Lighthouse Wellness Centre finalist for outstanding new business

When Lighthouse Wellness owners Jenny Steele of Belmont and Luanne Rae of Brandon were notified they were finalists for the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Award in the Outstanding New Business category, the recognition itself was an honour. But for Jenny, discovering the nomination came from one of her own clients opened the floodgates.

“I gave her the biggest hug ever when I found out,” she said. “To me, it is the highest compliment.”

“It came at a time when Luanne and I were making a lot of structural changes,” Jenny added. “We were so honoured, but it really reinforced that all the effort was worth it. It felt validating to know the community sees what we’re trying to do and how we want to help others.”

The nomination carries deep meaning for their entire team, especially in a field where much of the work happens quietly behind closed doors.

“To be publicly recognized confirms that what we are doing matters to the community,” said Steele. “It reflects trust – and trust is everything in our field.”

The two first crossed paths while working at the Brandon Correctional Centre, where their shared passion for helping others began to take shape. For Jenny, that calling wasn’t always clear. After initially training as a dental assistant, she found herself wanting to make a deeper impact.

“I wanted to do more for people, so I reached out to a high school friend who had become a psychiatric nurse,” she said. “After that conversation, I realized that was the direction I wanted to go.”

After completing her studies, Jenny spent the next seven and a half years working as a correctional psychiatric nurse. Still, both she and Luanne felt drawn toward a different path.

“It was a stressful position, and I didn’t realize just how stressful it was until I left,” she said. “It wasn’t an easy decision – it was something I was so proud of, and it was all I knew.”

Jenny later moved to Brightscape, a Level 5 high-risk group home, and encouraged Luanne to join her as part of the team. Not long after Jenny returned from maternity leave, they were informed the provincial government would be shutting the facility down.

Following the closure, Steele and Rae met with psychologist Dr. Darichuk, who encouraged them to open their own practice.

“She actually said we would be crazy not to, as there was so much demand,” Steele explained.

Lighthouse Wellness Centre launched in the fall of 2021, in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There was so much uncertainty in the world and limited counselling options, especially for children and families,” Jenny said. “We felt compelled to help bridge that gap.”

From the outset, Steele and Rae were aligned in their vision – creating accessible, compassionate care for individuals and families.

“There was very little in Brandon at the time for families, especially children,” she said.

What sets Lighthouse apart is its wide scope of care. The centre supports clients ranging in age from as young as three to the elderly, offering individual, couple, and family counselling.

“We really do see all ages,” Jenny said, noting her own focus is primarily adolescents but mostly adults and elderly.

Their approach is highly personalized, incorporating a variety of therapeutic modalities tailored to each client’s needs. In addition to traditional counselling, mediation and psychological services, Lighthouse offers therapeutic play and child behavioural consults.
For those experiencing trauma, anxiety, or emotional blocks, Brainspotting has provided meaningful relief for many clients.

Alternative therapies are also available, including Reiki, Access Consciousness, yoga, tapping and polyvagal tuning. The latter is based on the idea that individuals create limitations through thoughts, beliefs, and judgements.

“The Access Con-sciousness treatment involves lightly touching 32 points on the head, each believed to correlate with different aspects of life,” Steele explained. “It can help release mental and emotional blockages, creating a deeper sense of relaxation and awareness.”

Not quite five years in, Lighthouse has expanded to two locations; Brandon and Killarney; and grown from a team of two to 13 counsellors, including a registered psychologist, supported by a four-person administrative team.

“When we started, we really thought it would just be the two of us,” Jenny said. “But the demand, especially during and after COVID, meant we had to grow.”

While credentials matter, Steele says something less tangible plays an equally important role in hiring.

“The biggest thing for us is the vibe,” she said. “We look for people who share our vision of creating a welcoming, calm, and trusting atmosphere and fit with us as individuals.” That growth hasn’t come without challenges.

“Learning how to be business owners in a profession where discretion and privacy are paramount was one of the biggest hurdles,” Jenny said. “Putting ourselves out there publicly and marketing the business felt very awkward at first.”

They also had to navigate financial management, build systems from the ground up, and develop operational skills outside their clinical training…all while maintaining the quality and heart of their services.

At the same time, both were new mothers, making it essential to set boundaries and protect family time.

“One of our biggest strengths was knowing when to ask for help,” Jenny said. “We sought guidance from experienced advisors in business, finance, marketing, and technology, which allowed us to grow more sustainably and make wiser decisions.”

Today, that balance is reflected in the environment they’ve created.

The atmosphere at Lighthouse immediately instills a sense of calm and ease. With its light, airy décor and thoughtfully designed spaces, the centre feels less clinical and more like a place where people can exhale; feeling safe, welcomed, and supported from the moment they walk through the door.

That sense of intention extends to the name itself.

Steele and Rae envisioned Lighthouse as a beacon for those navigating difficult times a place grounded in hope, resilience, and guidance through life’s storms.

PHOTO CAPTION: Owners of Lighthouse Wellness, Jenny Steele of Belmont (sitting) and Luanne Rae of Brandon are finalists for the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Award in the Outstanding New Business category.