The end of an era
It is the end of an era as we bid farewell to our wee spot on Cormorant St. A culmination of 13 yrs of grit, determination, persistence and a deeply rooted calling to leave our community better than I found it.
This little building was built on blood, sweat, tears and the faith that acupuncture can change the world. It was a little beacon of respite and peace in our chaotic and troubled North Park neighbourhood. I nestled in, fostered a diverse and ever-evolving client base and as this practice grew, I grew alongside it, fumbling through the never ending journey that is being in practice.
Not unlike how a cicada molts because it has outgrown its current confines, so has Heart & Hands in its homey, DIY, slightly off kilter walls. And I can safely say, I will not miss the attempted break-ins and people pissing on our front door. It’s been a long time coming and I look forward to a fresh start and to have space to continue innovating, supporting and flourishing through healing in community.
Now more than ever, with the ever-growing social divide, it is imperative that we support spaces such as ours. We strive to be a place of community care, mindful consideration, socioeconomic justice and a soft place to land. We serve as a sanctuary for the part of our community that often does not have access to safe(r), inclusive spaces to receive holistic, traditional, collective health care.
There is so much more I could say, but my whole being (and mushy brains) have been over-stretched during this huge transition and at this present time, it is difficult to fully articulate the spectrum of emotions I’ve been holding. So, I will trust that once we open our doors at our new Quadra Village home, the results will speak for themselves.
I am a working class practitioner building and sustaining a practice for working class people. Heart & Hands is very much an extension of me, my Chinese Canadian identity and the type of care I wish to see in the world.
When one door closes, another opens. Here’s to bittersweet farewells and hopeful beginnings.
See you in Quadra Village,
Christina Hoi Man Chan, R.Ac., Owner/Operator
