On Saturday, Oct. 14, Dr. Paul Kinsman of Wolfville, N.S., was recognized with the Acadia University Community Service Award.

Given out during the 2006 Fall Convocation, Kinsman was acknowledged for a lifetime devoted to the well-being of the people of Kings County and for his years of service to local and provincial government as well as volunteer boards and organizations.

A direct descendant of early English settlers in Horton, Kinsman’s ancestral roots go deep in Kings County. But he also has a deep-rooted commitment to the region, having spent his life working in family medicine and community service.

Born in Grafton, N.S., Kinsman attended Horton Academy on the campus of Acadia University. After graduating, he studied at Acadia for a year and went on to the Nova Scotia Normal College.

He then spent one year teaching in public school in Welsford, N.S., before moving on to Dalhousie University in Halifax, where he graduated in 1957 with the degree Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery. Several years later, Kinsman also graduated with a political science degree from Acadia.

He first served as a family physician in Aylesford, N.S., from 1957-67 and for a short period of time in Maine. He returned to Wolfville, where he ran his family practice up until last spring, when he retired.

Over his distinguished 50-year career, Kinsman served faithfully as a solo family physician and as a member of the medical staff of hospitals in Berwick, Wolfville and Kentville. He also participated in several local and national medical societies for which he was acknowledged in 2001 when he was given an Honorary Life Membership in the College of Family Medicine.

Over the years, Kinsman found time to sit on other boards and organizations such as Acadia’s Board of Governors and Senate. He has also spent countless hours assisting the Air Cadet League of Canada, both provincially and nationally. In 1982-1983, he served as president of the national organization and traveled England, the USA and Norway representing the League.

In addition, Kinsman has been committed to his community by serving in the provincial government as an elected MLA for Kings West from 1963-67 and in 1984 for Kings South. On a municipal level, he was Mayor of Wolfville from 1974-76.

Kinsman has also been committed to the churches of the Annapolis Valley. A talented musician, he has acted as choir director in Aylesford Baptist Church and St. John’s Anglican Church in Wolfville. He has also been involved at Wolfville Baptist Church, serving as a choir member and a deacon.

For his 50 years of dedication and devotion to his family and the people of this region, Dr. Paul Kinsman has become a well-known and well-loved ‘son of Kings County’ and beyond.

- Submitted