Ready to party
Laurel Lea takes over as Charlottetown’s tourism officer
There’s nothing like starting a job as Charlottetown’s new tourism officer a month before the big Canada Day party.
That’s exactly what Laurel Lea is doing.
She officially took over the role that was vacated by Donna Hurry, who retired at the end of last year after 25 years with the corporation.
P.E.I. will celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday on the Canada Day weekend so the party in a month’s time will likely be the biggest one since 2014 when the Island celebrated the anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference.
Bring it on, says Lea.
“I’ve been at City Hall for a year . . . I was brought in to assist with the city’s 2017 project and event file. Having been in the building working on the files for the past year I do have a good understanding,’’ Lea said.
She says Canada Day weekend is going to be phenomenal.
It’s certainly going to be good for many businesses in the city. Most, if not all, hotels in the capital are all but sold out pushing those looking for accommodations further out, benefiting much of the Island as well.
Lea looks at coming into the job now as exciting rather than one that puts her in the pressure cooker.
“If I hadn’t been involved for the last year I think that there would be a lot of pressure because you’re coming into the 2017 activities (with) really Canada Day being the pinnacle of those activities.’’
Charlottetown’s port will be buzzing with activity on the holiday weekend, with nine tall ships, as well as Canada C3 and HMCS Charlottetown coming in and offering deck tours.
She said fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies should also take note of the Pirates of Halifax, which is coming as well.
“They’re this incredible theatrical busker-style group out of Halifax, and they have essentially replica costumes of Pirates of the Caribbean. They look exactly like the movie. They sing sea shanties (and) you can have your photo taken with them.’’
There will also be buskers from Quebec City on hand, marking the fact the two cities played major roles in Confederation.
Prior to joining the City of Charlottetown a year ago, Lea worked with Confederation Bridge. She knows replacing Hurry will be no easy task but she aims to do her best.
“Big shoes to fill, but I feel like I’m up to the challenge, and I feel like I do have the support of the city to fulfil that role. I look forward to working with city departments and community partners to maybe put a slightly new twist on the events that we know and love.’’