If aliens invaded our country and we had to nominate one Canadian to win over our extraterrestrial visitors with impossible wit, effortless charm and genuine likability, Tressa Bevington would be a good bet. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that she grew up in one of the most storybook towns of earth, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick. Spend just 10 minutes in the oceanfront town where there’s not a florescent light in sight and Ma and Pa stores line the front street with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop and it feels like Beatrix Potter herself must have imagined the magical little town into being. Although Bevington now lives in Ottawa, she has all the traits of a local St. Andrews girl: she’s as down to earth as can be, she can slay jokes like it’s her job to perform comedy on the side and she has a tireless imagination that makes you believe that some adults get to keep their child-like sense of wonder, especially if they grow up somewhere surrounded by salt water, rocky beaches and children’s book-worthy houses. Although if we were her we’d be tempted to keep St. Andrews all to ourselves, Bevington is now doing PR for some of the town’s biggest events of the year, including a newly launched triathlon. We caught up with the East Coast gal to find out what makes St. Andrews so special.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What should people know?
People should know that I have so much going on in my head in the run of a day I am barely able to focus on any conversation. I am a multitasker to the extreme, trying not to waste any minute. I have a constant fear that people can actually hear what is going on inside my head. If they ever make an app for that, I’m screwed.
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Tell us about your work with the town of St. Andrews. What are you promoting and why should people vacation there?
St. Andrews is home to me and I love putting on exciting events that showcase what they have to offer. For being such a small town, it really has everything that you would need there including friendly neighbours. I am working on a few events coming up that are very exciting. There is a Bay of Fundy Seafood Fest that is held in June, a world class triathlon called “Kingsbrae Garden Challenge St. Andrews” in July and Indulge Food and Wine Festival in the fall. Each festival weekend brings in visitors to St. Andrews to enjoy the area for a unique experience.
Tell us more about the triathlon?
This race is part of a multi-sport weekend that will attract athletes from around the world. The Kingsbrae Garden Challenge St. Andrews is part of a 25 international race series that will be hosted at the newly renovated Algonquin Resort. We have four different races during the weekend that will attract over 1,000 athletes. It’s going to be quite something to see the town welcome in the competitors and their families. We even have olympic gold medallist Simon Whitfield coming for the weekend to hang out!
What’s one of you best hidden talents people would be surprised to find out about you?
I am not sure what my hidden talent would be, so I just did a quiz that told me my hidden talent is “Mass Communicator” and it recommended I become a news announcer or a flight attendant. Some food for thought. Also, people do say that I am freakishly strong… Really, don’t mess with me.
What are three things you can’t live without?
Kisses from my kids, my husband and wine, aka Mommy Juice.
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Finish this sentence: I love St. Andrews because…
It is the best place on earth. For real. The smell, the quaint feeling of the town, no traffic, people saying hi to you on the sidewalk, all of the yummy places to eat, shopping, the ocean… I could go on.
What’s your favourite restaurant and why?
My favourite restaurant would have to be the Rossmount Inn in St. Andrews. We have eaten at many places and we always come back to comparing it to our experiences there. It’s where we got married and have had many, many amazing culinary experiences. You never want to leave.
How do we stay up to date with you and St. Andrews?
BayofFundySeafoodWeek.com, Challenge-StAndrews.com, IndulgeNB.com and TownofStAndrews.ca.
