Re-Imagine Wellness Spa opens in Yellowknife

A new spa began operating inside the Centre Square Mall in downtown Yellowknife on Thursday morning.

Andrea Donaldson, owner of Re-Imagine Wellness Spa, moved to the city from Calgary three years ago to work as a registered massage therapist, or RMT.

She said the idea for the business, which is entirely self-funded, came shortly after she arrived in Yellowknife in 2022, when she noticed a gap in the city’s wellness services.

“My journey has been nothing but uplifting ever since I moved here,” she told Cabin Radio. “RMTs are short and people are crying for service. So, here we are opening our doors and saying, ‘Hey, we are here, ready to serve you.'”

Donaldson said she comes from a family of business owners – her aunt has worked in the insurance industry in Jamaica for more than 40 years – and she always dreamt of having a business of her own.

“I’m so happy because this is more than I had expected,” she said.

With Re-Imagine, Donaldson wants to help Yellowknifers embrace wellness as a lifestyle.

“I want people to re-imagine what wellness can be. If it can become a lifestyle, just imagine what it can do for you. You’d be in better health and you’d have better mobility,” she said.

“The dream is just so big. I hope that it will grow beyond even Yellowknife and maybe to other parts of the country – let’s see.”

Deep tissue massage therapy, aromatherapy relaxation, hot stone healing massage and revitalizing Swedish massage are some of the services Re-Imagine offers.

Donaldson said she envisions expanding her business to include hydrotherapy services and steam rooms to enhance the spa experience.

Currently, two staff members work at the spa full-time. Donaldson said she plans to expand the team in the near future.

Newton Grey, president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce and a fellow Jamaican, was also present for the spa’s launch to show his support.

“Everywhere in the world, small businesses drive the economy,” he said.

“Big businesses provide stability, but it’s the small businesses – like the mechanic opening his own garage, and by doing so, employing two more young people to learn the trade – that fuel growth and build communities.”

In Yellowknife, Grey said, the business community has seen steady growth. He pointed to the rejuvenation of Centre Square Mall, where at least five new businesses have opened in the span of a year.

Grey feels there is a strong call to replicate that success in other NWT communities like Hay River, Fort Smith, and Norman Wells, many of which have faced disruptions due to wildfires, floods and related evacuations.

“A lot of our communities are really supported by government, but the reality is that government is never going to run a supermarket, government is never going to run a hair salon, government is not going to run a spa. But which government worker doesn’t want a great hair day?” he said.

“It’s private-sector small businesses that make that happen. We need to create an inviting, friendly environment for new businesses, remove roadblocks and support them – especially with upcoming infrastructure projects.

“When small businesses succeed, we get a happier, wealthier, healthier NWT.”