Sitting in the kitchen of the Centre for Music on Summit, Marsha Sobey admits that she has many passions, two of which are music and animals.
Marsha’s mother Norma was an animal lover and the Nova Scotia SPCA Pictou shelter was one of her charities of choice. She instilled in her children that love of animals and supporting the community.
As a child growing up off Mountain Road in New Glasgow, Marsha learned to play the piano. And at her feet, there were always dogs. “I had a chocolate poodle named Coco Joe,” she says. “Then in university, my friend and I got an apartment and thought ‘we should get a dog’ so we welcomed a black lab puppy and named her Fundy,” she says. Next came a German pointer named Max, then two labs, one yellow and one black. “They were named Kobe and Carter because the kids were huge basketball fans and wanted them named after their favourite players at the time, Kobe Byrant and Vince Carter.”
Today, Marsha and her husband Paul have their best buddy black lab Jake at home. “We pretty much take him everywhere,” she says. They always welcome their six grand dogs to join family festivities. In 2022 Jake donned a construction vest and went to work as “lead digger.” when he officially turned over the first bit of dirt to start the construction of the new SPCA for Northern Nova Scotia.
Becoming the co-chair of the fundraising committee for the North Nova SPCA was not on Marsha’s list of things to do. She dropped in sometimes to the Granton Road facility to donate supplies with her mom when the shelter posted things they needed, and she noticed that the building was not in the greatest shape. “I have such respect for the employees at that shelter,” she says. “They are doing so much with so little. There has been a definite need for an update for the safety of staff and animals, but also a new location, one that isn’t out of sight.”
Her friend Steve Smith, with whom she worked together on other fundraising campaigns, called her one day to tell her that he was going to be a part of creating a new facility for the animals of the region, but a fundraising chair was needed, and would she take on that role?
“I’ll do it I said. I didn’t even take a moment to think about it! But I did say to him, only if you will be my co-chair.” Marsha went home and told Paul about her latest project, and he said to her, “all right, what are we going to give.” This immediate generosity from her husband is reflected in the community when Marsha talks about the new facility.
“The support from family and friends, small and big business, foundations, organizations and clubs, towns and municipalities, and indeed our local contractors, has been very generous,” she states. “And when Steve told me about the contribution Sharon and Elmer MacKay made, it was inspirational. Their dedication to seeing a new SPCA for this area is extremely generous.”
To see the complex – the first of its kind in the province to have a shelter, veterinary hospital, and thrift store – come to fruition, Marsha assembled a committee, including daughter Emma, strategically made up of animal lovers in the area. Together with the building committee, they have worked hard to fundraise and create a space for modern animal welfare.
“And it is in a great spot,” she says. “Compliments to the Town of Stellarton for the foresight and land donation. This new location is central to serve Guysborough, Antigonish, and Pictou County.”
Marsha has talked to a lot of people since agreeing to be the Fundraising Co-Chair, and she keeps hearing the same things over and over. “Most people I run into are passionate about animals and everyone agrees that Northern Nova Scotia really needs this new building. Add in a veterinary hospital and a thrift store which will raise money to care for the animals, and everyone has been very supportive.”
When asked about how she will feel on the day the doors of the North Nova SPCA open, Marsha says she will be super excited and pretty proud of what the community has done. “I will be happy that there is a place for people to go with their pets if they need helps, and that I helped in some way to make that happen.”
Fundraising for the new SPCA is ending the way it started for Marsha: with family. Two of her children live in the area, and to whom she has passed down a commitment of supporting the community, have quietly been raising money through creating and hosting events and reaching out to others to donate. “Even my grandchildren have been a part of the process,” Marsha proudly says. “They have generously donated birthday money and helped their parents at fundraising events.”
As the fundraising committee winds down on a campaign that raised millions, we all have Marsha Sobey’s leadership to thank.
Another summit climbed, for the women who plays music on Summit.