Our Story

Matt, Erin, and Ebey recently arrived in Cape Breton from Bellingham, WA.

Erin, who grew up on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, fell in love with Cape Breton after bike touring the Cabot Trail. She moved to Vancouver Island in 2000 and then lived in Bellingham for 17 years. Erin operated a successful arts-based business called Red Boots Design, where she created and sold custom screen print designs as well as screen printed merchandise for local businesses.

Matt grew up in New York state and moved to Washington, settling in Bellingham when he was 20. There, he began his career at a brand new brewery, Boundary Bay, where he would remain for the next 23 years, working his way up to sales distribution manager and becoming one of the hearts of that business (and the community!).

Erin and Matt met in 2013. Ebey, a corgi mix rescue pup, joined the family in 2014 and a whole new set of adventures began! During Matt’s first visit to Nova Scotia, they started dreaming of one day retiring in Cape Breton . . . maybe with a little business on the Cabot Trail. And then quite unexpectedly the dream took shape in 2020 when they found the perfect opportunity: the beloved Frog Pond Cafe and Sunset Gallery, established by William and Linda Roach was for sale! The trio decided on the spot to go for it and by mid-February 2021, their house was sold, their belongings packed up and then Erin, Matt and Ebey were on the road to Cape Breton!

The adventure took them to 18 states and 44 places over three-and-a-half months. They traveled across the US in a retrofitted Ram Promaster Van and retro-style camper called Loretta. After almost 14,000 miles—and many COVID 19-related hiccups—the newest residents of Cheticamp, NS arrived at their new home on the beautiful Island of Cape Breton! Their story is a real dream come true!

Erin, Matt, and Ebey are excited to become a part of the community while keeping alive the traditions that William and Linda created throughout their many years at the Frog Pond Cafe and Sunset Gallery.