“ I don’t really feel like I chose Montague, I feel Montague chose me,” says Matt Clendinning, who was born and raised in Ottawa, first set foot on the Island three years ago, and he was instantly hooked. “You can’t describe what it is about PEI or Montague. It’s not always something you can put in words, it’s a feeling. The vibe was always very special to me.” It was special enough for Clendinning to make an unexpected life change. Having left his decade-long position with Canada Post two years prior, Clendinning had plans to “live the van life, true nomad style.” After a road trip in Iceland, he returned to the Island for a month to help his friends with Clendinning, owner of the town’s newest cafe, The Lucky Bean. home renovations. The rest is history. As Clendinning puts it: “Instead of buying a van, I bought a heritage building in a small, rural town in PEI.” While Clendinning’s initial intention for buying the building was to rent out the commercial space, none of the local
businesses he talked to could commit on such short notice. “I knew Montague needed a coffee shop, and I was here and unemployed, so I just decided to go for it.” With the help of Montague’s Community Business Development Centre (CBDC), Clendinning was able to put his plans for The Lucky Bean into place. “Being from away, I had no idea what programs were available for me. I had no contacts for anything,” he says. “The CBDC not only helped me get a bit of financial assistance, but they also helped put me in touch with other government departments for various advice and assistance.” The CBDC also provided Clendinning with insights into other businesses that “had tried at the coffee shop thing, and not succeeded, as well as advice on what they felt could work well for the town.” As for how it’s worked out so far since the cafe opened in August, Clendinning says, “The response has been fantastic. I knew the locals wanted a coffee shop, but the amount of love and support has been overwhelming. I feel very thankful. The
▲ Matt Clendinning
Words by Brianne Hogan Photos by Evan Ceretti
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www.pei-living.ca FALL 2019
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