Solace Organic Spa - Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

May Special

Julie Doobenen — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:25:12 +0000

FREE LOCAL SPA PASS

Join Our LOCALS CLUB FREE FOR THE REST OF MAY ~ for all you spa lovers
NEW :: Join our LOCALS CLUB and experience endless opportunities for relaxation!
For $25, you receive a complimentary Spa Ritual:(infrared sauna & forest spa), 15% off aromatherapy massage, facials, glows, and 10% off waxing, manicures & pedicures for one full year!

Please call or stop in our Day Spa location to get your FREE LOCAL SPA PASS before the end of May!

Solace was featured in the Salty Fish Bowl

Julie Doobenen — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:27:05 +0000

Wearing so many hats in a day it can be hard to find time time to pamper myself. Especially when trying to plan a massage appointment with my bestie Genevieve who shares the same extreme workaholic issues. Once a year we try to force a few hours in for ourselves. We made a 10am double date to try out the new Solace Organic Spa location behind the Debfit Studios on the corner of Park Drive and Upper Ganges Rd. We had enjoyed their Saltair oasis location, which is still open by appointment, but were curious to see how this new spot compared. I walked past a row of bamboo and through a gate into a quiet, serene courtyard that quickly made me forget I was downtown. This courtyard, I soon found out, is the location for Solace’s SPA & DINE PACKAGE starting in June, with locally catered spa lunches….a fun addition to your spa visit or spa party! They even do PATIO PEDICURES!!

Solace was featured in “Young at Heart” by The Gulf Islands Driftwood

Julie Doobenen — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:31:52 +0000

Julie Pursley would like to see Salt Spring seniors step up for the good of their feet. So many people — of any age, actually — seem to neglect their feet until they cause unnecessary discomfort and other health problems. “They seem to be the least cared-for thing for most people,” she said.

Read the full article

Small Business Week a Success!

Julie Doobenen — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:57:57 +0000

The Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce hosted Small Business Week 2011.

The Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce hosted the 6th Annual Business Excellence Awards on Thursday, October 20th at Flying Dreams Aerial Arts Production including a full dinner buffet, awards in 9 categories, prizes and a live “Cirque du Soleil” style show.

We had over 160 attendees at the workshops, 61 businesses nominated for various awards and 80 attended at the Awards Dinner. In total, over 300 people took part in the Business Week Events on Salt Spring!

6th Annual Business Excellence Awards Winners 2011

Business of the Year
Barb’s Bakery and Bistro
Sponsor: Windsor Plywood

Small Business of the Year
Bellavance Welding Ltd.
Sponsor: Salt Spring Metal Recycling

New Business of the Year
Al’s Gourmet Falafel and Fries
Sponsor: Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance

Non-Profit Association of the Year
Island Pathways
Sponsor: The Wine Cellar

Tourism Business of the Year
Island Escapades
Sponsor: Mouat’s Trading Company

Agricultural / Farm Business of the Year
Duck Creek Farm
Sponsor: Hastings House Country House Hotel

Outstanding Customer Service
David Griffith – Mouat’s Hardware
Sponsor: Li Read, Sea to Sky Realty

Green Business of the Year
Solace Organic Spa
Sponsor: Gulf Islands Driftwood Publishing

Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Dan Fogarty – Prime Student Painting
Sponsor: Island Savings

Full list of nominees and sponsors at: www.saltspringchamber.com

Read the article in the Gulf Islands Driftwood – Small Business Week 2011

Thank you to all who participated in this event and to all the Sponsors for your involvement.

Special thanks to Donna Robinson at Island Savings for all you your work and dedication to small business on Salt Spring!

Solace Organic Spa wins Green Business of the Year 2011

Julie Doobenen — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:54:11 +0000

By Elizabeth Nolan, Gulf Islands Driftwood

“Small Business Week is celebrated during this week every year throughout communities across Canada,” chamber president Robert Steinbach said during the awards ceremony. “Here on Salt Spring, we depend on the hundreds of small businesses that have chosen to locate here and the invaluable services they provide in making Salt Spring the great community that it is. This is but one small way in which we can honour them for their contribution to our community and the island economy.”

Press material explains the week began with six free business seminars held at Gulf Island Secondary School from Monday to Wednesday, made possible by partnerships with several sponsors.The seminars were deemed “a major success” with over 160 people attending sessions for identifying your entrepreneurial idea, how to write a business plan, branding, marketing and social media, financing your business and succession planning. “Requests have already been made to continue the program and tailor some of the sessions to specific industries such as the construction trades and the artist/studio/gallery businesses,” the press release noted.

Thursday night’s gala was equally successful. Members of the Flying Dreams Aerial Arts troupe entertained a sold-out crowd of more than 80 guests with an impressive aerial circus performance, following a cocktail mixer and buffet banquet. The dinner was catered by Del Vecchio Pasta & Fresca and Marketplace Café.

Donna Robinson, manager of Island Savings, and Mike Best, treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, were the evening’s emcees. The awards, covering nine categories, were presented between the two acts of the aerial acrobatics show.

This year, there were a record 61 nominations for nine award categories. An independent panel of judges, selected by Island Savings staff, reviewed and reduced the nominations list to three finalists per category and then selected the winner.

The winners of the 2011 businesses of the year were: Barb’s Bakery and Bistro (more than 15 employees); Bellavance Welding for small business (less than 15 employees); Al’s Gourmet Falafel and Fries for new business; Island Pathways for nonprofit/association; Island Escapades for tourism; Duck Creek Farm for agriculture/farm business; Solace Organic Spa for green business; David Griffiths at Mouat’s Hardware for outstanding customer service; and Dan Fogerty of Prime Student Painting for young entrepreneur (under 25).

The Chamber of Commerce thanked the 15 sponsors of its Small Business Week and the Community Business Excellence Awards that made the entire program such a success.

They include Island Savings Credit Union as presenting sponsor; SS Metal Recycling, Service Canada, GISS, School District #64, the Connecting Generations Program, Island Savings and Thrifty Foods as sponsors of the business seminars; and Driftwood Publishing, SportsTraders, Li Read’s Sea to Sky Realty, Windsor Plywood, Chamber of Commerce Group Insurance, The Wine Cellar, Island Savings, Mouat’s Trading Company and Hastings House Country House Hotel as sponsors of individual business awards.

The awards are not restricted to chamber members. Because of its position as presenting sponsor and its involvement in the selection process, Island Savings, its agents, employees, and managers were not eligible for awards.

http://www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com/business/132592733.html

Harbour House services deepen holistic experience

Julie Doobenen — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:13:03 +0000

We are pleased to be featured along with The Harbour House and Still Point Yoga Studio in an article written by Elizabeth Nolan for the Gulf Islands Driftwoods newspaper:

The Harbour House Hotel’s focus on environmental wellness has been developing steadily over recent years to offer a holistic experience for its guests, whether they are staying at one of its eco-friendly rooms or eating in the dining room supplied with fresh ingredients from its on-site organic farm.

The amenities have grown lately to enlarge that sense of wellness with the addition of the Still Point Yoga Studio last year and Solace Organic Day Spa in February. Perhaps not surprisingly, there’s a fellowship of cooperating yet independent business women behind the organic convergence.

Julie Doobenen is another island business woman whose existing practice fit well with the Harbour House ideal when it came to an expansion. Her Solace Organic Spa is a well-known south-end forest retreat where an infrared sauna and soaker tub are available, along with many types of bodywork and esthetic services.

Putting their services together is something that Doobenen and Mallet Jason have actually thought about for several years, and being at the Harbour House has finally given them that platform. And with all three forces joining together, the opportunity for co-operation is one that should benefit the business owners and clients alike.

“I’ve always loved networking and especially in a small community where tourism is seasonal, it’s nice for businesses to work together,” Doobenen said.

Read the full article on BC Local News Gulf Islands Driftwood…