As part of the Portraits of merchants & professionals of Côte-des-Neiges project, we invited Zeineb Khalfallah (@zeineb_conscience on Instagram) to join us in our visit of 11 businesses of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges who have participated in the project.
Meet Vivarath | Portraits of merchants and professionals of Côte-des-Neiges
Learn more about your merchants and professionals of the Côte-des-Neiges district! // Let’s meet with : Vivarath Ly, Physiotherapist and owner of the Clinique de Physiothérapie Mondiale
The Clinique de Physiothérapie Mondiale has been easing the pain of its patients since 1990. Residents of Côte-Des-Neiges who suffer from arthritis, injuries, back pain or any other problem that might lead them to consult a physiotherapist, are undoubtedly familiar with this space.
Our team met with Vivarath Ly, founder of the clinic,in a soothing and safe space.
When we arrived, we put our masks on and disinfected our hands. The clinic is concerned about the health of its workers and patients so they take all the necessary measures to protect them.
The hydroalcoholic gel dispenser located at the entrance is even equipped with a contactless thermometer that measures the temperature of all those who use it. In short, for the professionals on site, patients’ health is “the” priority.
Vivarath showed up a few minutes later to greet us, after making sure that all patients had everything they needed.
After talking with our physiotherapist, we learned that she was born in Cambodia and immigrated to Canada in the 1970s.
Right after her studies in her profession’s field, Vivarath launched the Clinique de Physiothérapie Mondiale. Vivarath chose the path of entrepreneurship to have a good quality of life and find a balance between her professional and personal life. Her analytical skills and innate leadership allowed her to face various challenges that came her way when she opened her clinic. “I chose to launch my own project to have independence. By running my own clinic, I can create my own schedule, take time off for myself and choose my vacation dates”. she emphasized.
Since then, the Clinique de Physiothérapie Mondiale has been welcoming different patient profiles.
Besides, it isn’t by chance that the project bears this name: patients come from all over the world and the employees speak several languages. Moreover, Vivarath speaks 4 languages herself: English, Cambodian, French and Spanish; enough to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and origins.
Establishing her business in Côte-Des-Neiges was first and foremost a strategic choice for the physiotherapist who was looking for a busy and diverse neighbourhood.”We are close to three hospitals and universities, and people come from all over the world. I feel at home here and the area is vibrant.”, she explained.
Today, Côte-Des-Neiges is much more than a neighbourhood for Vivarath. “It’s a community,” she said, sharing her views on the relationships she has with the various merchants and citizens of the area.
For me Côte-des-Neiges is : Community
Writer-journalist: Zeineb Khalfallah
Photographer: Gaelle Leroyer
Artistic direction : Félicia Balzano (SDC Côte-des-Neiges
Complete the experience by visiting the free exhibition on Promenade Jean-Brillant from September 8th to December 5th, 2022. Info: here
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Given the great success of its project «Portraits of Merchants and Professionals of Côte-des-Neiges» in 2021, the SDC Côte-des-Neiges is proud to present the second edition of the initiative through an exhibition as well as interviews. This project is aimed at putting residents in touch with businesses on the territory of the Société de développement commercial (SDC) Côte-des-Neiges. Through a series of portraits capturing the essence of 11 businesses, meet 17 owners and managers of local businesses. This social and cultural project is intended to be a real encounter with the human behind the professional. In this second edition, you will discover women and men, young professionals and experienced entrepreneurs, all from different cultures and backgrounds, providing a wide range of products and services. What do they all have in common? Their love for Côte-des-Neiges. Discover the exhibition on the Promenade Jean-Brillant and extend the experience online thanks to the heartfelt interviews carried out with each one of them.
Under the artistic direction of Félicia Balzano, general manager of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges, this project is an initiative of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges and made possible with the collaboration of the Maison de la culture CDN and the borough CDN- NDG.