Innkeeper's Story

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My great grandfather Neil Macdonald first came to
PEI in 1840 and we returned here 36 years ago. We
have shared this exquisite secluded home with
thousands from around the world. We hope you will
come as guests and leave as friends.

Our personal life is eclectic, as it is centered
on our family, guests and church. Our daughter,
Megan, and son, Ross, both grew up at Elmwood and
attended the local schools until going off to
university. Our family has a connection with five
universities. Cornell in New York, Mount Allison
in New Brunswick, McGill in Montreal, Tübingen in
Germany and the University of London in England.

Carol and Jay met and studied at Cornell
University in the late 60's. They lived in Ithaca,
NY for a further four years after school before
immigrating to PEI in 1974. Both worked at the
Confederation Centre of the Arts in the 70's,
Carol in the theatre wardrobe department during
the summers and Jay as Director of Patron Services
full time.

In 1979 we became hospitality entrepreneurs,
purchasing By The Bay Cottages in Stanhope, PEI.
We had an owner's unit and eight rental cottages
overlooking Covehead Bay on PEI's North Shore. We
made hundreds of friends in those years and
learned the importance of good beds, plenty of hot
water and scrupulous cleanliness. We also found
the joys that we received in helping to make our
guests vacations something special and memorable.
Our children benefited from those summers and
developed their own philosophy of hospitality in
those years also.

“When people take a vacation for which they’ve
waited all year it’s a special event. (Carol and
Jay) love opening their house and seeing that
guests have a great time.” The Montreal Gazette

Our son, Ross, 29, is a professional musician in
Victoria, British-Columbia, a graduate of the Jazz
Performance program at Montreal's McGill
University, with his principal instrument the
upright bass. His musical skills have taken him
around the world, playing music in Dubai at the 7
star Burj al Arab, the tallest hotel in the world,
and cruising on the world’s only "residence ship",
The World. Previously based in Québec, then
Charlottetown, Ross has toured extensively with
cruise ships including contracts on board Holland
America and Princess Cruises. He has recorded
albums and appeared with several East Coast Music
Award winners, and played in the Confederation
Centre of the Arts Charlottetown Festival, along
with numerous gigs for restaurants, hotels and
even a CBC TV production featuring opera singer
Measha Brueggergosman. In 2009 he won a position
as the bassist for the Naden Band of Maritime
Forces Pacific, which is one of the six full-time
Regular Force bands within the Canadian Forces.

Megan is the elder at 32 (some day she will object
to this public exposure of her age) and graduated
from Mount Allison University with a double major
in Drama and German. She completed her Masters in
Theatre Performance, with Distinction, in England
at the University of London's Queen Mary College
in 2003. She was Assistant Professor at that
school as she completed her Doctorate thesis on
the Performance of Belief. Before deciding to
spend all her time in libraries and theatres, she
worked for the Canadian Government in Protocol and
State Ceremony in Ottawa. The highlight of this
job was planning the 2002 Golden Jubilee visit of
Royal Visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II to Canada. In
addition to six years in England, Megan has lived
and studied in Germany for most of 3 years,
beginning with a Rotary Youth Exchange opportunity
following high school. She has moved back to
Canada and is again based in Ottawa and beginning
a contract position with Canadian Heritage again.
Regardless of the country and what she is doing,
meeting new people and cooking delicious food are
the pre-requisites for feeling at home.

Carol is loving the new Inn kitchen renovated in
2008-2009. As chief menu maker, and baker, the
expansion to 20' by 24' with 7 burner gas cook
top, two ovens, and five well designed work areas,
has made cooking a joy. "Everyone wants to be in
the kitchen!" She loves flowers and enjoys
designing interesting arrangements in all seasons
of the year. Over the years, renovations and
interior design work at the Inn have given Carol
and Jay the opportunity to combine their love of
historic architecture with contemporary comfort.
Each unit has been uniquely designed with Carol's
love of fabric and colour evident in the quilts
and attention to detail which is one of our
hallmarks. She is called on for her skills in
design and decorating as she teaches occasional
workshops and consults. She is a tenor in the
church choir, a member of Parish Council and on
the Property committee.

Jay is an ordained Anglican clergyman in a
volunteer role at church. He also is an active
Rotarian and was president of his club in 1995. We
both have a love of gourmet cooking, wine and
travel in our interests and we often develop
recipes (several published) which we are pleased
to share with our guests. We are looking for more
opportunities to travel whenever possible. Jay is
also a wine educator and speaker for the local
hotel and restaurant industry and groups. We are
both committed to Cursillo. DeColores!

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