About Bernadette Janczak
Bernadette Janczak is a skilled and passionate naturopathic doctor whose initiation into the world of healing began at a very young age. Born in Poland, the daughter of a hospital administrator, her father's passion for healing with natural herbs and physical therapy would influence and shape her ideas on the power of the body's own healing force. As a small child, picking herbs in the woods with her father, watching later as he turned them into tinctures, she saw first hand the effect of his natural medicine and healing energy. "I would go with my father as local people called him to come treat them in their homes. It was the look of joy on their faces when they saw him that I remember most," says Bernadette. "Continually I watched as people who were sick had the light in their eyes restored after his treatments. He nurtured in me a strong belief in the body's ability to heal itself, our connection to nature and the power of herbs, food and natural medicine." Bernadette would hear the echo of her father's beliefs many years later, long after his sudden death when she was eleven years old.
Awarded a scholarship to the Medical Academy in Gdansk at nineteen, she began the journey of fulfilling her dream to become a doctor. However, in her fourth year of medical school the political climate in Poland would force Bernadette, her husband and their two small children to immigrate to Austria. After spending one year in a refugee camp they continued on to their final destination and new life in Canada. It was here that Bernadette entered the world of medicine, working for the next ten years as a nurse on both the nephrology (renal) and emergency departments. During this time, in 1996, unable to envision any long term healing effects from conventional medicine and believing that good health had to be more than just surviving and functioning, Bernadette followed her instincts and entered the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Early on in her studies, listening to a lecture from her first professor on the century-old, healing science of homeopathy, she was flooded with memories of her father and all that he had taught her. She knew in her heart this was a sign from him to keep going; she had found her path.
An award winning student, Bernadette received four faculty granted bursaries including "Intern With Most Outstanding Diagnostic Skills" and "Most Outstanding Clinic Performance and Patient Interaction." She graduated in the year 2000 and immediately began practising, proficient in a wide range of healing modalities such as: Botanical Medicine, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, low force energy balancing Bowen Technique, as well as Therapeutic Counseling. Bernadette continues her growth with ongoing education in the naturopathic field. She opened her own holistic health centre, The Swiftcurrent Naturopathic Clinic and worked for 10 years in her private practice. At this stage in her personal and professional journey she implements special nutritional protocols and healing techniques to watch people coming back to health. It is very rewarding to her to know that there is" hope". "I believe good health is a continuum, a journey we all travel. Sickness is a sign that we're out of balance, lost on the continuum of health and disease. The symptoms of illness are how the body talks to us. Clearly recognizing and reading these messages enables me, to support the body's Vital Life Force through treatment guiding each individual to release the blockage, restoring their balance and good health… It's the light of happiness in patients eyes I want to see."
In March of 2015 she was happy to join Zawada Health, a naturopathic oriented facility to provide wider range of therapies, better access to other naturopathic modalities and treatments as well as to focus on patient education in healing and prevention of chronic diseases.
Bernadette knows that her father is watching and guiding her in her journey and she knows he would be very proud.
Bernadette is registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO).
Bernadette is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
