The Scope

Occupation: Tourist Councilor, baroness of the St. John’s Visitor Information Centre

Bio: This outgoing, sharp-as-a-knife redhead was born and raised in St. John’s. In fact, she grew up around the corner from where she presently works. She went to St. Patrick’s, then Holy Heart of Mary and got herself a job as a bank teller. She then went to Keyin Technical College and got a degree in Tourism. From there, a work term at City Hall led her to her current post at the Visitor Information Center on Water Street. She’s been there for twelve years and can find you a hidden hiking trail, a guy to take you out fishing, or tell you a hilarious story faster than you can say “Gros Mor…” She’s married and has a son and a grand-daughter. 

What would be your ideal trip in Newfoundland?: “Ideal would be the whole province: Gros Morne up to L’Anse aux Meadows, then Burin, St. Pierre and St. John’s, and then up to Labrador. Some people only have a few days, and don’t realize how big the island actually is. I tell them if all they’ve got is four days, they’d better have a helicopter!”

Was tourism up this year?: “Not all the statistics are in, they don’t come in until November—but it’s down a little bit from last year. But there are several cruise ships still on the way in.”

Do you get lots of locals down at the Visitor Information Centre too?: She gets all sorts of people in there.”There’s a bit of a different crowd these days now that there’s oil money, lots of business people gathering information and reporting back home. Now that there’s oil, folks who have been away for decades are coming back and buying homes.”

Words of wisdom (for tourists): “If you’re lost, stand on a corner with a map in your hand, and you’ll get more directions than you need. You’re likely to cause a traffic accident!”

­— Sarah Smellie