COLD LAKE – A Cold Lake business is among the finalists for the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction.
Elevation Health Cold Lake is among the four nominees in the health and wellness category, which recognizes a business or organization that demonstrates best practices when it comes to initiatives, programs, and benefits that enhance the physical, mental health, and well-being of its employees and their families, both in and outside the workplace.
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce host the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction, which is meant to recognize businesses and organizations that make contributions to their community ‘while having developed business acumen and management practices to ensure long-term stability.’ This year saw 270 businesses nominated before the 52 finalists were chosen.
This isn’t the first time Elevation Health Cold Lake has been recognized for the awards. According to Elevation Health owner TJ Unger, they were nominated for three categories last year, but weren’t eligible for them.
“We were blown away when we found that out,” she told Lakeland This Week. “Unfortunately, when I looked into the eligibility criteria there was a stipulation that we had to be in business for three full years, which we had not unfortunately been at that time.”
Unger said they were "humbled and proud" when they learned that they were nominated this year in the health and wellness category and now qualify as they’ve been open for three-and-a-half years.
Since opening its doors in 2017, Elevation Health has grown from a three-member team to over 10 employees.
“We’ve been very fortunate to collect a large group of very passionate professionals that work in the healthcare industry,” detailed Unger. “I think the team speaks very much for itself because each individual member is passionate about their clients here. It kind of drives through and it's allowed us to build the business very quickly as well as being able to impact a lot of people in our community and neighbouring communities.”
Elevation Health is a multi-disciplinary wellness centre, Unger explained, which includes physical therapists, massage therapists, and physical trainers.
“Our goal is to really work with people to basically reach their goals, whichever that may be when it comes to movement. Our drive is to help impact and let people live a better life.”
Unger added, “We all got into this area of work because we all want to help people, one way or another. The people that are interested in reaching out and asking for help, we want to be able to provide and (help) as a health care professional as much as possible. That’s why usually when someone comes to see us, they might start in massage or physio and then we kind of get the whole team aspect involved because not one discipline has all the tools to address what one person is working with.”
The awards ceremony will be hosted virtually on June 25. Even if Elevation Health doesn’t win, Unger said they were glad just to be nominated for the honour.
