Healing in Motion: Denis Simons on Movement, Purpose, and Community
by Titash Choudhury
Born in Ontario, Dr. Denis Simons moved to Calgary in 1986 when his parents joined Petro-Canada. He’s called the city home ever since. Now in Killarney with his family, he serves as the Clinic Director of Momentum Health Westbrook, Calgary, and has shaped a life centred on health, purpose, and community. His path to chiropractic care wasn’t linear. After earning a science degree from the University of Lethbridge, he spent a year working and taking courses in Vancouver and Ontario before moving to Portland, Oregon for four years of chiropractic school. Drawn by a deep fascination with the complexity of the human body and his own experience as an athlete, he found the wellness and functional approach of chiropractic care to be a natural fit. The idea of treating the root cause of an issue rather than just the symptoms felt both intuitive and exciting to him.
After returning to Canada, Denis joined the ski patrol at Lake Louise.
Denis has always led an active life, and the hands-on, wellness-based approach of chiropractic care felt like a natural fit. Early in his career, Denis volunteered for over a decade with the Canadian Ski Patrol Association, served as an emergency first responder and associate patrol leader at the Lake Louise ski area.
While he enjoyed his time there and learned a lot about his career path, seeing athletes lose their confidence, joy, and sense of identity after an injury was heartbreaking. “When someone gets injured, especially if it’s their first time, they suddenly feel vulnerable and mortal,” he says. “The effort it takes to heal mentally, physically, and emotionally can be painful, but it changes their entire outlook on life.” Dr. Simons embraces the bio-psycho-social model of pain, which recognizes that injuries affect the whole person, often bringing emotional, social, and psychological losses alongside the physical ones.
While sport and movement remain central to Dr. Simons’ life, his deepest strength comes from learning to trust himself. If he could speak to his younger self, he’d say, “Worry less about what others think. Don’t chase approval, trust your beliefs, your thoughts, and your feelings. Then act accordingly.”
That mindset led him to launch his practice, become his boss, and create a clinic that reflects his values, a place where patients feel safe, supported, and informed. For Denis, travel, surfing, skiing, time with his family, and being in nature are just as essential; they feed his need for freedom and genuine connection. That same desire for balance and belonging drew him to Killarney, where he bought his home in 2006. He was drawn by the neighbourhood’s quiet charm and walkable streets. Since then, he’s seen the neighbourhood grow denser and busier but also more vibrant. He still grabs slices from Inglewood Pizza, browses the toy-model shop, and meets friends at Bulgogi House or the Newcastle Pub. He loves the neighbourhood because it’s a place where neighbours introduce themselves, share referrals, shovel each other’s walks, and even pick up stray litter. As a business owner, Denis is excited about the proposed development near Westbrook Station. He hopes the changing neighbourhood brings wider sidewalks, more green space, additional daycare spots, and parks.
At home, life is a constant shuffle between activities, like swim sessions at Southland Leisure Centre with his kids, and planning camping trips. Dr. Simons believes in treating neighbours with compassion as one never knows the burdens they’re carrying, whether emotional, physical, or psychological. Chronic pain can change people. So can loneliness. Learning our neighbours’ names, exchanging numbers, these are small actions one can take. For Dr. Simons, community engagement is about belonging as it connects us with like-minded people and reminds you that the world can be both humane and kind.
This outlook shapes how one can show up for family and for oneself. He leaves off with a quiet offer: “If anyone wants to live a little healthier or needs a hand, I’m always happy to help whatever that looks like.” He carries his struggles and meets others without judgment. In a world that often rushes past pain and connection, Denis Simons slows down. He listens, he shows up, and he reminds us that leadership isn’t always loud. And if you’re looking to start your healing journey on your terms, you can always find him at Momentum Health Westbrook.
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