A $45-million Nordic-style spa is in the works for Rocky View County (RVC).
Quebec-based spa developer Groupe Nordik, which currently operates wellness and relaxation facilities in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, announced Feb. 24 its fourth spa will be located in the Springbank community of Harmony, pending approvals by Rocky View County.
Martin Paquette, the owner and chief executive officer of Groupe Nordik, said the spa’s location between Calgary and Banff National Park would make it a popular destination for both tourists and locals.
“This spa will be the synthesis of everything we’ve learned so far, as well as the jumping-off point for something new and truly magical,” he said in a press release.
“We’re at an incredibly powerful and transformative moment in our evolution as an organization – the fruits of our entire 15-year history are blossoming into the creation of this spa.”
The spa will be located on the shores of the exurban community’s Harmony Lake, just west of Springbank Airport.
The developers of Harmony, which opened to residents in 2015, include Qualico Developments and Bordeaux Developments. Representatives from both say they are excited to partner with Groupe Nordik on the initiative.
“Having an amenity of this calibre within our community that attracts tourism and local visitors will certainly serve as a catalyst to development of our Village Centre,” said Bordeaux Developments president and CEO Birol Fisekci. “This will provide valuable retail services for our residents and guests in the community, and we are thrilled to have Groupe Nordik as a primary piece of this success.”
According to Fisekci, construction of the five-acre spa is anticipated to begin later this year, with the facility’s projected opening slated for 2022. He said the appropriate bureaucratic hurdles have already been overcome to ensure construction can get underway in the summer.
“We’re staying within our land-use framework, so that’s the most critical one," he said. "We have our land-use approvals in place, and it’s simply a subdivision approval process, which we’re going through right now. We see no significant hurdles that would impede us once the frost is out of the ground.”
An email from RVC Executive Director Community and Business Connections Grant Kaiser stated the County is currently working with Groupe Nordik, Qualico Developments and Bordeaux Developments on their application, which will be presented to council at a future public hearing.
A noteworthy aspect of the spa, Fisekci said, is that it will incorporate the community's man-made lake into its design. He added the developers have intentionally re-designed the lake's shape over the last six months to better meet Groupe Nordik's needs.
"I think that’s why this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said. "Normally, lakes are either coincidental and made by the elements or if it’s an existing lake community, it’s too late to retrofit a spa into that."
Once completed, the spa is anticipated to support roughly 400 full-time and part-time jobs and attract more than 300,000 guests per year, according to Fisekci.
“The spa itself, while it’s undeniably an exciting amenity for the community, will also attract both local tourism as well as international tourism," he said. “We fully expect this to create international awareness. What’s most exciting for me is that with that awareness, we’ll be able to internationally showcase Alberta and also control the narrative about Alberta.
"Hopefully, we can encourage spin-off investment of this kind in this province.”
Groupe Nordik’s other spas are located in Chelsea, Que., Winnipeg, Man. and Durham, Ont. The facilities offer a range of hydrotherapy pools, hot tubs, saunas, massage rooms and relaxation spaces.
For more information on the company, visit groupenordik.com
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
