HARRISTON – When local chiropractor Dr. Shawn McDonald set up shop in the Harriston Lions Medical Centre in August of 2018 it was a return home for both himself and his wife, dietician Paige McDonald.
“Being born and raised in Harrison, both Paige and I wanted to open up a multidisciplinary clinic and we’re both pretty close to our family and family-oriented so we wanted to return home and there was a void in the business community with the services we offer, so we thought we’d jump in headfirst,” said Shawn, who studied kinesiology at the University of Windsor before attending the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto.
The business expanded quickly and the McDonalds celebrated with a move to a new downtown location at 12 Elora Street in its fifth year of business.
In addition to adding a second chiropractor, the business was expanded to include other disciplines.
“We have reflexology, we have acupuncture, laser therapy, shockwave therapy. We have a psychotherapist now and we have a kinesiologist to help with sports injuries and rehabilitation,” said McDonald.
The business has become “quite busy” he notes.
“Our new practitioners that are just joining us now, it’s going to take time for them to build up their clientele, but everybody that’s been here for a little while is quite busy.”
McDonald points out chiropractic treatments are helpful for a wide range of problems.
“Both Alex and I are evidence-based practitioners, so we treat low back pain, headaches, but we also treat a wide variety of things like sports injuries … ankle sprains, hip pain, plantar fasciitis, elbow pain, golfer’s elbow, stuff like that,” he explained.
As the growing business celebrates its fifth year, McDonald is thinking about further expansion of services.
“We’re looking maybe at hiring a physiotherapist. We actually just hired a front desk receptionist,” said McDonald, adding the business also offers training opportunities to co-op students.
