The Dixon Road
The Dixon Road
A peek inside PEI's legendary enclave of unconventional creative types,
with community spirit to spare
by Sandra Phinney
photography: John Sylvester
There's an old saying in Prince Edward
Island: "We're so far behind, we're
ahead." Nowhere is this saying more
apt than on the Dixon Road-and there's a
certain pride in the statement.
Part of Breadalbane, and situated halfway
between Charlottetown and Summerside,
PEI's Dixon Road is an innocuous 5.5-kilo-
metre country road that rolls by a couple of
small fields, then weaves through a quiet
nondescript forested area. Yet, it's home to
a colourfully eclectic, grassroots community,
including actors and artists, carpenters and
clowns, foresters and filmmakers, weavers and
writers, print makers and playwrights, sing-
ers and sheep producers-to name just a few.
(The list is as long as the surrounding potato
fields.) And the community is arguably now
just as vibrant as it was during its heyday, in
the early '70s.
Toronto singer-songwriter Holly McNarland performs on the outdoor stage at The Dunk, Hal Mills' property on Dixon Road. Opposite: filmmaker,
bon vivant and Dixon Roader, John Hopkins. In winter, John hosts toboggan parties that are a cross between a masquerade and Mardi Gras.
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