About Us

How SeeLocal Was Born

It all started on a quiet afternoon, mid-pandemic. Stephen and Austen—roommates, friends, and Calgary locals—were sitting on their porch, reflecting on how much their city had grown since high school. Stephen, then a business student, and Austen, a recent grad working in the restaurant scene and moonlighting as a photographer, found themselves deep in conversation about one thing: Calgary’s hidden gems.

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Austen always seemed to know the coolest spots—those tucked-away cafes, scenic viewpoints, and local hangouts that never made it into tourist guides. That’s when Stephen had a spark of an idea:

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“What if we gave personalized tours around Calgary? Not just any tours—custom experiences based on what people love. We’d drive them from place to place, show them the best of the city, and Austen could take professional photos along the way.”

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It was a simple idea with a big heart: help people discover the real Calgary, without the stress of planning, parking, or asking strangers for photos. From that porch conversation, SeeLocal was born.

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Over time, the idea evolved into the app you see today. But the core mission has stayed the same:

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Connect people to the soul of the city—one curated experience at a time.