It was an emotional goodbye last Friday as owners of a wig salon at the B.C. Cancer Agency closed their doors after 14 years.
“It’s going to be weird not going to Revive,” said Leanna Eastgate, owner and operator of Salon Revive, a salon that provides wigs for people with cancer at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The salon was forced out of its 10 foot by 10 foot home after the cancer agency decided not to renew its lease, stating the space will be used for three or four much-needed clinical exam rooms.
Since finding out about the lease late last year, Eastgate and co-owner and stylist Sheila MacKay had been fighting to keep the salon at the cancer agency, arguing it’s more convenient for cancer patients to find wigs with the salon right next to the cancer agency.
Most recently, they started an online petition which garnered more than 2,700 signatures and 65 pages of testimonials in support of the salon.
On its final day, Eastgate MacKay gave cupcakes to everyone as a final goodbye.
“There were lots of tears and hugs and closing the doors for the last time was really hard. It was an emotional day, that’s for sure,” Eastgate said.
The salon is moving to a new home at Capilia (2553 Quadra St.), a clinic centre that offers hair transplants, trichology and solutions for permanent hair loss.
Eastgate said the convenience for people with cancer will be lost, but they will continue to provide the same level of service to new and old patients.
“We’re all skilled and have the expertise and compassion and everything that goes with this line of work. It’s the convenience of being right in the hospital that’s going to be the difference. That’s what patients are going to miss,” she said.