MacKenzie Legere

Background

About MacKenzie Legere

My introduction to hospitality and tourism came in the form of what I thought would be a short-term stint as a housekeeper. Little did I know this role would become a springboard into two industries that house my personality, interests, and lifestyle perfectly. Through housekeeping at Hotel Halifax, I had a direct influence on the travel stories of thousands of people that came in from all across the globe. Finding creative ways to exhibit the kindness and hospitality Canada has become known for became a sort of game: once you got to know the guests, you could start to fit all the necessary pieces together to build them the perfect stay. With families, conference-goers, and tourists visiting from places I had never heard of and places I had wanted to travel to my whole life, each puzzle was unique and challenging in its own way. After training dozens of colleagues, I had the amazing opportunity to lead my department as a supervisor where I managed the daily routines of the 40+ department members on the floors each day. I got to meet so many interesting folks who would tell me stories of all the places they had visited and, after a while, I became envious of my guests. They got to create amazing travel stories, so why couldn’t I? My role at Air Canada has transformed me from a nervous flyer who had never travelled overseas before into a confident flight attendant who safely delivers thousands of travellers all over the world every single month. I still get to hear about the travel adventures passengers tell me about every day, but now I get to eagerly reply back to them with adventures of my own. Tourism and hospitality have given me the privilege to hear the stories of people with completely different experiences and backgrounds than my own. Their unique perspectives allowed me to expand my worldview and inspired me to study Journalism at Ryerson University. I’m hoping to one day contribute to a living newsroom where I can share these stories with the world, contribute to the ongoing global conversations, and give a voice to those who would otherwise go unheard.