Jill Morse has secured her dream job.

The Town of Hay River made a significant staff hire last month with the recruitment of Morse as tourism coordinator.

The municipality made the formal announcement via a Facebook post on May 1, stating that MorseSA国际影视传媒檚 familiarity with the town and her enthusiasm will be a benefit for the community.

SA国际影视传媒淛illSA国际影视传媒檚 energetic positivity and passion for Hay River will serve us well in attracting and welcoming visitors to our community,SA国际影视传媒� the post states.

Morse will be stationed at the Visitor Information Centre, which opens for the summer on May 16.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just fabulous news,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 so super excited when I got the position. It is my dream job, ISA国际影视传媒檓 not going lie.SA国际影视传媒�

For about the last year and a half, Morse has been working as a purchasing officer with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, a job that she said she enjoyed. But being in the central role of promoting the town, where she has lived since she was two weeks old, comes with some personal satisfaction.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have dedicated my life to this town and I just love it,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e done a lot of volunteering for numerous organizations over the years to raise money for the schools and whatever requires my attention.SA国际影视传媒�

There will be some changes that Morse will oversee for the first post-Covid summer, including an expected rebound of pre-pandemic traffic.

While the last two summers have been drastically impacted by the pandemic, with limitations imposed by border closures, Hay River still saw positive responses from within the Northwest Territories, particularly through visitors from Yellowknife. Much effort has been put into marketing with the Town of Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 Tourism Development Plan and Tourism Marketing Plan.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Town of Hay River was quite successful in executing its SA国际影视传媒楬ay-cationSA国际影视传媒� promotion to attract visitors to the community during the summers,SA国际影视传媒� senior administrative officer Glenn Smith pointed out to the Hub this year.

SA国际影视传媒淭he community benefited from a significant amount of visitation from Yellowknife and within the NWT as residents looked for alternative vacation destinations. The golf course, local campgrounds, beaches and waterways were popular attractions.

SA国际影视传媒淭he town predicts that rubber tire traffic visitation numbers will return to pre-pandemic numbers or even increase as domestic vacationers shift to vacations that have more open space.SA国际影视传媒�

Smith acknowledged this week that a spike in fuel prices may put a dent in that expected vehicle traffic, but it remains to be seen.

Morse has been in her position since April 13, and she said she has already been addressing inquiries from all over the country SA国际影视传媒� and as far away as Mexico.

SA国际影视传媒淭he thing about Hay River is that it really sells itself once you bring your attention to all of the natural attractions we have to offer,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have trail systems and beaches and Great Slave Lake and so many other attractions that are a huge draw to anybody, no matter where you are coming from.SA国际影视传媒�

Summer students

The information centre has been closed since last September when the coordinator position became vacant. Since then the building has been winterized as the town sought to fill the role.

In 2021, the municipality did not hire summer students for the Visitor Information Centre, however Morse is in the midst of recruiting three summer students to help cover shifts on 12-hour days.

Morse said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 hoping the visitor centre can be a place where residents and visitors can stop and hang out for a while as self-serve drinks and refreshments are on offer and new little sitting tables are being set up.

The facility will also feature regional artwork for visitors to explore as there are 34 artists currently registered for third-party sales, or SA国际影视传媒榗onsignments,SA国际影视传媒� through the location.

SA国际影视传媒淎s we are settling in the Visitors Information Centre, we are taking on more consignments for order to sell and will have a gift shop for Northern products and wares,SA国际影视传媒� Morse said. SA国际影视传媒淪o we are looking to be able to promote artists in the NWT and all they have to offer because there is such incredible talent that comes out of this region and community.SA国际影视传媒�

Summer hours

During summer hours between June 1 and Aug. 31, the information centre will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In the winter SA国际影视传媒� from Sept. 1 to May 31 SA国际影视传媒� the hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.