1. BYMELISSAJENKINS
THECOMPASS
For most of her adult life, Erika
Pardytravelledaroundtheworld,
never intending to move back to
NewfoundlandandLabrador.
But after stints in Ontario and
Quebec,theUnitedKingdomand
all over the United States, the
Goose Bay native had a strong
urge to make the move back
home,settinguprootsinHarbour
Grace.
With a wide range of job posi-
tionsandexperience,Pardyisnot
a stranger to economic develop-
ment. The mother of three was
previously employed with the
NortheastAvalonRegionalDevel-
opment board, Metroworth Con-
sulting and Modern Business
Equipment Ltd. in the business
developmentfield.
But experience is not what
Pardy will say if asked why she is
qualified for the position of eco-
nomicdevelopmentofficerforthe
Town of Harbour Grace. The rea-
son she would give is her passion
forworkingwithpeople.
Hit the ground running
Earlier this year, Pardy signed
on to work in the town of some
3,100people.Herpositionwillen-
tailbringingbusinessandtourism
to the area, something she be-
lievesisimportantforeveryonein
thecommunity.
Since May, it hasn’t be uncom-
mon to see Pardy knocking on
doors around town to chat with
localsaboutwhattheywouldlike
toseehappeninHarbourGrace.
But what is her mandate in a
townthatisstrivingforeconomic
growth but also wants to keep its
historyalive?
“I’m a dichotomy,” Pardy tells
The Compass in her new office
earlier this month. “I love both
economic and business growth,
butIalsolovehistory.I’mveryin-
terested in keeping both alive in
HarbourGrace.Onedoesnottake
precedenceovertheother.”
Onethingshewouldlovetosee
happen is the town to become a
destination point for those tour-
ing the region, rather than just a
drivethrough.Onewayshehopes
to achieve this is to work with
other economic development of-
ficersfromneighbouringcommu-
nities, including Bay Roberts and
Carbonear,tocreateamoreinclu-
sive and diverse tourism destina-
tiontobenefitthearea.
“Iwanttobringthecommunity
together,” she states. “People of
Conception Bay North have the
right to prosper and enjoy the
benefitsoftheeconomythatNew-
foundlandandLabradorcurrently
has. We have a goldmine that
we’re sitting on historically and
businessopportunity-wise.”
Background
Although Pardy was born in
Goose Bay, she spent most of her
childhoodonFogoIsland,spend-
ing summers in Twillingate.
When she was finished high
school,shewantedtoexperience
the world, travel to different
places and see the big cities. But
she always wanted to get edu-
cated.
Her first stop was Toronto to
beginstudyingnursing,whichshe
realize quickly she didn’t enjoy it.
She changed her major to vet-
erinariansciences,andcontinued
her education over the years by
studying psychology and busi-
ness.
For many years Pardy ran her
own companies, including a ho-
listic pet treatments for health
andbehaviouralissuesinCanada,
theUSandtheUK.Sheisalsothe
editor-in-chief and founder of
both The Progressive Pet maga-
zine and Dogs… Naturally, inter-
nationalmagazinesthathighlight
some of the holistic approaches
she has researched for animals.
As a publisher, digital marketing
strategistandCEOofMainStreet
Magazines,shehelpscreateexpo-
sure for small, local businesses.
She is also president and CEO of
Quadra Plus, where she is work-
ing to create herbal and alterna-
tive products for pets.
See PLENTY page A9
www.cbncompass.caPAGE A8 THE COMPASS, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
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New economic development officer wants to balance history with business acitvity
MELISSA JENKINS/THE COMPASS
Pardy is settling in nicely in her new position as economic development officer in the Town of Harbour Grace.
Making roots in Harbour Grace
www.cbncompass.ca
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