Ontario wide holistic fairs evolve into “soul mission”
At 12 years old, instead of being asked what was happening in her life that was hurting her, she was told there was something wrong with her. Diagnosed with depression at age 12, followed by a 10-year course of antidepressants throughout all of her puberty and life growths into a teenager, Vanessa Wilson was forced to find her joy path in her 20s by filling a gap in holistic wellbeing after feeling numb for most of her adolescence. Wilson is the founder of Holistic Healing Fairs™, now spread across the province in over 25 locations, with over 1000 businesses engaged annually as vendors, along with thousands of attendees nurtured in body, mind and spirit every year.
At age 22 she found a different path by exploring holistic therapies and alternative modalities, and got off the medications, but it seemed the missing link was a platform that connected all of these possibilities in healing body, mind and spirit together. And thus, she found herself continually searching blindly for holistic options.
In 2015 she moved away from family and friends in her home town of Orillia, and landed herself in Sudbury. Eventually, the isolation from her support network spun her back into depression, and she found herself walking into the crisis centre.
Soon after, she connected with a practitioner who offered her hypnosis and emotion code, and after the session the practitioner suggested she create a wellness-styled fair in Sudbury to bring holistic modalities together under one roof.
The concept of coordinating a healing fair was a far cry from her day job as a co-ordinator for a transport and heavy equipment school, but her heart was pulled in that direction. So, in spring 2016 she launched Awakening Energy Events and created her very first Holistic Healing Fair™. Intended as a small-scale fair with 20 vendors, the Sudbury-based event attracted 65 vendors, and over 1000 attendees.
“I knew from that experience that there were so many others out there like me, that needed help and guidance into the wellness world.” she says.
Now, after running 75 Holistic Healing Fair™ events to date as a one-woman army, she still finds herself standing on the other side of the table, continually learning about the vast world of holistic health, and remaining “humbly small with the baby steps” she still takes for her own mental health.
Sharing in this heart-centred community, where “we all have the same passion for making the world a better place,” feeds her soul each and every day, she says.
“I have very few words to express how special it is for me to share these events and watch people’s lives change because of something I facilitated.”
Whether you appreciate local artisans, love little luxuries of self care, or yearn to try a holistic therapy, or perhaps just crave connectivity with people who care, Ontario’s largest Holistic Healing Fair™ is the place to be. Mark your calendars for a year of inspiration.
More than just a vendor environment, the Holistic Healing Fair™, with free admission, have become heart-centred communities that provide a supportive setting and judgement-free environment for people of all ages and all walks of life to explore ways of nurturing the body, mind and spirit.
Enjoy soul food shopping with tons of local wellness businesses and artisans. Indulge in self care and self love. You’ll find everything from crystals, essential oils, handmade jewelry to unique gift ideas, spiritual items and natural bath and beauty products.
Experience tarot card readings, mediumship and psychic reading, energy therapies and complementary health modalities. Discover positive coping mechanisms that will uplift and inspire you, network with practitioners and likeminded individuals or just come and learn, and take in the good vibes.
The Holistic Healing Fairs are always free admission to ensure they are accessible to everyone, she adds.
As always, the first 50 attendees at each show will receive a Wellness Swag Bag filled with goodies. The events take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See event locations and dates below.
Looking to join our wellness movement as a vendor, or grab your free entry ticket to attend a Holistic Healing Fair™ as we come to a city near you? Click here for more details: https://linktr.ee/holistichealingfair
Holistic Healing Fair™ 2023 Locations and Dates – Our 2024 Holistic Healing Fair™ line up is being announced soon!
SUDBURY: Sunday, March 5 at the Caruso Club
OTTAWA: Sunday, March 12 at the Nepean Sportsplex
COLLINGWOOD: Sunday, March 19 at the Georgian Bay Hotel & Conference Centre
SAULT STE MARIE: Sunday, April 2 at the Water Tower Inn
WATERLOO: Sunday, April 16 at the Inn Of Waterloo
ORILLIA: Sunday, April 23 at ODAS Park
MUSKOKA: Sunday, May 28 at the Muskoka Foundry
AJAX: Sunday, June 4 at the Ajax Community Centre
OAKVILLE: Sunday. June 25 at the SVCC (St Volodymyr Cultural Centre)
PETERBOROUGH: Sunday, July 9 at the Personal Touch Banquet Hall
ST. CATHARINES: Sunday, July 16 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Centre
WOODSTOCK: Sunday, July 30 at Goff Hall
ANCASTER: Sunday, August 13 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds
VAUGHAN: Sunday, August 27 at Venu Event Space
NEWMARKET: Sunday. September 10 at the Newmarket Community Center
MANITOULIN ISLAND: Sunday, September 17 at the Hotel & Conference Centre
WINDSOR: Sunday, October 1 at the Caboto Club
OTTAWA: Sunday, October 15 at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre
SUDBURY: Sunday, October 23 at the Caruso Club
ORANGEVILLE: Sunday, October 29 at the Orangeville Fairgrounds
LONDON: Sunday, November 12 at the Lamplighter Inn
ORILLIA: Sunday, November 26 at ODAS Park
BARRIE: Sunday, December 3 at the East Bayfield Community Centre
PARIS: Sunday, December 10 at the Paris Fairgrounds
