Hometown Healing: How Scott Symonds Returned to His Roots to Launch Apollo Sport and Wellness
When Scott Symonds opened the doors to Apollo Sport and Wellness Centre Inc. in June 2020, he wasn’t just launching a business—he was returning home to build something his community truly needed.
Located in Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia, Apollo began during what most would call an inopportune time: the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for Scott, it was precisely the pause he needed.
“The pandemic really gave me an opportunity to slow the world down,” he says. “Before, starting a business was just a thought, because life was busy. Work was busy. It kind of just kept getting pushed to the side.”
After years working as a physiotherapist in Halifax, Scott and his wife began thinking seriously about the future. While city life offered comfort and stability, it didn’t offer proximity to family or the lifestyle they envisioned for raising children. So, they made the bold decision to move back to Cape Sable Island, near where Scott grew up.
Initially employed at another clinic, the dream of running his own business kept resurfacing. Within six months, Scott went from Googling ‘how to start a business’ to penning a full business plan, securing funding, and unlocking the doors of Apollo.
“I had never done a business plan. I’d never gone to a bank to secure commercial funding,” he admits. “Ardith Van Buskirk at CBDC Shelburne helped educate me on the whole process. She laid it out in a way that made sense to me.”
CBDC Shelburne didn’t just help fund his dream—they helped build it. They provided the financial support needed to purchase a commercial space, outfit it with physiotherapy equipment, and cover startup costs. But just as importantly, they provided guidance. Whether it was reviewing expansion plans or approving equipment loans for a new satellite clinic in Yarmouth, CBDC was always just a phone call away.
From the beginning, Apollo experienced a strong uptake from local clients. What started as a solo practice with one front-desk staffer quickly evolved into a bustling team: four physiotherapists, a naturopathic doctor, casual occupational therapists, and an expanded front-office team.
“Right from day one, when we opened our doors, the demand has been there,” Scott recalls. “We’ve had great support from the community and from the local doctors and nurse practitioners referring to us.”
And it’s not just Barrington Passage that’s taken notice. Clients travel from Shelburne, Lockeport, Tusket, Pubnico and even Yarmouth, where Apollo now operates a satellite clinic. Apollo’s wide-ranging services include physiotherapy, naturopathic medicine, and occupational therapy, treating everyone from grandparents seeking to stay active to lobster fishermen managing chronic pain.
“We see the grandparent who wants to keep up with their grandkids, the weekend warrior trying to hit a 5K personal best, and the manual laborer struggling with chronic pain,” Scott explains.
Despite the success, running Apollo hasn’t come without hurdles. Staffing remains an ongoing challenge, particularly in rural Nova Scotia.
“It’s usually quite hard to recruit someone to this end of the province, especially a healthcare provider,” he says. “We’re not in a bad spot now, but when I first opened, it was just me. And the demand was huge.”
Scott’s ability to tap into personal and professional connections helped build his team. Many hires were local—friends from the gym, former classmates, and family friends. It’s part of what makes Apollo feel like a community project as much as a business.
And as for the name ‘Apollo’? As Scott explains it, the name is much more than sleek branding—it carries significance. In Greek mythology, Apollo is the god of medicine and healing.
“It was just one of those names that stuck,” Scott says. “Knowing that it meant the god of healing and medicine, it felt right.”
Now five years in, Scott still splits his time evenly between patient care and managing the business, a balance he values deeply.
“If I was doing physiotherapy 100% of the time, I’d probably be wishing I was doing more on the business side of things. And if I was just doing business, I’d be missing the clinic. It’s a good balance”
As for the future, Scott envisions growth—expanding services, shortening wait times, possibly even enlarging their physical space to keep pace with community needs. But don’t expect a grand exit strategy anytime soon.
“I see myself in and managing Apollo for as long as I can do it,” he says. “I don’t see that traditional retirement for myself.”
For now, Scott’s focus remains simple: listen to what the community needs—and rise to meet it.