Twenty-three-year-old Marc-Antoine works in Banff, Alberta. The young man is a bellhop in a hotel and rounds out his hours as a barman in another establishment.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO BANFF AND WORK TWO JOBS?
I wanted a change of pace, a break during my studies and the opportunity to discover a new type of environment. I just ended up staying longer! At the beginning, I found it difficult to have two jobs at the same time because I work about 60 hours a week, but I ended up falling in love with the hospitality industry. I’d worked in restaurants in the past, but it was here that I discovered my new passion. I didn’t really set out to be a bellhop, but it’s an excellent experience. Working these two jobs, I make up to $1,500 a month.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?
Everyone here comes from different countries and cities. I have friends from Australia, France, Japan, Morocco, the U.K. and several places across Canada. We’re all on the same wavelength, and the atmosphere is great. Age helps too, as most of us are between 18 and 25 years old. The hardest thing is being far away from my family and close friends.
DO MANY OF YOU WORK MORE THAN ONE JOB?
Although I’m far from being the only one, we are in the minority. It’s not always easy to work 60 hours a week. In any case, the places I work only hire part-timers. I’ve developed a fairly strict, but satisfying routine for myself. As the weeks go by, I feel increasingly confident in giving my all in each of my jobs.
DO YOU PLAN TO SETTLE DOWN HERE?
I don’t think so. The clients are tourists, and most people who work in Banff were not born here, so there’s a lot of movement and it’s difficult to get settled. It’s very fulfilling to be here though, and now I know I definitely want a career in the restaurant business!