Nutritionist Raina Lutz (right) shares a shot of Kombucha with Maureen Olsen (middle) and Tamara Aspell during a talk about probiotics and nutrition. Obviously, it didn’t go down so well for Aspell.
Photo by Trevor Nichols
On a brisk morning Nov. 21 a group of ladies crowded around Jenessa Maddalena in Lion’s Park.
Maddalena stood with her outstretched leg resting on a piece of the park’s new outdoor fitness equipment, demonstrating a hamstring stretch.
She pointed out which muscles she was working, how to safely execute the stretch, and what it was good for. The ladies nodded, then tried themselves.
“We all come down here and play around on this equipment, but learning to use them properly is what we need,” Cathy Pidduck said appreciatively.
She and the rest of the ladies were just some of the many local residents who received services or classes from the health professionals from South Okanagan Physiotherapy and Active Wellness Centre that day.
The first ever Day of Wellness—a partnership between the clinic and Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre—let Oliver residents come in for massages, physiotherapy sessions, posture classes and more, all for a small donation.
The day happened in large part thanks to the clinic’s owner, Grant Storzuk. Storzuk, a physiotherapist, convinced his employees to donate their time to raise money to help community members access auxiliary medical services.
“It seems like we have a lot of people who fall through the cracks, and as much as we try our best to do our pro bono work for everybody we still have to have this funding,” Storzuk said.
He explained he wants to help Desert Sun develop a “slush fund” that can be used to help people access services like the ones his clinic provides, anything from getting fitting for a brace to chronic pain and physiotherapy sessions.
“Whatever we raise is going to go towards helping the community in some way,” he said, adding that he wanted to do something to help the community, but also ensure that the money raised would stay in the community.
Tamara Aspell, the executive director of Desert Sun, couldn’t be happier.
“Grant has a really good heart for community,” she said. “This is a next step to a really good partnership between Desert Sun and the wellness clinic here. It’s just such a great combination of the two services that really provide a holistic wellness to the people.”
Aspell explained that a healthy body is the “key to a healthy soul,” and that many of her clients will benefit greatly from the resources the Day of Wellness will provide.
“On a regular basis in the work that we do we hear so much about self care. You have to take care of yourself. Ongoing self care is so important,” she said, and she is thrilled her clients will have a little more access to that.
Storzuk said he is just happy to be a part of the community, and in some way be a help to it.
“I’m very thankful to be in the community and that everyone has given us support. The most support that the community gives the more we can support it,” he said. “At the end of the day we’re here to help and be a part of the community.”
By Trevor Nichols
