To celebrate the achievement, groups of her patients and employees gathered inside the clinic on Hwy. 148 for an afternoon of snacking and socializing while celebrating the milestone.

In the office building decorated with shiny balloons, folks indulged on trays of diced fruits, chopped veggies and sliced cheeses while also sipping on little cups of wine and craft beer from Brauwerk Hoffman.

According to Gagnon, the party was a way of thanking the community for its constant support and to let them know that she won’t be going anywhere any time soon.

Officially opened in 2004, the 15-year anniversary of the business was a reminder that her decision of pursuing a career as a chiropractor in the Pontiac was the right one, Gagnon said.

Originally from Bristol, she opened her business in Shawville to pursue her career in the region she called home, while providing a much-needed service for the local population.

“I saw that there was a need for the people and as a result 15 years later, we see that it’s still going,” she said.

While completing her five-year doctorate in chiropractic’s at l’Universite du Quebec a Trois Rivières, Gagnon had a tough time deciding where she wanted to take her career next. Although, most chiropractors become autonomous workers fresh out of school, Gagnon didn’t see herself as the entrepreneurial type.

But when her boyfriend decided to move to the Pontiac to work, she felt like opening a business there would perhaps be the right decision for her as well. Right away she put together her business plan and shortly after completing her exams in May, she got in touch with contractors, picked her location and opened on Oct. 1.

“I love what I do,” she said. “I feel very fulfilled and very happy to have made the decision to return to the Pontiac.

Operating one of the few clinics of her kind in the region, Gagnon feels like she’s found a very special niche that’s allowed her to ingrain herself in the community.

“We’re raising our family here and we’re making our livings in the Pontiac, it’s fun because I feel like the family chiropractor of the Pontiac.”

Despite having found an unexpected level of sustained success, Gagnon admits that starting her business was a scary prospect at first. Opened shortly before the closing of Smurfit-Stone mill in Litchfield, she was worried that her business would soon suffer the same fate.

But fortunately, everything worked out fine.

Gagnon believes one of the main reasons for her clinic’s success was the fact that her services were so highly in demand in a region where a lot of the population worked in physically taxing job markets, while residing in low-income areas.

“I think people realize that it’s not a luxury,” she said. “It’s a necessity and the people here, there are a lot of workers who are very physical, our loggers, our farmers. They’re people who work very hard who are tight on their bank accounts, who don’t have insurance and they need their back to function well.

Understanding the perspective of her patients, Gagnon prides herself on providing the best service possible in order to help them heal well and quickly so they can get back to their jobs and earn their incomes.

Surprised by how fast her business grew, Gagnon feels thankful for being part of such a tight-knit community and doesn’t plan on seeking greener pastures any time soon.

“I’m here,” she said. “I will retire here, but we don’t know in how long. It’s going to be more than 15 years, that’s for sure.”

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