About Cecilia: your guide with a three-world perspective
From architect to tour guide
The person behind Vancouver by Locals
I'm Brazilian, married, mother of three adult children, and passionate about travel — I've explored more than 50 countries in search of knowledge and cultural enrichment. In Brazil, I was an architect and interior designer in Rio de Janeiro, participating in every edition of Casa Cor from 1991 to 2008. There, I was known as Maria Cecilia Teixeira.
The turning point
Once our three children were settled — one living in the United States, one getting married, and the oldest with his own home in Rio — my husband and I decided to start a new chapter. We applied for permanent residency in Canada, and while the process was underway, we spent almost two years living between the United States, Portugal, and Switzerland.
When we finally settled in Vancouver, I realized my architecture degree wouldn't be recognized in Canada — I would need to go back to school to practice here. After nearly two decades as my own boss, becoming someone else's employee simply didn't make sense to me.
"I was already past 50, with a well-established career of nearly two decades, when I decided to start over from scratch in a foreign-language country."
How Vancouver by Locals was born
Having lived and traveled through places like London, Portugal, Greece, and Switzerland, I was always the person friends turned to before an international trip. When they started coming to Vancouver, it was natural for me to welcome them and show them the city I already loved — but hosting visitors comes at a cost, and as the credit card bill grew, I thought: why not turn this into a real business?
In 2016, I formalized everything — from the professional license to transport tourists to the industry's specific requirements — and Vancouver by Locals was born. Ten years later, what began as a gesture of hospitality between friends has become a successful company, having welcomed over 1,000 clients.
My life lesson
Today, I hold three passports — Brazilian, Portuguese, and Canadian — and I bring a little piece of every place I've lived to every tour I lead. If life has taught me anything, it's that it's never too late to start over — you just need the courage to see where the road takes you.
