Mel Boutilier Legacy Fund
Mel Boutilier Legacy Fund
Some people light up a room with their smile. Some warm your heart with their kind, caring ways. And there are those who make the world a better place just by being in it. Mel Boutilier was all of that and so much more. This is why we are creating the Mel Boutilier Legacy Fund, to carry on with Mel's important work.
Melvin James Boutilier was born in Seabright, St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia on January 29, 1928, to a fisherman’s family of 10 children. He met Thelma, whose family had the General Store in Hackett’s Cove, just a few miles down the road from Seabright. They had a long courtship and finally tied the knot on August 14, 1954.
Mel was well-known throughout Halifax for his boundless energy and selfless volunteering. A churchman, he was active in the Halifax Seventh-day Adventist Church and helped establish the construction of Sandy Lake Academy. He was a founder of and served as the first chairman of the Metro Food Bank Society which went on to become Feed Nova Scotia. He was also the founder of the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank and Skills Development Centre. In 2015, Mel created another opportunity where he saw a need, serving as Executive Director of the Metro Care & Share Society’s Scholars Program. The program is dedicated to helping students follow their dreams by attending college or university.
In his later years, Mel was recognized time and time again for his humanitarian work. Included among his many accolades - an honorary Diploma from the Nova Scotia Community College (2006), the Order of Nova Scotia (2009), the Order of Canada (2010), and an honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from Saint Mary’s University (2017).
In January 2020, Mel was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. He was in good spirits and remained active to the end. Mel succumbed to his illness on the evening of April 28, 2020, at the age of 92. He was at home with Thelma, his partner in life and all things, at his side, along with loved ones, family and friends.
“As long as I’m living and there’s an opportunity, I will be there helping people.”
– Mel Boutilier
To honour the memory of Mel Boutilier, C.M., O.N.S., and help continue his work with Metro Care & Share Society, a memorial fund has been created in his name. Proceeds will be used to support the ongoing needs of the students enrolled in the Scholars Program.
Thank you, Mel. For everything.
About Metro Care & Share Society:
Metro Care & Share Society is a registered non-profit organization that has been active since 1984 as a fundraising organization for youth education, and community initiatives and partnerships. The Halifax Scholars Program is the most recent initiative which aims at eradicating poverty through educational advancement. The program pays for tuition and living expenses for the scholars throughout the academic year. These are the students who otherwise would not be able to attend post-secondary education. The program currently has nine scholars; one recently graduated from St. Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. There are currently three more enrolled at St. Mary’s University, two at St. Francis Xavier University, two at Dalhousie University, and one at Université Sainte-Anne.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Metro Care & Share Society
Phone: [phone redacted]
Email: [email redacted]
Website: www.metrocareandsharesociety.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrocareandsharesociety/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MCSSSCHOLARS
Charitable Registration #135681393RR0001
Some people light up a room with their smile. Some warm your heart with their kind, caring ways. And there are those who make the world a better place just by being in it. Mel Boutilier was all of that and so much more. This is why we are creating the Mel Boutilier Legacy Fund, to carry on with Mel's important work.
Melvin James Boutilier was born in Seabright, St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia on January 29, 1928, to a fisherman’s family of 10 children. He met Thelma, whose family had the General Store in Hackett’s Cove, just a few miles down the road from Seabright. They had a long courtship and finally tied the knot on August 14, 1954.
Mel was well-known throughout Halifax for his boundless energy and selfless volunteering. A churchman, he was active in the Halifax Seventh-day Adventist Church and helped establish the construction of Sandy Lake Academy. He was a founder of and served as the first chairman of the Metro Food Bank Society which went on to become Feed Nova Scotia. He was also the founder of the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank and Skills Development Centre. In 2015, Mel created another opportunity where he saw a need, serving as Executive Director of the Metro Care & Share Society’s Scholars Program. The program is dedicated to helping students follow their dreams by attending college or university.
In his later years, Mel was recognized time and time again for his humanitarian work. Included among his many accolades - an honorary Diploma from the Nova Scotia Community College (2006), the Order of Nova Scotia (2009), the Order of Canada (2010), and an honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from Saint Mary’s University (2017).
In January 2020, Mel was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. He was in good spirits and remained active to the end. Mel succumbed to his illness on the evening of April 28, 2020, at the age of 92. He was at home with Thelma, his partner in life and all things, at his side, along with loved ones, family and friends.
“As long as I’m living and there’s an opportunity, I will be there helping people.”
– Mel Boutilier
To honour the memory of Mel Boutilier, C.M., O.N.S., and help continue his work with Metro Care & Share Society, a memorial fund has been created in his name. Proceeds will be used to support the ongoing needs of the students enrolled in the Scholars Program.
Thank you, Mel. For everything.
About Metro Care & Share Society:
Metro Care & Share Society is a registered non-profit organization that has been active since 1984 as a fundraising organization for youth education, and community initiatives and partnerships. The Halifax Scholars Program is the most recent initiative which aims at eradicating poverty through educational advancement. The program pays for tuition and living expenses for the scholars throughout the academic year. These are the students who otherwise would not be able to attend post-secondary education. The program currently has nine scholars; one recently graduated from St. Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. There are currently three more enrolled at St. Mary’s University, two at St. Francis Xavier University, two at Dalhousie University, and one at Université Sainte-Anne.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Metro Care & Share Society
Phone: [phone redacted]
Email: [email redacted]
Website: www.metrocareandsharesociety.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrocareandsharesociety/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MCSSSCHOLARS
Charitable Registration #135681393RR0001
Organizer
Metro Care and Share Society
Organizer
Halifax, NS
Metro Care and Share Society
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically tax deductible in Canada.