L’Éveil du Loup, massage therapy in Wendake

The name L’Éveil du Loup was not chosen at random. When I opened my clinic, I didn’t simply want to name it after myself. I wanted to create a personal identity with meaning—one that could grow with the business.

The wolf felt like a natural choice. I’ve always been deeply drawn to nature and wildlife, and the wolf has long been my favourite animal. To me, it represents strength, endurance, adaptability and the importance of the pack. Its active nature also reflected the sports-focused element I wanted to bring to my practice.

The symbol also has a much more personal meaning. My grandmother and I used to talk about the wolf, which makes it especially meaningful to me. The wolf is also one of the four current clans of the Huron-Wendat Nation, creating a natural connection to my roots.

For its part, the Awakening represents the journey I hope to encourage through my treatments. Sometimes the body tells us it’s time to slow down, move differently or give it more attention.

A family home in the heart of Wendake

L'Éveil du Loup is located in Wendake, a place rich in history, identity and local roots. This local identity sets the clinic apart from a typical massage therapy clinic. It also strengthens the connection between the treatment, the practitioner, the place and the person receiving care.

Long before it became home to L’Éveil du Loup – Massothérapie, the house at 34, rue Chef-Théophile-Gros-Louis, in Wendake, already had deep ties to my family’s history. For generations, it has been a place to live and work, and a home for memories and traditions passed down.

Even today, some parts of its history remain a mystery. I continue to research archives, old documents and family accounts to better understand its origins and trace the lives of those who lived there.

Based on the information gathered so far, it seems this house has always belonged to my family. One thing is certain: my great-grandparents, Georges Nicolas Gros-Louis and Augustine Bédard, lived here and raised their six children. Since then, at least four generations of our family have lived within these walls.

A tragedy that shaped our history

On November 10, 1941, a terrible event changed the family forever. In the morning, a chimney fire broke out and quickly spread to the second floor of the house.

That day, Maurice, the youngest son of my great-grandparents, tragically lost his life at just four years old.

My family shared a particularly touching detail that was left out of the newspaper article about the fire. My grandmother, then seven years old, had pneumonia and a fever. My great-grandmother was caring for her on the ground floor while the other children were at school.

This tragedy remains one of the most significant events in the history of our home and family.

A home that has stood the test of time

After the fire, the house was rebuilt, but it never regained quite the same character it had originally.

Over the decades, the home has evolved and changed to meet the needs of the generations who lived there. Part of the building also served as a workshop for my great-grandfather, where he made canoes.

The different exterior finishes, windows, renovations and many changes bear witness to the eras the house has lived through.

Each change tells a part of its story in its own way.

A family legacy to preserve

To me, this house is much more than just a building. It is a tangible connection to my roots, my ancestors and the memories that have shaped my family.

According to family stories, my great-grandmother had expressed the wish for this house to remain in the family. Several generations later, that wish still resonates deeply with me.

That is one of the reasons I am now working hard to acquire the house, give it the love and attention it deserves and, above all, preserve this legacy for future generations.

A new chapter with L’Éveil du Loup

By establishing L’Éveil du Loup – Massothérapie within these walls, I hope to give this house a new purpose while continuing its story.

Improvements will be made gradually, with the aim of restoring its charm, preserving its character and respecting the memories of those who have lived here.

In Wendake, where family ties, memory and passing things down through generations hold an important place, I hope this house will continue to be a lively, welcoming place with a story to tell.

Because preserving a home means more than maintaining its walls. It also means caring for the memories held within them and allowing its story to continue.