Tillsonburg’s small-town vibe attracts energy healer

Robin Krafft

Arriving from larger urban centres, some of the newer residents of Tillsonburg have unique skills and interests to share. Raised in Cambridge and later living in Brantford, Melissa Dos Santos settled here in 2022 with her partner Jeff Sousa. The rapid growth of Ontario's cities wasn't the environment they wanted for raising a family. Tillsonburg's history, quiet lifestyle and vivid night skies pulled Melissa in.

"There's a lot to do here," she said, "but it's small and there's a reassuring and comforting vibe." She trusted her intuition.

A trip to Banff in 2017 had inspired her to start Nova Stone, with a collection of rocks and crystals, but it led to intensive personal growth. Melissa is an intuitive chakra energy healer. She hosts events that include learning about chakras, reading tea leaves, working with crystals, lunar cycles, and setting intention. She aims to inspire transformation, healing and growth, regardless of religious affiliation or background.

"What I do is meant to augment your explorations and to help people open up that spiritual side of themselves," she explained.

Her interest in compassionate support and guidance doesn't stop there; Melissa worked in the invitro fertilization (IVF) field for 12 years.

"Adoption is a really difficult and complicated process," she said, "and I worked closely with so many families who were yearning. Some had spent thousands of dollars to pay for expensive treatments and were still unsuccessful."

Currently expecting her second child, Melissa acknowledges with gratitude that "for some of us it just happens so easily." For others, it is a painful and difficult journey. Her desire to help has never wavered, and Melissa recently started a Facebook group in order to be a resource for people navigating infertility and the IVF world. She has maintained her connections with various agencies and discretely offers information about the process, but she’s also completing her certification as a womb healing practitioner.

For now, her primary focus is on spending time with her young son before the family dynamic changes. He enjoys daily educational activities and children's yoga, but he's been quite an explorer too. In addition to familiar favorites like visiting the water park, the beach or a museum, the family has embarked on eco globe adventures in Northern Ontario, off grid. Other trips are on a larger scale, with extended family members all travelling together to spend time in Portugal.

"It's a different lifestyle," Melissa said, "with wood burning ovens, baking bread, and backyards that are like farmland, including vineyards and fruit trees."

There's no need to go to a grocery store when you can simply go into the backyard to collect collards, lemons and a chicken in order to prepare a family meal. There is always a café within walking distance to meet up with friends on a daily basis.

"It's a very European lifestyle," Melissa said, "it’s very social."

These trips represent an opportunity for the family to reconnect to their roots. Her grandfather came to Canada when her father was only 13. He met Melissa’s mother at the Portuguese Club and won her over with his dance moves. Her family was part of a close-knit community, spending every weekend at the Portuguese Club for festivals, pageants, parades and important religious events. It was also where Melissa met Jeff, although they went in different directions for several years before reuniting.

Melissa’s generation had become more mainstream, but her parents ensured that their children would be steeped in their culture. Melissa and her sister went to a regular school but also attended Portuguese school twice a week, and she took extra high school credits, learning to read and write in Portuguese, as well as studying Portugal's history.

For the young couple, (Jeff's family comes from the neighbouring Azores), it was a meaningful pilgrimage. Against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and the natural beauty of rolling green landscapes, they explored markets, castles, and cobblestone pathways, enjoyed wholesome meals and making memories with family. Canada is home, but the rich legacy of their cultural heritage is an integral part of their identity. While Melissa continues to evolve on her spiritual path and share her journey with others, that solid foundation remains her touchstone.