Skyrocketing gas prices leave Cavendish, P.E.I., tourism operators struggling to find staff

Business owners in P.E.I.'s largest seasonal resort area are hoping for a busy summer following two years of COVID-19 restrictions but many are struggling to find staff for the upcoming tourist season.

Cavendish, on P.E.I.'s North Coast, is known for its white sand beaches, coastal trails andcampgrounds. It'sthe home of Green Gables Heritage Place, the site that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables novels.

It's also about 40 kilometres outside Charlottetown, and the regionrelies heavily on mostly youngseasonalstaff as the community's population swells by the thousands in the summer months.

But with the price of gas hitting record highs on P.E.I. theminimum price at the pump for a litre of regular gasoline roseto $2.108 Monday night those seasonal jobs are getting harder to fill.

"Gas prices it's like our number one excuse of why we can't get staff right now," said Mya Welton, who manages theCOWS ice cream store at Avonlea Village.

Weltonherself drives 30 minutes to work, and says theincreasing cost of gas crosses her mind daily especially asa student carrying loans.

"I've been here for six years ... when it comes to it, it's like, [the owners]need staff and I want to help out as much as I can."

The store's owners have increased wages, she said, to help sweeten the deal for potential employeesover the summer, but she hopestip money will help offset the commute, too.

Negotiating wages

Tourism is key to P.E.I.'seconomy, and it's gearing up fora busy summer. Now that the Islandhas finally reopened,businesses are hoping to make up for tourism dollars lost duringthe pandemic and they're even more desperate to hire the staff they need.

Peter Fullerton, property manager at Avonlea Village and Cavendish Boardwalk, says he's raised hiswages this year, too.

"We had to come up with something," he said. "With gas prices rising, being almost 50 per centhigher than they were last year, we certainly thought ... to get quality people here, we were going to have to pay more."

Fullerton says cleaners, gardeners and maintenance staff will all make an extra $1.50 an hourthis season.

Captain Scott's Fish and Chips another Cavendish spot that just opened for the season is still in search ofa cook.

Owner Tom Donovan understands the rising cost of gas can be a challenge, especially sincemost of his staff are university students.

He's increasedstaff wages$2 per hour this season to help offset the cost of commuting in order to hang onto his employeeswhile he can.

"I find that we're going to have to pay them more ...and I'm good with that," he said.

"We'll offer an extra dollar or two an hour to get them out herebecause I understand it's expensive to drive down here every day."

Donovan is just one of manyseasonal business ownerson the Islandhopeful for a strong tourist season and a drop in gas prices.