What started as a one-day-a-week venture with little more than determination and a dream has grown into a thriving rural health-care business serving communities across Manitoba’s West Interlake.
C.T. Physiotherapy will celebrate its 10th anniversary on June 25, marking a decade of providing physiotherapy services to residents in Ashern, Lundar and surrounding communities.
Owner and lead physiotherapist Caitlin Milljour said opening her own clinic had always been a personal goal, even though she had limited business experience when she first started.
“I was born and raised in Winnipeg, and I had always wanted to own my own clinic,” said Milljour. “I found a room to rent and started coming to Ashern on Saturdays while working full time in Winnipeg. I only knew one person in the area and I had no business experience, but I figured out how to run a business as the years passed.”
As demand for physiotherapy services continued to grow, Milljour was eventually able to leave her Winnipeg position and focus on the clinic full time.
The growth of the business also led to a personal move. In 2017, Milljour and her husband, Jon, purchased a home in Eriksdale. A year later, they bought the building at 29 Main St. in Ashern, allowing the clinic to expand its services and establish a permanent home.
Today, C.T. Physiotherapy offers a wide range of services, including physiotherapy, acupuncture, orthotics and direct billing to most insurance providers. The clinic serves patients from communities throughout the region, including Ashern, Eriksdale, Arborg, Fisher Branch, Moosehorn, Hilbre, Lundar, Manitoba Narrows and beyond. Some clients travel from as far north as Grand Rapids to access treatment.
For Milljour, one of the most rewarding aspects of operating a rural clinic is ensuring residents can receive quality care close to home.
“It is important to provide these services locally so people don’t have to travel all the way into the city,” she said. “We want people to focus on their recovery, healing and getting their lives back.”
The business has continued to evolve over the years. In 2023, the Ashern clinic doubled in size and a satellite location was opened in Lundar, further improving access to care for area residents.
C.T. Physiotherapy has also embraced technology through its Digital Physio program, which allows clients to receive treatment remotely. The service has proven particularly beneficial for residents of remote communities, as well as those working rotational schedules who may not always be able to attend appointments in person.
Looking ahead, Milljour hopes to continue expanding the clinic’s services and reach throughout rural Manitoba, including growing access to pelvic floor physiotherapy and exploring opportunities to expand clinic services and locations in rural communities. While she is proud of the clinic’s growth, Milljour credits much of its success to the people who have supported her along the way.
“We have an amazing full-time office administrator, Meghan DeFoort, who has been with the clinic for more than five years,” she said. “She keeps all of the operations moving smoothly and our patients love her.”
Milljour also praised physiotherapy exam candidate Baljeet Bangar for helping meet the growing demand for services.
“None of this would be possible without their hard work,” she said.
She also reserved special recognition for her husband, Jon.
“He took the plunge to move to a rural community and has been my biggest support,” said Milljour. “He believed in me before I believed in myself. I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
As she reflects on the past decade, Milljour said the relationships she has built throughout the West Interlake have made the journey worthwhile.
“I am so grateful for the support and trust of the community over the last decade. I never would have imagined the relationships I would build. Coming to work doesn’t feel like work when patients feel like friends and family,” she said.
“The community of West Interlake is home, and I will never leave country life.”
C.T. Physiotherapy’s Ashern clinic is located at 29 Main St. and is open Monday through Friday. The Lundar clinic, located at 1 Daisy Lane, operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
