Relaxation at the Forks

Open for 15 years, Riverstone Spa loves being a local destination. “I find Manitobans like to support local businesses,” says Alicia Brown, the spa manager. After working in the spa industry for 10 years, Brown enjoys helping clients take time for themselves: “Being part of the spa industry is very rewarding, to help people relax and rejuvenate.”

While the spa may be attached to the Inn at the Forks, a lot of their clients are Winnipeggers who come for treatments every month or on a semi-annual basis.

Two of the most popular treatments are registered massage therapy and the deluxe hydrating foot therapy, a super-pedicure that includes an aromatherapy welcome, paraffin treatment, leg massage, while being tilted backwards in a reclining chair called the “zero gravity chair.” “Usually when you poke your head in that room, you see people have dozed off,” says Brown. “When I’ve had that treatment and put the weighted pillow on my eyes, I’ve fallen asleep myself.”

At Riverstone, a newly revamped boutique puts more of an emphasis on made-in-Manitoba products. That includes the Clay Soap line, an elegantly simple line of soap, hair/body oil, and bath crystals, and a spa-inspired candle from Coal and Canary. The Riverstone signature line, Lemongrass Ritual, is for anyone who has become enamoured of the products used at the hotel. A new spa treatment for 2019 is the aroma detox massage. And this year, they’re introducing a confidential consultation form for clients to fill out ahead of time with medical information, so staff know when a treatment might be a bad fit with a client’s health.

Another advantage of Riverstone’s location: snacks come over from Smith restaurant, so clients can nosh on fresh fruit, muffins, or cheese and crackers (depending on the time of day) during their treatment.

One benefit of being a local business is having the ability to decide which local charity to benefit. Riverstone Spa likes to support St. Amant, a non-profit for Manitobans with developmental disabilities and autism. This has included their staff going to the St. Amant Centre to provide spa treatments.

“People think local businesses are small, and we’re a little bigger than some, but we’re still local,” says Brown. Riverstone is part of Sparrow Hotels, which has been in the hospitality industry in Winnipeg since 1937. “It’s also nice being part of a family-owned and operated business,” says Brown, who enjoys working with staff to keep their treatments and services fresh every year.