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Powell River, Vancouver Island/Coast

3 Employees

In Business Since 2020

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The VK Wellness Initiative

Powell River, Vancouver Island/Coast

The VK Wellness Initiative is a community-based initiative looking for new and improved ways for everyone to access health and wellness. We offer a core wellness consultation program in which clients complete wellness planning supported by a Registered Social Worker. Achieving wellness, the VK way, involves collaborative exploration of the client's experience using a format that best suits their needs. We offer services to: - Individuals (adults and children) - Families - Community groups - Corporate businesses and organizations - Communities and local governments - First Responders We offer a wide range of integrated health and wellness services to holistically meet the unique needs of the individual or organization. We aim to make the client's experience as comfortable and accessible as possible. We do not want to see people unable to overcome their barriers to feeling better. We offer fee-for-service programs and clinical services, options for sliding scale pricing. Many of our clinicians are registered with external funding sources to help clients access what they need. We also have a non-profit (VK Community Connections) that aims to provide access to services that are not otherwise accessible to our clients. Our services include: Clinical Counselling (aged 3+) Assessment and Referral Wellness Planning Pediatric Occupational Therapy Adult Mental Health Occupational Therapy Kinesiology and Body Composition Assessment Mental Health and Behaviour Wellness Registered Massage Therapy Workplace or Family Mediation Holistic Nutrition Anxiety Management Services Yoga Therapy Clinical Herbal Therapy Integrated Adult Sleep Counselling Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Customized Group Training and Therapy Leadership Training

The VK Wellness Initiative has been nominated in the following categories:

Click on the banners to find out why they deserve your vote in each category.

Business Impact Award


Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

Vanessa Coray and Kara Fogwell, co-founders of VK Wellness Initiative, were motivated to start their business by the solving mental health accessibility issues in their community. They recognized that many people were facing difficulty accessing health and wellness services due to limited, inaccessible, and generic supports in the healthcare system. They were passionate about finding new and improved ways to provide accessible wellness services to everyone in the community. The problem of mental health accessibility is growing and has become a significant concern in British Columbia. The province has seen an increase in people reporting mental health difficulties, and wait times for mental health services have become longer, especially for children. The wait times for children to see a mental health provider have increased from three months pre-pandemic to minimum 6-9 months now. Moreover, waitlists for public assessments can be upwards of three years, which means that mild symptoms needing addressing have turned into lengthy lists of diagnosis and co-morbidities. The demand for mental health services exceeds the capacity to provide them, and people are experiencing high levels of distress, which was alarming for the co-founders of VK Wellness Initiative. Vanessa and Kara wanted to provide a more individualized and accessible way of achieving personal, group, and community well-being. They believed that everyone deserved to be well and started VK Wellness Initiative to offer accessible wellness services to people. They were passionate about solving the mental health accessibility problem in their community and determined to find solutions to it. VK Wellness Initiative is a community-based initiative that aims to provide accessible wellness services to everyone. They are working towards improving mental health outcomes for people in their community, and their passion for this cause drives them to work harder every day.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

VK Wellness has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the community through various initiatives and services that prioritize accessible mental health and wellness. The business has established fee-for-service programs and individual clinical services, as well as options for sliding scale pricing, to ensure that its services are affordable and accessible to everyone. Many of the clinicians are also registered with external funding sources, which further expands the reach of VK Wellness' services. The non-profit arm of the business, VK Community Connections, provides access to services that may not otherwise be accessible to clients. Additionally, VK Wellness never turns away clients and offers free wellness consults to connect individuals with health professionals at no charge. VK Wellness also offers free community programs and services, such as meditation classes and psychoeducation workshops, to support the community in managing their own well-being. The business provides services to individuals (adults and children), families, community groups, corporate businesses and organizations, local governments, and first responders. VK Wellness' services have made a significant impact on the community, with referrals pouring in from schools, physicians, local organizations, and community individuals. The first responder program, which is a specialized occupational stress resiliency program that supports local first responders, has been particularly impactful. Since the launch of this program, 96% of first responders surveyed now confidently know who they can turn to for mental health supports and feel comfortable reaching out. This is a significant increase from previous survey results, which showed little faith in wellness supports at work. VK Wellness' community impact has been recognized through nominations and awards from community members, including qathet Living's 2021 Best of the Best award for Best Family Therapist, Women in Business 2022 Most Influential Business Woman of the Year award, and Powell River's runner-up for Best New Small Business award. These nominations and awards are a testament to the positive impact that VK Wellness has had on the community and the support that the business receives in return.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

VK Wellness is a business that has made an exceptional commitment to providing mental health and wellness services to the qathet community. For this reason, it truly deserves to win the Business Impact Award. VK Wellness has made an undeniable positive impact on the community by ensuring that mental health services are accessible and affordable to all, including children, adults, families, workplaces, local organizations, and first responders. Their dedication to improving mental health and wellbeing has helped individuals and communities alike. One of the most important aspects of VK Wellness's work is their focus on children's mental health services and pediatric occupational therapy. Children's mental health services are critical in ensuring that they grow and develop to be healthy and productive members of society. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, autism, and ADHD can significantly impact a child's ability to learn, develop social skills, and engage with their peers. VK Wellness's provision of mental health services and pediatric occupational therapy helps children overcome these challenges and develop the skills they need to succeed in life. This work has a positive impact on the community by reducing the incidence of mental health issues in children, improving their overall quality of life, and setting them up for future success. Another area where VK Wellness has made a positive impact is through their employee wellness programs. Employee wellness programs are essential for cultivating a psychologically safe workplace where employees feel supported and valued. These programs help to reduce stress, improve mental health, and increase productivity, leading to a happier and more engaged workforce. In addition, by promoting healthy lifestyles both in and outside of the workplace, VK Wellness is helping employees to improve their overall quality of life, which has a positive impact on life at home as well. Providing occupational stress resiliency programs to first responders is another area where VK Wellness has had a significant impact on the community. First responders are exposed to traumatic events on a regular basis, which can lead to mental health issues such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. By providing occupational stress resiliency programs, VK Wellness is helping first responders to cope with the stress of their jobs and improve their overall mental wellbeing. This work has a positive and accessible impact.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

In our interactions with clients, team members, and others, we always strive to be respectful, professional, and inclusive. We recognize that each person is unique and has their own experiences, needs, and preferences. Therefore, we make sure to tailor our services to meet their specific requirements and communicate clearly and effectively to ensure mutual understanding. We also provide accommodations and accessibility features for those who require them to ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued. We offer ongoing professional development and learning opportunities to all our team members, which helps them improve their skills and grow their practices. We also emphasize collaboration as a team, encouraging our employees to work together to achieve common goals. Additionally, we offer free group services to all our team members and their families, including health and wellness programs, mentorship, and financial advice. These services help our employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is essential for their wellbeing. We organize regular social outings, which promote a sense of community and help our employees build strong relationships with each other. Finally, we support and lift one another, celebrating our successes and working together to overcome challenges. At VK Wellness, we are committed to creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome, supported, and valued. By prioritizing the wellbeing of our team members and fostering a positive and collaborative work environment, we ensure that our clients receive the best possible care and support. Co-owners Vanessa Coray and Kara Fogwell cultivate a psychologically safe and healthy workplace culture. Our culture is built on transparency, active listening, empathy, accountability, recognition and reward, and continuous learning. We recognize and reward our team members for their achievements, hard work, and contributions. We demonstrate empathy by understanding and acknowledging our teams’ emotions and experiences while building strong relationships and fostering a supportive and caring workplace. We give celebratory gifts when they graduate, birthday surprises, thank you cards, books and goodies. We believe in fostering a growth mindset culture that encourages innovation, creativity, personal, and professional growth. We prioritize continuous learning and development for ourselves and our team through a professional development funding. We lead by example.

People's Choice


Why do you think you should win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award?

VK Wellness is a business that has made an exceptional commitment to providing mental health and wellness services to the qathet community. For this reason, it truly deserves to win the Premier's People's Choice Award. VK Wellness has made an undeniable positive impact on the community by ensuring that mental health services are accessible and affordable to all, including children, adults, families, workplaces, local organizations, and first responders. Their dedication to improving mental health and wellbeing has helped individuals and communities alike. One of the most important aspects of VK Wellness's work is their focus on children's mental health services and pediatric occupational therapy. Children's mental health services are critical in ensuring that they grow and develop to be healthy and productive members of society. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, autism, and ADHD can significantly impact a child's ability to learn, develop social skills, and engage with their peers. VK Wellness's provision of mental health services and pediatric occupational therapy helps children overcome these challenges and develop the skills they need to succeed in life. This work has a positive impact on the community by reducing the incidence of mental health issues in children, improving their overall quality of life, and setting them up for future success. Another area where VK Wellness has made a positive impact is through their employee wellness programs. Employee wellness programs are essential for cultivating a psychologically safe workplace where employees feel supported and valued. These programs help to reduce stress, improve mental health, and increase productivity, leading to a happier and more engaged workforce. In addition, by promoting healthy lifestyles both in and outside of the workplace, VK Wellness is helping employees to improve their overall quality of life, which has a positive impact on life at home as well. Providing occupational stress resiliency programs to first responders is another area where VK Wellness has had a significant impact on the community. First responders are exposed to traumatic events on a regular basis, which can lead to mental health issues such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. By providing occupational stress resiliency programs, VK Wellness is helping first responders to cope with the stress of their jobs and improve their overall mental wellbeing. This work has a positive and accessible impact.

Nominations and voting has now closed.

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