With due recognition to Robert Frost, Fox Harb’r Developments is in a world of its own.  Capturing the nascent beauty of Nova Scotia this is a place like no other.  Forget about destination weddings or celebrations across the border.  Because this is the place to be.  As the President and the Chief Operating Officer of Fox Harb’r Developments in Wallace, Nova Scotia, Kevin Toth has over 30 years experience in luxury resort and hotel operations, real estate development, ski and golf operations and destination marketing.

He joined Fox Harb’r in May 2015 and is responsible for the ongoing operation and the real estate development of the Resort.  The South Asian News meets the man who is helping Canadians experience and discover the magic of Canada’s true wonderland.

What’s so special at Fox Harb’r, what do people have to say about an experience at this Canadian destination?

The experience of arrival here is as individual as the people we host, whether by sea at our deep water marina, by air at our private airstrip or by land via the picturesque 90 minute drive from Halifax. Our guests experience gourmet menus and a private vineyard. They can play Championship golf. Escape to pampered luxury at the Dol-ás Spa. Shoot sporting clay at our rustic Sporting Lodge. Play tennis with ocean views. Where else can you get such luxury? There’s the one and only Fox Harb’r, it is the resort for the independent-minded. This is what Ron Joyce; Tim Horton’s Co-Founder has to say about the place: “Fox Harb’r is about a man falling in love with a piece of land close to where he grew up. I’m very proud of what we’ve created here. Luxury without pretension, in one of the most beautiful places on earth.”  We’ve also had destination weddings here, and both the parents of the couple, the guests and the bride and bridegroom have spoken non-stop about how great an experience it has been.  We need to seek the treasures of our own country first, before we decide to take the next flight to an out-of-town place that may not be measurable to Fox Harb’r.  This is genuinely beauty beyond compare.  It’s heaven on earth.

Sounds out of this world, tell us some more of what’s available at this place

Let’s talk about the residential part of the property and then we’ll take a tour of the other facilities available.  We offer casually refined, executive townhomes from 2,700 to 3,000 sq. ft. which can encompass the largest of lifestyles with an extra 1,400 to 1,650 sq. ft. of ready-to-finish basement.  Our customers can experience understated elegance with fine features and finishes including high ceilings, lustrous hardwood, and natural marble and granite.  Then there are Custom Homes with the uniqueness of New England-style architecture finished with top quality designer materials for classic traditional comfort.  However for the discerning palate and for those who know exactly what they want we have the ‘Build your dream home at Fox Harb’r’ which entitles them to select the perfect site for their custom home from our ocean-view and golf-view fully-serviced half-acre lots. Building a new home begins long before the foundation comes up and thanks to a team of experts at Fox Harb’r Resort, the process runs smoothly, from lot selection right up to furnishings and finishes. We never lose sight of our customers end result—of giving them optimal value. There’s more; during your first three years of ownership at Fox Harb’r, you are entitled to one week a year at Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in the British Virgin Islands where you can escape to adventure and luxury living set within the magic and beauty of your own pristine private island retreat. What does this entail?  All of this; divine secluded beaches, the clearest of waters, a world-class spa, marina village, gourmet market and absolutely superb cuisine from gourmet fare to casual dining. You can also opt for a candlelight dinner on the beach.

This is fantastic, makes us want to plan for earlier retirement

That’s a good thought but at Fox Harb’r we do not even erroneously harbor that thought—it is a place for everyone, because everybody deserves an unsurpassed vacation experience. It is a place where one can rediscover a balanced lifestyle with a good balance of exercise in our Wellness Center. If you venture outside our gated community, you’ll experience first-hand the tranquil setting of the Northumberland Shore, smell fresh, clean air, experience golden sunsets once again (who has the time to do that in our stressful busy lives?). One can re-discover a relaxed pace of life, indoors or outdoors, summer or winter, there’s a world of adventure waiting at Fox Harb’r.  Our indoor pool for instance is at least 25 meters and 11-feet deep, the likes of which are never seen – set in a gorgeous facility and framed by enormous fir beams that extend to a 30-feet ceiling.

Nova Scotia is home to over 6,700 lakes and 130 rivers. The village of Wallace in the Cumberland County has a long history as a fishing harbor. With such details as these in mind, anglers and fishermen of all types can be certain to find that ultimate catch in Atlantic Canada. From spending the day on a lobster boat in search of oysters, quahogs and gaspereau (to name a few) to wading the shallow waters while fly-fishing, the Northumberland Strait region promises to deliver exceptional fishing experiences like no other.

Besides this, the town of Wallace is an active fishing port and the wharf’s location in the heart of the village makes it a focal point for commercial fishing. Approximately two dozen commercial fishing boats ply the waters of the Northumberland Strait in search of lobster, crab, scallops, herrings or mackerel. The lobster season runs typically from May 1st until June 30th. There are also tours available as we sight-see the beautiful Northumberland Shore by land, sea or air. We explore local sites that still play an intricate part in local traditions and see the Northumberland Strait the way it was meant to be seen, from the waters. From the sky, you can see first-hand just how green and bio-friendly this land is. Jost Vineyard in the neighborhood celebrates over 20 years of creating award-winning wines. The 45-acre vineyard carries an exceptional variety of grapes, leading to a superb wine collection. A tour of Jost Vineyards will introduce you to the meticulous process of growing and harvesting grapes, and filtering and bottling of wine.

Sounds picture perfect, but let’s delve into past credentials, about your positions of leadership in different organizations, and what does it take to reach the position you have today?

From 2009-2015, I was the COO of Skyline International Development and President of Skyline Hotels and Resorts in Toronto. During my tenure at Skyline, which was a moment of pride, the company was awarded a number of industry accolades including the Pinnacle Award, for Canadian Regional Hotel Company of the Year.   From 2005-2009, I was President and Managing Partner of Rockwater Properties, a resort and recreational property company with assets in Alberta and British Columbia.  With Rockwater, we managed the development of an ocean side recreational residential community in British Columbia and successfully launched the new ocean front resort Rockwater Secret Cove Resort.  From 1998 to 2005, I’ve held various senior management positions with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.  I managed the $30 million re-opening of the Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton, and headed an extensive development program at the Jasper Park Lodge.  Some of my other positions at Fairmont have included: Executive Assistant Manager and later General Manager of the Hotel Macdonald; General Manager of Jasper Park Lodge; General Manager of the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and General Manager of Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the company’s 2^nd largest Canadian resort, during which time the resort was awarded by World Association of Travel Agents as the #1 Ski Resort in the World. So as you can see I have worked hard, and risen from the ranks.  One has to have the vision, determination and drive to succeed in a career.  Also, a little bit of ambition helps.

Jude Paul Fernandes / jude@thesouthasiannews