Halifax Magazine Home

Related Articles

Roy Clorey gets his due

Remember 1963? Lester B. Pearson became Canada’s prime minister, the Beatles released “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and JFK was assassinated.

Roy Clorey remembers the year well: that’s when he applied for a job as bartender at The Nova Scotian (AKA “the Canadian National Railway hotel”). In no time, the 22-year-old was mixing cocktails in the Griffin Room.

Forty-nine years later, Clorey is still tending bar in the same hotel (now The Westin Nova Scotian), taking care of business in Roy’s Lounge—which management renamed in his honour.

The big announcement came in January during the hotel’s annual party. “Normally I know everything that’s happening, but this really surprised me,” Clorey says.

Although he’s seen many changes over the years (and knows enough to write a tome or two), Clorey has never tired of his job. The 70-year-old still knows how to work the room and manage the mood of the lounge. He takes pride on staying tuned into his customers. His advice for wannabes? “You need all your wits,” he says. “Take pride in your work. Dedicate yourself to it. Customers should be able to feel that dedication.”

Glen Bowie, area director of sales and marketing with New Castle Hotels & Resort, which runs the hotel, believes Clorey has a rare mix of skills. “Not only does Roy make the best martinis in town, he’s also a great listener, adviser and storyteller,” he says. “We have guests who plan their trips to Halifax around his schedule.”

To see Clorey in action, drop into Roy’s Lounge Monday to Friday, 2 p.m. to midnight. Tell him Halifax Magazine sent you.

Check out our Facebook page for more photos of Clorey. 

CORRECTION: Due to a fact-checking error, the version of this story that appeared in the print edition of the magazine gave incorrect information about the Westin’s history. It was a Canadian National Railway Hotel as stated in the corrected version above (not a CPR hotel). Halifax Magazine regrets the error.

Post Your Comments