At Dawn Wellness Centre's perseverance paid off, as the business has been awarded gold in the 2022 Best of Airdrie Readers’ Choice Awards for offering the city’s best day spa and massage therapy services.
The accolade arrives shortly after the business began operating in a newly renovated location on First Avenue NE.
According to Dawnie McElligott, a registered massage therapist and At Dawn Wellness Centre's owner, the business has earned bronze in the Best of Airdrie Readers' Choice Awards for the past few years, so finally receiving gold was exciting for both her and her team.
“When we found out we were gold [this year], it was just a whole team effort that is awesome, everyone is super excited,” she said.
The jump from bronze to gold may be due in part to the centre’s new home, which McElligott and her family renovated and added an additional floor to create a welcoming and calming atmosphere for those seeking a holistic approach to healing.
Originally, McElligott had been operating the business out of her home, but decided to make the switch to a bigger location in order to accommodate the business' growth.
Wanting the newly renovated building to have more of an antique vibe, McElligott was able to re-use the original shiplap boards from the previous building and old cupboard knobs are now used as the clothes hooks in every room.
Currently, the building hosts 11 massage therapists, an osteopath, a chiropractor, a naturopathic doctor, a physiotherapist, and a yoga studio in the upstairs residence. Although the yoga studio is not affiliated with At Dawn Wellness Centre, the studio injects energy into the building, according to McElligott.
McElligott got her start in massage therapy in 2005 while she was living in Red Deer. She relocated to Airdrie the following year.
“I just wanted to be more present for my family, now that my family is getting older and they don’t need me as much,” she said. “It was always a dream to buy an old home in the town of Airdrie.”
That dream came to fruition in the summer of 2020, but McElligott said it wouldn’t have been possible without her staff.
“We have such a great team that they make it so easy to come to work,” she said. “We truly believe being involved in our community is also a part of one’s wellness, so we stay connected by supporting and uplifting our community as much as possible.”
Although working in and giving back to the community of Airdrie is something McElligott is passionate about, she noted that with the recent population growth, getting the news out about her business has been a bit of a challenge. In the future, McElligott is hoping to grow her business as the opportunity arises.
“We have a lot of ideas, it just sometimes takes time and opportunities and being at the right place at the time,” she added.
“It’s a huge accomplishment getting gold in Airdrie. All of us are just extremely excited.”
