Steph & Nicole Moved Up from Edmonton, AB
Relocation Story
Nicole Oak, 41 (they/them), and Steph Ibsen, 39 (they/them), moved up to Peace River from Edmonton in August 2025. Nicole works remotely for the Institute of Health Economics, and Steph works as a research associate at NAIT Centre for Boreal Research.
What’s your story? How did you end up relocating to Northwestern Alberta?
Steph: I was finishing up a post-doc at the U of A, and an opportunity to join Amanda Schoonmaker’s reforestation and reclamation research team at the Centre for Boreal Research came up.
I’d had my eye on the Centre for a few years, but I wasn’t sure if Nicole, a born-and-raised city person, would be into a more rural life. Above all else, we love an adventure, so we decided to take the leap.
What was your first impression of Northwestern Alberta?
Nicole: There are, in fact, as many pickup trucks as the stereotypes suggest. I was stunned by the natural beauty, especially since we moved here in the fall.
The colours!
S: My first impression was decades ago, but this time around it was the beauty of the boreal forest and how lucky I felt to be able to live in this area. Plus, that view of the valley driving down the hill into town? Gorgeous.
What surprised you the most about Northwestern Alberta?
The arts community!
N: I am a visual artist and musician, and there are two reasons I was willing to relocate: the Art Hub (and the excellent people who run it), and the pride stickers on the museum and Java Domain’s front entries. Art and inclusivity are non-negotiables.
S: I was so surprised that Peace River had something as amazing as the Art Hub—so many different classes and mediums to explore. We took a pottery class in January, and as a soil scientist, I am definitely hooked and looking forward to finding and utilizing wild clay in the area for some pottery projects.
Compared to where you came from, how is Northwestern Alberta different?
A good surprise has been the outstanding care Steph received at the Health Centre and Sunrise Medical Clinic to resolve a serious chronic health issue. The care team’s advocacy and kindness restored our faith in a system that can often feel dehumanizing and frustrating.
In what ways have you integrated yourself into the community?
Nicole scurried over to the Art Hub within two days of moving here and bought a Fitness on the Go membership to meet people and get buff (ha ha). We became Peace River Pride Society members, attended the Art Hub Gala in October, took a beading class led by Elder Priscilla in the winter and have had a blast at all the different events at Peace River Brewing.
What's your advice to anyone thinking of relocating here?
Be deliberate and really root where you are planted. We’ve noticed that the folks who really commit to living a full life here are thriving, even if they’re here on short-term contracted work.
How do you entertain out-of-town guests? What are some must-try Northwestern Alberta experiences?
As overly dedicated aunties to our 3- and 5-year-old nieces, family-friendly activities are important to us.
Our favourites have been Art Hub’s Saturday family art classes, Jenga and karaoke at Peace River Brewing, the splash park and hiking along Pat’s Creek. We have plans to explore Figure Eight Lake this summer for them to try out their new fishing rods.
Have you had any interesting wildlife encounters since you’ve been here?
Nicole had the fearful pleasure of sharing the dyke trail with a black bear the first day we arrived.
Seeing deer in our yard is still something we’re getting used to. They’re so cute, but we’ve also had to go to great lengths to stop our vegetable garden from becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet—and stopping our senior dog from getting that trophy kill.
It’s a weird mix between feeling like Snow White surrounded by gentle woodland creatures, and grumpy old timers yelling at them to stay off our lawn, which we are trying to reclaim with wildflowers.
What is your ideal Sunday (or day off) in Northwestern Alberta?
A morning jog along the river for Nicole and a slow wake-up for Steph, followed by a visit to the farmers’ market and the thrift store. After that, a big brunch, gardening and pottery and lounging in our hammocks.
What is your ideal night out/date night?
Dinner and a movie, but with more sparkle. The brewery and the cinema partner to host all kinds of fun events and we always try to attend.
What are some of your favourite outdoor activities?
We’re excited to spend some time kayaking on the river, exploring the Grande Cache area, maybe some fossil hunting and definitely camping in all the beautiful hidden gems.
Dunvegan is at the top of our list right now.
Otherwise, we love to take our very old but very adventurous dog, Nymeria, on long walks. \
In your experience, what is unique about Northwestern Alberta?
The northern lights, although we keep missing them, despite having a phone app and everything!
The Peace River area is this incredible confluence of ecosystems—you’ve got agriculture and prairie vibes, Aspen Parkland, and then the transition into the boreal forest, in addition to beautiful river valleys and numerous lakes.
The ecological diversity is truly remarkable, and we feel incredibly fortunate to not only live in this region but also to study and conduct research within these ecosystems, which embody the true beauty of Alberta.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Celebrating our five-year Peace River anniversary, of course!
Maybe we’ll have a small hobby farm, complete with a dedicated research area focused on building soils using waste materials and growing native species, creating opportunities for teaching and community involvement in reclamation. Only time will tell!
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