Cathy Dobson
Little by little, the Sarnia Lambton Win This Space competition is making a difference in the development of local small business.
Winning a year’s free rent in a new storefront is obviously a big advantage. But the advice from the contest’s mandatory workshops and the expertise from the professionals at the Sarnia Lambton Business Development Corporation (SLBDC) can be just as valuable.
Just ask last year’s winners, Roxanne Corvers and Meghan Duncan. This Saturday, June 1, they are holding the grand opening for The River Osteopathy & Wellness Centre at 1323 Exmouth St.
“It took time to find the right office space,” said Duncan. “We had three big requirements; to be accessible, to have lots of parking and natural light.”
When the pair finally found a location that met their criteria, they relied on the SLBDC to help them with the lease details.
“The BDC guided us through the process because neither of us had signed on to commercial space before,” said Corvers.
The two women specialize in osteopathic manual therapy. Duncan, 26, is a graduate of the four-year program at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy in Hamilton.
She also has a science degree in human kinetics and worked as a personal trainer and with physiotherapists in sports clinics and rehab centres.
Corvers, 43, is in the academy’s fourth year and able to accept patients two days a week while she finishes her studies. Until she graduates, she’s known as a rehabilitation manual practitioner.
Corvers’ previous work experience was in speech and language and she was a Doula for five years.
When she began suffering from Crohn’s disease in 2015, Corvers sought multiple treatments and found only osteopathy made a dramatic difference.
“I’m the poster child for osteopathy. I’m in remission now and unmedicated. That’s what drew me to it. I wanted to know more and then help others,” she said.
Ostephathic manual therapy is an alternative health care that is non-invasive and can address everything from back pain and digestive issues to sleep problems and common aches and pains.
It addresses imbalances in the body that contribute to disease and rights them by encouraging the body’s natural ability to heal and self regulate.
“I always say it’s the best of massage, physio and chiropractics,” said Corvers. “We believe that if you can get the blood there, then your body will fix itself.”
There are cases when results are instantaneous, she added.
While osteopathy is their area of expertise, opening a new business is not. And that’s where Win This Space came in. The contest walked them through marketing, a business plan, financial projections and more.
Since The River Osteopathy & Wellness Centre opened in January, Corvers and Duncan have seen 268 patients and say they are as busy as they want to be.
“We’re making people feel better. People are intrigued by a new concept and want to try it,” said Duncan.
They often take referrals from local medical doctors, chiropractors and physiotherapists.
Their open house on Saturday offers an opportunity to talk with Corvers and Duncan about their services. Kombucha Hound is serving up drinks and door prizes from local businesses like Mindful Jewellery will be up for grabs. The women have invited local artists to display and sell their art in their offices.
Enquiries can be made to Duncan at 226-886-1599 and Corvers at 519-466-6618.
The SLBDC recently announced the winners of the third annual Win This Space contest.
Stephany Borthwick, Nicole Newman, Laura Batista and Carlie Pitka won the grand prize of a year’s free rent and a one-year membership with the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce. They are now working toward opening the Lovewell Birth Collective.
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