An over three-year adventure for a Belgian family is coming to an end in the Foothills.
Anaise and Nicolas Peetermans, along with their three children, have travelled across the globe for the last three and a half years, but Canada was always on their bucket list.
The family entered Alberta about three weeks ago, beginning their journey in Claresholm and travelling up to Okotoks.
“The first thing we realized when we were driving was the beautiful landscape with the Rocky Mountains and the fields,” Nicolas said. “It gave us a glimpse of Belgium, but without all the urbanization, which was very, very nice.”
The family arrived in Claresholm on Canada Day and joined some of the town-wide celebrations.
“It was very nice to meet people and everybody was super welcoming,” Anaise said.
After spending time in southern Alberta, they travelled into the Foothills, taking to social media asking for recommendations on things to do in the area.
“We really like to get the local experience, they know better than us, and what we really love during all our journeys is to meet the people, to understand their culture, and their way of life,” Anaise said.
So far, the family has spent time at the spray park, a Thursday Night at the Plaza concert, a Stampede Breakfast, the Okotoks Museum, the art gallery, and a local ice cream shop.
Anaise and Nicolas have always been world travellers, first meeting as exchange students in Ecuador and Honduras.
After studying, the couple had a dream of travelling again and spent six months backpacking.
They were unsure if they wanted to settle down in Belgium, and decided that after having kids, they would travel again.
“We realized that we were not raising them. We were rushing all the time, to drop them off at the nursery or kindergarten and go into the office,” Anaise said. “We were not seeing them when they needed us. We decided we would travel, but we would do it with them, so we could see them grow, and so we did.”
Throughout the journey, a highlight for both Anaise and Nicolas has been meeting people.
“We have been welcomed almost everywhere in the world, and every time we have had the chance to get to know people better, and learn so much about their culture,” Nicolas said.
Anaise had a dream of coming to Canada, and now that the family is here, they are hopeful to settle down.
“It's either we succeed in finding something nice here and staying in Alberta for the next part of our lives, or we go home,” Nicolas said.
The family is hopeful to inspire others to travel.
“We’re just normal people who had a dream and decided one day this dream is going to be a project,” Nicolas said. “It's possible for everybody if you have a dream, it's accessible, and reachable, and maybe you can turn that dream into a project and succeed.”