Anne Marie Fortner, owner of Explore Pelee

A Creative Life by Jen Merritt

The term ’stay-cation’ has been floating around the public travel and tourism world for the past year or so – or at least received more publicity thanks to a drastic decrease in disposable income with our current economic state. I have witnessed several billboards featuring ads for local gambling establishments, encouraging people to visit as part of their own stay-cation plan, but I have a better idea.

Explore Pelee!

Along with a group of artist friends, I visited Pelee Island this past weekend and my final verdict; if you have never been, you should go. Winery tours, historical ruins, glaciation, beaches, bike trails, ferry boats – this place has it going on! In celebration of my new favourite stay-cation destination, I present to you Anne Marie Fortner – the owner of Explore Pelee.

A geographer, entrepreneur, artist, teacher, student, and innovator, Anne Marie is a powerhouse wise soul, wrapped in the body of a twenty-something year old woman. Here is what she had to say about her experiences on Pelee Island.

Tell us a bit about your business, Explore Pelee.

Explore Pelee is an ecotourism business that offers biking & motor tours, environmental field trips, eco-adventure weekends, as well as tourist information, cottage rentals, and help with planning a trip to Pelee Island.

How did you become interested in this type of tourism?

I became interested in ecotourism because I have a Geography Degree and have experience doing wildlife research and restoration work over on Pelee Island. I used to guide canoe trips and have done a few long distance expeditions. It seemed a natural fit to run this type of business. I am very passionate about working outside, being active and ultimately I just love to ride my bicycle and I love Pelee Island.

How do you see your business growing?

Explore Pelee owner Anne Marie with a group of tourists on Pelee Island.

Hopefully getting more groups and potentially using my business as a template, for other regions where tourism has not been taped into. I would like to eventually do eco-therapy retreats on Pelee Island. As well as, take adventure tourism groups to spiritual sacred sites around the world.

What activity have you most enjoyed offering?

The Biking & Wine Tours are fabulous! Especially with the Lighthouse Bike Tour because we bike for longer and get to see more sights around the island.

What is the best thing about living on Pelee, and how did you end up on the island?

What I love the most about living on Pelee Island is living with the ebbs and flows of the seasons. Busy in the summer time. Quiet in the winter time. Multi-tasking, taking on various jobs and positions within the community, because there is a necessity to work together, being an intricate part of a small community is amazing! It is like everyone is a part of the puzzle. Also, living close to the water and the beach year-round is pretty wonderful too. I ended up working on Pelee Island for an environmental non-profit organization, living off-the-grid, in my tent for a couple seasons, after I graduated from University back in 2003. I instantly fell in love with the island! I moved back permanently in 2007.

What can tourists look forward to seeing offered from Explore Pelee?

Tourists can look forward to seeing the Old Vin Villa Ruins, historical Lighthouse, ancient native grinding stones, different nesting sites of wildlife birds, weather depending- turtles, snakes, frogs, birds and lots of waving locals!

Visit Explore Pelee online or on Facebook, or contact owner Anne Marie Fortner by email at explorepelee@yahoo.ca or by phone at 1.519.325.TOUR.