06/16/2026
Today marks 15 years in business as a solopreneur. But not solo because I could not have done it without you. One massage at a time. One day at a time.
1800 clients experiencing multiple treatments over years. What a ride it has been. Thank you for holding on and sticking with me through 5 locations - 7 moves. And a s**t ton of drama.
We have shared many stories; house journies, family journies, business journies, creative journies and... and we survived menopause, and, a pandemic.
This fall, I will be beginning my journey as a foster mom, and fulfilling my lifes purpose, and the reason I bought this house in the first place: to create a safe inclusive space for healing from trauma.
Currently, I am busy completing my courses for The Sask Foster Family Association and some final rennovations as per my requirements for the Ministry to be a Level 2 home. (In 2013, I was approved for Teen moms prior to needing an engineering certificate as the house fell apart all around me.)
Today, it feels like the best fit for me could be being a Respite Destination Home. A stay at "Auntie Cindy's" would provide tailored cultural, literary, outdoor ed, and life skills programming over a weekend or a week, or ten days.
Every foster family get 10 days of respite from their kiddos a year. And, this structure would allow me to begin to program special cultural events here at 1011 Main Street, the other part of my dream for this house.
I want to honor the legacy of the families who lived at 1011 Main Street 100 years before me. The Cairney's were foster parents from 1989 until 2010. Since then, I've had their kiddos on my massage table recounting positive memories.
Mae Wilson's family hosted community dances and rented rooms to soldiers post WW2.
The woman who lived here from 1920 - 1950, Lillian Stephens, ran a school of dance and physical culture for three decades.
The man who built this house in 1902 was Frank Mawry and, he owned the first hardware store at 115 Main (now Mitsu). They were all community builders. So there is a legacy and a responsibility.
Think I'm crazy? Wonder why I'm doing this?
A destination foster home... What?
We all know Saskatchewan has the highest level of domestic abuse in all of Canada. Here's what the fallout looks like for children and youth. Did you know there are currently 6500 kids in foster care in Saskatchewan? But there are only 400 foster homes.
The solution? Group Homes. This lack of solution is creating more children with attachmment disorder who grow up with unresolved trauma and end up living in the facility next to me is why I resumed this journey. This is what I will be giving my neighborhood. My legacy.
When I heard from a client who works for the ministry that there was a 6 year old in a MJ Group home who'd been there for 4 years... my heart broke. Group homes pop up in hotel rooms. Social Workers who work them are not allowed to hug their clients!!!
Guess what the average age of a child in a group home is?
4!!!! Four years old.
No parents. No homes. No hugs.
That is not right. More of us need to step up. Or, we will have more people dazed and openly wasted wandering our streets, exercising the only autonomy they have.
All this to say "get your evening appointments in this summer" as my hours will be changing to between 8:30 and 3pm -school hours- come fall. Because some things are more important than our work.
Shout out to my amazing customers, to my family and friends for all that we have enjoyed together. With special mention to Riki Silzer of Rise Frequency Intuitive Design, KJ Konkin of Live Out Loud Marketing, Pamela Anthony, Valerie Kinistino, Wendy Laresser, Dorrie Deutchendorf, Shayne Cafferatta, Dominique Girard; and Nicki and Nick Marchesault and now Jodi- Leigh for all the financial advice over the years. Thank you for all that you have done to keep me going for this purpose.
Deep love to you all.
Sincerely, Cynthia
