MacDonald, owner of Massage Addict in Charlottetown, is having a hard time finding registered massage therapists to join his team so he has partnered with Eastern College in an effort to recruit Islanders to take the massage therapy program.
An open house will be held at his business June 10, 11 and 12 where participants will have a chance to learn more about the program at Eastern College with an education consultant from the institution.
At a glance
What: Registered massage therapy open house
Where: Massage Addict in Charlottetown
When: June 10 (noon to 4 p.m.), June 11 (1-4 p.m.) and June 12 (4-7 p.m.)
Why: To garner interest in the community to study massage therapy at Eastern College
Want a more dedicated sit down session? RSVP by email: [email protected].
Participants will also have a chance to speak with MacDonald who is offering a $3,000 tuition rebate program as well as a contract for guaranteed employment upon completion of the program.
“We are a growing business and we need (registered massage therapists) so we are willing to invest to have them take the course.”
MacDonald hopes this offers Islanders an incentive to study in this budding field.
Massage Addict has over 70 clinics nationwide and is the largest membership-based massage therapy provider.
MacDonald adds that this industry is growing right across the country and doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
“I don’t think there is awareness that the industry is growing the way it is,” said MacDonald. “As people try and move away from pharmaceutical medicine, more natural forms of medicine are becoming more popular.”
Anna Halman, education consultant at Eastern College in Halifax, will be one of the representatives from Eastern College taking part in the open house.
Halman said graduates from the massage therapy program at Eastern College are sitting at a 100 per cent placement rate with jobs in their field.
“We can’t get them out the door quick enough,” said Halman. “The last class, two months before they finished the program, most of the students had contracts signed with employers and they weren’t even done.”
The program runs 88 weeks and is a part-time program, allowing students to work in addition to pursuing their studies.
Halman said there is currently no wait list for the program, which is offered at its four campus locations in the Maritimes.
