Sara Holyoke had a remarkable gift for making people feel seen and valued. This year, the Paul Wentzell Community Builder Award is presented in her memory, and in gratitude for everything she gave to the people around her.
Sara passed away after a courageous battle with brain cancer. To help us understand the woman behind so many of our community’s brightest moments, her sister Lisa shared her memories with us.
A Larger-Than-Life Spirit
Lisa describes Sara as someone with a larger-than-life personality and a heart with no real limits. She could light up a room with her laughter, but it was her kindness and her genuine curiosity about other people that people remembered most. She was fiercely loyal to the people she loved, and she had a gift for pulling people together, whether she was planning a fundraiser, sitting with someone through a hard season, or just catching up over coffee. People left her company feeling better than when they arrived.
Giving back was never a project for Sara. It was simply who she was. Lisa remembers her sister believing that everyone has both the ability and the responsibility to make a difference for someone else. Sara never did this work for recognition. She did it because she believed small acts of kindness build strong communities, and she wanted to leave the world a little better than she found it, one person at a time.
A Tournament Built on Community
That belief found its fullest expression in the Delta Fredericton Charity Golf Tournament, which, under her leadership, grew into one of the community’s most beloved fundraising events. Lisa says the tournament held everything Sara valued most: community, connection, and giving back. She poured herself into its success, not for her own sake, but because she understood exactly what every dollar raised could mean for someone else’s life. What brought her the most joy was watching people show up for one another around a shared cause.
A Legacy That Lives On
Lisa believes Sara would have been humbled by this award, maybe even a little surprised. She never led with recognition in mind. But Lisa also believes it would have meant something deep to her sister, because it reflects the values she carried every day: bringing people together, helping quietly, and building something lasting. Sara likely would have seen it less as her own achievement and more as a tribute to everyone she worked alongside over the years. More than anything, Lisa hopes people remember how Sara made them feel. Welcomed. Valued. Loved. Even while facing brain cancer, she continued to show up for her family and her community with strength and grace. Her legacy isn’t only found in the fundraisers she led or the causes she championed. It lives on in the people she touched, and it will continue to shape our community for years to come.
Paul Wentzell Community Builder Award
The Paul Wentzell Community Builder Award was established to honour individuals who have gone above and beyond in strengthening our community through volunteerism, leadership, and a spirit of generosity. Recipients are nominated by the community for their dedication to causes that make a lasting difference in others’ lives, often quietly and without expectation of recognition. The award serves as a reminder that community is built one person, one act of kindness, at a time. Learn more about the award and past recipients here.
