Welcome to our first issue of the Staff Stories blog! Our team works to brighten every moment of your visit to the Lodge at Pine Cove – from helpful guidance provided by our management team, to the friendly welcome that greets you at the Lodge’s front desk; from the delights delivered by our talented kitchen and bar staff to the behind-the-scenes dedication of our housekeeping and maintenance teams.
So, let’s meet two of the team members who strive to make every moment of your visit memorable…
Meet Hannah!
Hannah works at the Lodge’s front desk and is also the Housekeeping Manager. Born and raised in nearby Noelville, Hannah has worked at the lodge since the spring of 2020. A career in Hospitality and Tourism was one of her goals after high school – although she originally considered a career flying the skies as a flight attendant! However, when the Lodge was looking for a housekeeper in 2020, Hannah decided to apply…the rest is history.
Learning at the Lodge
Initially quiet and introspective, Hannah’s first three years in housekeeping allowed her to learn the critical workings of a luxury lodge and how to deliver excellent customer service. Moving to a role at the front desk allowed her to learn another side of the Lodge while building her self-confidence and developing communication skills.
Photography is one of Hannah’s passions and she has photographed numerous weddings in the area. It seemed only natural, then, for the management team to encourage her to use that talent at the Lodge. Last October, she was honoured to photograph the wedding of a couple who chose Pine Cove for their wedding venue – especially moving for Hannah as she had witnessed their proposal at the Lodge the year before – when the gentleman popped the question to his bride-to-be in a canoe out on the river!
Intentionally disconnected
Hannah finds being “intentionally disconnected” from the outside world is another great benefit of working at the Lodge. While often busy at the computer at the front desk, she’s also regularly out and about the property: interacting with guests, bringing them to their cottages, and more. This “not-so-typical” office job and the breathtaking setting along the French River are some reasons why she loves working here. In Hannah’s words – “We are a bit “behind” the rest of this busy world, so we can take time to soak in the nature all around us and enjoy what a slower paced life has to offer. I know and love this place so well and I can share it with guests who come to love it for reasons of their own.”
Meet Paige!
Paige moved from Grey County to the French River area in 2022, joining her mother on a hobby farm. After an unfamiliarly cold first winter that year, she saw a poster in a local grocery store that piqued her interest and she applied for a general help position at the Lodge in 2023. Little did Paige know how transformative taking that job would be for her. Like Hannah, Paige started out in housekeeping before moving to a front desk position the following year. As an exciting addition to her guest duties, she also took on the role of marketing manager in 2025, with a focus on the Lodge’s social media channels.
A happy mystery
As Paige explains, each day is a bit of a happy mystery for her at the Lodge. “I have a general idea of what my day will look like, but there is always something new, or unexpected – a snake behind the bar (unusual!), a last-minute booking that requires all hands on deck, or filling in wherever needed at a moment’s notice. As someone who loves the unexpected, it is the most perfect place for me.”
Working at the Lodge also allows Paige to feel she’s done someone good. That could involve cleaning a cottage, knowing a guest will walk in after a long drive and feel comfortable, or creating an easy, effortless and friendly environment at check-in. Paige says they see folks arrive tired, and maybe even a bit overwhelmed, but they leave at the end of their stay looking relaxed and cared for. That’s a highlight of the job for her.
#BestBossEver
Both Paige and Hannah agree on a key element that makes the Lodge special for both staff and guests: Alex Strachan – the owner and caretaker of the Lodge at Pine Cove – and their boss. Hannah reflects on how he always has a joke – or long story – at the ready but more importantly, how he cares about and includes all the staff.
Paige talks with some wonder about an unexpected surprise he coordinated during the 2025 season. Guests had arrived at the lodge by water plane and Paige and Hannah – always eager for something new – hoped to take photos inside the plane. They approached Alex, asking if he knew the pilot of the plane. That was a fair question, they felt, because Alex knows everyone. He laughed and guided them to the pilot who was having a glass of water at the bar. Without hesitation or consultation, Alex asked the pilot how much gas he had left. And in a moment, a hoped-for photo opportunity turned into a soaring flight over the beautiful French River. Paige treasures this memory – it captures not only the unexpected “everyday” of a job at the Lodge, but also the fun of having a boss like Alex.
