A honeymoon trip to the Yukon several years ago started a love affair with the North for Pat and Diane Brooks. After retiring from successful careers as a Fire Captain and Hospital Lab Manager, they discovered the Gold Rush Campground in Dawson City. It was for sale and after a good deal of negotiating, the Brooks took it over.
For a couple that decided to retire and then just couldn't really let go, this is the perfect lifestyle: they operate the campground from May until September and then travel the world for the other seven months.
The Job
The Gold Rush Campground has 82 sites, catering primarily to the RV market. We have 4 full time staff that perform the front office functions and outdoor activites, including cleaning washrooms, gardening and painting. We take care of all the budgeting, accounting, and major mechanical repairs, planting the garden, etc. Generally the first guests arrive in early June and stay until the snow starts to fly in late August.
Tourism is a People Business
We both like to help people, whether it is to meet their needs in regards to a camping spot, to find a local doctor, or even a good restaurant for dinner. It is a grueling drive from Whitehorse to Dawson City (about 500 miles on some challenging roads) so people tend to arrive tired and grumpy. We recognize that and feel it is our job to settle them in, give them a chance to relax and make sure there are no further frustrations to impede them enjoying the area.
Education and Training
Neither of us has had tourism-specific training but we have strong managerial backgrounds and courses related to our previous careers. In the 21/2 years we have operated people skills and a lot of common sense are what we need most. However, the advice we would give anyone interested in a career in this industry is to get an education! Taking a certificate, a diploma or even a degree program helps to clarify the opportunities that are available before people start their careers. There is a lot of competition for good jobs and employers are looking for the things that give prospective employees an edge over the other candidates. Seeing that someone is enrolled in, or completed a tourism program will show them the candidate is serious about a career in the industry.
A Career in Tourism
We would certainly recommend a career in tourism to our peers. There are lots of opportunities for work in this industry and it is continuing to grow. Ours is a perfect example of the entrepreneurial opportunities that are available in this industry.
Keeping on Top of the Industry
We pride ourselves on knowing our community so we work closely with the Visitor's Association in Dawson City. Pat is presently the President of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce. Through the Visitor Centre this summer, we created and distributed a newsletter to dispel the bad press about the fires burning in the Yukon. We also attend the annual BC Lodging Association conference where we meet with other campground operators to learn and share what is happening across BC and the Yukon.
