Who Was Elizabeth Dobbins?

Schoolteacher, environmentalist, benefactor.

Elizabeth Dobbins (nee Cousins) was born in Kelligrews, Conception Bay South on the Island of Newfoundland in 1912. At the age of 16, after completing teacher training, she began her career, as the principal at Cape Broyle. Whether this indicates a gift of intelligence, a surfeit of ambition or a propensity for ‘right place, right time’, we cannot be sure. Perhaps it was a combination of the three.

She taught for several years, and married, before continuing her education at St. Francis Xavier University “overseas” in Nova Scotia. Betty and her husband Bill, both teachers, left an indelible mark on many students during their active teaching years. Betty taught at East Bay, Nova Scotia from 1960 -75. It is possible that it was during this time she became aware of a small group of student ecologists at Dalhousie starting up an environmental group. Or did she learn of the Ecology Action Centre later, living on Newland Avenue in Sydney? Perhaps the air and water pollution endemic to the mining industry inspired Bill and Betty to research what action they could take, and they found the Centre that way.

The Cape Breton Post published an article on the Dobbins in 2007 that simply notes that both Dobbins had begun to think about and take action on matters such as water conservation and recycling long before most were attuned to these things, and also that the Dobbins had ‘outdoor interests’. It’s easy to picture the kind of school teacher that challenges students with ecological concerns and takes them on nature walks, pointing out flora and fauna and inspiring a love of the earth.

It appears one or both Dobbins had Alzheimer’s near the end, a sad and profound loss with the active minds as they no doubt had.

School teachers invariably influence future generations. The Dobbins’ legacy was already established, in the inspired minds of their students. At the time of Betty’s death, their estate was valued at over $1,000,000.  Half of this amount was divided among eight charities, one being the Ecology Action Centre. The Dobbins have surely guaranteed a good effect at least seven generations into the future!

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