Shauna Austin was missing inspiration, and felt a calling back to Cape Breton, to the remote Isle Madame, Nova Scotia after being away from home for many years to continue her entrepreneurial journey. Returning to her roots and happy to be close to her family, Austin took on a business project that would give her and a local business a fresh start and guests the opportunity to experience the warm, Nova Scotian hospitality that brought her back to this little Island home.
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Shauna Austin was born and raised on Isle Madame, Nova Scotia. She is a mother of two and a passionate entrepreneur who went back to her roots after living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for twenty years. “I felt a pull to come back home to the island. I wanted that quieter lifestyle, and the community spirit I grew up with,” Austin explained. Being close to her family became a priority for Austin. She ran her own cake-decorating business for many years, but when she moved back to the island, she took a risk as she set her sights on a beautiful motel. Knowing the motel needed a fresh beginning as well, she made an offer in September of 2017 and purchased it in February of 2018. The move was smooth for her children because they stayed with family on Isle Madame every summer while they were growing up. Both of Austin’s kids are on their own paths now, attending two different universities, but she is grateful for their help. “Both kids have been involved in this business ever since we stepped foot in here,” Austin says. “They’re wonderful and the guests like them.”
The motel originally opened in the 1960s containing just eight bedrooms. Under new ownership in the 1980s, there were significant renovations done including the addition of nine more rooms and a three-bedroom apartment. “It was beautifully decorated as an authentic Acadian Inn for that time period,” Austin said. However, between the 1980s and Austin’s ownership in 2018, the motel stayed the same. She had big plans to renovate the motel. She wanted to keep the authenticity the travellers loved but create more modern and comfortable updates. But the first big change was the business name. After recently losing her mother, Austin wanted to honour her name. “My mother’s name was Claire, and she was the rock of the family. So, this became The Clairestone,” she said. Claire was born and raised on Isle Madame and was a well-respected teacher in the community for thirty-five years. “I got such a good response from the community when we announced the name. It was very heartwarming.”
Austin explains the biggest challenges over the past few years, starting with the renovations. “We started renovations in 2018, and we just wrapped them up last winter,” she said. Due to being in a rural area, she faced challenges with getting some of the supplies she wanted. She had a vision in mind and would occasionally slow down the renovations by searching for particular items. Another challenge she faced was sourcing tradespeople for various projects. Austin and her family took on a lot of the renovations by themselves but at times they had to wait for the professionals. “We found wonderful people to do the work that I’m not qualified to do… Even with a YouTube tutorial,” she chuckled. Reflecting on the obstacles she faced with the renovations, Austin says if she could do it all again, she wouldn’t let it consume her as much as it did. “I was just trying to do it all at once” she explained.
Then came the challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was stressful for anyone in the hospitality industry. We were very fortunate we did okay. Throughout COVID, we had some little miracles fall on our laps,” she said. At the start of the pandemic, they hosted foreign workers for their quarantine period, which started her on the right track. With some financial help from government pandemic relief funds, they were able to make it through the most stressful times and continue to stay open for visitors.
Visitors coming to the island can expect scenic ocean views and a beautiful landscape. “We are surrounded by the ocean,” Austin describes. “So, if you love the ocean this is the place for you.” She says she shares her top five favourite spots to visit on the island with her guests, in hopes they will explore and experience the natural beauty of Isle Madame. She gives as much advice as possible, sharing knowledge and maps with anyone wanting to have an adventure. Apart from lighthouse tours, most of the activities on Isle Madame are self-guided. Visitors can rent kayaks, go hiking, walk the beaches, bicycle on the trails, and do many other outdoor activities during the warmer months. The Clairestone Inn is located beside Lennox Passage Provincial Park which is a great spot for walking, biking, and swimming. The inn is open year-round Austin says. For the brave people who enjoy the cold and snow, a popular winter activity is snowmobiling along the trails. She welcomes anyone who wants to stay at The Clairestone Inn during the winter to park their trailer in the yard and take advantage of the local trails. And a bonus is that The Clairestone Inn is conveniently located beside a gas station, great for fueling up off-road vehicles. Winter activities also include snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, which can take place right beside the inn at the park.
After a full day of activities, guests will be welcomed with warm Cape Breton hospitality. The décor is a minimalist, coastal style with bright, airy spaces. The Clairestone Inn is a place to relax and enjoy the scenic views. “We do have air-conditioning throughout the Inn, but we prefer to throw open the windows because we always have that nice ocean breeze,” Austin said. There are different room categories available at the inn, with seventeen rooms altogether. There are ground-level rooms that are suitable for people with mobility limitations or anyone wishing to have easy access to their vehicle. The second floor of the main building has eight rooms with Queen or King size beds. Four rooms face the ocean and have additional luxuries included, for guests wanting an elevated experience. “We have a guest lounge where there’s a fireplace, sofa and all day coffee station,” Austin adds. “We are very casual and laid back. We will talk to you as if we’ve known you forever.”
The Clairestone Inn is equipped with a restaurant that is not in use. “We do not currently run a restaurant because we have not sourced a chef” Austin explained. She wanted to finish the renovations to the accommodations section of the inn before taking on a big project such as opening a restaurant. With no set plan, Austin debates between leasing the space out or potentially looking into other business options to fill it with. For now, she is open to hosting approximately forty guests and working alongside local catering companies for small events. But she will continue to renovate and evolve the inn to offer the best possible experience for her guests to bring the Isle Madame.
The Clairestone Inn is off the beaten path, not located on the famous Cabot Trail and the small island is often overlooked by visitors to Cape Breton, making it difficult for businesses in the area. But what our Canada Ocean Playground series has shown our readers is that Nova Scotia offers many experiences that need to be on your destination list when travelling to or throughout the area. We encourage anyone heading to Cape Breton to veer Southwest and check out Isle Madame to experience its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and local hospitality. To stay updated on Shauna Austin’s ever-growing business, be sure to follow along on social media and book a stay to check out on your own what we are calling the Clairestone Inn Experience, you will not be disappointed.
by Gabrielle Gamblin