Page 34 - INSIGHT MAGAZINE - NoBleed_Neat

MEMBER PROFILE

“I always knew I wanted to work
for myself and wanted to make my
own hours,” says Michelle, before
describing the irony of the fact she
now finds herself working many
evenings and weekends. “I just want
to ensure the continuity of care for
my patients.”
Her dedication to the profession
became apparent early on when she
underwent an accelerated education
at a private school in Kitchener
to become a registered massage
therapist.
“Massage therapy requires a three-
year diploma but at a private school
you can earn it in just 18 months,
so that’s what I did and fell in love
with it,” says Michelle, who was six
months pregnant with her first child
when she opened her business in
2004 with some financial help from
a friend.
Already familiar with the Grandview
Medical Centre after being a patient
there for many years and then as an PHOTOS BY BRIAN RODNICK
employee at a former physiotherapy
clinic located at the 167 Hespeler Rd.
facility, she knew it was the right fit.

“I just knew this was the
MICHELLE FORD (LEFT), OWNER OF GRANDVIEW MASSAGE THERAPY CHATS WITH ONE OF HER TEAM best location in town,” says
Michelle. “At least twenty
Finding the degree in English literature since I always percent of Cambridge
enjoyed reading and writing, but I wasn’t
residents have a doctor in
right spot really sure I could earn money doing that. this building.”
I thought, ‘What do I really want to do?’; I
wanted to help people and felt like I was
However, as with most small
for success running out of time.” businesses, it was tough in the
beginning but luckily, she was able
Michelle was 25 when she made this
to rely on her family to pitch in.
realization after two years of study at
university following a stint at college “My sister ran the desk for me and
Making choices is part of life, studying pre-health sciences, which also worked for free,” says Michelle,
just ask Michelle Ford. was not the right fit. who operated initially out of
Prior to opening her business Grandview “I was told you needed a degree, so I three treatment rooms with three
Massage Therapy nearly 20 years ago, the switched to English literature. I realized therapists but now has 11 working
Cambridge native traversed several paths this isn’t getting me what I want, so it took among seven rooms. “But I knew if
before finally discovering a career that me a few tries to get there.” I stuck it out it would take off and
would not only change her life but the What she wanted was to have her own it did.”
lives of other people. business, just like both her grandfathers, However, her career in providing
“Massage therapy was kind of a second as well as her father, who operated John’s massage therapy and acupuncture
took an unexpected turn when her
career,” she jokes, seated in one of the Automotive on Bishop Street for many daughter, Mackenzie, who was six
several treatment rooms at her busy years. at the time, began to suffer from
Hespeler Road office. “I was trying to get a
chronic and severe acid reflux.

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