Betty Lou Scott Named MOPC 2020 Volunteer of the Year

PICTOU, NS – Betty Lou Scott has been named the Municipality of Pictou County’s Volunteer of the Year for 2020.

The Salt Springs resident is a long-time volunteer with the Salt Springs 4H club as well as being involved on county and provincial level.

Scott is described as the general leader and driving force behind the Salt Springs 4-H Club for over 40 years and without her leadership, it would not be a vibrant club that it is today.

“The overall impact of the club has benefited the community and country, but most of the all, the many young people who have joined and grown into successful members of society – becoming leaders themselves and volunteering in their own communities,” said Nancy Hollis, who nominated Scott for the volunteer award. “She has shown them organizational and leadership skills made sure members get experience running meetings, emphasized public speaking, caring and supporting those in the wider community and to learn to do so by doing. As such, these skills are carried forward in whatever young people decide to do in the future.”

Born on a family farm in Upper Mt. Thom, she received her education in a one-room schoolhouse in the area. After her education was completed, she became a teacher, married and lived Musquodoboit for a while before she returned to the family homestead when her children were young, and she resumed teaching in the county as well as working on the farm.

As she raised her family in rural Pictou County, she knew the importance for them to have access to clubs or organizations in their community which motivated her to start the Salt Springs 4-H Club over 40 years ago. She also served as club secretary, vice-president, and president at the Pictou County level and has been a voting delegate at the provincial 4-H level. She has received travel awards to the 4-H National Leaders’ Conference.

In addition to her involvement with 4-H, Scott also served as a member and steward at St. Luke’s United Church in Salt Springs concentrating on fundraising and finances of the church and keeping rural church viable.

She has also been a member and past secretary-treasurer of the Maritime Angus Association and now secretary of the Nova Scotia Association. She has been involved in hosting national conferences in the Maritimes.

Scott will be honored and awarded plaques from both the Municipality of Pictou and the Province of Nova Scotia during banquets in April.