Alberta is filled with business owners who don’t just dream about a better community – they roll up their sleeves and build it. And every so often, we cross paths with someone whose impact stretches beyond a single business, neighbourhood, or idea. Someone who reminds us what’s possible when passion powers possibility.

Alice Lam is one of those people. She’s a familiar face in Calgary’s business community and the force behind multiple local ventures. We sat down with her to talk about growing up in this city, building businesses with heart, and what it really takes to carve out your own path as an entrepreneur.

More than a 9-5

If you live in Calgary, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with something Alice has helped build – whether you know it or not. 

Good Neighbour: A free store that helps low-income families find dignity in choosing what they need? That’s her. 

Ren Acupuncture and Massage: A non-profit acupuncture clinic making healthcare accessible? Also her. 

Friends of Chinatown YYC: Free, family-friendly events – more than 80 a year – and award winning history tours that bring Chinatown to life? Yup, also her.

And all of this is Alice’s after hours life. Her 9-5 is spent as a real estate Portfolio Manager and her 5-9 (and weekends) are dedicated to building the kind of Calgary she believes is possible: inclusive, vibrant, and full of opportunity for everyone – not just those who start with advantages.

From family hustle to community impact

Alice grew up in Calgary, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who built their life from scratch – first through labour jobs, then a cleaning company, then renovation work, and eventually seven restaurants of their own.

Their success wasn’t a straight line. They were exploited, underpaid, and doubted; but that didn’t stop them from helping everyone around them. And the whole time, Alice was watching.

“I never thought it was fair,” she says. “I wanted to make sure the services and programs we offer – or the business I start – begin with inclusivity. I want people to have access to opportunity no matter their income or where they came from.”

That commitment to inclusion became her North Star. It shaped her belief that community thrives when everyone feels they belong, and that social enterprises can solve problems that government alone can’t.

Her ‘Why’: a Calgary that works for everyone

Alice has lived in cities around the world – Lille, New York, Edmonton – and each taught her something: how public policy can uplift vulnerable people, how grassroots groups can fill gaps, and how everyday residents can step in when systems fall short. 

“I’m not one to stand by and watch a problem fester,” Alice says. “We’re a world-class city with so much ingenuity and capital. It’s frustrating when we don’t treat our most vulnerable accordingly.”

For Alice, community work isn’t an abstract concept – it’s an obligation tied to her love for Calgary and the people in it. 

Revitalizing Chinatown: what she saw, and why she acted

Calgary’s Chinatown has always been a cultural anchor in the city, but in recent years the community has started to age. Foot traffic slowed, shops struggled, and Dragon City Mall – a staple in the neighbourhood – was quiet.

Alice knew what that meant: without intervention, history and community would begin to fade.

So she opened Moonlight Books and Gifts, originally imagined as a bookstore, but quickly transformed into a shop featuring over 150 local makers selling everything from handmade jewelry, one-of-a-kind trinkets, plushies, graphic novels, and more.

The effect was immediate. New shoppers, new energy, and new businesses inspired by the crowd Moonlight attracted.

“People were skeptical,” she admits. “I heard a lot of ‘nothing can turn Chinatown around.’ But that cynicism made me want to prove them wrong.”

And she did.

The hardest part? Believing it would work.

Risk doesn’t scare Alice, but negativity can wear anyone down.

“It wasn’t easy at first,” she says. “I questioned my plan. I worried about the financial risk. But every initiative I’ve started has worked because of three things: community support, lean management, and courage.” 

So she kept going, and Moonlight flourished. Still, entrepreneurship came with sacrifices – mostly her time and personal relationships.

“When you’re juggling a full-time job, non-profits, and a retail store, something has to pause. But I’ve built a team now who truly runs the show. I’m so grateful.”

Finding a team who gets it

In Alice’s world, partnerships really matter. She needs collaborators who understand both heart and hustle.

“Having a cheerleader made such a difference. ATB understood what we were trying to achieve and actively supported us. Having a business advisor who responds quickly is game-changing when you’re juggling so many moving parts.”

More than banking, Alice found a partner in her Business Advisor, Maria, that sees the long-term value of community-first business.

Looking five years ahead

When asked about the future, Alice said that it’s not that she doesn't have plans, it’s that she has too many.

“Five years comes a lot quicker than you think! I don’t know what exact projects I’ll be working on, but I know I’ll still be focused on making Calgary better.”

Her hope? That the next generation of social entrepreneurs will feel empowered to build boldly and demand more for their city.

Her advice to anyone ready to start something new:

1. Ask yourself: would you do this if you made zero money? Meaning matters. Passion carries you through the early day when revenue doesn’t. 

2. Stop waiting for someone else to fix the problem: That “someone” is usually you.

3. Find your people: Look for the team who shares your values. Social impact has to matter more than profit – and ironically, when you focus on community, the money tends to follow. 

“Do not underestimate your ability to make a great impact. Take action. Pivot when you need to. Momentum matters. I had no idea where I’d end up – and that’s the beauty of it.”

In a city full of dreamers, doers, and people who want Calgary to shine, Alice stands out – not because she seeks adoration, but because she seeks solutions. 

She’s proof that one person can spark a movement, and that community isn’t something we inherit; it’s something we build together. 

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Find Alice here:

Good Neighbour: Calgary’s first free store, offering clothing, food, and essential items to low-income Calgarians – all with dignity at the centre.

Moonlight Books and Gifts: That cute Dragon City Mall shop giving more than 150 local artists a space to showcase and sell their work.

Ren Acupuncture and Massage: A non-profit acupuncture and massage clinic making accessible, affordable healthcare a reality. 

Tigerstedt & Friends: Alice’s first retail shop – and a community hub – bringing people together through markets, events, and retail in Crescent Heights.

Friends of Chinatown YYC: A non-profit hosting 80+ free, family-friendly community events each year and leading the award winning Historic Chinatown Tours that keep the neighbourhood’s stories alive.