Posted on Wednesday, May 20 2026
Premiere Suites began in 1999 with a clear and powerful vision: to provide temporary housing for those who need a place to call home. That vision, now 27 years strong, has grown into Canada's most trusted name in corporate housing.
None of it would have been possible without one of our Founding Partners, Suzanne Bachur. Having recently retired, we’re celebrating Suzanne’s legacy by reflecting on her impressive career and the significant impact she’s had on our industry, community and people.
Suzanne’s career in the hospitality industry spanned over 40 years, including 29 years as a franchisee and CFO of five Swiss Chalet restaurants across Nova Scotia.
In 1999, Suzanne partnered with entrepreneur Tim Moore to open the very first Premiere Suites office in Halifax, NS. As both a Founder and President of Premiere Suites Eastern, Suzanne played a pivotal role in expanding the franchisee model across Canada.
Overseeing the daily management of our Halifax office, Suzanne ensured every suite felt like a home for our guests. The unique feel and thoughtful décor across our Atlantic properties today remain a lasting reflection of the passion she poured into our suites, and the brand.
Throughout her time at Premiere Suites, Suzanne became a partner across much of the Premiere Suites franchise network, significantly contributing to the development and national success of the Premiere Suites brand as we know it today.
“Suzanne truly loved the Premiere Suites brand and everything it represented. If there was an opportunity to showcase it—through sponsorships, signage, vehicle decals, billboards, or radio—you could count on Suzanne to make sure we were there.” – Cathy Lawrence, Human Resource Manager
Suzanne’s leadership has been consistently celebrated by the business community. Under her guidance, Premiere Suites was named one of Progress Magazine’s Top 101 Companies for eleven consecutive years.
In 2005, Premiere Suites received the Gold Award for Small Business of the Year from the Halifax Metro Business Association and was eventually ranked 42nd on the Profit 100 list of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies.
Her personal accolades are equally admired:
Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame, honoured by Atlantic Business Magazine after receiving the award for a consecutive 5 years.
Recognized by the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) as leader of one of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Women-Led Companies in North America (2013).
2024 Women of Excellence Award by the Canadian Progress Club Halifax Cornwallis for her outstanding professional contributions.
Suzanne is also a passionate advocate and supporter of The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, leading initiatives throughout her career that contributed greatly to the organization.
“Suzanne has a big heart and created an environment where every employee felt committed to the success of the business as if they were the owner.” – Matt Girard, Director of Business Development
Premiere Suites was consistently recognized within the top 10 companies as one of the Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada. This recognition stands as a direct testament to Suzanne’s collaborative leadership and impact she had on her long tenured team.
Cathy Lawrence, who worked alongside Suzanne in Halifax for over two decades shares that she felt “inspired to work hard as a team toward a common goal—and importantly, to have fun along the way.”
“Her years of work and success are a direct reflection of who she is — her fortitude, her consistency, and the way she showed up every single day. She genuinely cares, and she always led with heart.” – Susan Cully, President
Suzanne created an environment “where people felt respected, included, and motivated to contribute.” As Jaclyn, a close colleague of 6 years, explains: “Suzanne didn’t just lead a team—she built a culture where people felt connected and empowered.”
Beyond being a driving force in her industry, Suzanne was a leader who cared deeply about the success of those around her. She was known for her supportive nature, the trust she placed in her team, and her commitment to providing opportunities for growth.
Matt Girard’s career has been uniquely shaped by Suzanne’s leadership, a journey that began when he was a 16-year-old employee at her Swiss Chalet locations. After university, he rejoined her at Premiere Suites, where Suzanne played a big role in his professional journey. Now a Business Development Director, Matt shares that Suzanne’s leadership style contributed greatly to his success in each of his roles at the company. Through her guidance, he learned that fostering a team’s growth and development is essential for both business success and personal growth.
“Suzanne took the time to teach, guide, and challenge me, and consistently gave me opportunities that allowed me to grow within the company. Her belief in my potential made a lasting impact on my career, and I’ll always be thankful for the role she played in my development.” -Jaclyn Rogers, Operations Manager
Suzanne’s legacy isn't just in the brand she built, but in the confidence and care she instilled in the people who carry it forward.
On behalf of everyone at Premiere Suites, we extend our deepest gratitude to Suzanne for her vision, leadership and lasting contributions, and wish her nothing but the best as she embarks on her new chapter.
“She’s a legend in this company. And her legacy will absolutely live on — in our brand, our people, and in how we choose to do business.” – Susan Cully, President