Many people ask me: why Edmonton and not Paris, after living there for four years? And why not Quebec, since I am a francophone?
Hello, I’m Ann Nguyen,
the founder of Alberta Travel Living.
I’m a globetrotter who has traveled to nearly 50 countries and hundreds of cities, mostly as a backpacker and solo traveller. I hold an MBA from Paris, and I’m a polyglotte, speaking English, French, and Vietnamese, with some knowledge of Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish. I see myself as a faith-driven entrepreneur who believes in serving the community and creating meaningful impact.
After living in France, I returned to Vietnam during COVID, where I worked in digital operations. When the world reopened, I wanted to go abroad again. Canada came up in conversation, and someone told me about Edmonton. They said it was very cold, with temperatures dropping to minus 40. Coming from a tropical country where it can reach plus 40, I was curious. I wanted to see if I could handle that kind of winter and experience life in the snow.
Edmonton was just a new name to me at the time. I planned to stay for a few years.
But when I arrived, I was surprised by what I discovered. Day after day, I saw a city full of life, culture, and potential. Edmonton is home to more than 50 festivals each year, and the calendar of Edmonton festivals and cultural events continues to grow. At the same time, through my work with newcomers and ethnocultural communities, I kept hearing the same comment: “There is nothing to do in Edmonton or Alberta except Banff and Jasper.”
For me, it was the opposite. I felt there was never enough time to explore everything, starting right here in Edmonton.
That contrast became the starting point of Alberta Travel Living.
I created this platform to help people discover Alberta differently, especially for those exploring Alberta as immigrants or visiting friends and relatives. Not only through landscapes, but through festivals, communities, and everyday cultural experiences. Edmonton, known as Canada’s Festival City, naturally became the gateway.
My vision goes beyond tourism. Through my work in community development, newcomer support, and economic initiatives, I have seen how travel can build connections. It can connect visitors with local communities, cultures with each other, and even open pathways to education, entrepreneurship, and investment.
Alberta Travel Living brings these ideas together.
Today, we design cultural tours, curated experiences, and personalized itineraries that connect visitors with Alberta’s diverse communities, from francophone travel experiences and multicultural festivals in Edmonton to Indigenous heritage in Alberta and regional destinations shaped by local cultures.
At the same time, Alberta Travel Living plays a role as a community connector. We work with local organizations, cultural networks, and partners to build travel experiences rooted in real places and real people.
This is just the beginning.
As the platform grows, more collaborators and partners will join to shape Alberta Travel Living into a shared space that reflects the diversity, creativity, and opportunities of Alberta today.
Our Story
Our Mission
Why Us
Our Partners & Communities
Plan your Alberta trip with confidence
Use our city guides to explore at your own pace, or let us help you design a personalized itinerary.
