An innovative healthcare clinic is improving the lives of residents who live on a small island in the Bay of Fundy.
Coast Health and Wellness Clinic opened its doors in November 2023 after owners Lauren Martin and her partner Michael Munro, saw the need to have preventative health services available to Grand Manan residents, through Michael’s work as a local pharmacist.
“It comes from a place of really trying to provide access to our rural, remote community,” Lauren said.
What might be a couple hours off work for an appointment elsewhere often becomes a fullday affair, requiring costly off-island travel, for Grand Manan residents.
“We wanted to provide services here and sought to find like-minded practitioners to come and offer their services on a rotational basis.”
With a clear vision in mind, Lauren also saw opportunity in the former Scotia Bank building, which had been owned by the village since its closure in 2022.
“We really wanted to take something that was a loss for the community and make it a win,” she said. “Everyone was feeling a little bit defeated, so this was something to kind of bring back and empower the community.”
When Lauren began developing her business idea, other local business owners encouraged her to reach out to CBDC Charlotte-Kings for support. The process began with a business plan – a challenging process, given there are no comparable businesses operating in the region.
“I was fortunately able to rely on people near and dear to me to discuss different ideas, and CBDC was one of those parties that I was able to bounce different ideas off of and gain additional support for what to include as part of that business plan.”
With a plan in place, Lauren needed financing to bring her vision to life – renovating the building and equipping it to support a wide range of preventative care services.
“The CBDC Youth Loan really helped us with our initial growth and helped us to propel ourselves into a position where we can continue to grow,” she said.
Lauren said working with CBDC Charlotte-Kings was easy from the start.
“The programming that CBDC offers is an exceptional opportunity for those who are looking to grow or build a business,” she said. “Not only do they provide you with a cheque, they’re also there to encourage and support your idea, and help create your foundation.”
The loan supported extensive renovations to the building and the purchase of equipment needed to create fully functional spaces for multidisciplinary practitioners, from massage therapy to dental services.
With the infrastructure in place, Lauren initially attracted 12 providers offering services from dentistry and acupuncture to massage therapy and chiropractic care, eventually adding optometry services.
“You name it, we had somebody who was willing to come over and serve our community.”
The solid foundation has allowed the clinic to sign multi-year contracts with practitioners to ensure continued care on the island.
As demand continues to grow, Lauren says she continues to adapt the business based on community needs to ensure the best possible care for residents – many of whom are friends and neighbours.
“I absolutely love Grand Manan. I love our community. I feel like they’ve embraced us,” she said. “This whole community has welcomed us with open arms.”
Lauren says her dealings with CBDC Charlotte-Kings made it possible for her business to get off to such a strong start, and she wouldn’t hesitate to use CBDC services in the future.
“I think without a doubt, working with the CBDC was one of the best decisions we made while creating this business.”