Noteworthy: Allie Clarke & Maxine Dobson-Clarke

A Hello Oxford series on the movers and shakers, sometimes loud but often quiet, who contribute to our community. If you think someone in our community deserves to be recognized, drop us a line at info@hellooxford.ca

“We can fix this. Yes, we can.”

In simplistic terms, there are two types of people in the world: those who say they will do, and those who do. Even when we include those who fall into the gray zone, there are often more citizens whose intentions are honourable but who end up getting bogged down in their lives and obligations. There is no shame in wanting to help but not knowing where or how to start. That said, there are people whose ‘get up and go’ has gotten up and, like the energizer bunny, just kept going. And where is one place that we can spot bunnies? On a trail, of course. A Bunny Trail. And if you happen to be in South Oxford or have pulled off the highway to gas up and feel like stretching your legs on a complement to the nearby Trans-Canada Trail, that is exactly where you might find Maxine Dobson-Clarke and Allie Clarke. On the Bunny Trail. Their Bunny Trail.

In 2017, the town of Oxford inaugurated a tunnel and bridge on the multi-use Trans-Canada Trail for walkers, runners, snowmobilers, and ATV drivers. A stipulation in the funding application for the Oxford and Area Trails Association (OATA) section of the Trans-Canada Trail required that there be a walking trail that would allow locals to have access to a pathway without necessarily being on the main trail. At that time, Wade Adshade, a town councillor and member of the OATA, and his son, walked into the woods on land both privately and publicly owned to blaze a trail that looked from above, like a bunny. Allie (or Mr. Clarke, the former teacher with the most beautiful handwriting, as I knew him), being an avid walker, was invited to take a look around and give his opinion. 

“I fell into the job”

As it turned out, Allie had just had a knee replacement and the little roots and stumps sticking out here and there, tripped him up as he strolled along with Maxine. The couple, together since 2006 and who were and still are inseparable, recognized that the town was onto something positive and decided then and there that they would take it upon themselves to make the trail welcoming for everyone. Their vision has become a reality with hundreds if not thousands of people taking to the trail every year. How do they know this? Because during their twice-daily visits to the spot as trail stewards, they meet familiar and unfamiliar faces who come to walk, to jog, to stroll their babies, or to bike the path that has been so carefully maintained since its inception. On the New Year’s Day of the pandemic alone, Allie counted 102 visitors on the path.

While they are not alone anymore in maintaining the trail, they bear the largest part of the task. This is not an obligation; it is an act of love and hope for the community. With help from Peter Watson and Trevor Ellis who will come in with a saw to cut down or clear up trees when necessary; and grade 9 students, who claim ownership after helping carry mulch and placing painted rocks; or an anonymous young man, disheartened at the random vandalization of the trail; Maxine and Allie devote their time and energy to clearing, mulching, and improving the trail in the name of community service. In fact, each spring and fall, they spend about three months making sure the pathway is safe and in good shape. As Gregory Nix, President of the Cumberland Trails Association points out, “It is said that volunteers are the heartbeat of Cumberland County. Oxford is very fortunate to have two of the biggest hearts out there!”

The work isn’t always easy. In 2019, Hurricane Dorian ripped through the zone and took out a lot of trees. In more recent times, vandals struck, and Allie and Maxine thought of giving up as their discouragement grew. But word of mouth brought them to find and communicate with the people responsible for the damage, and those people in turn apologized and made amends by installing bird houses and clearing the long grass. Maxine and Allie’s faith was restored.

Can’t stop, won’t stop

Their energy seems boundless. For Maxine, moving became a way of life when she was just 14 and diagnosed with a form of arthritis that could have left her unable to walk. The doctors told her that the way to ensure that she not have problems was to keep busy and never stop. She hasn’t. Allie and Maxine claim that the “hardest thing we do is stay home,” which is why they visit their trail twice a day and Allie takes long walks when Maxine is at work. Up early every morning, they find projects throughout the year to get them outside. They have multiple gardens and flower beds on their property as well as a small greenhouse. They also participate actively in the Communities in Bloom organization and take care of the baskets and flowers at the Town Hall.

As for the trail itself, there are plans afoot for an expansion, and Allie has begun planting oak trees that he takes from their yard. They know that their work will leave a lasting mark on the town. The swing, the first object they installed, remains a popular stopping point for passersby; and the birdhouses, painted rocks, and signs add to the charm of the place. Their daily reward is meeting people on the trail and seeing the appreciation. In 2024, their volunteer work was formally recognized at a ceremony at the Digby Pines resort. Nominated by Gregory Nix, a dedicated volunteer himself, Maxine and Allie received a “Built Environment” award from Recreation Nova Scotia for their endless efforts.

If you build it, …

These two volunteers know that they will have to slow down at some point even though they still manage to wield literal tons of mulch with their wheelbarrow up and down the trail. They hope that more people will get involved, and if things continue to go the way they are, it looks like their wish will come true. Oxford is witnessing a rebirth in participation in events and volunteering. With a new recreation director and the community centre well underway, there has been a resurgence in the desire to help. Years ago, when Allie and Maxine put out a challenge to clean the highway ramps, local citizens stepped up. Now, “the culture is changing, and the younger generation is getting involved. It is good to see.”  Allie Clarke, the former high school teacher, knows that reinforcing the positive actions with praise will bring about more good deeds, and even though Maxine reminds us that she and Allie are a team, there is always room on the bench for another player. Or another bunny.

Joy Blake is a former Oxford resident with an interest in community life. She now lives in Quebec but heads back to the rivers and shores of Cumberland County throughout the year. She teaches and produces educational films at the Cegep de Granby: Virtual Reality.