Ruth Estella Smith

Ruth Estella Smith

With profound sadness, Ruth’s family announces her peaceful passing on March 24, 2025, at the VG QEII Hospital. She was born in 1942 in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, to Ralph Everett Smith and Hazel Christina Byers. Ruth was predeceased by her mother in 1968 when Ruth was pregnant with her first child. Ruth was also predeceased by her father, husband Ronald, and step-son Thomas. Ruth is survived by her sister Lucille, son James, daughter Jill (John), step-daughter Laura (Trevor), and grandchildren Lilli, Skye, and Katarina. She is also survived by her cousin Thomas, nephew Dale, niece Heather, and brother-in-law Barry (Dawn).

Ruth earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Allison University in 1962, graduating cum laude, and taking home the prestigious Eaton medal, awarded to a graduating student who has made the greatest overall contribution to university life during their final year, recognizing academic achievement and leadership. After working as a teacher in the Nova Scotia school system (as her mother had) Ruth found great satisfaction working as a researcher at the Nova Scotia Fisheries Board. Her career as a researcher led her to meet Ron at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. They married in 1975 and operated a private oceanology consultancy together while raising 4 children. On weekends they fully immersed themselves (and their children) in organic, sustainable gardening and farming.

Ruth and Ron’s many shared core values fueled their significant contributions to the preservation and sustainability of ecological systems. These included the sustainable management of offshore ocean fisheries, the preservation of Nova Scotia beaches and their ecosystems, the reduction of harmful insecticides used in managing Nova Scotia forests, easing the ecological footprints of new construction such as the fixed link to Prince Edward Island, and the impact of fish farming on community ecosystems.

A devoted advocate of nutrition for her family, early in her career Ruth found herself invited to work with the Consumers Association of Canada (CAC) in Ottawa, a key member of the team that created legislation to ensure food labels with ingredients and nutritional value became mandatory for consumers. Her dedication to people’s health and her commitment to ensuring food was free from harmful chemicals has had a lasting impact on public health policy and consumer rights.

From a very early age, as her family’s primary food source was fishing and growing vegetables, she adopted a love of gardening and the beauty of the outdoors. A wise and masterful organic gardener, Ruth created self sufficient gardens to last generations. An active member of the Rhododendron Society, she cherished time in all of her gardens. A poem embroidered by her mother well reflects this devotion:

• The kiss of the sun for pardon,
• The song of the birds for mirth,
• One is nearer God’s heart in a garden,
• Than anywhere else on earth.
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Ruth was also an avid ornithologist submitting data to the Nova Scotia Migratory Bird Survey each year. Bird watching, a passion she shared with her mother Hazel, resulted in appreciation and delight in the presence of her favourite bird species.

Ruth’s devotion to family and community was expressed in other meaningful ways. With reverence and respect for those that came before her, her resourceful genealogical research is available for future generations at the Halifax Public Archives.

And with love and respect for those around her, she revered and valued highly her communities and friends, ever grateful for the wonderful, deeply meaningful and giving relationships that developed throughout her life. These connections were perhaps most exemplified later in life by those that developed and deepened through her (and Ron’s) devotion to the ecological well being of the land and waters near her beloved childhood home on Port Mouton Bay.

A steadfast advocate for protecting the region’s natural marine environment, Ruth helped design and develop independent scientific research studies for the Friends of Port Mouton Bay. She and Ron believed in the generational wisdom of the local fishermen and evidentually opposed the granting of new fish farm licenses in Port Mouton Bay, as well as the expansion, relocation, or re-stocking of the existing fish farm at Site 835. Ruth firmly believed the bay’s undeveloped seascape, pristine marine ecosystem, and exceptional shoreline represented an irreplaceable gift — one that must be preserved for future generations. Their research ultimately became a useful model for other communities.

It is from these south shore roots Ruth loved to recount her father’s “quotable quotes”, as she called them, bedrock family wisdom that permeated all stages of her life. A few examples:

• “Actions speak louder than words.”
• “Fish makes brains.”
• “It takes all kinds of people to make a world.”
• “You won’t find good things in the cupboard unless you put them in.” (importance of replenishment)
• “You have to forelay.” (think ahead)
• “You can’t make meat of one and fish of the other.” (fairness)
• “You can’t live on love, cheese, and kisses.” (reflections on marriage)
• “Some good you!” (grateful after a nutritious meal that included fresh fish)
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Ruth loved making the world a better place for everyone, one action at a time. She saw what needed doing and simply did it, quietly, with love, kindness, to the best of her ability, without fanfare. She will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to family; her shared commitment to her communities and friends (and the lasting impact they created together); her care-filled devotion to accurate and purposeful research aimed at deepening understanding, wisdom, and stewardship; and her respectful, patient approach of humbly presenting truth to institutional power.

Ruth found joy in the beauty of everyday life: in the vibrant vegetable and flower gardens she lovingly tended, in the birds and butterflies that frequented them, and in the love she shared with her husband — a love so rooted in their deep and abiding care for the planet they worked so passionately to protect, together. With grace, and never one to impose her beliefs on others, in her last days she offered: “God gave us the ability to love others, and to love the planet.” She took to this selflessly, to the very best of her ability.

Listed below are the organizations that were meaningful to Ruth and of which she gave to regularly. Please consider making a donation in her memory.

• Nova Scotia Nature Trust
• Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Nature Canada
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
• Cancer Research Society
• Alzheimer Society
• MS Canada
• Ecology Action Centre
• Amnesty International
• Unicef
• SOS Children’s Villages
• Ecojustice
• Project Ploughshares
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Cremation has taken place under the direction of Chandlers’ Funeral Home, Liverpool, NS. A celebration of life will be held in late June. Online condolences may be made below.