Saltair Nordic Spa and Wellness
Saltair Nordic Spa and Wellness began as an idea aimed to bring relaxation, serene experiences, and wellness to the Annapolis Valley.
Owners June Pardy and Jenny Sinclair (along with their spouses Adam Smith and Mike Sinclair) came from a background in the wellness industry. June previously owned a spa and Jenny a yoga studio. Using this framework, the co-owners wanted to merge spa and yoga to create a wellness-focused environment surrounded by the peace of nature.
Using outdoor pools, saunas, and fireside rest areas, Saltair focuses on the hot, cold, rest, repeat, Nordic cycle experience. They combine this experience with yoga, aromatherapy, guided classes, and other offerings to help create a diverse shoulder season of tourism in this rural community.
The spa takes advantage of its location overlooking the Bay of Fundy, leveraging local assets to draw people to the area.
“The reason why we chose the Bay of Fundy with the view and the nature scene, is that something really special happens to you when you disconnect from the craziness of everyday life,” June explains. “When you land here, you are here. You can't escape your surroundings. You're in nature.”
The community surrounding Saltair, and the people living there, are extremely important to Jenny and June. They view it as not just a tourist destination, but a place for people to gather and create new connections with each other and themselves.
June and Jenny believe that wellness is for everyone.
“It’s the day-to-day stuff that people are working through, and you know, we have people who come because they're getting married or they're celebrating a birthday and they want to celebrate that with their friends and family (…) and then we have people who really just need to step out of the chaos,” June says.
June credits ACOA as a crucial supporter early on. ACOA was the first “yes.” The first group to truly believe in the vision June and Jenny created. Support provided by ACOA was essential to help them get their plans off the ground.
June and Jenny believe Saltair Nordic Spa and Wellness will help fully establish a fourth season of tourism in Nova Scotia. They understand the uniqueness of their business and enjoy providing a place where people can leave their stress at the door and reconnect with the world that surrounds them.
“We love it. There's something so special about having to drive down a dirt road.” June explains, “We're down Long Beach Road, (…) and if you make the drive, there's something very special at the end of it for you.”