KENTVILLE - Merchants in downtown Kentville have found a fitting way to honour the memory of David White.
White worked as an optician for more than 30 years, and was well known within the business community as the owner of David’s Eyewear Ltd. on Webster Street.
“Dave was a longtime downtown Kentville businessperson as well as a friend to many of us,” said Dave Reid, chairman of the Kentville Business Community events committee.
“We really were all quite shocked and saddened when Dave passed away.”
White was only 58 when he died in November 2017. His obituary describes him as a proud business owner eager to go the extra mile for his customers, a devoted family man and a sporting enthusiast.
Reid remembers White as a humanitarian who travelled to Africa to bring vision to those who would otherwise go without eyeglasses.
“He did a lot of extra things for his customers, and for the community,” said Reid.
Members of the Kentville Business Community group recently decided to name the trophy that will be up for grabs for two yearly decorating contests within the town The David White Visions of Kentville Award.
The trophy will be awarded in recognition of the top displays created for Christmas and the Festival of Flowers in the spring. Phinneys, a clothing store on Webster Street, won the holiday decorating contest. Valley Stove and Cycle earned the second-place nod and Silver Horse Florist’s display rounded out the top three.
“It was really kind of fitting that we called it the Dave White Visions of Kentville Award because Dave always had nice windows, and he always made them unique,” said Reid, who noted that White was known for his creative flare.
“We want to keep honouring Dave with this for many, many years to come.”
