The Bow Valley welcomes visitors from all over the world. Often, those visitors become residents. International employees contribute significantly to the area’s local business scene. We’re proud to live and work among folks from all parts of the globe, and today we’d like to highlight one of those inspiring people. Camille Nathania Santiago is a Photographer and Graphic Designer for Rocky Mountain Soap Co. “I am originally from The Philippines and was raised in New Zealand & Australia. I have been in the Bow Valley for almost six years,” Camille told us.
She has worked at Rocky Mountain Soap Co. for over three years. “I love being part of the Rocky team—I love what I do day-to-day, and I also love the people I work with. I feel extremely fortunate to not only work with some of the kindest people I will ever meet, but to also be able to contribute my skills to a brand whose values very much align with my own,” she shared. You’ve absolutely seen Camille’s work with Rocky Mountain Soap Co., but you’ve likely seen some of her other stunning photography around the Bow Valley, as well.
“I’ve been inseparable from a camera since I was about 13, and I also knew I wanted to study graphic design at around the same age. I aimed true to that, eventually completing my degree in visual media. I started my first job as a graphic designer four days after graduating. I continued with photography on the side, shooting portraits, weddings, events and creative conferences. I really dabbled in a bit of everything in my early years as a creative,” she reflected.
So, what brought Camille all the way to Canmore? Good question. “Despite having never skied a day in my life, I’ve always been drawn to the mountains. I came to Canada & the Bow Valley at a pivotal time in my late twenties when I desperately needed clarity—clarity on my personal goals, my professional goals, and what it meant to me to be a happy, successful person,” she explained. Camille planned to spend a couple of years. “Two years became six, and now I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” she said.
“As the expiration of my visa was fast approaching, I didn’t feel ready to leave. I didn’t feel “done” with the Bow Valley. At the time, I had only been here for 18 months, but it certainly felt like home to me. My proximity to nature & the outdoors, the people I’ve met along the way, and the life I had built here allowed me to feel content in a way I struggled to find before. So here I stayed.”
Camille’s story is unique in many ways, but what isn’t unique is the fact that the mountains drew her in and made her feel at home. This narrative runs deep in the Bow Valley and adds a beautiful layer of awe and gratitude among our community members.
Regarding her immigration process, Camille is now a Canadian Permanent Resident eligible to apply for Citizenship. While deciding to stay in Canada may be easy, applying for PR isn’t always as simple. Luckily, there are experts to support you every step of the way.
Camille finished by telling us why she feels this place is so special. “I love the community in the Bow Valley, and I love that the nature we’re surrounded by is the common thread that binds us all together. There’s nowhere else like it.”
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you Foothills Immigration Inc. for helping to expand local news coverage in the Bow Valley. Learn more.
