Health and wellness is a rapidly growing sector in Collingwood, serving a diverse population of people who are committed to staying active and healthy. One of the key players in this sector is Bayside Wellness, a multi-disciplinary facility offering collaborative care in Collingwood and Clarksburg, Ontario.
Bayside Wellness is led by Dr. Jennifer Fawcett, who graduated with clinical honours from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, where she spent four years training to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. Fawcett has had great success in treating many conditions and works with patients ranging from infants to elite athletes, as well as pregnant and geriatric patients. In addition to being a chiropractor, Fawcett has additional training in pre- and post-natal care, pediatric care, and is certified in Webster Technique, Contemporary Medical Acupuncture, the Graston Technique, and Custom Orthotic Fittings.
After working at Harbourview Health Centre (formerly McNabb’s) for two years, Fawcett decided to open her own clinics in Collingwood and Stayner in 2012. “I took the leap. It felt right, and I really wanted to do it,” says Fawcett.
Bayside Wellness currently has a team of 30 practitioners and administrative staff who are dedicated to providing quality care for every patient and helping them get back to the activities they love as quickly as possible.
After several years of running the clinics in Collingwood and Stayner, Fawcett decided to streamline their operations and consolidate the practice in Collingwood. Earlier this year, Bayside Wellness expanded once more by opening a new location in Clarksburg, Ontario.
A diverse offering of services
The wide range of services offered by Bayside Wellness includes chiropractic care, physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, psychotherapy, registered acupuncture, Chinese medicine, nutrition coaching with dietitians, reflexology, naturopathy, herbal tinctures, neurolinguistic programming, medical aesthetics, Graston technique, personal training, fitness classes, custom fit orthotics, rehab and more.
Tranquil Treatment Rooms
Bayside Wellness recognizes that mental health is an essential part of a person’s overall well-being. Psychotherapy counselling, which the clinic has had since its earliest days, remains an essential service. The clinic team currently includes three psychotherapists who offer both in-house and virtual care services to clients. Fawcett notes that the last few years of the pandemic have helped to normalize access to mental health resources. Bayside Wellness has seen a drastic shift in people accessing and including mental health components in their collaborative care team. “In my practice and experience, I have seen a correlation between mental health and physical health,” says Fawcett.
Additionally, Bayside Wellness offers different wellness workshops, as well as expressive arts therapy and Jack’s STEAM Adventures, which is designed for children.
Kid-friendly
Why Collingwood?
Having been born and raised on a farm in the Beaver Valley area, Fawcett is a local to the Southern Georgian Bay area. When asked why she wanted her practice to be based in Collingwood, Fawcett notes that the area is home to a large group of aging population, one of the key demographics the clinic seeks to serve. “As a healthcare professional, I find it so rewarding that there is a large group of the aging population who are active and who are able to benefit from our services,” says Fawcett.
At the same time, Bayside Wellness is a family-style practice that serves people from all different backgrounds – from children to young adults to mothers to senior citizens. Fawcett states that Collingwood’s positioning as a home to a diverse group of population who are committed to their health makes it an ideal place to be.
Navigating through challenges
Even though Bayside Wellness is now a well-known, established practice, its path to success has not been without challenges. Fawcett shares that several years ago, she received a life-changing health diagnosis that forced her to take a step back from her practice.
“It was at that time my colleagues, management and staff all stepped up, ran my business and covered my patients, which gave me the opportunity to focus on my health and my family,” says Fawcett. As a result, the Bayside Wellness team was able to continue providing the exceptional quality of care it is known for.
Fawcett shares that the challenging period gave her the time to reflect and refocus her priorities. It also made her realize that there was also a need for expansion of the Bayside Wellness services – leading to the decision to move the practice to a 5000 sq. feet space in Collingwood and to open up a new clinic in Clarksburg.
Space to heal and grow
“It feels so special to come back in this different capacity at this time knowing that when life is difficult, I have such a wonderful network of community who have allowed me the opportunity to step away when I needed to,” says Fawcett.
A dedicated team of practitioners and staff
Many of the staff at Bayside Wellness have been with the clinic for years. When asked about how she has been able to retain her staff, Fawcett shares that it starts as early as in the hiring interview process by instilling the confidence that work-life balance is a priority. Fawcett also says that she seeks to get to know her staff as people and give them what they need when they need it. Whether the staff need a mental health day to care for their well-being or have a sick kid they need to take care of, they are given the time and the space to help them maintain a well-balanced life. “We give people what they need, and we don’t challenge it,” says Fawcett.
Dedicated Bayside Wellness Team
Looking to the future
Looking ahead to the future of the clinic, the Bayside Wellness team seeks to evolve and grow with the needs of the community. Having opened the new clinic in Clarksburg seven months ago, Fawcett shares her excitement for growing the clinic and establishing it in the community. “I love working with other people, and our team is always looking for ways to better meet the needs of the community,” Fawcett says.
Bayside Wellness clinics are located at 06-101 Pretty River Parkway South, Collingwood & 185 Marsh Street, Clarksburg, Ontario. Visit http://www.baysidewellness.ca/ to learn more.
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Photo Credits: Dave West Photography