Westray author
Vernon Theriault honoured for fight for safe workplaces.
NEW GLASGOW, N.S.
— After 55 years in the car business, Bill O’Farrell still has an eye for an investment with an exceptional return and he chose Summer Street.
“I like what they do and I like the way they operate in the community,” he said, reflecting on a significant donation he made recently.
A native of Springhill, O’Farrell came to Pictou County as a young man to manage a car dealership. It was a step up for him, but he learned fast and when an opportunity arose he purchased a competitor’s GM dealership.
“It was a big, big risk but I thought I was ready for it. I had the first car dealership on Westville Road and I had the business for 40 years. I worked hard at it but it paid off pretty well.”
At 87, he is well into retirement and enjoys helping out where he can, particularly with local organizations.
“When life has been good to you, I think you have obligations. I was just looking at some RBC stocks I bought a while ago and I wondered if Summer Street could use them.”
He called Summer Street executive director Bob Bennett with his idea.
“He was definitely interested but he also wanted to take me on a tour of Summer Street. I’d been a supporter through the years and I’d been there before but it was my first time taking a tour. I was surprised to find it was more than I ever imagined.”
Part of Summer Street’s mandate is to provide opportunities and employment for people with intellectual disabilities and O’Farrell was particularly impressed by the work ethic he witnessed.
“I saw people who were really serious about getting their work done and I watched them work together in such good spirits.”
Bennett said O’Farrell’s donation came as a welcome surprise.
“It was a very generous donation and it came with no strings attached. Funding is always important to us but it is also extremely encouraging to talk to people who want to donate because they support what goes on at Summer Street.”
Transferring the stock over to Summer Street was easy work for O’Farrell.
“I had to make a couple of calls and sign a few papers, but it was a simple and quick process. It certainly did not tie me up in paperwork or put any burden on me. I was also happy to see the stock was worth more than I expected and I think it has had some good growth since which is terrific.”
O’Farrell’s daughter Katie O’Farrell Sutherland works at Summer Street as a therapist.
“Like any parent, I’m happy to see her working in a place where she is happy. It has also meant I’ve heard a lot of good things about Summer Street that I might not have heard otherwise.”
O’Farrell can remember back to when Summer Street was little more than a group of committed, hard-working individuals.
“Pictou County is a great community for personal initiative, for taking on something, getting support and getting it done. To me, Summer Street might be one of the best examples we have of that spirit.”
Noting Summer Street’s programs provide education, independence, employment and a sense of accomplishment to nearly 200 people each year, O’Farrell cannot help making a comparison to when he was growing up.
“We had children with intellectual disabilities in Springhill when I was growing up, of course we did, but we rarely saw them as children or adults. They stayed at home and their parents managed the best they could with little if any support, but there was no growth in that for the children. From what I remember, they were not seen as part of the community. What I saw at Summer Street could not be more different and we need it to continue.”
Summer Street, so named because it represents optimism and a place in the community, has been serving the needs of adults with intellectual disabilities for 50 years. The organization is open to donations of all kinds, including gifts of cash, bonds, mutual funds, GICs and shares, as well as life insurance, property, land, art, vehicles and so on.
"If you are in a position to give a gift, please consider Summer Street or any of the other worthy, community-minded organizations in Pictou County,” Bennett said. “Just like Bill, your kindness and thoughtfulness can really make a difference.”
For more information contact bob@summerstreet.ca or visit summerstreet.ca.