Our Fresh Start Health Retreat Team Members
Dawn Summer Langerak, BN
Program Director
Dawn Summer deeply understands the mind-body connection and its role in emotional and physical healing. She provides a safe space and an open heart to listen and support when guiding through the program. Dawn Summer has thirteen years of experience as a Registered Nurse.
Experience: 14 yrs
Ania Kastashchuk, BA, BS
Program Manager & Live Blood Analyst
Ania is a co-founder of Fresh Start. She is an experienced program facilitator, educator, and researcher. Ania deeply understands the healing process and specializes in program planning, program process explanation and Program Directors’ training and support.
Experience: 19 yrs
Sandie Sparrow, Certified Colon Hydrotherapist
Colonics & Assistant Program Director
Sandie is a knowledgeable professional and a very compassionate person. She is a certified life coach, body treatments and laser specialist, and wheatgrass grower. Sandie studied psychology at the University of Waterloo and currently takes Somatic Experiencing™ with P. Levine.
Experience: 10 yrs
Jaz King, BSc
Thai Massage Practitioner & Laser Therapist
Jaz is an advanced therapeutic Thai massage & Chi Nei Tsang practitioner. Jaz has always had an endless curiosity and care for people. Her current vocation as a Thai massage practitioner and transformational guide emerged through her own journey of wellness and healing.
Experience: 16 yrs
Sandra Kelly, HHRT, CCht, CACCF
Intuitive Energy Healer & Bodyworker
Sandra brings a unique combination of 35+ years with a research background, and advanced training in energy healing and emotional wellness. Sandra is a Holistic Health Practitioner. Her modalities include: contemporary cupping, reflexology, aromatherapy and many others.
Experience: 14 yrs
Monica Sheline
Bodyworker
Monica has worked at some of the World’s leading Resorts. She specializes in creating customized herbal compresses, topical applications, Swedish and hot stone massages. She is a Bodyworker, Yoga Teacher and Clinical Aesthetician.
Experience: 23 yrs
Kristi Birnie, BAA
Intuitive Energy Healer
Kristi offers CranioSacral Therapy, Jikiden Reiki and a sweet and deep fusion of the two modalities woven together. She applies hands-on healing techniques, listening deeply to sensations and allowing her to be guided by the cells of each recipient.
Experience: 14 yrs
Shannon Flaherty
Somatic & Laser Therapist
Shannon brings a grounded, wholehearted atmosphere to sessions, and believes strongly in the power of judgment-free connection– with self. Naturally curious, she continues to develop her understanding and practice through books, presentations, and workshops.
Experience: 10 yrs
Chanci Dawn
Emotional Wellness Specialist
Chanci is a professionally trained and certified Integrative Life and Wellness Coach. Chanci’s pleasure and passion are to holistically support her clients in their personal growth and emotional well-being so they can live their most radiant, whole, fulfilling lives.
Experience: 13 yrs
Rebecca French, DipEd, BSc
Intuitive Energy Healer & Life Coach
Rebecca French is an Intuitive Energy Healer and Life Coach. She specializes in Emotional, Spiritual and Wellness Coaching and is a natural born healer. Rebecca has over nine years of experience in Energy healing in person and via distance and is a Master Life Coach.
Experience: 26 yrs
Janine Calder
BCRPA Certified, Nature Walks Guide, Fitness Instructor
Janine is a very experienced walk guide and a person of wide interests, from snorkelling to gardening. With her, you’ll learn a lot of interesting facts about the local area and nature. Janine works as a Family Support Worker as well as a Youth Counsellor with Princess Cruise Lines.
Experience: 44 yrs
Cindy Leech
Fitness, Yoga and Meditation Instructor
Cindy is an experienced and certified Yoga/Fitness instructor and her passion is to help others feel better about themselves. She got Certified as Fitness Instructor with BCRPA as she loved connecting with people while exercising. Soon after, Cindy realized that her passion was to help others feel better about themselves.
Experience: 19 yrs
Sheri Benson, R.H.N., Red Seal Chef
Head Chef
Sheri graduated from the Camosun College Professional Cooking Program & began cooking professionally over 20 years ago. After years in the kitchen, she began to encounter many guests with allergies or food sensitivities and became aware of the need to deepen her knowledge of food.
Experience: 27 yrs
Andre LaFrance
Chef
Working as a culinary chef for more than 30 years, Andre has the experience and passion for food at Fresh Start. Andre graduated from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver BC and has international culinary expertise. He makes every meal with creativity and heart.
Experience: 32 yrs
Tina Knowles
Cook/Kitchen Assistant
Tina emanates love, compassion and light. She believes we all have the capacity in us to be bringers of light. As much as she loved delighting customers and family with her baking, she always felt eating sweets was momentary happiness and wanted to instead make a difference through nutritious foods.
Experience: 9 yrs
Vasili Kastashchuk
Senior Program Consultant, IT Development Specialist
Vasili is a co-founder of Fresh Start, a visionary, and the one who inspires the entire team behind the scenes. Vasili has been called a clairvoyant because he often sees what is in the very depth of one’s heart. His words changed many destinies.
Experience: 19 yrs
Disclaimer: Not all practitioners above are present for each program session. This is subject to their availability, as they run busy personal practices and travel for training. We cannot guarantee that any of the team members listed above will be available when you come or that you will be booked with him or her. Additionally, we have a minimal number of registered therapists who may be covered by insurance and cannot guarantee that you’ll be working with them. We hand-pick practitioners based on their skills, healing personality and alignment with our company. Many of our guests keep returning because they are impressed with the quality of service the Fresh Start team offers.