I’m Ana Scalone, the founder of Essenza Reverie & Co. and your travel advisor in Ontario. My love of travel began long before I had the opportunity to explore the world. I was born in southern Brazil, into a family with Italian roots and a farming background. I grew up surrounded by traditions that connected us to somewhere I had never been.

My parents taught me to respect people, to be curious about their lives, and to appreciate what different cultures could teach us. My parents also gave that curiosity a sense of wonder. Alongside the bedtime stories from books, I grew up hearing stories from both sides of my family, my ancestors' lives in Italy, the hardships they endured, and their journeys to Brazil. As I listened, I imagined the places they had left behind and the lives they had lived. Through those stories, Italy became part of my world long before I ever visited, while the vibrant Brazilian culture surrounding me shaped the rhythm of my everyday life.  Years later, another beautiful culture became part of my story. In 2002, my husband and I immigrated to Canada, a country I am now proud to call home. Building a life here, becoming a mother, and raising my daughter in such a multicultural environment opened my heart and mind even further. I became even more aware of the importance of belonging, discovering new places, and sharing meaningful experiences with others. Life gave me countless opportunities to explore the world, and every journey deepened my passion for travel and tourism.  

After more than 20 years in the corporate world, life finally gave me the opportunity to pursue this long-held passion. I enrolled in a tourism program at college while working in  my dream business, bringing together my family's legacy, my life experiences, and my personal curiosity about the world. It felt like the natural next chapter of a story that had begun with family memories, crossed continents, and continued to unfold through every journey.