A little about Bre
Hi, I’m Bre (she/they). I’m originally from Prince Edward County and Newcastle, Ontario,
on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat and
Mississauga peoples. I came to acupuncture through my own lived experience with
chronic illness, and it’s been a steady anchor for me ever since. It’s been a long-held
dream to pay that care forward.
As a recent graduate of Pacific Rim College’s Acupuncture Diploma program, I’m
currently offering therapeutic bodywork at Heart & Hands while preparing for my
licensing exams. I’m especially passionate about how acupuncture can support folks
navigating complex or chronic conditions, and about making care feel more accessible,
collaborative, and grounded in dignity. I welcome people of all backgrounds and bodies,
whether you’re seeking support for long-term illness, acute pain, or everyday stress.
What is your hometown?
I grew up on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-
Wendat peoples, now known as Belleville, Prince Edward County, and Newcastle,
Ontario. I was raised near Lake Ontario, surrounded by limestone outcrops, wide open
fields, and the rich birdlife that moves through the migratory route in the County.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a veterinarian until I was about 13. Then I became obsessed with the idea of working for Greenpeace and was convinced I’d be employed on an anti-whaling vessel. It’s funny in hindsight because I get horribly seasick, so that was never going to work out.
Favorite food?
Dumplings forever. They are the best!
Cats or dogs?
I love both, but I especially love cats. I’m allergic, though, so I have to sneak cat snuggles when I can and accept the consequences.
Current book you’re reading?
Rebent Sinner – Ivan Coyote
Embodied Activism: Engaging the Body to Cultivate Liberation, Justice, and Authentic
Connection–A Practical Guide for Transformative Social Change – Rae Johnson
Plum Blossom Wine: Poems from the Song Dynasty by Li Qingzhao
What are you listening to nowadays?
Podcasts:
Qiological (Acupuncture)
Dialogues on Applied Channel Theory (Acupuncture)
Music:
Cocteau Twins, Orbital, Guided by Voices, Sharon Van Etten, Kings of Convenience,
Feist, Mason Jennings, Aphex Twin, The Cure, Joy Division, Riley Lee, A Tribe Called
Quest, early 90s dance hits
What are things you enjoy doing with your spare time?
Listening to and making music, beach walks, cooking
Non-profits you should be watching?
Victoria Brain Injury Society – Providing compassionate, trauma-informed support for
individuals living with brain injuries and their families.
ME | FM Society of BC – A volunteer-driven non-profit supporting people with Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis (ME), Fibromyalgia, and Long-COVID through social support groups,
education, advocacy, and patient-led research initiatives
What is your superpower?
Deep research!
Why acupuncture?
Acupuncture is relational, primordial medicine. Unlike other systems of care, it seeks to
understand a person in context with their environment, their emotions, their history. Systems aren’t separated; they’re seen as part of an interconnected web. This medicine can meet the complexity of strange symptoms and values the patient’s experience through deep inquiry.
It is slow medicine. And the world needs more of that. More slowness. More listening. More connection.
Describe community acupuncture in a nutshell
Community acupuncture offers low-cost, low-barrier care in a quiet, shared space.
Instead of private rooms, people rest in chairs, fully clothed, while receiving a few points
to support the body’s innate capacity to move toward balance.
It’s rooted in mutual aid, accessibility, and the understanding that healing doesn’t have
to happen alone. It’s slow, relational care that invites rest, regulation, and a sense of
connection.
Heart & Hands is…
An accessible community healing hub and a powerful agent of change, grounded in care, trust, and collective well-being. I feel lucky to be joining a space with such deep
roots in community care.
