About

A History of the Fairway Property and JJ’s Restaurant

John and Gloria Jenkins began their journey at the Fairway Motel and JJ’s Restaurant in 1978, moving their family on-site to run the business. Over the next 46 years, they transformed the property into a beloved Sussex landmark. Over time, Mark Jenkins, their son, became an integral part of daily operations . With his wife, Faith, joining a few years later to help manage the growing business.

Known for its warm hospitality and nostalgic charm, JJ's Diner (named after John Jenkins) became a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. With its homemade food, made from scratch desserts, thick milkshakes, and vibrant 1950s-inspired decor (a nod to the Jenkins family's travels), the diner has long been a staple of the Sussex community. The Fairway property, with its welcoming atmosphere, became known throughout southern New Brunswick for offering exceptional service and creating a homey, familiar place for families to gather.

The Sussex Christian School has acquired the Fairway property, but the tradition of JJ’s Restaurant will continue to be open to the public under the stewardship of Mark and Faith. The school plans to reimagine the current buildings, adding senior apartments, dorm rooms for international students, a cafeteria, and classrooms for the high school. While the property will undergo changes, the school hopes to carry forward the legacy of warm hospitality that has been the hallmark of this iconic Sussex location for over four decades.

Staff

Jonathan Densmore
General Manager

Jonathan Densmore, BA (Dalhousie University), has been a dedicated professional in the hotel industry since 2008, bringing over 15 years of experience to his role as General Manager at Fairway Hospitality. With a career that spans both western Canada and the Maritimes, Jonathan has developed a deep understanding of the hospitality sector and a strong network of industry contacts. He excels at collaborating with clients, providing peer support, and connecting hotel personnel with the right resources to ensure a seamless guest experience.

As General Manager, Jonathan is committed to delivering tailored services that meet the unique needs of every group, ensuring a comfortable and memorable stay. Outside of work, Jonathan is married to Bonnie Nice, an alumna of SCS, and together they are raising four daughters.

Ellen McGaghey
Facilities Manager

Ellen McGaghey brings extensive expertise in facilities management to her role as Facilities Manager at Fairway Hospitality. A Maritime native who returned home after a successful career in Ontario, Ellen is a Licensed Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick. She is also a member of the International Facilities Management Association.

Ellen holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Building Engineering (with Distinction) from Concordia University in Montréal. Prior to joining Fairway Hospitality, Ellen had a distinguished career managing over 6.8 million square feet across 840 buildings in the Region of Waterloo. Her responsibilities included planning, design, construction, maintenance, asset management, energy management, lease management, and protective services for a diverse portfolio of properties. She also provided strategic advice to senior leadership, councils, and local industry leaders on sustainability, environmental issues, space optimization, and fleet management.

We are pleased to have Ellen's wealth of experience and her commitment to excellence at Fairway Hospitality. Outside of work, Ellen’s daughter Sydney attends SCS, further strengthening her connection

Janice Gillies
Event Coordinator

Janice Gillies is a seasoned hospitality professional with over thirty years of experience in creating exceptional travel experiences and memorable events. Her career journey began as the owner of Sussex Travel Pros, where she customized vacation plans for clients, and more recently, as the organizer and tour director of Taste and See Tours. Throughout her career, Janice has honed her skills in event planning, hospitality management, and customer service, always with an entrepreneurial spirit and a heart focused on serving others.

In addition to her travel and tour expertise, Janice is perhaps best known for pioneering the award-winning restaurant Taste and See in Sussex, NB, where she successfully combined her love of food with her passion for event coordination. Whether coordinating weddings, ladies' retreats, or in-home catering experiences, Janice's attention to detail and commitment to excellence ensure that every event is a success.

Janice’s experience also extends to ministry, having served at Snider Mountain Ranch.

Excited to return to the industry she loves, Janice is looking forward to bringing her wealth of experience to Fairway Hospitality, where she can once again create extraordinary experiences for our clients and guests.

Andrew Flannery
Front Desk

Nicole Alward
Housekeeping

Sydney Gaunce
Housekeeping