Health-care provider saying goodbye to Colborne Street Clinic

After two decades of serving the Orillia community with her mental health clinic, Tamah Markle is ready to retire.

For nearly 15 years, Markle has been the clinic director of mental health and wellness at the Colborne Street Clinic. She and her husband, Craig, bought and renovated the clinic in 2006 and opened it in 2008.

"The establishment of the Colborne Street Clinic was driven by a desire to bring people together for accessible therapeutic services in a collaborative, common healing space," Markle explained.

The clinic offered health care without the stress of having to figure out the next steps in an often complex or impersonal health-care system, Markle says.

"To that end, the Colborne Street Clinic has been appreciated by many for its beautiful heritage decor and for its restful and healing atmosphere," she said.

Markle, who is from Montreal, says she has been "privileged" to interact with clients and therapists throughout the years.

"I am indebted to victim services and the Victim Quick Response Program for the introduction and opportunity to learn and grow in the area of trauma-informed practices," she said. "Our clients have been served profoundly by that model."

During her career, Markle offered many services to some of Orillia’s most vulnerable and traumatized residents. Her clinic partnered with Couchiching Jubilee House, the Orillia Pregnancy Resource Centre, North Simcoe Victim Services, Simcoe Music Therapy Services, Art of You, and, most recently, the YMCA.

"I have also valued more than 13 years of monthly networking meetings and clinical peer supervision and case conferencing with other psychotherapists both within the clinic and in the community," she said. "I want to give a special shout-out to Marylou Johnston (registered physchotherapist), who has scribed our case conferences and kept monthly meeting records for over a decade."

In retirement, Markle says, she will spend time with her closest friends and her husband, who was her biggest source of support during her career, especially during the clinic’s growing pains.

"He had endless patience with me as I struggled to navigate this new world of technology," she said. "I could not have made it through COVID without him."

Markle will hand the keys to Dr. Derek Haaland, clinical director of the Waterside Clinic, on Nov. 30. The Colborne Street Clinic will not continue as a mental health clinic.

"Dr. Haaland is a very brilliant man and has two fellowships, which is unusual," Markle said, noting Haaland is a rheumatologist, immunologist and allergist.

"I am walking away with a great sense of peace knowing that the space so many of us have cherished these last 15 years will be loved and nurtured into something wonderful and new."

The Colborne Street Clinic website will remain online until the new year.

"My heartfelt best wishes to the dozens of therapists and practitioners who, together, have passionately served our community and beyond," Markle said.