André’s interests in holistic healing and alternative medicine were sparked while traveling in Asia many years ago - interests that were further cemented following a painful injury and a bad case of mononucleosis for which Western medicine had little to offer by way of help.
While living in British Columbia, André graduated with high honours from Pacific Rim College in Victoria, in the summer of 2014. He is passionate about acupuncture and other healing modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and finds comfort in knowing that TCM can provide help for whatever illness or injury patients may present with. André has passed the Pan-Canadian acupuncture board exams, and is registered with the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada (CMAAC). He also maintains, for the time being, registered with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia - the regulatory body for acupuncture in BC.
André has a special interest in treating insomnia, stress, and chronic pain, whether from sports injuries or lingering aches from wear and tear. But most of all, would like to focus on helping patients overcome fertility challenges, as well as providing pre-natal care for expecting mothers.
Born and raised near Montreal, André is happy to provide treatments in either English or French. At home in the outdoors, he spends his time away from the clinic hiking with his wife, daughter, and dog. He also enjoys restoring antique tools and hand tool woodworking.
To become registered with CMAAC, acupuncturists are required to complete a three-year college program as well as pass multiple provincial board exams. When seeking out an acupuncturist, be sure to choose one with extensive training.
“Andre was very kind and helpful. I was nervous getting acupuncture at first as I hadn’t tried it before but after meeting Andre and his seeing his demeanour, I felt at ease. After the treatments I had with Andre, I felt my jaw to be less tight, I could feel more range of motion and I felt less headaches too! ”
“When I first saw Andre for help with stress and anxiety I have to admit I was nervous. I had never done acupuncture before and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Andre talked me through every step of what resulted in very relaxing and professional treatments that made a big difference in my symptoms. If you’re new to acupuncture, you are in safe and effective hands. I can’t recommend him enough and am sad to hear he is leaving Vancouver Island. ”
Before Your Appointment
* Before coming in for your first treatment at Oceanside Acupuncture & Massage Therapy, please take the time to fill out the online forms. It will save time during your appointment - it can take 5- 10 minutes to fill out. Thank you!
*A mandatory pre-screening health questionnaire will be sent to you 48 hours prior to each appointment. Please ensure it is completed the day before your appointment at the latest. If it is not completed in time, your appointment may be cancelled.
* It is not recommended to come to an acupuncture treatment on an empty stomach as it can cause light-headedness.
* Please wear loose clothing (i.e. pants that can easily roll up past knee, sleeves that can easily roll up past elbows).
* Sept. 2023 update: Now accepting debit and credit cards!
* The clinic is a scent-free environment. Please refrain from wearing fragrances or smoking prior to your appointment.
Cancellation Policy
*Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the therapists’ day that could have been filled by another patient. As such, we require 24 hours notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. Patients who provide less than 24 hours notice, or miss their appointment, will be charged a $40 cancellation fee. (Please note, no cancellations fees are charged if you need to cancel because of sickness - stay home if you are not feeling well!)
Direct Billing
Good news! We offer direct billing for both acupuncture and massage therapy treatments.
We are registered providers for all the major insurance companies, including Medavie Blue Cross, Telus Health, Sun Life, Green Shield, Canada Life, Desjardins, just to name a few.
All you have to do is bring in your insurance information with you to your appointment, and we’ll set everything up for you. If you’d like to know in advance how many treatments your insurance will cover, and if you have any co-pay amounts, please get in touch with your insurance company directly.