ABOUT US

What Is Shorefast?

We have two distinct branches:

• Shorefast

(a registered Canadian charity)

• Shorefast Social Enterprises Inc. (our suite of social businesses)

Our mission is to build cultural, ecological and economic resilience on Fogo Island and to serve other communities by sharing place-based models of economic development. To accomplish these goals, Shorefast has two main branches:

Shorefast, a Canadian registered charity: Through a combination of private donations and surpluses from SSEI businesses, our charitable initiatives support ocean literacy, geological research, academic residencies, microlending, boatbuilding, vernacular architecture, regenerative tourism, and community economic development.

Shorefast Social Enterprises Inc. (SSEI): This comprises our suite of social businesses (Fogo Island Inn, Fogo Island Fish, Fogo Island Workshops, and Growlers Ice Cream). These businesses create meaningful employment, contribute to the local economy, and generate income to be reinvested in the local.

Both our social enterprises and charity branches have their own board of directors and senior leadership teams.

Shorefast is a community-centred charity, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are grateful for the opportunity to host guests and welcome employees of myriad cultural, national, and faith identities; across the spectrum of gender identities and expressions and sexual orientations; and with diverse abilities.

We endeavour to create an overtly welcoming and accessible environment. In that spirit, we respect the diverse identities and contributions of each of our team members and our guests at the Inn and are committed to upholding their fundamental rights to feel safe and valued. We are working actively to address imbalances for historically excluded communities through training, promotion opportunities, and mentorship.

We respectfully acknowledge the territory on which we gather on Fogo Island as a part of the ancestral homelands of the Beothuk, and the island of Newfoundland as the ancestral homelands of the Mi’kmaq and Beothuk, and Labrador as the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Innu of Nitassinan, the Inuit of Nunatsiavut and the Inuit of NunatuKavut.

At every opportunity, we commit to using our platforms to encourage a reverence for Indigenous peoples across Canada and their knowledge, and strive for truth, healing, and collective prosperity, as our nation moves forward together on a journey of peace.

Shorefast

A Registered Charity

We support ecological sustainability, local entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, the arts, and architecture on Fogo Island.

Board of Directors

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Alan Cobb, Co-Founder and Chair

Alan Cobb enjoyed a long career in the senior ranks of the federal public service and the private sector. He has worked in policy and operations for the Industry, Science and Technology, Treasury Board, and Employment and Immigration federal ministries. He also headed the initial federal offshore oil and gas regulatory agency, based in St. John’s. After retiring from the federal government, Alan provided strategic-management consulting services to the public and private sectors, and worked with a leading technology firm as advisor to the CEO.

Alan Cobb, Co-Founder and Chair

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Judy Brinson, Director

Judy Brinson is from Change Islands, and moved to Fogo Island in 1998 to work as a nurse. She is a Cub and Beaver Scout leader and a Sunday School leader with the Church of the Holy Spirit. Judy helped pioneer a Junior Canadian Rangers group on Fogo Island and is a World Ocean’s Day Beach Clean-up Leader. She is actively involved in many facets of community life. She and her husband, also from Change Islands, have three children and continue to live on Fogo Island.

Judy Brinson, Director

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Tim Brodhead, Director

Tim Brodhead was President and CEO of The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and served as Interim President of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation, after a 25-year career in international development. He was Founding Executive Director of ACORD and co-founder of the Canadian development agency Inter Pares. Tim co-chairs Canadians for a New Partnership and is a board member of The Natural Step, Engineers Without Borders (EWB-Canada), the Arctic Inspiration Prize, the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon, and the Jarislowsky, Omega, Inspirit, and Ottawa Community Foundations. He is a member of the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience (WISIR) and is on the Advisory Boards of the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy, and the Children and Youth in Challenging Contexts Network. In 2001, Tim was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Tim Brodhead, Director

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Zita, Founder & CEO,CM

Growing up on Fogo Island, Zita developed a deep belief in the inherent value of place and profound respect for the human ways of knowing that emerge from respectful relationships with nature, culture, and community. She held senior financial roles in the high-tech industry, notably with JDS Fitel, subsequently JDS Uniphase, where she contributed to building the company into one of the most successful high-tech innovators in history. Zita returned home to Fogo Island in the early 2000’s and, along with her brothers Anthony and Alan, founded Shorefast. In 2016, Zita was awarded the Order of Canada. She volunteers her time and energies to the active direction and management of Shorefast and our projects on Fogo Island.

Zita, Founder & CEO,CM

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Kelly LaRocca

Kelly LaRocca serves as Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. She has degrees in Philosophy and Law and studied Aboriginal Law, after practicing as a civil litigation lawyer. Kelly was the Portfolio Chief Representative during the claim negotiations arising from the 1923 Williams Treaties. Upon a Council recommendation, the MSIFN approved the start-up of the Noozhoo Nokiiyan Limited Partnership (NNLP) to manage economic-development opportunities. Kelly is an ex officio Director of the Board for NNLP. She is also an elected Director for the National Lands Advisory Board for First Nations Lands Management and serves as Vice-Chair for the Ogemawahj Tribal Council. She previously served on the Aboriginal Justice Committee for the former Attorney General for Ontario and was a Director of the Baagwating Community Association.

Kelly LaRocca

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Josh Quinton, Director

Josh Quinton manages the US east coast business at Bloomberg L.P., from New York City. An award-winning global business manager, he builds analytics to bring transparency to the financial markets and advises money managers of multinational corporations, pension funds, hedge funds, and central banks, as well as heads of government in the United States and Canada. Josh serves on the finance committee of the Grenfell Association of America in New York and volunteers as a mentor and advocate for Memorial’s Faculty of Business, as well as working with several charities. He received Memorial’s Alumni Horizon Award in 2012 and appointed to the Innovation Council of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2017. The son of small business owners, he is passionate about local entrepreneurship, self-sustainability and innovation in Newfoundland.

Josh Quinton, Director

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Robert Sirman, Director

Robert Sirman is a retired cultural executive who enjoyed a distinguished career in the Canadian cultural sector before hanging up his hat as Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2014. He served as co-director of Canada’s National Ballet School, where he reinforced its standing as a world leader in professional dance training. Other highlights include 10 years at the Ontario Arts Council, five years in Ontario’s first Ministry of Culture, and a stint as acting-CEO of the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation. Bob has an MA in Sociology from the University of Toronto, where he taught in 2016. He volunteers on several not-for-profit charitable boards. In 2002 Bob served as librettist for James Kudelka’s full-length ballet, The Contract.

Robert Sirman, Director

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Gordon Slade, Director, Past Chair, CM, ONL

Originally from Placentia Bay, Gordon Slade served as Deputy Minister of Fisheries for Newfoundland and Labrador, and as Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. In 1996, Gordon became an independent consultant in the fields of heritage, cultural tourism, and community development. He was CEO of One Ocean, an organization that encourages dialogue between the fishing and petroleum industries, and is the former Chair and Managing Director of Battle Harbour Historic Trust. In 2005, Gordon was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, and, in 2020, he was invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Gordon Slade, Director, Past Chair, CM, ONL

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Judy Stein-Korte, Director

Judy Stein-Korte has guided law firm leaders, lawyers and marketing teams in embracing innovative ways of building and burnishing brands. For most of her three-decade career, she assumed roles at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms. Judy is a trusted business-strategy adviser to many of the firm’s national, regional, office and practice leaders and currently serve Osler in a part-time role as media relations counsel. Judy has collaborated with Zita Cobb and her team in building greater awareness of Fogo Island Inn and Shorefast. A proud Maritimer, she has experienced hospitality throughout her life experiences and travels. She grew up in her father’s restauran,t which for decades was the best place to dine in the Maritimes, and holds a commerce degree in hospitality management.

Judy Stein-Korte, Director

Senior Leadership

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Susan Cull, Vice President, Shorefast Operations

Susan is the Vice President (Operations) for Shorefast and Director of New Businesses for Shorefast Social Enterprises Inc, as well as Executive Chair of the Fogo Island Economic Development Partnership. After receiving her Master’s in Project Management from York University, Susan spent eight years in project development and management with the Newfoundland and Labrador Economics and Statistics Agency. But the pull of home never faded, so in 2014 Susan and her family moved back to Fogo Island. Passionate about community development, Susan is involved with several local organizations, in the economic, social, recreation, and education sectors.

Susan Cull, Vice President, Shorefast Operations

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Jane Hilton, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Jane joined Shorefast in Fall 2019 and works with Zita Cobb to galvanize support for Shorefast’s ambitious vision to foster a global network of intensely local, sustainable, and economically sound places. Previously, Jane was a senior leader at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), overseeing a forward-looking Philanthropy team. Jane’s experience at the AGO spanned nearly 15 years, and she contributed to many aspects of the fundraising operation, including the capital campaign for the Frank Gehry-designed expansion project, establishing a robust Major Gifts program, and supporting the AGO’s game-changing Access Initiative. Jane’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) degree also served her in her previous Development roles at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery.

Jane Hilton, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

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Diane Hodgins, Chief Financial Officer

Diane Hodgins is CFO of Shorefast, where she implements modern business practices to help communities actively participate in the global economy. She serves as a “numeric linguist”: a translator for the complex and often ambiguous financial language of business. Diane works to create modern tools like the Economic Nutrition Mark, which answers the all-important question: “Where does the money go?”. Using a whole-thinking approach that puts people and place at the centre of every decision, she and her team create systems that strengthen our culture and ensure knowledge and capital stay local. Diane is passionate about sharing Fogo Island's alternative business model, in which social and economic value are achieved in tandem.

Diane Hodgins, Chief Financial Officer

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Amy Rowsell, Director, Communications, Creative & Content Production

In collaboration with the executive team, Amy leads the charity’s communication efforts and advises on creative projects across Shorefast’s umbrella of organizations and initiatives. She works closely with CEO Zita Cobb to share the Fogo Island story around the world. Amy has a BA (honours double major in history and gender studies) from the University of Ottawa, and an MA in the history of medicine from McGill University. Though born and raised in Ottawa, Amy has paternal ancestry from Newfoundland, and she is thrilled to work with an organization that has allowed her to “come home.” Amy now lives on Fogo Island.

Amy Rowsell, Director, Communications, Creative & Content Production

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Nicolaus Schafhausen, Strategic Advisor, Fogo Island Arts

Nicolaus Schafhausen served as Director of Frankfurter Kunstverein and founding Director of the European Kunsthalle; curator at the Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art in Helsinki (NIFCA) and German Pavilion for the 52nd and the 53rd Venice Biennale; and head of the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art in Rotterdam. Nicolaus now serves as Director at Kunsthalle Wien and lectures at the Higher Institute for Fine Arts in Ghent. He is also the author and editor of numerous publications on contemporary art. In his work with Fogo Island Arts, Nicolaus leads the vision of the artist-residency program, engaging artists in dialogue on the role of contemporary art in creating alternative solutions for the revitalization of rural communities prone to emigration.

Nicolaus Schafhausen, Strategic Advisor, Fogo Island Arts

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Peter Decker, Special Ambassador

In the tradition of other great Newfoundlanders, Pete is a fisherman and a sealer. He loves Fogo Island and has managed to keep body, soul, and family together by working ‘away’ when necessary, but never moving away. Past jobs include: working in the woods, driving and fixing trucks, painting buildings, loading train cars, cooking on a cargo ship, hunting, construction, shoeing horses, and too many other things to mention. Pete manages Shorefast's fleet of wooden punts and is Shorefast's Ambassador, welcoming all to Fogo Island and providing exceptional hosting services.

Peter Decker, Special Ambassador

Shorefast Social Enterprises Inc.

SSEI operates a suite of social businesses that contribute to the local economy. All surpluses are reinvested in the community, through Shorefast’s charitable programs.

SSEI Board of Directors

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Earl Ludlow, Chair

Earl Ludlow, a native of Fogo Island, retired from his position at Fortis, as EVP and Operational Advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer, in 2017. He worked for more than 40 years with Fortis, across Canada, the United States, Central America and the Caribbean. Committed to volunteerism, Earl is currently Chair of Altius Renewable Resources, Vice Chair of the Rooms, Governor of Commissionaires NL, a Member of Order of NL advisory council, and the RNC Historical Board. He served on MUN Board of Regents, and is part Chair of Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Foundation. He also served as the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Battalion, is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and was inducted into the Order of NL.

Earl Ludlow, Chair

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Zita Cobb, Director

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Gail Jones Lush, Director

Gail Jones Lush grew up on Fogo Island until 1985. She and her husband, Jim, became business owners in Gander, then returned to Fogo Island on retirement. Gail has volunteered with the Gander SPCA, the Provincial Board SPCA and was Secretary with the Gander and Area board. She also served as a member of Central Health Board, Gambo and Area Placement for disability workers, Gander and Area Food Bank, the Breakfast Program and St. Martins Church. She is actively involved with St. Andrew's Church, in Fogo, and the Heritage Society.

Gail Jones Lush, Director

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Josh Quinton, Director

Josh manages the US east coast business at Bloomberg L.P., from New York, advising money managers of multinational corporations, pension funds, hedge funds, and central banks, and heads of government. Josh is on the finance committee of the Grenfell Association of America and volunteers as a mentor and advocate for Memorial’s Business Faculty. He received Memorial’s Alumni Horizon Award and was appointed to the Innovation Council of Newfoundland and Labrador. The son of small business owners, he's passionate about local entrepreneurship and self-sustainability.

Josh Quinton, Director

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Kevin Woodbury, Director

Kevin Woodbury has enjoyed a 20-year career with Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest publicly traded company, Fortis Inc. From managing human resources at Fortis Properties Corporation to leading the operations of Fortis’ Atlantic Canadian hotels, he found his way to the team behind the acquisition of ITC Holdings, the largest independent electric transmission company in the U.S. Today, Kevin has a leadership role in business development at Fortis. Originally from Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, Kevin has fully embraced Newfoundland and Labrador as home for nearly a quarter century.

Kevin Woodbury, Director

Senior Leadership Team

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Tracey Clark, Vice President, New Businesses

Prior to stepping into her operational role with Shorefast, Tracey served as a Director of Shorefast Social Enterprises Inc,. and activated Fogo Clay Studio, which opened in Summer 2020. Tracey was President & CEO of Bridgehead Coffee, from its founding in 2000 to its sale in 2020. She holds an MBA and is an Aga Khan Fellow. A community enthusiast, she is motivated by opportunities to make systemic change. Tracey volunteers with the Ottawa Community Foundation and Ecotrust Canada. She enjoys outdoor pursuits, reading, writing, and cooking and spends her time between Fogo Island, Ottawa, and Toronto.

Tracey Clark, Vice President, New Businesses

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Amanda Decker-Penton, Managing Director, Fogo Island Inn

Amanda was born and raised on Fogo Island. Her early career in nursing took her to northern Canada where she worked in rural hospital settings. Amanda’s heart remained in Newfoundland; and in 2012, she came home, shifting from a hospital to a hospitality setting, in a role with Fogo Island Inn. Amanda has helped build the Inn’s global reputation for exceptional, place-based, regenerative travel experiences. She currently serves on the Inn’s Executive Team as Director of Guest Experience.

Amanda Decker-Penton, Managing Director, Fogo Island Inn

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Sorya Gaulin, Vice President, Marketing & Social Business Development

Sorya (Sor-eye-ya) has a career spanning more than 20 years in performance marketing and marketing communications. At Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, she was responsible for brand strategy, public relations, media events, social media marketing, and email marketing globally, and she orchestrated the high-profile launch of the Four Seasons Private Jet. Previously, Sorya was Director of Marketing then VP of Public Relations and Corporate Giving at Indigo Books & Music Inc., where she worked with Heather Reisman to create the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. She also headed up Marketing, Public Relations, and Social Campaigning at The Body Shop Canada. Sorya started her career as a journalist for Canadian Press in Montréal, and her passions include reading, food and beverage, scuba diving, and fishing.

Sorya Gaulin, Vice President, Marketing & Social Business Development

We look forward to hearing from you; please use the form below to get in touch with our team.

Postal Address

Shorefast
P.O. Box 82
Joe Batt's Arm, Newfoundland, Canada
A0G 2X0

Contact Us

Careers

Geology Hike on Fogo Island, Newfoundland

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Careers

Shorefast and its associated organizations, including the Fogo Island Inn and The Woodshop on Fogo Island, are often looking for dynamic individuals interested in social business to join our growing teams. Current openings are listed below:

Fogo Island Inn - Cook
Fogo Island Inn - Doorperson
Fogo Island Inn - Front Desk Agent
Fogo Island Inn - Housekeeper
Fogo Island Inn - Operations Coordinator
Fogo Island Inn - Server

Shorefast - Director, Financial Operations
SSEI - Human Resources Administrator
SSEI - Manager, Business Planning & Analysis
SSEI - Manager, Property and Procurement

Careers

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name "Shorefast" mean?

A shorefast is the line and mooring used to attach a traditional cod trap to the shore. It is a strong symbol of Fogo Island’s cod fishing heritage, and we chose this name because it symbolizes a belief in the importance of holding on to community and culture and in the power of authentic connections between individuals, their communities, culture, and place.

How do I get to Fogo Island?

The closest international airport to Fogo Island is Gander (YQX). From Gander, you can make your way to the Fogo Island ferry terminal located in Farewell. The scenic drive from Gander to the ferry is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the ferry ride itself is between 45 minutes to one hour. The ferry is run by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the schedule can found online here.

Travel from other Newfoundland airports, is, of course, also possible. Simply expect a longer drive to the ferry terminal, in correspondence with the location of your arriving airport. After Gander, St. John's (YYT) is the second closest airport to Fogo Island.

What accommodations, besides the Fogo Island Inn, are available on Fogo Island?

Fogo Island has numerous other hospitality establishments, including B&Bs, short and long-term vacation rentals, and efficiency units. Camping and RV parking are also available. We recommend you visit the website for the Town of Fogo Island for more information on accommodations and rentals.

How do I get a residency with Fogo Island Arts?

Fogo Island Arts hosts a open call for residency applications every two years, and artists are selected for residencies by a jury. For more information, please see the Residencies page on the Fogo Island Arts website.

Who owns the Fogo Island Inn?

No one person owns the Fogo Island Inn: it is a community-owned economic asset. Its legal owner is Shorefast, which acts as the custodian of the Inn on behalf of the community of Fogo Island. Because Shorefast’s mandate is to help secure a resilient economic and cultural future for Fogo Island, the Inn is effectively owned by the community of Fogo Island as a whole. Therefore, the beneficial owners of the Inn are the people of Fogo Island.

Who paid for the Fogo Island Inn?

The Fogo Island Inn was a significant investment in the future of Fogo Island’s economy, and cost $41 million Canadian to build. 75.4% of the money used to build the Inn was provided by private individuals, including a majority share from Zita Cobb. None of these individuals are seeking a return on their contribution. The rest of the money used to build the Inn came in the form of government grants. We sought these grants as a way to partner with our governments on Shorefast’s groundbreaking rural economic development initiatives. This government contribution has been repaid many times over in direct forms such as income tax and property tax revenues, as well as indirectly through significantly increased economic activity in the region and in the province.

Is the Fogo Island Inn financially successful?

Yes. Most similar properties take many years to “break even” financially, meaning their earnings become equal to their expenses, and they begin to make a profit. The Inn “broke even” in 2016, during its fourth year of operation, and now generates positive financial returns, 100% of which are reinvested in the community through Shorefast.