We're passionate about one thing... Your success

Welcome to Compassion Roots Wellness Centre, we're more than just a name; we embody the heart and soul of true wellness, rooted deeply in the principle of compassion. Our mission is simple yet profoundly impactful: to provide holistic health services that not only address physical ailments but also nurture the mind and spirit. We understand that wellness is a journey, and we're committed to walking alongside our clients every step of the way.

Remembering our friend and colleague, Karim Musani

Karim provided clients craniosacral and massage therapy sessions at the Wellness Centre for over 10 years. He always treated his clients with kindness and respect. As a valued member of the Wellness Centre team, he contributed many positive suggestions to enhance our services. Sadly, Karim passed away suddenly in April 2024. His open-heartedness and compassion will always be remembered by those who knew him.

Meet the Team

The board of directors

A member-elected, volunteer Board of Directors governs our association, providing it with financial and strategic oversight. We are a passionate and committed team working to raise awareness and improve access to resources for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Get to know us!

Hilary Black, Director

Pioneer, Founder, and Advisor.

Hilary Black is a trailblazing expert in the cannabis industry and the founder of Canada's first medical cannabis organization, the BC Compassion Club in 1997. She made a significant impact on the legal cannabis landscape, changing the course of cannabis law in Canada through decades of work in advocacy, activism, communication, government relations, public relations, and capacity building.

Having served as the former Chief Advocacy Officer and the first female member of the C-suite at Canopy Growth Corporation, she executed the industry's first-ever comprehensive ESG report and spearheaded DEI and social justice and social impact initiatives, including the ground-breaking creation of the first-ever cannabis professorship to study cannabis as a tool in harm reduction to combat the opiate OD crisis.

She was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal acknowledging her significant contribution to Canada.

Bella Li, Director

Bella Li is a financial expert with over seven years of experience spanning diverse industries. With a proven track record of driving company initiatives, implementing cost reduction strategies, and enhancing operational efficiency, Bella's proficiency in financial planning and analysis makes her a valuable addition to the boardroom. Her role as a trusted advisor, coupled with her accomplishments in financial reporting, budgeting, and process improvements, positions her as a key contributor to driving financial excellence and operational efficiency as a board member.

Nicole Klatt, Director

Nicole became a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2021, where she developed a deep understanding of holistic wellness practices. Nicole currently works part-time for a personalized supplement company in product development and is a nursing student at UBC. Nicole has experience with 1-on-1 nutrition consulting, marketing and working with non-profit organizations. Nicole has a passion for delivering holistic care to clients and working towards making services accessible to folks.

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Kelly Durr, Director

The bulk of Kelly's experiences are from the corporate industry in Toronto, where she was a sales manager and national accounts manager. After transitioning to British Columbia, Kelly worked as an Assistant Director in the film industry. Kelly has been involved in harm reduction work for the past decade and was a former supervisor at a psychedelic crisis centre. Harm reduction work is her passion, and she has found it the most rewarding and fulfilling work she has done. Kelly studies herbal medicine at Wild Seeds Herbal School, “I highly recommend anyone and everyone to check out a herbal medicine class!”.

Kelly now exclusively uses herbal medicine, and dreams of a world where people would seek herbs as remedies, instead of pharmaceuticals. “Herbs saved my life! I suffered from migraine headaches for years, and nothing was as effective in treating them as herbs”. In 2008, Kelly suffered a serious injury that left her with permanent functional impairment.“I used many services of the Wellness Centre, if not for the Wellness Centre I would not have the quality of life that I have today”.

Wellness centre staff

Compassion Roots is staffed by a team of trained professionals who specialize in a range of disciplines, including clinical counselling, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, herbalism, and nutritional counselling. Compassion Roots Wellness Centre is dedicated to helping clients achieve optimal health and wellness through personalized care and attention. They believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms, and work closely with each client to develop a customized treatment plan that meets their unique needs and goals.

Barbara Jackson, Counsellor

Barbara went into the Adler School Master’s in Clinical Psychology program after many years of experience in community development and innovative projects. She became a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors in 2008. In addition, she has training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and integrative, trauma-informed approaches to healing. She is also a community musician and activist. She learned about the Buddhist ideal of universal compassion in her teens and became passionately committed to it. This commitment continues to inform her practice.

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Linden Choi, Counsellor

Linden is a Trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, LGBTQ2S+ positive counsellor with a Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology and an Associate Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy. She has additional training in Internal Family Systems Therapy and is experienced in working with survivors of intimate partner abuse and with at-risk youth.

Linden believes in a holistic approach to healing the body, mind, and spirit and views therapy as a protected space to reflect on and connect with your own deeper knowing to gain access to your own clarity and strength. She meets you where you are and walks alongside you towards your goals.

Linden is honoured to hold space for you in your journey uncovering all that you need in this moment of your life.

Jasmyn Clift, Herbalist

Jasmyn is a Clinical Herbalist and started studying herbal medicine when she was 16. She was diagnosed with a very bad parasite which allopathic doctors had nothing for, and herbs worked to treat it. She likes growing and handling plant medicines. She extracts, grows, and wildcraft many wonderful plants. Jasmyn has trained in herbal schools in the UK/ California. She has been offering client-centered care and harm reduction to many diverse clients since 1997. She meets the clients where they are at, and develops their personalized herbal regime based on that. Jasmyn loves offering high-quality quality safe and effective herbal medicines from CRWC's awesome herbal apothecary to those in need.

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Noli Catapang, Acupuncturist

Noli obtained his Honours B.Sc., in Biological Science, from the University of Guelph, Ontario. Chronic back pain prompted him to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He completed an extensive 5 year Doctor of Traditional Medicine (DTCM) program and is now a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.) in BC. Noli is committed to providing his patients with health care that is not only safe but also effective.

Laura Hosein, Clinical Herbalist & Nutritionist

Practicing for five years as a Medical/Clinical Herbalist and registered Holistic Nutritionist. Laura uses a holistic approach and is trained in Western Herbal Medicine and nutrition. She also actively learns and applies Unani Tibb & Ayurvedic medicine. Laura has always loved medicine and the powerful healing ability of plant medicine which always fascinated her. It made sense to put the two together.

Vera Lagasse, Board Liaison

Vera has a Master's in Health Administration- a 30-year career in health policy and promotion. Vera has Langara College certificates in Integrative Energy Healing (2006), Apprenticeship Study of Advanced Healing (2008), Advanced Integrative Energy Healing (2015), and Strategic Resilience for First Responders (2017). She was an instructor at Langara College and a clinical supervisor at public health clinics for 11 years. Vera was formerly an Integrative Energy Healing Practitioner at the Compassion Club Wellness Centre since 2008.

Maryann Abbs, Herbal Therapist

Maryann is a settler of Ukrainian and English descent living on the territories of the Lekwungen-speaking people (aka Victoria, B.C.). Her education includes a BSc. (Biology/UBC), Cytogenetics Technologist (BCIT), Clinical Herbal Therapy Diploma (Dominion Herbal College), and Advanced Wilderness First Aid Training. She is grateful to her teachers Rob MacDonald, Netta Zebroff, Michael Moore, Jasmyn Clift, her grandma, herbal clients, and students. She teaches and supervises the clinic at Dominion Herbal College and at the Wild Seed School of Herbal Studies. She spends her time in the clinic, teaching, and as a climate justice activist. She also harvests and makes medicine on her parent's certified organic farm, on unceded Secwepemc territory (aka Lone Butte, B.C.). Maryann is grateful to have spent 14 years working at the best herbal job ever – the BC Compassion Club Wellness Centre.

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Kirsten Janzen, Holistic Nutritionist

Holistic Health Coach - certified by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (IONC) and the Canadian Association of Natural Nutritional Practitioners (CANNP). Kirsten is registered with Orthomolecular Health Practitioners (ROHP) as a Clinical Nutrition Practitioner. Kirsten was in a deep health crisis that led her to discover how food truly is medicine. Kirsten has a firm belief that every person is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all for your personal health journey. She will meet you where you are to create attainable goals that you can achieve. She has a firm belief that every person is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all for your personal health journey.

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Mara Hägglund, Marketing & Advanced Integrative Energy Healing

Mara is a practitioner of Advanced Integrative Energy Healing™️ with a specialization in Somatic & Trauma-based Integrative Energy Healing. She is an adult educator in Biofield Science and Integral Self-care, bringing over 14 years of experience as a professional holistic practitioner. Mara participated in 8 months of research on vicarious trauma and work-related stress at Surrey Memorial Hospital with the forensic nurse's team. She was previously a faculty member of the Integrative Healthcare Department at Langara College, where she served as an instructor, clinical supervisor, and internship coordinator.

Mara also coordinates a volunteer group of energy healing wellness clinics in health care delivery settings in Vancouver and has been working in non-profit organizations since 2015. She has 8 years of experience as a social media content creator, focusing on acute and chronic pain management, and served as a social media manager for Langara's CS Health & Human Services Department Facebook page for 2 years.

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Compassion Root Wellness Centre

We're passionate about one thing... Your success

Meet the Team

The board of directors

Wellness centre staff

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