocean, traversing coastlines and visiting deserted islands or racing mountain bikes on well-worn paths, while Brenda is in her happy place beneath a green canopy, wandering wooded trails with their dog. Wherever she is in nature, she is happy.

At their lakeside home, Brenda and Geordie replaced a part of their lawn with a pollinator garden for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees to help the local native biodiversity. Brenda enjoys watching the bumblebees fly about from flower to flower as they are one of her favorite visitors to spot in her garden. Sharing their connection and love for nature, the Bells were seeking even more ways to give back to support nature in Nova Scotia.

They were first introduced to the Nature Trust through neighbours, Darlene Stone and her husband, Jack, who lived nearby and introduced them to the organization after the Stones had donated land. From there, Brenda and Geordie decided to inquire more and found that the benefits of leaving a natural legacy resonated with them. They decided to move ahead with leaving a gift in their Will to the Nature Trust because the organization is local and works to protect nature in the province they both love and call home. As well, they support the Nature Trust with monthly donations.

Geordie grew up in the Dingle and Fleming Park area with Williams Lake in his backyard in the 1970s and 80s, when the area was still considered rural Halifax. For him, conservation is about preserving what’s left and continuing to engage with and enjoy wild places. He believes that protecting those areas helps ensure that the wilderness in Nova Scotia will remain protected for future generations.

When asked what he would recommend to those interested in leaving a natural legacy, he suggested,

“Just do it. If you have kids or grandkids, saving those places for them and for everyone means saving habitat and wildlife…they are not making any more, especially coastlines.”

It’s the busy bumblebees, songbirds, and all the creatures that call wild places home that are at the heart of why creating a legacy gift was important to Brenda.

“When you save the forest, you also save everything that calls that forest home.”

Saddened by all that has been lost, she feels a deep need to protect what remains. It gives her hope and the quiet comfort of knowing she is doing something, even in a small way, and that their gift will stand as a lasting legacy in support of wild places.

Brenda and Geordie reached out to their investment advisor to discuss establishing a donor-advised fund (DAF). The advisor took care of everything. The Bells only needed to provide the names of the organizations they wanted to support. There was no fee to set it up and no paperwork because it was all handled through their advisor at the bank. Afterwards, they reached out to Barbara at the Nature Trust so that the organization would have a record of the gift that had been created and would be able to plan accordingly and include the Bells as honoured members of the Nature Trust’s Legacy Circle.

For Brenda and Geordie, protecting the land and wildlife of Nova Scotia simply makes sense. Preserving nature also supports the wildlife that calls it home; it’s a win-win. They want to help ensure more forests are not lost. They are strong believers that individual actions add up. One person doing something may not seem like a lot, but it is a cumulative effect over time that makes a difference. This is their way of contributing, of leaving the world a little better than they found it.

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