Carly Schofield is Relishing Saint John with... Chrissy Gaunce!

“Money truly doesn’t buy happiness- I think I am really starting to realize that” – Chrissy Gaunce

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Miss Chrissy Gaunce, head of promotions and ticket sales for our very own Saint John Millrats. With Chrissy’s overwhelming passion for everything she does in life, we were able to engage in some great conversation about basketball and burgers!

Chrissy is definitely not a first timer at Relish. Not only is Relish an official sponsor of the Millrats, it is also her preference when it comes to good food. Chrissy admits that she is normally not a burger fan, but after she tried Relish for the first time she was hooked. She expressed that she likes the diverse menu and how fulfilling one burger can be. Today Chrissy ordered The Great One; she said it is usually a toss up between that or The Big Texas. She also enjoys the turkey burger as a healthier alternative to beef. I tried this week’s feature burger called: The Ginger 5-0. This unique burger is topped with ginger pineapple, chutney, havarti and back bacon. It was delicious! It might even be my favourite thus far. Remember this burger is only available until February 14^th so be sure to treat your sweetie- or yourself to lunch at Relish soon!

Chrissy Gaunce grew up on the west side of Saint John. She worked as a waitress at Rockys for quite some time until she was approached by David Cooper, the Vice President of marketing and number 7 on the team. He could sense Chrissy’s ability to sell and encouraged her to apply for the position she has today. Even though she was nervous in the beginning, Chrissy remembered her encounter with a fortune teller who told her to go into business. Now Chrissy can be found all over the city working to promote and encourage fellow Saint Johner’s to check out the city’s newest team. With the average attendance increasing each game, I think it is safe to say that Chrissy is doing a great job. Chrissy also has plans of running her own marketing company in the near future.

Chrissy truly believes that the Millrats have been nothing but welcomed with open arms to the city. As the majority of players hail from the states, she is confident that this team will really put Saint John on the map. Despite many injuries this season, Chrissy emphasizes that the team is ready for anything heading into the playoffs. The Millrats know that the fate of their career is determined by their performance and have been working harder than ever. Chrissy also jokes that she thinks the players are finally realizing just how small the Port City is. Although it has been a big adjustment, they all seem to be quite happy here playing the game they love.

For the future, Chrissy see's nothing but success in store for the team.Whether or not they win the championship this year, she knows that this season has been a tremendous learning experience and everyone involved should be very proud of what they've accomplished thus far. Chrissy also has hopes for more local teams to join the league in the future. Creating a rivalry between Fredericton or Moncton would intensify the games and give the fans an even greater motivation to come out and cheer. She also thinks that this would give Saint John a fantastic opportunity for networking within New Brunswick.

Aside from basketball, Chrissy is undergoing many projects of her own. “Lets Talk Girl Talk” is a unique program hoping to be launched later this year. The concept is to target young females in high school and encourage them to look beyond Saint John and into the big world. It is often a sad reality that many teens are unaware of the opportunities available and Chrissy hopes to offer some resources. This program will open the doors for success and give these girls the courage to live up to their full potential. Alongside “Lets Talk Girl Talk”, Saint John’s Next Top Model is also in the making. This competition will allow girls that thrive on fashion and design to experience a somewhat lavish lifestyle in our own small city.

Chrissy’s charasmatic personality and desire for life truly makes her a unique local. She believes that even if she only helps one person, it is worthwhile to pursue. Her loving and caring demeanour is exactly what this city needs in order to flourish. Chrissy also encourages everyone to check out the Millrats’ next game against the Halifax Rainmen this Friday night at Harbour Station. The players have been training hard and this will be an event not to miss out on. As always, I also encourage you to come on in to Relish Saint John for an experience you  won’t regret!