By Dayna Park

Sadie MacLeod’s life was one of resilience, generosity, and deep community connection. Born on a farm in rural Cape Breton in 1927 during the Great Depression, she learned the value of hard work and perseverance early. These qualities would define her nearly 100 years of life, shaping her into a beloved teacher, devoted volunteer, and dedicated philanthropist.

Sadie’s journey into the workforce began during the final years of the Second World War. After finishing Grade 11, she attended the Normal School to become a teacher—one of many young women stepping into the classroom while men were off at war. At just 16 years old, she earned her first paycheck and bought something she had never owned before: a brand-new winter coat.

Teaching became Sadie’s passion and lifeline. After the loss of her husband at age 21, she knew she had to provide for herself and her young son, Malcolm. With the support of her family, she pursued formal training and became a teacher in the local one-room schoolhouse. For 35 years—29 of them in Whycocomagh, NS—she taught generations of students, even teaching Malcolm for three of those years.

Although Sadie died in late 2024 at the age of 97, her commitment to giving lives on through Malcolm. His mother’s example instilled in him a fundamental belief: “’No matter how difficult life is, if you're actively involved in your community, you can lead a happy and productive life’,” he remembers her telling him.

Beyond the classroom, Sadie was a fixture in her community. Whether through church groups, crafting and sewing gifts for others, or volunteering at the Alderwood Home nursing facility in Baddeck, she dedicated much of her time to helping those around her.

She had a gift for conversation, making friends wherever she went. Malcolm describes Sadie’s lawyer calling him to say she racked up a $2,500 bill-because she chatted his ear off while discussing her will.

“She loved to chat,” laughs Malcolm, who helped to cover the fees.

Through her volunteer work at Alderwood, she witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, experiences that moved her and shaped her philanthropic legacy.

Wanting to contribute to medical advancements that could lead to treatments and cures, Sadie learned about the Molly Appeal campaign and became a donor, showing her support for medical research.

Later, Sadie made the decision to make a legacy gift to the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation (now part of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine). She created the Sadie MacLeod Fund upon her passing using her Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF).

To honor her legacy, Malcolm personally contributes to the fund each year, hoping he inherits the good genes that have allowed Sadie and many of her family members to live well into their 90s.

Malcolm, much like his mother, believes in looking forward rather than back. An active volunteer, he serves on the board of governors for local organizations, participates in his church community, and regularly attends local events and concerts.

Sadie MacLeod was a mother, a grandmother to two, a great-grandmother to five, a teacher, and a community leader. She loved to read, sew, and travel the world. Her story speaks to the power of generosity—not just in financial giving, but in kindness, time, and spirit.

Through Malcolm’s tribute, her legacy will continue to make a difference for generations to come.

To learn more about how you can leave your own legacy, contact Carol Murray at carol.murray@dal.ca or 902.233.8767