About us
Investing in a brighter future for all
Since 2003, The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation has been a champion of a thriving local community. We work on behalf of donors to enhance and advance the quality of life within Cumberland County.
The Macleod Stanley Scholarship has been available to Amherst Regional High School (ARHS) students since 2010. The Christie-Smith Fund has been administered by the foundation and supporting our community since 2018.
The Christie-Smith Fund is administered by The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie-Smith Community Foundation to support churches, service clubs, organizations, associations, and organized groups of any kind that are qualified donees (registered charities) with the intent of impacting Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.
Over 3.7 million dollars in grant funding has been provided to over 400 recipients to relieve poverty and to support the advancement of education, health care, arts, culture, religion, and sports and recreation.
Relieve Poverty
Advance Education
Advance Health Care
Support Registered Charities
Our Mission
To provide financial assistance to qualified donees that is beneficial to the community as a whole without regard to sex, creed, race, color, or national origin.
OUR HISTORY
Creating a community legacy
Dr. Hugh Christie
The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Smith Foundation was initiated by Dr. Hugh Christie. Throughout his life, Dr. Hugh Christie was a huge supporter of his community. His legacy has continued since his passing in 2010. Dr. Christie was a native of Amherst and was the son of the late Warren and Mary (Black) Christie. He graduated from Cumberland County Academy, Amherst, and attended Kings College as well as Dalhousie University, Halifax, receiving his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1939. He continued to travel and experience the world from there and continued his studies and research in Toronto and Montreal at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Children's Memorial Hospital and McGill University, receiving his fellowship degree in 1949 from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada with a specialty in Internal Medicine.
Dr. Christie returned to Amherst in 1949 as an Internist with special interest in heart disease. He was school physician and advisor at the Inter-provincial School for the Deaf for 20 years and served on the Board of Trustees of Highland View Regional Hospital, Amherst and was Chief of the medical staff until 1980. He retired from the active medical staff in 1996, having served for 47 years. Dr. Christie has been past president of the Amherst and Cumberland Medical Societies and also served on the Economics Committee of the Nova Scotia Medical Society and the Canadian Medical Association during the formative years of Medical Insurance Program (MSI).
The Smith Fund
Michael Smith was born in Halifax, but grew up in Amherst and lived his whole life here. He graduated from the local high school, as well as from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts. After a year at Western University, pursuing an M.B.A. he headed to the West Coast to familiarize himself with the lumber industry before he started his career as a wholesale lumber broker in the family-owned A.D. Smith Lumber business.
He retired at a relatively early age in order to devote himself to the financial markets. His skill and success allowed him to support many causes throughout his life, very generously, but quietly.
Michael was a life-long learner, with many interests: an avid reader, a dedicated gardener and an enthusiastic Bridge player. He loved to travel with friends and members of his family. He was a collector of fine things, but he lived very modestly, above all enjoying his family and his many close friends. He passed away in 2017 at age 73.
Just like his father and grandfather before him, Michael cared very much about the Amherst area and the people who live there. For this reason, undoubtedly, he arranged for the bulk of his estate to be used for the benefit of charitable organizations all over Cumberland County. The foundation and the funds are now referred to as the Christie-Smith Fund in honour of his donation.
Our donors
Macleod Stanley Scholarship
In 2010, Barbra Stanley and Malcolm Macleod initiated the Macleod Stanley Scholarship in memory of their respective parents. This scholarship is for anyone attending Amherst Regional High School who is pursuing post-secondary education and is accepted by an accredited institution. It is not restricted to universities. Their goal was to help our communities youth obtain the education they need to pursue their dreams.
The main criteria are financial need and probability of success. Evidence of financial need is a requirement. Employment history (part-time or full-time), volunteer activities, and references are carefully considered. Good marks are an asset but not determinative. Often these scholarships are not awarded to applicants with the best marks. Scholarships are for $2500 and are renewable for up to four years, depending upon academic progress.
The Macleod and Stanley Scholarship was created by Barb Stanley and Malcolm Macleod in 2013. Post-secondary education has played an important role in their career and life successes, and they have established this scholarship in honor of Barb’s mother, Kathleen (Kay) Rockett, and Barb’s sister, Susan Davidson, and Malcolm’s parents, Don and Marg Macleod.
Kay Rockett lived in Toronto. She was a career woman with an endless curiosity and a talent for making things better. She and Susan were the formative influences of Barb’s youth. Don and Marg Macleod were Amherst residents and made significant contributions to community life. Among other things, Don served on the town council and as deputy mayor and Marg was the first female chair of the Amherst School Board.
As of March 2022, the Macleod and Stanley scholarship has awarded $148,750.00 in scholarships to 14 students. There are presently 3 students receiving scholarships.
Applications must be submitted to the Christie Foundation by May 15th of the year in which the student will attend a post-secondary institution. Awards are announced in late June and are payable in two installments, September and January. Application forms are available online or at the Christie Foundation.
Are you interested in creating a lasting legacy?
Our accessible funding is made possible with our community’s help. If you are interested in learning more about how to contribute or leave funds for our foundation, please fill out the adjacent form to contact one of our Board Members to arrange a convenient time to connect with you.