Fishers' Loft Inn By Ship Cove

Barb Ayles, Head of Housekeeping &
Breakfast Cook
Barb’s family, the Furlongs are from Plate Cove West on Bonavista Bay. The Furlongs arrived in Newfoundland from Ireland in 1703 and have fished from Plate Cove West since then. Barb lives in Port Rexton with her husband, Ron and their animals Cookie and Caspie. And she cares for all the other animals in the community. She will welcome you in the kitchen if you are looking for an early morning cup of coffee or tea.

Colette Churchill-White, Waiter, Host & Assistant Cook
Colette is a Rex from Port Rexton. She spent her childhood along with her friend, Roxane Rex in “the Cove” (the part of Port Rexton that can be seen from the inn). Colette has an arts and education degree and teaches high school in our offseason! She is a girl guide leader, the mother of Olivia and Jill and is married to Derek White, our favourite plumber.

Pauline Cooper, Kitchen Assistant & Housekeeper
Originally from Bonavista, Pauline now lives in Trinity East with her fisherman husband, Donald and her children Shawn and Cassandra. Pauline is the District Commissioner with Girl Guides of Canada; also a community volunteer. Pauline operated her own business for 20 years before coming to Fishers' Loft. She is knowledgeable about the fishery and life in the outports.

Helen Fowlow, Evening Cook
Helen began life as a King in Trouty, a small and beautiful outport 15 minutes from the Loft where her father once fished, as does her brother today. Her original family home is White Point, recently the site of the television mini-series "Random Passage". Helen now lives in Trinity East with her husband, Alex and her family including her first grandchild, Blair. An accomplished cook, she prepares a fresh and varied meal for our guests daily.

Lily Hookey, Waiter, Housekeeper, Cook & Seamstress
Lily is from a family of fishermen and boat builders in Charleston, Bonavista Bay. The Frys settled here from England in the late 1700's. Lily is “handy” at just about everything, especially sewing. She made most of the Loft's window blinds and duvet covers. Before coming to Fishers' Loft Lily operated her own hairdressing salon for 17 years. She lives in Port Rexton with her husband, Bill and is mother of Keith and Tanya and the proud grandmother of Joelle and Jalen.

Florence Monks, Housekeeper
Florence drives across the Peninsula every day from her home in Kings Cove, one of Newfoundland’s earliest fishing stations (1700's), where she lives with her son, Michael. She puts our rooms into top order for guests and keeps the whole inn looking fresh and clean.

Kathy Norman, Receptionist & Waiter
Kathy is from Clarke's Head — at the mouth of one of Newfoundland's favourite salmon streams, the Gander River, in Gander Bay. Kathy is descended from Nathaniel Gillingham, the Master Boatbuilder who designed and constructed the narrow, shallow-draft Gander River boats. Kathy has made Port Rexton her home for many years, is a teacher in our offseason and the mother of Daniel and Jonathan. She keeps the laughter level up in the kitchen.

Betty Randell, Kitchen Assistant & Housekeeper
Betty was raised in Plate Cove West and is the older sister of Barb Ayles. She moved to Port Rexton where she met and married Eliol Randell and here raised her five children. She is a grandmother of six and soon to be a great grandmother. Not to mention caring for assorted dogs whom she walks regularly. She finds time in her full life to help us out when the inn is full, in the kitchen, housekeeping or wherever we need her.

Roxane Rex, Assistant Cook, Evening Manager
Roxane is a native of Port Rexton, a descendent of one of the first settlers of this community — a Rex. Since joining our staff, Roxane has become an invaluable addition, assisting Helen in the kitchen and managing the Loft in the evenings.

Chris Sacrey, Gardening & Maintenance
In 1850 two Sacré brothers first arrived in Newfoundland from the French Channel Islands. Chris was raised in Botwood, central Newfoundland and now lives in Bonavista with his wife, Michelle and young daughter, Olivia. He can do everything from fixing a car to plumbing, electrical work and carpentry -- all this learned from years managing apartment buildings.

Judy Short, Receptionist, Gift Shop &
Conference Manager
Judy returned to her home in Trinity East several years ago. Since her return she has welcomed guests to Fishers’ Loft, kept our books in order and managed our gift shop. If you have any questions about your stay at the Loft Judy is there to answer them. She, her partner Don and her youngest son, Michael live on the old family (Wiseman) property in Trinity East where her father farmed for many years.

Dave Sweetland, Gardening & Maintenance
The Sweetlands arrived in Bonavista from Devon, England in the 1790's and have lived there ever since. Dave owned a general store in Bonavista for seventeen years and is a fund of local knowledge. Among other things he is a skilled carpenter, painter and gardener. He was a hockey player and coach. He and his wife, Peggy have a son Andrew, who plays for the Florida Panthers farm team, and his nephew, Michael Ryder plays for the Montreal Canadiens.

Pats Walsh, Waiter and Housekeeper
Pats Walsh was born a Philpott, one of 13 children whose father came from a long line of fishermen in Plate Cove West on Bonavista Bay, a family which originally settled there in the mid 19th century from Yorkshire.. Many of her family are still in the fishery. She lives in Plate Cove with her husband, John and is the mother of Darren and Colin. She brings good humour to the kitchen and dining room and local knowledge about the peninsula for enquiring guests.

John & Peggy Fisher, Owners of Fishers’ Loft
Peggy is from Ottawa, John from England. They met restoring and reconstructing an 1850's courthouse in Toronto — Adelaide Court Theatre, home of three professional theatre companies. Port Rexton was the location of their summer home and has been their year round residence since 1990. In 1997, an extension on their home was converted into a 4-room bed and breakfast. In 1999, Fishers’ Loft Inn was built adding 8 rooms and suites to the original 4, a dining room, licensed lounge and living room/library. In 2003, 9 more rooms and suites in 2 new buildings were added. Luke, their eldest son works in film and Gabe teaches snowboarding in B.C.