By David MacDonald H ow does the weather impact your livelihood on Brier Island? VT: An extended bad weather forecast during peak season can lead to mass booking cancellations, which isn’t pretty on the revenue side of things. High winds cause the most havoc, that and heavy fog. That’s the combo that keeps the whale watching boats from sailing. On the positive side, which there always is, those who stay on Brier Island during storms and who are adventurous enough to head out along the 25 kilometres of shoreline – at a safe distance, of course – are treated to some amazing storm watching and wave shows. “The weather, and the seasons, actually, is what make Brier Island what it is. It’s as natural and untouched as it comes.” The weather, and the seasons, actually, is what make Brier Island what it is. It’s as natural and untouched as it comes. Yes, I understand that you’re a strong proponent of eco-tourism. VT: It’s integral to what we do her e on the Island. We’re in-line with the sustainability initiatives in Digby County, but we also try to go above and beyond. At the lodge we follow similar waste and cost reduction practices that all hotels do, in the way of on-demand linen refreshing. Being on wells rather than a town water supply makes water con- servation extremely important to us, so plumbing is tailored for low consumption. We try to reduce the plastics used and opt for biodegradable products in all departments. We compost much of our kitchen waste and use the compost in our landscaping. We have on-site greenhouses that we use to grow some of our food in and focus on sourcing our food supplies within 100 kilometres to offer fresh, local dishes on our menu.
The island is also a mecca to nature lovers for so many reasons. One of the big reasons is that it’s home to one of the world’s rarest plants: the Eastern Mountain Avens or Geum peckii. The only two places in Canada that this flower grows are here on Brier Island and in the East Ferry area of Digby Neck, not far away. The flora of Brier Island is very plentiful and diverse due to seed drop from the many migrating birds that stopover in the area. There are actually 21 different species of orchids that grow here. Botanists travel from around the world to see the flora. The Eastern Mountain Avens is a protected plant species, so it’s a look with your eyes experience. With the emphasis on nature and the reality of conservancy now, the Island has become a real centre for research. There are a lot of unique opportunities, especially for people who are into botany, here on the island. The bog here that the nature conservancy is reclaiming is only one of three of its type in North America. They’re raising the water levels in the bog to protect the Eastern Mountain Avens. A third of the island is actually owned by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, and not just for the flora. The fauna, as I men- tioned, plays a major role in the biodiversity of Brier Island.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018
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