Rhonda Brown knows what it’s like to be an Islander by choice.
Four years ago, Brown and her husband Aubrey moved to Georgetown after buying the Georgetown Inn.
The couple previously lived in Alberta. And, even with roots in Atlantic Canada, neither of them were from P.E.I.
“Coming to a rural area, you really do get people stopping in right away, dropping you off a bottle of clams. You know, different things. You’re not even here a week and people are chatting with you, stopping by your back door, seeing if you need anything,” said Brown to newcomers on Tuesday during the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce P.E.I. Connectors bus visit and tour of the town. The inn was one of the stops on the tour.
“I think that the people from these rural communities can be extremely welcoming in terms of making you feel that you belong here, and that you’re welcome here and they want your business,” she said.
Brown also highlighted the economic advantages of rural P.E.I. in terms of property affordability, staffing availability and the support from organizations, government agencies and programs to help start and maintain a business.
Nicole Bellefleur, P.E.I. Connectors’ director of strategic initiatives, explained the trip had four objectives – to showcase the community as a place to live and do business, to introduce the entrepreneurial support and business development programs available outside of Charlottetown, to educate about experiential tourism and the opportunities that industry presents, and networking.
“I hope they’re able to see, perhaps, opportunities where they didn’t think opportunities existed before, whether that be in rural P.E.I. or whether that be within their own skills or things that they can draw on from their own background,” she said.
“Sometimes that’s a concern they have is that they might be on their own in rural P.E.I. But we wanted to assure them that is not the case,” she said.
The visit began with music and a demonstration and discussion by Perry Gotell, owner of Tranquility Cove Adventures, on how to select, catch and cook mussels. Gotell then led the newcomers on a tour of the community with stops at the Kings Playhouse, the wharf and local jewelry business, Shoreline Design P.E.I.
Gotell shared his story growing up in the community and working as a crab and lobster fisherman before delving into the experiential tourism industry. Gotell’s wife Patsy, of Island East Tourism Group, also talked about tourism-related programs and support available.
Tolga Toprak came to P.E.I. five months ago from Turkey with his wife Ozlem and children. Recently, the couple started P.E.I. Car Rental, located in the Delta Prince Edward by Marriott in Charlottetown.
Toprak said the trip to Georgetown was a good way to network with other P.E.I. Connectors clients on the tour and businesses in the community. He can now better advise his clients about what the community has to offer.
“I had a great time. I had great food and learned a lot of things,” he said. “All of the people I spoke with today, I exchanged my business card. And, I think this was not only a tour, it was great networking.”
The next bus tour is scheduled for June 7 to St. Peters Bay to learn about e-commerce on P.E.I.
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