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RUTH BONNEVILLE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
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Robert Johnston, the new owner and president of Aviva Natural Health Solutions, at its new store on Wellington Avenue on May 21, 2026. The Winnipeg space also houses GME Clearance Centre and GMissions Cafe.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Johnston wasn\u2019t interested in taking over Aviva when he first contacted Zassman \u2014 he just wanted to buy the building so he could establish a Winnipeg presence for the charity store and caf\u00e9. (Global Missionary Enterprises already operates GME Thrift Emporium and GMissions Caf\u00e9 in Portage la Prairie.)<\/p>\n
Eventually, Johnston decided to purchase Aviva as well. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.<\/p>\n
In addition to offering supplements and health resources, Aviva carries Opus, a line of proprietary water filtration systems Zassman developed. The store is also the Manitoba dealer for Kybun, a line of therapeutic shoes made in Switzerland.<\/p>\n
Aviva has seven full- and two part-time employees. Johnston said the business will support him and wife Jonita as he increasingly dedicates more time to volunteer commitments with Global Missionary Enterprises.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom was a nurse and she was into natural health products, so we grew up kind of with that emphasis in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the couple\u2019s first business venture. From 2005 to 2012, they operated Northern Flavours, an eatery in Thompson.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a family connection that makes owning Aviva a good fit, according to Johnston.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom was a nurse and she was into natural health products, so we grew up kind of with that emphasis in our lives,\u201d he said. \u201cShe believed in finding natural solutions to problems and making sure that you take your vitamins and all that kind of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zassman said he sold Aviva so he can retire. He\u2019s glad the store will continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love helping people improve their health,\u201d the 78-year-old said by phone from Mexico, where he lives part of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a tremendous benefit for my customers, but it was also tremendously rewarding for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zassman is something of a Renaissance man.<\/p>\n
Raised northeast of Boston, in Beverly, Mass., he began studying trombone and voice at an early age. He earned degrees in music performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.<\/p>\n
In 1974, he moved to the keystone province to join the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, where he played trombone until 1995.<\/p>\n
Along the way, he taught at the University of Manitoba, trained to be a professional photographer, founded two computer companies, studied nutritional therapy in the U.S., and started Aviva.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was time for me to move on and I was fortunate to find Robert,\u201d Zassman said of selling the business. \u201cIt\u2019s not an easy task (starting) a new career in your 50s, and kudos to him for being brave and taking this risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not an easy task (starting) a new career in your 50s, and kudos to him for being brave and taking this risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
If taking over Aviva was indeed risky, Johnston doesn\u2019t let it show.<\/p>\n
Sitting at a table in GMissions Caf\u00e9, he tells a reporter how it makes sense to run the business alongside two ventures that support his non-profit.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t RUTH BONNEVILLE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n Robert Johnston, the new owner and president of Aviva Natural Health Solutions, at its new store on Wellington Avenue on May 21, 2026. The Winnipeg space also houses GME Clearance Centre and GMissions Cafe.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ultimately, he wanted to create a space where wellness isn\u2019t just about products, but about community, education and giving back. He\u2019s already thinking about expanding the offerings at 1821 Wellington Ave.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have more space in the back here that we\u2019re potentially going to make use of \u2014 quite a bit more space,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnston and his employees are planning a grand opening celebration for the three interconnected ventures that will include a program, free food and prizes.<\/p>\n It takes place June 12, starting at 9:30 a.m.<\/p>\n aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Aaron Epp Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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