“
Some who came here by accident have
never returned to where they originally planned to stay ”
complementary businesses. We support each other. If I can’t accommodate someone, I refer them to someone in my group.” For Batuszkin, Chestnut Lane isn’t just a business. It’s a lifestyle - one filled with early mornings, long hours, and meaningful connections. “I absolutely love what I’m doing, and I think that translates into the experience. I am doing what I should have been doing all along.” Her advice for others thinking of making a similar leap? “You can’t do this unless you love it,” she says. “It’s a 15-hour day. You must love having people in your home. You must love making people comfortable. And you have to be a little crazy - the kind of crazy that comes from passion!” Fortunately for her guests, she ticks all three boxes.
do on this beautiful island of ours,” Batuszkin says. The property is just 20 minutes from Charlottetown and Brackley Beach, and a short drive from most major attractions. Plus, the B&B is just 10 minutes from Cavendish, home to an amazing beach, boardwalk, and the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and Sommo Festival, which are held annually, showcasing some of the best artists in music. So, whether it’s festivals, golfing, seafood, coastal views, or Anne of Green Gables that bring visitors to PEI, Chestnut Lane is close to it all, allowing guests to experience all the outdoor adventures the Island has to offer like sandy beaches, scenic trails for walking, running, and biking, plus opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. This year, she’s launching a gift shop featuring Island-made items, many of them crafted by Batuszkin herself. “I’m a quilter. I knit, crochet, and sew. That’s what I do all winter.”
Winter also brings community work. “I’m president of the Women’s Institute for our area and on the executive of the Quilting Guild in Charlottetown,” she says. “Any gratuities I receive from guests go into buying fabric and yarn for charity quilts and knitted items. I wanted to be able to do more community work - that was part of the reason I came down here.” Her advocacy doesn’t end there. Noticing a lack of clear guidance for small businesses, Batuszkin joined the boards of The Bed & Breakfast and Country Inns Association of PEI, and Central Coastal Tourism Partnership. “Tourism PEI is happy to have everybody open a business, but small entrepreneurs are often left to navigate complex regulations and business issues on their own.” Through these groups, she has also found valuable connections and a network of support. “Being part of these groups, I’ve met so many
I am doing what I should have been doing “
all along. ”
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INDUSTRY • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE 63
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