"Living beautifully is not about luxury. It's about discovering meaning, history and quiet beauty in the places we choose to explore and call home."
The Cozy Adventurer
Victoria Eugénie Zagouris
Creator of The Cozy Adventurer
Cultural Collaborator
The Cozy Adventurer is a curated world of beautiful living, heritage, culture, architecture and thoughtful exploration. Through films, stories and cultural experiences, creator Victoria Eugénie Zagouris invites you to discover inspiring places, timeless interiors, museums, cafés and the quiet beauty that surrounds us every day.Victoria Eugenie Zagouris (also known professionally as Victoria E. Burton) is a Canadian cultural collaborator, writer, filmmaker, and museum professional based in Montreal, Quebec. Her work brings together art, architecture, history, storytelling, and heritage through film and cultural programming.Born and raised in Montreal, Victoria developed a love of art, history, and literature from an early age. Her multicultural background and fluency in English, French, and Greek have influenced both her creative work and her appreciation for preserving cultural heritage.Over the course of her career, she has worked in education, government, communications, marketing, and the arts. She currently serves as a cultural collaborator and board director with the Montreal Art Center & Museum, where she contributes to exhibitions, museum development, artist relations, strategic planning, and public programming.Victoria is also the creator of The Cozy Adventurer, a growing YouTube channel dedicated to discovering beautiful places, historic architecture, museums, gardens, cafés, and hidden cultural treasures. Her films are known for their calm, reflective style and emphasize atmosphere, storytelling, and the emotional experience of place rather than fast-paced travel content.Beyond filmmaking, she is passionate about interior design, historic homes, museums, botanical gardens, literature, and classical aesthetics. Her creative influences include French and English country interiors, European heritage, and Mediterranean culture, all of which are reflected in her visual style.Following the loss of her mother in 2025, Victoria has spoken openly about the transformative power of grief and renewal. This period of her life has deepened her commitment to creating meaningful work that celebrates beauty, memory, and the importance of preserving both personal and cultural stories.Through her writing, films, and museum work, Victoria seeks to inspire others to slow down, explore thoughtfully, and rediscover the quiet richness of everyday life.
A Hidden Montreal Story: From the Caledonian Iron Works to the TitanicSometimes history isn’t found in an archive. Sometimes it is hidden in the ceiling of an old building for more than a century.The story of the Montreal Art Center and Museum begins long before it became a home for artists. Its historic Griffintown building was once associated with the Caledonian Iron Works, founded by Scottish-born Montreal industrialist John McDougall, whose company contributed to the industrial development of 19th-century Montreal.An Invitation from 1896Among the historical objects preserved at the museum is a remarkable invitation dated August 1, 1896.It announces an outing tendered by Mrs. John McDougall for employees of the Caledonian Iron Works to Sherringham Park, departing from Montreal’s St. Gabriel Locks aboard a paddle steamer named the Duchess of York.What makes the discovery extraordinary is its survival.More than a century later, during work in the building, a collection of these old invitations was discovered tucked away in a cardboard box above the ceiling, a small piece of everyday Montreal life that had remained virtually untouched for generations.An Unexpected Connection to TitanicAnd then the story takes an unexpected turn.Sixteen years after that 1896 company excursion, the name Duchess of York appears in an intriguing connection to the aftermath of the Titanic disaster of April 1912.After the Carpathia rescued Titanic’s survivors, surviving members of Titanic’s crew eventually had to make their way home. Historical material preserved at the museum traces a fascinating connection involving the Duchess of York name and the movement of 167 Titanic crew members.There is an important distinction.The 1896 paddle steamer pictured in the museum’s collection was not itself a Titanic rescue ship, nor did it rescue people from the sinking. Titanic’s survivors were rescued at sea by the Carpathia.Rather, ongoing research is exploring the remarkable chain of people, vessels and events connecting this forgotten Montreal excursion, the Duchess of York story and the aftermath of Titanic.It is a story that deserves further historical investigation and one we look forward to sharing as more of it is uncovered.History Hidden Within the WallsThe photographs, invitations and artifacts preserved at the Montreal Art Center and Museum are reminders that history does not always announce itself.Sometimes it survives quietly, inside an old cardboard box, above a ceiling, waiting more than a century for someone to find it.And sometimes a seemingly ordinary invitation to a summer picnic can open a door onto a much larger story.Written by Eugénie Victoria Zagouris
Cultural collaborator, writer and creator of The Cozy Adventurer.
A Glimpse into Montreal's maritime past.Historical artifacts preserved at the Montreal Art Center and Museum trace an intriguing story from the Duchess of York and the Caledonian Iron Works to the aftermath of the Titanic disaster.
Mrs. McDougall's Outing Invitation from 1896 - Duchess of York and Titanic Historical Display - Montreal Art Center & Museum
A Quiet Appreciation for English PotteryThere is something I have always loved about traditional English pottery, particularly Burleigh. Its timeless patterns and craftsmanship turn an ordinary cup of tea into a small experience of beauty. These simple rituals remind me to slow down, notice the details, and appreciate quality of life, because sometimes the loveliest moments are found in the everyday.
Eugénie Victoria Zagouris, The Cozy Adventurer
Living a Life of Wonder
Curating Culture & Place
As Cultural Collaborator at the Montreal Art Center & Museum, I have the privilege of helping share the stories of one of Montreal’s most distinctive cultural institutions. Working alongside artists, historians, and creative professionals, I contribute to exhibitions, cultural initiatives, heritage projects, partnerships, and storytelling that celebrate art, history, and community.As a Board Director, I am also involved in supporting the museum’s vision of making art and culture accessible, inspiring, and meaningful for visitors from around the world.Through my work at the museum and my cinematic storytelling platform, The Cozy Adventurer, I strive to preserve beautiful places, celebrate artistic heritage, and create meaningful connections between people, culture, and the stories that bring them to life.
Author & Illustrator
The Creator of Passion for Compassion Learning book series
Victoria Eugénie Zagouris (pen name: Victoria E. Burton) is a Canadian author, cultural storyteller, filmmaker, and educator whose work is inspired by a lifelong belief in the transformative power of beauty, compassion, and meaningful stories.After many years devoted to education and working closely with children, Victoria discovered that the lessons which leave the deepest impression are not always found in textbooks, but in kindness, imagination, empathy, and human connection. These values continue to guide every creative project she undertakes.She is the creator of The Passion for Compassion™, an original children’s book series currently in development. Inspired by her years in education, the series is designed to nurture emotional intelligence while encouraging children to embrace kindness, courage, gratitude, respect, generosity, and compassion. Through memorable characters and timeless adventures, each story gently reminds young readers that even the smallest acts of goodness can change someone’s world.Victoria is also writing an original Christmas story inspired by the timeless magic of the season. Rich in warmth, wonder, and nostalgia, the tale celebrates hope, family, generosity, and the quiet miracles that often appear when they are needed most. Her dream is to create a Christmas classic that families will return to year after year, making it part of their own holiday traditions.Beyond children’s literature, Victoria is the creator of The Cozy Adventurer, a cinematic storytelling platform dedicated to discovering the beauty found in museums, historic places, architecture, gardens, cafés, artists, and remarkable cultural experiences. Through thoughtfully crafted films and essays, she invites audiences to slow down, look more closely, and rediscover the richness of the world around them.As a Cultural Collaborator and Board Director with the Montreal Art Center & Museum, Victoria works to support artists, preserve cultural heritage, and build meaningful connections between creative communities and the public.Whether writing children’s books, producing films, or collaborating with museums and cultural institutions, her work is united by a single purpose:To create stories that inspire wonder, preserve beauty, encourage compassion, and leave the world just a little gentler than she found it.
Passion for Compassion Learning - Children's Books by Victoria E. Burton
Growing Hearts Through Wonder
A Curated Lifestyle
Where
Beauty Becomes
a Way of Life
"A life thoughtfully curated through beauty, culture, compassion, and wonder - where every journey, every story, and every encounter becomes an invitation to slow down, to appreciate, and to live with intention.Join me or collaborate, and celebrate art, culture, heritage, meaningful places, timeless stories, and the quiet acts of compassion that remind us what it truly means to be human."
Italian Room Montreal Art Center & Museum
The Caledonia
English Country Style
Curated Cozy Living
A Curated Lifestyle
The Art of Living With Wonder
Celebrating beauty, culture, compassion, and the stories that connect us.I believe that every place has a story waiting to be discovered, every work of art carries a voice worth listening to, and every act of kindness has the power to leave a lasting impression.Through my writing, films, cultural collaborations, and creative work, my hope is to inspire a slower, more intentional way of living - one that embraces curiosity, honours heritage, celebrates beauty in all its forms, and reminds us that the most meaningful journeys are often those that bring us closer to one another."May your life always be enriched by beauty, guided by compassion, filled with stories worth sharing."Welcome to my world. I hope it inspires you to discover your own.Victoria Eugénie Zagouris
A Curated Home
The Art of Living Beautifully
I believe a home should tell a story. Mine is a quiet conversation between old and new - English country charm, treasured antiques, thoughtful collections, and everyday comforts that invite you to slow down. I find beauty in history, warmth in imperfection, and joy in creating spaces that feel timeless, welcoming, and deeply lived in. For me, living beautifully isn't about perfection; it's about surrounding ourselves with character, comfort, and the gentle poetry of the past and present, thoughtfully woven together.
Thank you for stopping by. If my work resonates with you, I'd be delighted to connect. Whether you represent a museum, cultural institution, historic site, boutique hotel, winery, restaurant, café or simply share a love for beautiful stories and meaningful places, I look forward to hearing from you.Until our paths cross again, live beautifully.
The Cozy Adventurer
