Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:01 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world, wherever you tuning in. Uh, this is the Mac city morning show. I'm your host Elliot Pierre. We're going to start it off the same way. We start off every show with a little bit of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you tuning in and spending with us really does mean the world to me. So thank you very much. I really do appreciate it. Now on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:29 I just dived that desk. Another max, any morning show Dawn.
Speaker 0 00:00:40 All right. And we're back. So, uh, today's guest, I obviously have bumped into her a few times in town, but we've never actually sat down and had a full length conversation. So I'm excited to learn a lot about her today. So on that note, as you already know, I do not introduce my guests because they can do a much better job than I can at that. So can you please tell the people at home who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 2 00:01:02 Um, first thanks for having me. I appreciate this. My name is Aletha Austin, and I am the owner and CEO of achieve wellness spas as well as achieve wellness franchising corporation. Um, I moved to Fort McMurray about 17 years ago and I'm a physical therapist by trade. So I worked in a private clinic and return to work settings, as well as I worked in the schools with special needs children, which I really enjoyed. I was here for three years, three year plan, and, uh, 17 years later, I'm still loving it. Um, I love the opportunity and the community here and I met my husband here. And then when we were pregnant and traveling in Hawaii, um, being pregnant was kind of the catalyst for what do we want to do for the rest of our lives? How, what kind of life do we want to create here in Fort McMurray?
Speaker 2 00:01:48 And so we came up with a plan to open up a wellness spot to help our community. And it's something that I was passionate about and I wanted to bring a better model than what I had seen. Um, then in 2013, just prior to, um, securing our location for our first location here in Fort McMurray, in stone Creek, our son, James, who was kind of the inspiration and the catalyst for it, he passed away in a sudden tragic accident. No, so yeah, like could have defeated us, but instead we, we buckled down and we use that grief and that, uh, trauma to build something amazing in his name. So it was something bigger than us at that point, we're doing it for him and for his legacy. And so it's always been my push to do the absolute best job I can. It wasn't just a business.
Speaker 2 00:02:33 This was kind of a part of my soul now. And so, uh, we built in 2014, we opened our first location and we started winning some awards for service and, and quality, um, locally. And then we started getting recognized nationally and we want to talk 25 spas in Canada, two times. Then in 2018, we opened our second location in the Clearwater suite hotel. Once we got that up and operational and it had good management in place, I'm like, okay, I'm ready to take this bigger, bigger than, than Fort McMurray again, to grow this wellness empire, my son's name and into his legacy. And so I knew that we would need strategic partners to do that because who are Tom and Aletha from Fort McMurray, right. And why are you going to invest, um, in a wellness company like that? So I reached out to Arlene Dickinson's team from Dragon's den and, uh, they were really interested.
Speaker 2 00:03:28 And so in 2019, she came on as our business partner. So we're business partners with Arlene Dickinson. Um, and we spent six months working with her team and their accelerator program down in Calgary, getting all the franchise planning, done, getting the legal, just building that strategic plan. And then we signed our first deal in Edmonton in January of 2020, and then the pandemic hit. And so it kind of paused all of our growth obviously, and it's still pretty uncertain out there, but people with the pandemic really realized what was important in life. And a lot more people are interested in our business model now because they want to create something for them and for their community, something different that they can have a piece of their own. Um, so we are opening a franchise location in Calgary in April, and we have a couple planned in BC for 2022, 20, 23 and more popping up. So you're going to see growth. I see, I see, I see a positive trajectory now after that, one-year pause and we're getting back into it. So I'm, I'm living my passion again because growth of the company is super important to me. That's
Speaker 0 00:04:37 Awesome. Yeah. Wow.
Speaker 2 00:04:39 I know that's a big elevator pitch, so
Speaker 0 00:04:42 No, they, listen, you make my job a lot easier. There we go. Well, where to start. Okay. Let's, I'm trying to digest all of that. That is amazing. What a cool story. I had no idea about any of that. Yeah. Wow. Okay. So, okay. Let's rewind. Let's talk about what makes you different in regards to you're winning these awards. You have this, this ball, um, what makes you guys different from other organizations that do the same thing? Okay.
Speaker 2 00:05:08 Well, I think what makes us different is the wide array of services that I wanted to provide. So a lot of clinics will offer just physio and massage or, you know, Medi clinics well for the Botox and the more medical injection type thing. What we do is offer everything the whole wellness gamut. So we have, um, acupuncturists, massage therapists, FedEx. We have naturopathic doctors, holistic nutritionist, physical therapist, shockwave therapy. So we really do do a lot of different services and one, one place. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:05:39 My next question is, okay, you've worked. And I'm assuming Matt Arlene Dickinson, which is super cool. Um, and so did you apply to beyond the dragon center? Is this something you can contact? Our company is called venture capital venture capital. There we go. So you contacted them directly or did you talk to them? Um, every
Speaker 2 00:05:58 Year they do cohorts. They call usually two a year, um, where they take five to 10 businesses that they see potential in. So you have to be an existing business, not just a startup. You have to have a few years on the books and you have to show potential for extreme growth. And if you can do that and she likes your story and she likes you, she believes in people, right. So she likes you and your story and you do the due diligence and you fit with their culture then. Yeah. It's simple as that. That's true.
Speaker 0 00:06:27 Cool. I think that story and I, like, I think most people know of Arlene Dickinson. It's kind of hard not to, especially because of her popularity on the dragon Stan and her marketing company. Um, but I don't think, I didn't know that you could just reach out and like potentially strike up a partnership. So that's really neat. So how did that come on your radar?
Speaker 2 00:06:46 Um, like I said, it was, it was pretty serendipitous. I want to say as soon as I made the decision that I had my husband on board to go and build more, cause he's like, it's crazy being an entrepreneur. There's lots of ups and downs, you know, floods and fires and pandemics the, to come into play. So he's like, are you sure? Are you sure you want to do this? You know, we have young kids, are you sure? And I said, I'm sure. He said, okay, I'm on board. So as soon as I did that, I started reaching out to figure out how am I going to do this? Where am I going to get the money to franchise? How am I going to get the credibility? And I was applying for a women entrepreneur, um, grant through awe, um, Alberta, women entrepreneurs, and they, um, advertised on Facebook cause they, uh, for Arlene's thing and the cutoff was the next day. Oh wow. So I literally had this grant already ready, which I didn't get by the way. But anyways, I had all this leg work for the application done, so I just shot it off Darlene's team. And they contacted me within a couple of days. We started doing the interviewing and due diligence and signed the deal.
Speaker 0 00:07:51 Very cool. Very cool. Now you said your background is physical therapy, correct? So are you still a practicing physical therapist or you just straight up, you it's too much to run a business and do both
Speaker 2 00:08:02 Too much to run a business and do both. And that was really hard for me. So it was 10 years just paid off my student loans, 2015, I think it was, I had a baby and then just never went back. I worked completely on the business. It was an easy out, I guess, but I knew that I couldn't do both running a business with 40 to 50 team members in multiple locations. It's it's a full-time
Speaker 0 00:08:24 Oh, no doubt. More than a full-time job to full-time jobs. It's no more.
Speaker 2 00:08:28 I do still have, my degree is still, um, I'm still a registered physical therapist and I oversee other physical therapists. Right.
Speaker 0 00:08:34 But I no longer practice. Right. Where did you go to school for physical therapy?
Speaker 2 00:08:38 The university of Manitoba. Okay. I got a psychology degree first and then I got my physical therapy degree.
Speaker 0 00:08:43 Yeah. You gotta get your ma like yeah. Yeah. I, uh, worked, we had a physical therapist on the show yesterday. Brendan Smith, big shout out to Brendan, um, at Clearwater physical therapy. So I used to do some marketing for them. So know a lot about physical therapy by osmosis now because I went to school for it. It's a really cool profession to be in.
Speaker 2 00:09:01 Yeah. I like it because it's so diverse. And like I said, when I came to Fort McMurray, I was working in the school system. I was working and returned to work private practice, doing acupuncture. So there was lots of different things you can figure out. And that's what drew me to physical therapy. And then, like I said, then I just wanted to expand and have this wellness. I wanted to do physical therapy better than what the models I had seen. Not have people in and out multiple beds going at the same time. I really wanted direct quality care for the clients in a luxury environment.
Speaker 0 00:09:30 Right. So you have a number of physical therapists on staff and correct me if I'm wrong. But at some point there was a mobile physical therapy transpire taking place.
Speaker 2 00:09:40 Uh, not through me, one of, uh, one of our team members branched out and did it.
Speaker 0 00:09:44 Oh, gotcha. Okay, cool. Now I'm going to put you a bit on the hotspot right now. It's called the Mac city minute. Tanner has some questions. It's his segment. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:09:54 Good luck. Tanner hit her with your questions.
Speaker 3 00:09:58 Question number one. What is your favorite part of raising children in Fort McMurray?
Speaker 2 00:10:05 Um, my favorite part of raising children is the community. It's young, it's vibrant, it's welcoming. And I got to say Mac Island pool, like, come on back Island,
Speaker 3 00:10:17 Question number two. What is one thing you think people should do to achieve wellness?
Speaker 2 00:10:23 Take the time and make the time for self care.
Speaker 3 00:10:28 Question number three. What is your favorite service that you offer to get done?
Speaker 2 00:10:34 It has to be massage. I mean, I'm sitting on zoom meetings all the time. I'm driving around a lot for kid activities. So your body needs that, that movement and that healing. So massage therapy for sure. What kind of massage though? I like deep tissue. If I don't hurt, then that you didn't do your job. I want to be in pain.
Speaker 3 00:10:55 Yeah. Get those knots out. Question number four. What is one service you offer? You think everyone should try?
Speaker 2 00:11:03 I think everybody should try a facial and even the man, once you try it, you're addicted. And the reason is it's so relaxing and it's so good for your skin. And especially right now with the masks and the masks ni we call it like, it's really hard. All the bacteria on your face. So getting a proper facial is real.
Speaker 3 00:11:21 And your last question, what is your favorite way to relax at the end of the day?
Speaker 2 00:11:26 Um, we play a lot of board games in my house. So honestly, hanging out with the kids plan, some monopoly or some crib is my favorite way to relax. Those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:11:36 So I was just monopolies the go-to game,
Speaker 2 00:11:39 The go-to game right now. My daughter is super competitive too. So yeah,
Speaker 0 00:11:43 Me, I come from a family of three. I'm the eldest of three siblings, a younger brother and sister. And, uh, my hates when we play monopoly because it doesn't end well, there's, there's some fights that break out sometime verbal, sometimes physical, um, monopoly and risk. We're just not allowed to play. Fair enough. So your family, no adult conversations.
Speaker 2 00:12:09 There's been tears at times, but we're teaching them business too. You know, it doesn't always go the way you think. And when you do a deal with somebody, you don't always end up where you want to be. Sometimes you end up being corrupt. So we're teaching life skills right.
Speaker 0 00:12:21 There you go. I love it. What other games do you guys play at home?
Speaker 2 00:12:24 Like I said, uh, we played in life and my one younger daughter, like, you know, those kinds of board games, but mostly our go-to has been monopoly. Play a lot of monopoly, go fish. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:12:34 Traditional games then I just busted out and I'm, I'm pretty good at it. And I'm playing a six year old mind you. So yeah. Uh, the competition level is kind of low, but, uh, UNO. Oh, okay. I don't know if you remember una
Speaker 2 00:12:47 From when I was a kid. Um, yeah. I don't even know the rules anymore.
Speaker 0 00:12:50 I'm not going to go over what the rules are pretty simple, but yeah, old school games are the way to go. I don't know some of these new games. I'm not, I don't get them. I don't get them. So, uh, Fort McMurray, you've been here for a long time. What, what keeps you here?
Speaker 2 00:13:05 Like I said, I was here on a three-year plan just to start my career and boost it. And there's something magical about Fort McMurray. That the opportunity, if you put in the work here is just, it's unlike anywhere else I've ever experienced. And I think people come here to make their lives better. So you have this group of 80,000 people all here to work hard and make their lives better. And there's just something, like I said, magical about that. So I love the people. I love the community. Um, I don't love the cold. That's the only thing I wish it was a little warmer, but other than that, it keeps me here because I do, I do, this is home to me. I've been here 17 years. This is where I met my husband and raising my family. I have extended family here. So this really is,
Speaker 0 00:13:46 Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. The colds mean Tanner. Uh, we both were born and raised here and me. I love the cold personally. I'm a February baby. Um, yeah, me and the cold we're best of friends, but my parents immigrated from South America, Guyana. And to this day, my dad's been in Fort McMurray. Since both my cars have been here since 1977 long time, he still hates them. He hasn't gotten used to it yet.
Speaker 2 00:14:14 And normally we can get away for a quick, a beach vacation. And then it gets you through the winter this year, it's been a little bit different. So
Speaker 0 00:14:20 Like just bear down and deal with it. So on that note, this is it. This is a show that's only 20 minutes long and that was easy. Okay. Super simple. I know people get nervous, but it's all just lies. So I'm definitely thank you for coming. Appreciate. It would love to have you back again and again, that's the whole purpose of the 20 minute segment in regards to people. Just get to know just a little bit about ya and then, well, they want more, so please come back again and again, anytime you're doing anything, you want to promote it or talk, this is the place to do it. I'd love to, I'm writing a book, so I'll take you. Okay. There we go. I love it. I'll read it. Hopefully you do an audio book. I listened to most of my books. So, but before I let you go, um, enter the show shameless plug.
Speaker 0 00:15:01 Can you tell the people at home once again, what your business is, how they can get a contact? Um, let's just hear one more time. All about your business. Sure. At T wellness fall, we have two locations currently in Fort McMurray, one in stone Creek and one in the Clearwater suite hotel downtown. Uh, look at us, look us up on Facebook or our website to get in touch. Okay. And then if they want to get involved with a franchise, how can they get in contact for that, uh, go onto the website. And there's a page that you can specifically find out for more information on the franchising. Very cool. Awesome. Well, there you go. Well, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and, uh, the world. Cause as Tanner mentioned in a few episodes, we've got some people outside of the region watching, which is awesome. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Once again, I am truly honored and it warms my heart that anybody wants to spend any time listening to me and the guests. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for tuning in and on that note, hopefully you're having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 1 00:15:58 <inaudible> talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
