09/25/2026
NS Trails is shining the spotlight on volunteers who bring the We Share Trails spirit to life! Today, we’re pleased to introduce Charlene Porter of the St. Mary's Trail Association.
Ask anyone involved with the St. Mary’s Trail about Charlene Porter, and you’ll quickly hear the same thing: she’s someone who makes things happen.
Current St. Mary’s Trail Association President Charlie Hallett has seen that firsthand.
“She’s gangbusters when she gets going,” he says with a laugh. The St. Mary’s Trail is proof of that.
Charlene has been a volunteer with the St. Mary’s Trail Association since its early days. Formed as an offshoot of the Guysborough County Trail Association, the group’s goal was to transform the St. Mary’s Municipality section of the abandoned Guysborough Railway into an important multi-use community connector trail. A designated section of the Trans Canada Trail, the St. Mary’s section will link Guysborough and Pictou County - a total distance of 100 kilometers.
After retiring in 2018, Charlene decided it was time to get more involved. At that time, about 7km of trail had been completed, but with another 12km still to go, momentum was slowing considerably. As Charlie went back to work full time, Charlene stepped up and made it her mission to see the project through.
Recognizing the groundwork that had already been laid, Charlene got to work building relationships within the community to move the project forward. She gathered letters of support from business owners and community members, and held a public meeting to bring everyone to the table. She found and hired local contractors, became the association’s primary contact with DNRR, and took the lead on securing the funding needed to keep the project moving.
Despite everything she’s accomplished, Charlene is quick to credit the people around her.
“I’m doing this for the community, for kids and grandkids, but I’m not alone,” she says. “We’ve got a great group of volunteers.”
Today, the St. Mary’s Trail continues to develop thanks to the dedication of volunteers like Charlene and the team around her.