Kamloops, B.C.
July 31, 2006

 North America’s largest day spa and Western Canada’s largest private community college recently partnered to offer specialized training in ginseng spa therapy treatments for the first time in Canada.

This September, Sprott-Shaw Community College’s Kamloops campus and the Sunmore Ginseng Spa will introduce an 11-month spa therapy program. Students enrolled in the program will attend daily classes at the Sunmore Ginseng Spa and learn specialized ginseng spa treatments in addition to the standard spa techniques and treatments. Ginseng treatments are common in Asia; however, they are new to North America.

“The Sunmore Ginseng Spa is a world class spa,” says Vonda Wood, director of the college’s Kamloops campus. “To have an entire program running out of this spa is an extraordinary thing. Spa therapy hasn’t been done at this calibre before.”

The Sunmore Ginseng Spa is the first spa in North America to introduce ginseng into many of its treatments. It is a $5 million operation designed to reflect elements of Chinese traditions. The 20,000 square metre spa opened its doors in 2004, and attracts over 85,000 clients annually.

“Our goal has always been to have a spa therapy training centre at Sunmore,” says Carrie Pan, general manager at Sunmore Ginseng Spa. “The partnership with Sprott-Shaw is a natural fit for us. It allows us to help train students in ginseng spa treatments using the specialized ginseng products that we create a Sunmore.”

Pan says the spa plans to open a student clinic on the premise. Clients who visit the clinic will receive spa treatments conducted by the students at a discounted rate.

“Exposure to ginseng treatments and our products will provide students with an advantage when they enter the workforce,” she adds.

Ginseng counteracts physical and emotional stress. It is known for its ability to help the body restore itself. It is used to lower cholesterol, increase energy and endurance, reduce fatigue and stress and prevent infection. Spa treatments at Sunmore include ginseng steam rooms, ginseng facials, ginseng massage, ginseng salt body glow and a ginseng body detoxifying to list a few.

“This partnership provides an opportunity for people in the community to be part of something that will be a growth industry for Kamloops,” says Wood. “Kamloops is a developing city. Spa therapy is on the leading edge of this.”

The Sprott-Shaw Community College/Sunmore Ginseng Spa program can accommodate 20 students and will start on September 18.

Sprott-Shaw Community College is Western Canada’s largest and oldest private community college with 26 campuses in B.C and Alberta. The college has been offering job oriented post-secondary school training for more than 100 years.

For more information, please contact Ms. Lee Morris, C.E.O., at (250) 372-8000 or by email at lee@tourismkamloops.com.