Shop & Dine Spotlight Series

What inspired you to open an art gallery in St. Albert? 
The gallery was founded by the dedicated members of the St. Albert Arts and Crafts Guild in 1983 with the mission and vision to showcase the work of their members. Previously Profiles Gallery, the gallery was rebranded as the Art Gallery of St. Albert in 2010 but the passion and dedication to featuring the creative talents of our arts community remains one of our most important goals. 

What makes your gallery or shop experience unique? 
Admission is free! You can browse our current exhibitions, shop for art and gifts by local artists and artisans or even create your own mini masterpiece in our Art Nook. 

Do you have a signature piece, product, or program offering that people love, and why does it stand out to you? 
‘Sketching Saturday’ is one of our newest offerings where we offer free art supplies, lots of sketching inspiration and free refreshments on the last Saturday of each month. We have received so much great feedback from people who reconnect with their love for making art or delight in sharing this love with a child or other family member. I love seeing everyone’s imaginative creations and having people spend a relaxing Saturday sketching and exploring the gallery.

What do you love most about being part of the St. Albert community? 
St. Albert is such a welcoming, supportive and enthusiastic community.  There are so many things we can only accomplish with the support of others.  St. Albert’s organizations, volunteers and businesses continuously impress me with their vision and dedication to building a thriving community.

How does shopping local and supporting local artists make a difference for your gallery and the artists you showcase? 
You’ll find over 1000 pieces of art by over 130 local artists in our gallery! Our collection of unique handmade items makes for the most memorable gifts. And you can take pride in knowing that your purchase supports our local economy, keeps our arts community vibrant and allows artists and artisans to know their work is enjoyed and appreciated.

Do you have a favourite memory or story from a visitor or customer? 
We carry the sweetest, softest, hand crocheted plump little chickens by S Squared Creations and I adore seeing people of all ages delight in them.  Seeing them light up when they choose a favourite colour or hearing their laughter as they tell stories of their own beloved childhood stuffie makes my day!

What’s your personal favourite piece or product currently in the gallery/shop? 
We recently started carrying cards, magnets and original paintings by Edmonton artist Robin Good. I absolutely adore the hilarious and cute creatures she features in her work. They just crack me up and a funny card is one of my favourite things to give as it costs very little, spreads love and laughter and reminds people that you care about them.

What can guests look forward to this season? 
We have incredible exhibitions planned including Your Hands Touch Between Brambles by Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet running until November 29th. Kiona has created incredibly beautiful paintings which reflect on her ties to family and the land that has been home to her family for generations. Mohammad Abbas’s exhibition The Home runs through December and makes visible the experience of immigration with paintings that are windows into the tenuous and fragile existence of rebuilding one’s foundations in a new land. We are also excited to welcome visitors for Snowflake Festival on November 28th with fun activities for the whole family from 5-9 p.m. Holiday shoppers should also check out our Holiday Sale running November 25th to December 24th with sales on candles and bath and body items.

What inspired you to open your business in St. Albert? 
To open my business is St. Albert was an easy choice for me because it's home; and has such an amazing community that I love being part of.  I wanted to build a business that was different and focused on elevating service offerings and truly focusing on building long term relationships.

What makes your client experience unique?  
We offer a bespoke boutique spa experience where every visit is tailored to the individual. Our clients love our range of customized facials and medical spa services because each treatment is tailored to the individual and their desired results. At Divine & Free, our clients are one in a million — not one of a million. 

Do you have a signature treatment, product, or service that clients love, and what makes it special?   
Our signature offering is our Lifestyle Collection Memberships, which allow us to create highly personalized monthly treatment plans tailored to each client’s individual goals and skin needs. What makes it truly special is the level of connection and consistency it provides — our clients experience ongoing care, thoughtful customization, and results that evolve with them. It’s not just about treatments; it’s about building long-term relationships and helping each client feel genuinely seen, valued, and cared for.  

What do you love most about being part of the St. Albert community? 
St. Albert is home and that is why I wanted to open my business here.  Here in St. Albert, we truly operate as a community that cares about each other, despite being a city. We have never lost sight of who we are and support each other.

Why is shopping local, and choosing local services so important to you and your team?  
Not only do we love being a local small business, but all of us at Divine & Free love to go out and visit the other local businesses in St. Albert and we send our clients to all of our amazing little finds! As a group, we definitely love our food and St. Albert has an abundance of exceptional local places to enjoy!

How does community support make a difference for your business and the people you employ? 
At Divine & Free, we have found we have grown from supporting and being a part of the community.  We strive to build relationships and referrals with other small businesses as well as supporting charity events and youth sports.

What’s one local spot, small business, or event in St. Albert that you and your team love to support? 
Being downtown, it is impossible to choose a single favorite.  Our staff love to look at our window waiting for Breadlove to open, get fresh farm eggs and lunch from the Grapevine Deli, and go for fun dinners at San Remo and Luisa's. There are too many local places to only choose one!

What can guests look forward to this season with any special offers, seasonal treatments, or new products? 
Our annual Fall Gala this year is November 13th.  Its an amazing event with all of our representatives, make-up artists and we love to showcase  great deals on products and services. This year we are adding the Clear & Brilliant Laser to our suite of services.

What inspired you to open your brewery in St. Albert?
We wanted to create a place where people could slow down, connect, and enjoy something handcrafted and genuine. St. Albert felt like the perfect fit for a community that values local, creativity and quality. We live here, raised our children here and it made sense to build something that reflected the spirit of this city: welcoming, vibrant, and community-minded.

What makes your space or experiences unique for guests?
Endeavour is both a brewery and a coffee roaster under one roof, which makes us a little different. Guests can start their morning with a great cup of coffee and come back in the evening for a hand crafted beer all made in house. Our space is warm and open, designed for conversation and connection.

Do you have a signature coffee, beer, or menu item that customers love, and what makes it special to you?
Skyline Pilsner and Sudden Draft IPA are both fan favourites. We are constantly changing up the beer styles and offerings which keeps things fresh and creative for both us and our customers. On the coffee side, our single-origin roasts are special because each one tells a story of the region, the farmers, and the care that goes into every bean. We roast everything in small batches to bring out those unique flavours. Our feature latte is something that customers look forward to.

What do you love most about being part of the St. Albert community?
The people, without a doubt. St. Albert has an incredible sense of community. We have watched friendships form here, families gather after hockey games and neighbours celebrate milestones. There is a genuine warmth in this city that makes running a local business feel personal and rewarding every single day.

Why is shopping local and supporting local food and drink businesses so important to you and your team?
When you shop local, you are not just buying a product,  you are investing in your community. Every pint, every cup of coffee, helps sustain local jobs, supports nearby farms and suppliers, and keeps St. Albert’s food and drink culture thriving. We believe in building something that gives back to the whole community ecosystem.

How does community support impact your business, your staff, and local suppliers?
It means everything. The community’s support allows us to provide stable jobs, train our staff in both beer and coffee craft, and partner with local producers and creators. It also gives us the ability to give back, whether that’s through local sponsorships, charity fundraisers, or providing a safe, welcoming space for everyone. That cycle of support keeps small businesses like ours alive and growing.

What are some of your favorite local spots or St. Albert businesses that you love to support or collaborate with?
We love collaborating with other local businesses, from kitchen takeovers with WildRoots to featuring Confection’s cheesecake on our menu, and from sponsoring community events like the St. Albert Triathlon and Rock'n August to supporting other community fundraisers. We are also proud supporters of the St. Albert Curling Association, St. Albert Rugby Club, ISCRW, the Jessica Martel Foundation and other organizations doing great things in our community. When local thrives, we all do.

What can guests look forward to this season, such as new menu items, seasonal brews, or events coming up?
This season, guests can look forward to our winter sour, a Blueberry Basil twist on our Sun Smacked series and a new coffee and beer collaboration. We will also be rolling out a few limited edition single origin coffees just in time for the cooler weather, and of course, community events, trivia and comedy nights that make our taproom feel extra cozy in the fall and winter months.

What inspired you to open your restaurant/café in St. Albert?
We love St. Albert and the community here. We are so proud to call St. Albert home, and we really love the downtown vibe. We looked for a spot that we would be happy to spend every day at, and we just couldn't find anywhere that compared to the St. Albert Perron Street. 

What makes your menu or dining experience unique?
We love food, and we wanted to create a menu with flavorful food that we wanted to eat. 

What’s your signature dish or customer favourite, and why do you love it?
For events, we make a pickled kohlrabi satchel filled with salted cream and dusted with dill pollen, and it always is everyone's favourite! We are known for our brown butter! It goes with everything; we serve it with our French toast, classic breakfast, and our sourdough focaccia. Our most popular brunch dish is the Bennys! People love our bennys because we use an aerated hollandaise, and have a fun variety! 

What do you love most about being part of the St. Albert community? 
One of our favourite things is when customers come in and see other people they know already inside dining. Or when they come in not knowing each other and then bond over a great meal and atmosphere. It feels very small town! 

How does shopping and dining local make a difference for your business?
We always try to support local businesses as much as we can! We sell Compass Chocolates, Untamed Feast, and No Planet B in our back little marketplace.  We have Endeavour beers on our menu and make lots of cocktails with Black Diamond spirits! Showcasing the amazing quality of products St. Albert has to offer builds a tremendous pride in our small city! It also helps us to create amazing relationships with other small business owners.

Do you have a favourite memory or story from one of your customers? 
We had an absolutely incredible woman celebrate her 70th birthday with us.  She brought so much joy and care to the event; every seat had a personal bouquet made for her friends, and the tables were covered with thrifted linens and table runners.  Everyone was so delighted with Chef Tony’s menu! It was a pleasure celebrating such an incredible milestone with such a beautiful person.  

What’s your personal go-to meal or drink from your own menu? 
Tony's go-to drink is a margarita; however, the flavour changes every week, depending on how we are feeling (aperol, grapefruit, blue coconut, classic, amaretto) paired with our daily pizzwich (currently a gochujang chicken Caesar). Chelsea's go-to is an espresso martini with our lyonnaise salad. We use The Columbian Roastery Coffee, and Black Diamonds coffee liqueur, the combo of those local ingredients is amazing!

What can guests look forward to this season (specials, events, or new items)
We are planning a French Bistro night in November and our cassoulet will be coming back on the menu!!! We will have lots of fun seasonal drinks and have already started our house eggnog!!