It is, in fact, one of the major resting spots for migratory birds on the eastern seaboard. There is a species of hawk that migrates through here every fall, for instance. There are thousands and thousands of them. It’s something to see. Every two years, we host nature retreats by Speyside Wildlife, a group out of Scotland famous for their guided birdwatching and wildlife holidays around the world. How has the lodge and its services evolved throughout the years? VT: It’s evolved quite a bit. Originally, before I had the lodge, I tried the bed and breakfast scene for a year or two. I learned from that experience that I needed to be in the hotel business. There was so much demand and only one other bed and breakfast on the island – and she had up-to 50 people sleeping in that house every night during peak season. It was really apparent that we needed to have a lodge here. I built my house here first, but both the house and the business were built with the view in mind. When I built my house, it wasn’t the typical design for the area. There’s a tradition in many small communities in Nova Scotia where the locals take tours of people’s homes when they’re built or renovated. What people wanted to do more than anything was stand on the deck and see the view. During Brier Island is also part of the Southwest Nova Biosphere.
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SEPTEMBER 2018 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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