A DREAM COME TRUE
By Sherry Aalto
The journey one takes to build a dream is one of patience and planning that is driven by passion! That is said to be true of Dr. Larry Watral of Thunder Bay Ontario. Dr. Watral, who was born and raised in Thunder Bay and speaks very passionately about what it means to him not only to have become a doctor in dentistry, but what it means to him to practice his profession in his own home town. Dr Watral believes in giving back what one has been so honoured to receive.
Dr. Watral grew up in the Northwood Area and shared a home with two older and one younger sibling. Larry, as he is known to his family and friends, attended Redwood Public School and Churchill High school. Dr. Watral is married to his lovely wife Frances, who is a teacher with the
Catholic School Board. In 1988 he graduated From the University Of Manitoba with a degree in dental medicine. Larry, immediately upon graduation, began practicing dental procedures in six different solo and group practices, including eight years as a local dentist in Long Lac Ontario.
Along the way he purchased three independent dental practices, fully renovated two dental offices and then sold one. Seeing the need for new space that would take his diverse practice into a new era of dental care, Dr. Watral purchased a parcel of land with a small building, two
blocks east of his former dental office on Victoria Avenue in July 2009. Dr. Watral, Lawrence, then had the former existing building of this new acquisition, demolished and began construction for his new dental facility, specifically designed to operate a solo dental practice and forward thinking, his plans included room for a future associate or two. Thus, beginning the realization of what was to become, 'A Dream Come True'! Dr. Watral believes that "To accomplish great things, we must 1st dream, then visualize, plan, believe and act.! Because what the mind can conceive, it can create!"With having 20 years of dental practice to his credit and having been involved in numerous dental office designs and renovations, Dr. Watral
began his design and execution on his very own dental office building. Working with a general contractor that had built his home and a superb interior designer, it wasn’t long before the dream was becoming the reality in timely fashion. Modern design of soothing, yet uplifting
decor showcasing earthy tones indigenous to our area, balanced with area perfect lighting, Dr. Watral seems to have thought of everything for his practice AND the comfort of the patient. Highly and expertly functional, Dr Watral's new office also pro-trends a sense of warmth
and comfort, not only in the reception/waiting area, but in every operative suite. Vaulted ceilings, balanced and complimenting soft colours of beiges and brown, offset by specifically placed lighting is esthetically comforting in itself. But you will also enjoy the warmth of the fireplace in the waiting room, while you read one of the current issues from a selection of magazines, or watch you may choose to watch some of your favourite series on the large flat screen T.V., situated over top of the fireplace.
Dr. Watral remembers well the days of yesteryear, taking the bus to Jerome's Music Store, or going to the Odeon Theatre and also shopping at Chapples and Kreskes. It was important to Dr. Watral to bring new business to the area as he believes in the conviction of preservation
of his roots. "I wanted to build a boutique-type building to service both the commercial and the residential area." The operatory suites for treatment are fully digital and interconnected to allow for all members of the team to manage patients in the timely and efficient manner possible. Utmost consideration in design was taken into account for the privacy of the every patient. Every suite is constructed with 'sound separation' and patient chairs that face the opposite wall for physical view and voice deflection, thus protecting the privacy of the patient. There is also a separate consultation office located at the far end of the building, which offers total privacy for clinical issues.Unlike many businesses that are leaving the downtown core, Avenue Dental, on Victoria Avenue, is an investment to the downtown south core and is a great addition to the area that is starting to redefine itself.
"Dentistry has always been my passion for as long as I can remember. Now after 23 years in my chosen profession, my staff and I are ready to welcome existing and new patients to our new location and will continue to invest in Thunder Bay for many years to come!"
This was the dream! And the dream has come true!
