A counselling and therapy business geared to children and families in Grand Forks is hoping to continue its service in a quiet, somewhat private residential neighbourhood.
The Little Way Wellness and Counselling Services is in a red house tucked away at the end of Fifth Street.
Owner Vanessa Miller told city council today (March 25) their business has been growing.
“Grand Forks deserves to be a place where people want to live, grow their families, settle down and we welcome…many different cultures and demographics over the past few years and change can be conflictual with out the right supports,” Miller said.
Her vision includes registered clinic counselling for youth, children, couples and families, trauma-informed and developmentally adaptive yoga sessions, nutrition and movement wellness and body work like Reiki continuing in the location.
“We would like to come alongside the city and our community, our youth, immigrants and promote a culturally adaptive, family inclusive, trauma-informed, holistic healing opportunity to give the next era of Grand Forks a running head start in being all the things our ancestors and settlers dreamed it would be,” Miller explained.
Council is largely supportive of the idea.
There were some concerns expressed by Coun. Neil Krog about making sure the home meets fire safety rules. Coun. Deborah Lafleur also expressed concerns about how much of the home, which Miller lives in, is actually being used for the business.
Miller already presented some solutions for parking, such as buying the lot to the south of her home. But she doesn’t want to make that investment if a permit could not be granted.
A temporary use permit application for the property is expected at a future council meeting.
The city plans to inform properties within 30 meters (100 feet) of Little Way Wellness about the proposal.