By Melanie Starr

The Sober Island Brewing Company’s logo typically features a clipper ship in full sail, in keeping with its hometown of Sheet Harbour’s seafaring history.

But the cottage brewery, owned by Rebecca Atkinson and run with help from her family, has switched out the ship for a new Nova Scotia icon–a cozy home by the sea, under a starlit sky, printed on t-shirts for sale as a fundraiser.

“We were desperate to help the COVID-19 response, but as a small company and without the required equipment, we couldn’t set out to manufacture personal protective equipment or hand sanitizer,” Rebecca says. “Promoting social distancing by means of these t-shirts, and donating our proceeds to Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation for COVID-19 research, seemed like a way we could help.”

The Atkinson family has a long-time connection to Dalhousie University. Rebecca’s father, Dr. Bradley Atkinson, is an alumnus (BSc’81, BA’83), who’s been practising family, emergency and geriatric medicine for 26 years in Sheet Harbour, where his wife, Meryl, owns and operates the Henley House Pub & Restaurant. Going a generation back, Brad’s father, Dr. Theodore Atkinson, was a graduate of Dalhousie’s medical school (MD’62). He went on to become a faculty member in Dal’s Department of Family Medicine and earn many prestigious awards for his professional and community service.

The family’s connection to Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation (DMRF), however, took a sombre tone in March of this year. David Atkinson, Brad and Meryl’s son and Rebecca’s brother, became suddenly ill following his return from a trip to Mexico. His health declined rapidly and he was hospitalized. Sadly, he did not recover, passing away at the age of 26. Doctors are still uncertain as to exactly what caused David’s death. He tested negative for COVID-19; the cause is still under investigation.

In the wake of David’s death, the Atkinson family (including David’s other sisters, Rachel and Sara), decided to designate in memoriam donations to DMRF. Later, as they reflected on how they might save other families from the grief of losing a loved one, everyone agreed that the idea of making and selling “Stay at Home Nova Scotia” t-shirts–with proceeds going to DMRF for COVID research–was a good one.

“It’s a way to say thank you to all the wonderful medical personnel who helped us so much when David was sick,” says Brad. “Even though he did not survive, he did receive top notch care from dedicated professionals and we are grateful.”

Already, sales of the Sober Island “Stay at Home” t-shirts have raised more than $2,000 for COVID research at Dalhousie University. Dalhousie researchers are among those scientists leading the all-out international effort to stop COVID-19’s deadly toll. The Atkinsons are hopeful they can at least double this with another round or two of pre-orders for the shirts, printed in Nova Scotia by Fundy Textiles. The shirts are $30 including tax and shipping in Nova Scotia; they are $40 all-inclusive if ordered for shipping outside the province.

The Atkinsons feel David would be pleased to see his family helping. “He was a very sensitive and caring young man,” says Meryl. “When he was just 19, he raised funds and awareness for cancer research by walking from Sheet Harbour to southern Ontario. He also arranged a monthly donation to Doctors Without Borders. He was the friend you could talk to, day or night, about anything. As he was such a compassionate person, we truly believe he would want us to help as much as possible.”