Renee Sagebear Albrecht

December 19,1954 – April 9, 2024

The passing of Renee Sagebear Albrecht on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Nova Scotia, marked the end of an era for those whose lives she touched. With her dearest husband, Peter Dobler by her side, Renee peacefully transitioned to the other side.

Her loving son, Sheldon (Tiffany) and her caring stepdaughter, Natasha (Hugo) will ensure that Renee's legacy never fades. Renee was predeceased by her late son, Andrew whom she missed deeply. She was a wise and practical woman who took a genuine interest in her grandchildren, Leroy, Theo, Taylor, and Tyson, imparting many lessons to them through the years. Renee’s honourary sister, Jin-Kyung and Renee’s nephew, Tae-Oh held a special place in her life and in her heart. Renee shared many adventures, stories, and laughs with her myriad of friends from across the country.

Renee believed in the power of community building to drive social change. As an unapologetic feminist, she dared to dream, and boldly birthed her ideas to life. After graduating from McMaster University, Renee opened the first and only feminist bookstore in Hamilton, radically transforming the lives of women and the queer community locally and globally. From 1985 until 2001, the Women’s Bookstop became a safe space and hub of activity for women to learn, explore, write, discuss, express, create, organize, conspire, rage, laugh, hug, cry, celebrate, and dance.

In 1992, Renee proudly received the Governor General of Canada Community Service Award in recognition of her contributions and achievements.

Renee also had an affinity with all things’ life and nature. In 2003, she forged a new path by becoming a Homeopathic Medicine Practitioner, focusing on women’s health and midwifery. Her purpose was helping people to be the healthiest, truest version of themselves.

In 2007 on vacation with a friend, Renee stumbled upon and fell in love with Canso, Nova Scotia. Not wasting a moment of her life, she followed her intuition and quickly moved to the big yellow house on the hill in the tiny Ocean-side town.

Putting her passion for grassroots community development to work in Canso, Renee was an integral part of preserving and expanding the Canso Library, the creation of the Canso Garden Club, and receiving numerous grants to fund local projects to invigorate the community.

Renee was a creative powerhouse. She wrote every day and was proud to publish two books. She painted endlessly and showcased her artwork collectively with friends across the country. Through her photography, she magically captured nature’s beauty.

Her big warm smile was approachable and her character was inviting. She will always be remembered as someone who lived her life to the fullest everyday. Her curiosity and thirst for knowledge was a driving force in all that she did.

On any given day she could easily be found diving into a cold lake or ocean, walking her spiral prayer circle, baking sourdough bread in her kitchen, or hiking the trails of Nova Scotia. She loved freedom, adventures, and the outdoors from coast to coast.

Renee was an artist, an activist, a community builder, an entrepreneur, a writer, a homeopath, a creator, a dreamer, a doer, a mother, a daughter, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a neighbour, a colleague, and a life partner for 45 years. She will be incredibly missed but her spirit will live on in those whose lives she touched.

There will be a memorial gathering for friends and family of Renee on Saturday, April 20th, from 2 – 5 p.m. in Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, 121 School St., Canso, Nova Scotia.

There will also be a memorial gathering for friends and family of Renee in Hamilton, Ontario at a later date, yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Canso Garden Club or a charity of your choice in Renee’s honour.

Canso Garden Club

Attn: Mary LeBlanc

Box 192, Canso, NS

B0H 1H0

fordview@hotmail.com

Arrangements are under the care of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Canso, NS. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com