Angels in Action
Cathy and Andy McAnally
Inspiring Healthy Choices at Causeway Natural Health
by Carol Marriott

When I moved from Calgary, Alberta, to Humboldt, Saskatchewan, in 2006, one of my first priorities was to check out two things: one, was there a coffee shop with “real” coffee? and two, was there a health food store with organic and local options?

I was lucky enough to discover both and more. Beyond finding Causeway Natural Health store, a great place to buy local, organic food, supplements, and a wonderful variety of cottage craft gift items, I also found the store’s owners, Cathy and Andy McAnally, and knew then I had found community.

I soon realized that Causeway was the go-to place for more than just healthy food and products. It was also the place where you would find a level of personal customer service and attention that is rare these days, and almost non-existent in larger centres. I appreciated their warm and genuine welcome and was eager to share this treasure I had found with my visiting Calgary friends. Every visitor to my Ravenheart farm gets the required trip to Causeway.

Andy, originally from Northern Ireland, met Cathy while on a military “tour of duty” in Canada. They married and after living some time in Ireland, they moved back to Canada and settled in Humboldt, choosing to live close to family where Cathy had been raised, and feeling it would also be a wonderful place to raise their three children.

Opening a health food store seemed the perfect fit for them. They both shared a lifetime interest in health, fitness, and healing. Cathy was raised in a home that focused on a healthy, organic, natural lifestyle, and was an active member of the La Leche League (a breastfeeding support group). Andy was always interested in helping people stay fit and healthy and knew early on that people could heal with healthy food and lifestyle changes. In fact, both are marathon runners, with Andy being an ultra marathon runner with the successful completion of gruelling events such as the Death Race and Lost Souls marathons to his credit, while Cathy is a half-marathon runner. They also started a running club in Humboldt, through which they help people learn to run in a safe and informed way.

The idea for Causeway was birthed after Andy completed a reflexology certification course and he wondered where he would send people in this area for quality organic food and supplements. Since opening Causeway in 2003, Andy has completed certifications in Nutritional Consulting, Quantum Biofeedback, Ortho-Molecular Health Practice, Reiki, as well as other ancient healing systems and practices.

Customers fortunate enough to drop into Causeway will meet with a warm welcome and generous information and advice. Andy’s passionate desire to assist people with their wellness is evident by his generous sharing of knowledge with customers and his ability to listen to their concerns with care and intention, providing them with a wealth of information and choices… and a cup of herbal tea!

Their store now has a solid reputation in the community as a place for leading-edge nutritional information and healthy alternatives. Cathy and Andy host regular movie nights, sharing videos from their personal library that explore healthy alternatives and educate beyond the mainstream. They also provide fun and welcoming “sampling events” so that people can try a variety of different healthy alternatives and learn about the ingredients and how to prepare them. At the same time, they are able to promote the local organic growers and producers with enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity to feature them at Causeway.

Beyond all the offerings at their health store, it is Cathy and Andy’s genuine interest in people and their health, along with their community spirit, that really makes them shine.

For the past nine years they have organized and sponsored the fabulous and popular annual Earth Day Supper in Burr, SK, and they were the creators of the Humboldt Trails Committee to develop a walking/running trail system in the City of Humboldt. Cathy is a dedicated Scout Leader and it is my experience that there is rarely a benefit event, concert, or fundraiser, whether local or global, that they are not involved with in one way or another. Andy is also a member of a band called the Horses Mouth and their lively Irish folk music delights participants at many community events.

Dedicated to learning, sharing their knowledge, and inspiring others to make healthy choices for life, Cathy and Andy our definitely “points of light” in their community!

Carol Marriott is a Certified Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Specialist and the “Lead Mare” at Ravenheart Farms near Humboldt, SK. For more information, workshop dates, and/or private or group sessions, call (306) 682-4641, email: ravenheart@sasktel.net, or visit: www.ravenheartfarms.com. For information on Ravenheart’s 2011 workshops, see the display ad on page 43 of the 17.1 May/June issue of the WHOLifE Journal.