Where Care Begins: A Thursday Morning at Studio 414

It’s a brisk Thursday morning on the Plateau Mont-Royal, and the street is bustling outside 10 Pine West. The 8 AM rush brings bicycles, children heading to school, and the energy of early morning commuters. 

People move in and out of the 10 Pine West building: some on their way to work, others heading into one of the building’s studios. Up the stairs and into the foyer, a warm little coffee shop to the left is already alive with familiar faces exchanging greetings. At the end of the hallway stands the famous old elevator, with its sliding door and slow, steady climb to the fourth floor. Stepping out, the hallway opens into a cluster of studios, and we arrive at Studio 414. A quick code unlocks the door, and we step into a quiet, welcoming space.  

The room is bathed in sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows. Smooth pine floors, lush greenery, comfortable seating, and a small kitchen create an atmosphere of care and intention. Everything feels thoughtfully chosen, each detail designed to welcome.

This is the rhythm and spirit of Community Healing Days, and our purpose has never changed: to put community first.

Though still, the space hums with life. Studio 414, and previously studio 314 one floor below, has been the home of the Community Healing Days project; started in 2017 and born in response to the gaps in care voiced by community members, including practitioners and healthcare workers. The Our project offers low cost, sliding scale traditional bodywork therapies to low income and marginalized folks who are underserved by the public healthcare system. Since its inception, CHD has grown and served many individuals and communities throughout Montreal and beyond, extending its reach to the Eastern Townships. Over time, we have gathered measurable data confirming the impact of our work. Skilled practitioners have come and gone, new clinics and modalities added, but the essence remains unchanged. In 2024, CHD expanded beyond its monthly general clinic to better respond to the needs expressed by the community. Three specialized clinics were added: Perinatal Care, Menstrual/Reproductive Health, and Trans Care. Each is supported by practitioners with expertise tailored to these areas, offering services such as osteopathy, pelvic floor physiotherapy, acupuncture, scar work, and more.  

Slowly, the stillness of the room gives way to the arrival of the Community Healing Days team; lively greetings with hugs, sharing of quiet words, and preparations for the day to come. Coffee brews. Practitioners appear with arms full of supplies. Without hesitation, the team flows into action: rice and lentils simmer for the communal meal we offer as part of our invitation into our space; vegetables are chopped, coffee cups passed around. 

At its heart, Community Healing Days exists to meet people where they are, to offer belonging, and to create the possibility of care that is integrated and anchored on the whole human and the gamut of their experiences. Here, nervous systems can settle, mental health can improve, and transformation feels possible. It has always been our wish to create a space where people feel held, a space that believes in their capacity to find wellness, whatever that may mean to them uniquely.  

At its heart, Community Healing Days exists to meet people where they are, to offer belonging, and to create the possibility of care that is integrated and anchored on the whole human

Community Healing Days has begun to extend its reach into the healthcare system, drawing the attention of local CLSCs in several boroughs. Our goal is to deepen these relationships and become an integrated part of the system—working alongside mainstream healthcare to complement and enhance care. Just as we arrive each Thursday morning with anticipation, renewing the commitment and intention that shaped this project from the beginning, we carry that same dedication into building collaborations. In a world that often feels disjointed and fractured, we see these partnerships as opportunities to weave together care, creating a more connected and supportive system for all.  

And just like that, we open the door, and the day begins again.