Havenwood
A whirlwind year
By Mary Hughes
I have just come from meeting the most interesting couple. Determined is a word that describes them perfectly. They opened an outstanding spa with in a year.
Havenwood Medispa is Canada’s newest medical spa. It opened this year and is located 15 minutes outside of St. John’s, Newfoundland. What makes this place so special I am told, is its location. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this 5,000 square foot manor house has been transformed into a jewel. The owners are husband and wife team, Dr. Bob Farrell and his wife Heather Penwell. Dr. Farrell is a Canadian Military Surgeon, one of only eight in Canada, who has completed several tours of duty overseas and has just recently returned from Afghanistan. He will officially retire at the same time this article is being published.
Heather is a registered nurse who has specialized in several critical care areas including chemotherapy. I don’t know where they find the time, but both of them have been a part of the aesthetics and wellness world treating and preventing skin cancer and other anti-aging symptoms.
While operating on patients in Afghanistan during his tour of duty earlier this year, Dr. Ferrell and his wife corresponded and somehow managed to open one of Canada’s most unique spas. They dreamed of owning a true wellness retreat where clients could come and be transformed.
They got much more than that. “We have clients who visit who are avid spa goers. They visit and say Havenwood is one of the most beautiful spas they have ever been to,” says Heather. “It’s comments like that that make us keep going.”
The spa menu offers unique treatments not found at other spas. “We use coloured water and fruit and flowers in our seasonal pedicures. Water therapy is a big part of what makes us unique”.
The spa offers a full menu of aesthetics and non-invasive treatments like Botox and Restylane. “Our treatments are quite aggressive and state of the art. The future for spas is in non-surgical medical treatments. People want results quicker,” says Dr. Farrell.
“For the future we want to build an inn along side of the spa so guests can stay longer.”
Ferrell and Penwell just bought the Labrador Salmon Lodge, a mere 45 minute flight to Labrador. Farrell laughs and says, “A perfect complement for the spa!” All this in just one year. I can’t wait to see what next year brings but I can assure you a trip to Havenwood Medispa is in order.