Alan Archibald (centre) receiving his Vision Award at our 2025 AGM with President & CEO Starr Cunningham and Board Chair, Morgan Manzer. Photo: Stoo Metz
July 29, 2025
For just under two decades, Alan Archibald has quietly and consistently given back to his community. This summer, his dedication was recognized with a Vision Award from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. But if you ask him about it, he’ll tell you he was just doing his civic duty.
“I’m surprised,” Alan says of receiving the award. “I didn’t think I’d done anything exceptional. I was just trying to be a good volunteer. That’s part of being in a community, isn’t it?”
That humble attitude has defined Alan’s long-standing commitment to service. Though he’s hesitant to draw attention to himself, his impact is clear. For almost 20 years, he’s been involved with the Mental Health Foundation, lending his time and expertise to various committees with the goal of simply helping where he can.
His journey into volunteerism began, fittingly, through another community connection. His church. “It was a gentleman I worked with at the church in Bedford,” Alan recalls. “I told him I wanted to get involved in some kind of charitable or philanthropic work, and he said, ‘Well, I’m on the audit committee of the Mental Health Foundation.’ That was it. He’s moved on since then, but I stayed on.”
Alan’s deep connection to the Foundation stems from a belief in the importance of addressing the ‘invisible’ challenges that so many people face. “Every family has mental health challenges,” he says. “It doesn’t matter who you are. But it’s often the elephant in the room. People don’t talk about it.”
That silence, Alan believes, is exactly why more people should support mental health initiatives. “It’s easier to rally behind causes that have a physical manifestation, things you can see,” he says. “But mental health issues are hidden. That’s what drew me in. I knew this was something people don’t always want to talk about and that’s why it matters so much.”
Alan Archibald with his family: (L-R) Maggie, Anne Bedard and Sam. Photo: Stoo Metz
In his quiet, thoughtful way, Alan speaks to a profound insight: sometimes, it’s the causes no one wants to speak about that require the most attention and support.
Now retired, Alan considers volunteering not only a responsibility but also a meaningful way to stay connected to his values and to others. “So much of life is chance and fate,” he says. “Some of us are just more fortunate than others, not because we’re more capable, but because fortune shined a nice light on us. I think when you’ve been given a good life, it’s incumbent on you to give back.”
It’s this sense of moral responsibility that has kept Alan involved with the Foundation for close to 20 years. His background in business and accounting has been an asset on the board and various committees, but it’s his commitment and perspective that his peers value most.
Though Alan downplays his contributions, others are quick to highlight them. The Vision Award is given to individuals who demonstrate leadership, compassion, and dedication to improving mental health in Nova Scotia. For the Foundation, Alan exemplifies all of these traits.
For Alan, it all comes down to doing the right thing.
“I never set out to win an award,” he says. “I just wanted to help where I could.”
As part of the Mental Health Foundation’s broader recognition of its community volunteers, Alan’s story also serves as a reminder of the crucial role seniors play in civic life. With time, experience, and perspective, many older adults are uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully to the organizations and causes they care about.
In fact, volunteering later in life brings its own set of rewards, including connection, purpose, and the knowledge that you’re leaving your community stronger than you found it.
For Alan, the rewards are quieter: A sense of contribution. The satisfaction of consistency. The belief that even invisible issues deserve visible champions.
As the Mental Health Foundation continues to work towards eradicating stigma, people like Alan are the ones holding the mission steady behind the scenes. They show up. They stick around. They make a difference not by seeking attention, but by paying attention to the people, issues, and causes that matter most.
“I think we all have a duty to give back,” Alan says. “Especially if we’ve had the privilege of a good life. That’s how communities work.”
And in his quiet way, that’s exactly what he’s done.
This story was first published on July 29th in the Chronicle Herald’s Senior Living column.