Your Hosts: Marleen & Jim Hubley

After living in many locations across Canada, Marleen and Jim retired from Vancouver Island and moved across Canada in the fall of 2002 to settle here in Antigonish.  Born and raised in Nova Scotia it was only natural they would follow their roots back to their native soil.  Marleen's roots run deep in Antigonish County (1785) while Jim's are among the founding families of Lunenburg (1753).  It was the search for those roots and genealogy that brought them on two separate trips that eventually led them to make a life-changing decision; to build and operate a Bed and Breakfast. 

Jim is involved in local and provincial tourism associations including...
Antigonish Visitor Information Centre Board
Antigonish Eastern Shore Tourist Association (Director)
Nova Scotia Bed and Breakfast Association (Sunrise Trail East Representative)
Three Shores Destination Marketing Association (Secretary)

In 2009 he received a Visitor Information Centre Award for his work with the Antigonish VIC.


The Name: Rose and Thistle

In July 2002, Marleen and their daughter, Anita, were driving on Big Island where Marleen lived for the first four years of her life.  At the highest point on the island Anita wanted to take a picture of the magnificent view.  From the side of the road Marleen could smell the unmistakable aroma of our native wild rose.  Grabbing her camera, she crossed the ditch and took a picture of a huge clump of fragrant roses.  Only then did she notice the row of Scottish thistles in the background.  As we stood surrounded by this breathtaking beauty, we were swept away by the smell of new-mown hay, the salt-sea air and the fragrance of the roses.  Taking a deep breath we looked at each other and said, "This is Nova Scotia!"  As we left the area, Anita jokingly said, "Ah, yes!  My parents will move to Nova Scotia and open a bed and breakfast and they'll call it the Rose and Thistle."  Little did we realize that three short months later we would be doing just that! 

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