Nova Scotia’s secret weapon

As the manager of visitor information centres at the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland in Maine, Jenn Tomlinson has talked to thousands of potential visitors to Nova Scotia. Amongst these was her husband, Dave, whom she brought over to meet her family.

“We took the Cat ferry over from Bar Harbor - it was Thanksgiving weekend, 2002. We stayed the first night in Yarmouth, at the Colony,” said Tomlinson.

“Dave fell in love with the town that evening when we went for a stroll along the waterfront, in the vicinity of Rudders, along the rose bush lined Water Street. He was so impressed to see such a pretty little town that wasn’t brimming with visitors and that you could access the water without having to first elbow your way through the crowds,” she said.

Since then, Tomlinson has introduced him to the Evangeline Trail, Lighthouse Trail, Halifax, Glooscap Trail and part of the Sunrise Trail.

“He always says he’s been to more of Nova Scotia than he has Maine,” she said.

During a recent networking luncheon, colleagues of Tomlinson said her eyes light right up when asked what Nova Scotia is like.

“I really love the whole province. Having worked for Nova Scotia Tourism from 1994-2005, I was able to travel all of it thanks to a great training opportunity known as Product Knowledge Tours. Every little nook and cranny has so much to offer – maybe not for everyone, but I appreciate it all for that it is... even a swamp can provide a great photo op if you see it in the right light,” she said.

Growing up in the heart of Cumberland County (Williamsdale), Tomlinson was surrounded by acres and acres of blueberry fields. She says she remembers her family packing up the Honda Civic until it was brimming with bedding, clothes, and food and heading to her “Grammie’s” cottage just outside of Pugwash, along the Northumberland.

“Those were the days, when you didn’t think twice about having a bonfire on the beach, harvesting fresh shellfish to make fresh chowder, or spending way too many hours in the sun without sunscreen,” she said.

Tomlinson says this year they have been seeing a lot of Canadians and Europeans in Maine and she suspects the exchange rates are affecting people more than just a year ago.

“Canadians are taking advantage of a strong dollar and doing lots of cross-border shopping,” she said.

“I believe the weak US dollar will play in our favor with the international market. Also, gas is expensive for Americans, not Canadians and Europeans. I was paying an equivalent of $5.07/US Gallon (Canadian dollars), in late April and it’s even more costly in the UK,” she said.

Tomlinson says she’s proud of all things Canadian, and takes any opportunity she can to inform people around her of anything Canadian (Tim Hortons, music, the birthplace of hockey, the war effort, and correct spellings or pronunciation, etc.).

“I love the chance to try to educate those around me about Canada and especially Nova Scotia. I often refer to myself as an ‘arrogant Maritimer’. Just because I’m very proud, and I’m sure it gets on people’s last nerve,” she said.

Being in Maine is the next best thing to living in Nova Scotia, she says. The similar culture, common ancestry, landscape, natural resource industries and “understanding of each other’s way of life, are her reasons why.

“Nova Scotians and Mainers alike know how to stop and smell the roses. And, we – either province or state - are the envy of our fellow country people because we each live in a place that offers quality of life and the chance to slow down and appreciate our surroundings to really live. If you’re wondering if I’m content living in Maine, yes I am, though I will never forget who I am or where I come from, eh?” she said.