About Us

It is very important for us at Sandy Lane Vacation Rentals, that you, our guests, have a wonderful vacation in Nova Scotia and that your stay at any one of our ocean rentals or holiday cottages by the sea is as pleasant as possible. We truly believe that our weekly and monthly vacation rentals and seaside cottages are among the great places to stay in Nova Scotia. As "South Shore Specialists" in where to stay in Atlantic Canada, we encourage you to ask for suggestions on things to see and do during your visit. We want your stay to be a long and happy one!

For additional information on booking procedures, rates or help planning your next seaside vacation, please do not hesitate to call us toll free at 1-800-646-1577 or locally at 1-902-875-2729 or e-mail us at: rentals@sandylanevacations.com.

John Foss and Helen Potgieter

Holiday travel has always been an important part of John and Helen's lives. John's early childhood was spent traveling across Canada. Eventually, he settled in Ottawa, and graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Marketing and Business Administration.

Helen was born in South Africa. At the age of 2 her family moved to the England and then at 12 on to Canada. After completing her BFA at Ottawa University, she moved to Toronto to take her Bachelor of Education.

In August 1990 - 4 days before moving to the Dominican Republic, they were married. There, Helen established the "Sosua Private School" and John worked as a PADI Dive Master. After two years of tropical living, they returned to Canada. And, started planning their next trip ... nine months around Europe in an ex-Dutch Army camper van appropriately named "The General". After another short stint at home, they set off again... to Thailand for 7 months.

In 1995, after five years of almost non-stop traveling, they traded in their backpacks and cameras for briefcases and grip gear. Helen worked as a Training Manager for a design firm in Toronto, while John slaved as a Grip in the film industry. Tired of the Toronto lifestyle, they moved to Shelburne, Nova Scotia in 2000 where they opened The Millstones Bed and Breakfast.

Entrepreneurs at heart, Helen and John have spent the past 20+ years in the tourism industry - as tourists and now as owner/operators of Sandy Lane Vacation Rentals. They love Atlantic Canada and love Nova Scotia! It is their hope that when considering a place to stay in Nova Scotia that you look to Sandy Lane for fine holiday accommodation by the sea!