Sarah Thapa

When Sarah Thapa moved to Fort McMurray in 2012, she was searching for a career and a place to grow. Thirteen years later, she is not only a business owner but a community builder whose work is rooted in compassion, connection, and service. Originally from Kathmandu, Nepal, Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alberta. Though her path eventually led her into entrepreneurship, the core of who she is has never changed: caring for others is part of her identity.

Sarah owns and operates Avenue Eatery & Cafe and Eagle Ridge Eatery & Cafe, two community staples known not just for good food but for the spirit of welcome they embody. For her, the most rewarding part of running restaurants in Fort McMurray is the people—seeing familiar faces day after day, sharing small conversations across the counter, and building a space where neighbours feel at home. Just as meaningful is the flexibility it gives her as a mother, allowing her to be present for her children’s school and extracurricular activities.

Service has always been a through line in her life. In business and beyond, Sarah consistently finds ways to give back. Her restaurants participate in the YMM Food Festival, create new dishes exclusively for the event, and provide Christmas dinners for the homeless population. She organizes chef’s dinners to raise funds for local non-profits, donates space and resources to community groups, and steps in whenever there is a need for food, hands, or support. To her, generosity is not an event; it is a responsibility.

Sarah describes herself simply: Caring isn’t just my profession; it is who I am. She cares for her family, her staff, her patrons, and the broader community. That care is made possible, in large part, by the unwavering support of her husband. She jokes that people say the fastest way to go broke is to open a restaurant, yet he has supported her dreams at every step. He covers the household bills, steps in with the kids, and shoulders the behind-the-scenes load so she can pour into her work and her community. His belief in her—he calls her a unicorn—has allowed her to grow in every area of her life.

Her deep connection to Fort McMurray was strengthened in the most unexpected way. She opened Eagle Ridge Eatery & Cafe in February 2020, only to close two weeks later due to COVID. A year after reopening, the restaurant was vandalized. Tables, chairs, glassware—nearly everything was destroyed. She expected to close for weeks. Instead, she was open the next day.

What followed was an outpouring of support unlike anything she could have imagined. Chairs came from MacDonald Island Park. Glasses and plates arrived from the owners of Paddy McSwiggins. Mo from Prestige Jewellers donated a portion of sales. Starbucks dropped off coffee. Sunny’s Salon employees raised $5,000. Strangers sent messages and offers of help—some who had already moved away but still loved Fort McMurray. The experience changed her. It cemented her commitment to giving back, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. “This community is love,” she says.

Looking ahead, Sarah is focused on growth both personally and professionally. She wants to continue becoming a better mother, wife, friend, and leader, and hopes to eventually return to nursing to bring new health-related services to the region. Above all, she strives to keep balancing the roles that matter most to her: mom, entrepreneur, and community contributor.

Her upbringing shaped her worldview. Raised by parents deeply involved in community work, she saw firsthand the power of giving time, compassion, opportunity, and fairness. That foundation led her into nursing, and even now, as a business owner, it motivates her to stay involved in meaningful initiatives. For her, there is no greater fulfillment than giving…love, kindness, support, and opportunity.

She believes Fort McMurray faces many challenges: housing, infrastructure, labour shortages, high costs, mental health and addiction, and economic uncertainty. But she also believes in working together, setting aside bias, and supporting one another. In her establishments, everyone is treated with integrity, from the mayor to new immigrant families discovering the community for the first time.

As a restaurant owner, Sarah sees her role as both economic and social. She creates local jobs, helps youth and newcomers gain skills and confidence, and offers spaces where people from all walks of life can connect. She believes that small business owners play a vital role in shaping a strong, resilient, and inclusive future for the region.

Whatever hat she wears—nurse, entrepreneur, volunteer, mother—Sarah leads with purpose. And of all her accomplishments, she is proudest of raising children who are growing into empathetic, resilient, and strong leaders in their own right.