In 2020, when COVID-19 halted the world in its tracks, Dr. Kate Hunter decided to try a healthcare model that she had been dreaming about for years. One that was in opposition to the current wellness system she has been working in for ten years. She opened a small walk-in Apothecary store in Creemore, Ontario, where people could come in and speak to her about their health for free.

Previous to this, she had built a successful practice in Toronto and was treating patients from affluent areas of the city that could readily afford Naturopathic services. However, Dr. Kate always felt that something was missing in the accessibility of her services to the greater public. Soon after opening the small Apothecary in 2020, she realized that Naturopathic Medicine excluded an entire section of the population due to financial and socioeconomic accessibility and felt the need to pave a new way.

She chose to expand into Toronto in order to service a greater population and founded The Community Wellness Program. Her program services individuals who face discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation, religious, socioeconomic class and disability status. Dr. Kate has lent her time, knowledge and heart to her community program so that every person can feel valued and cared for in a traditionally exclusive alternative healthcare model.

The importance for Naturopathic Medicine in Canada is immense as more than 50% of Canadians utilize Alternative Medicine. It is the only medicine that is focused on prevention and harm reduction to prolong and foster a healthier life while also reducing the number of hospital visits per year. Since January 2021, The Community Wellness Program has greatly improved its patients health, diminished its patients needs for medications, and enhanced its patients positive pathology outcomes.

With the creation of The Apothecary Wellness Foundation, her dreams to provide alternative wellness on a greater scale are coming to life. This foundation will provide funds and support to be able to continue to offer free and sliding scale Naturopathic Medicine, and expand into the inclusion of Psychotherapy, and Chiropractic care for those in need.