Our Team

Sharon is a Registered Dietitian who believes that gentle nutrition is a paramount foundation for expressing kindness to ourselves, our bodies and our health. She believes in the integral role that community, cooking and sharing food with others has on one’s wellbeing and hopes to help others nurture confidence in their own food/nutrition skills. Her experiences in outpatient nutrition counselling, working as a community cooking instructor and nutrition with the geriatric population have enhanced her passion for delivering practical nutrition education. In all of her work, she recognizes and advocates for the compounding effect that small daily habits/changes have towards our long-term health. Sharon hopes to work with you to find out how nourishing nutrition can be part of your everyday healthy lifestyle toolkit.

Sharon’s current nutrition interests include diabetes, gut health, intuitive eating/healthy relationships with food, meal planning and vegetarian diets (this list will likely grow soon). In her spare time, you can find Sharon exploring BC’s hiking trails, attempting to paint Italian city scenes or baking up a batch of sweet treats/cakes for a special occasion. On your next visit, be sure to come by and ask her for some her city restaurant recommendations!

Royal City Health warmly welcomes Dr. Peggy O’Neil to our team! Dr. O’Neil received her Doctorate of Chiropractic in 1991 from Los Angeles Chiropractic College.  With over 30 years of experience she utilizes several chiropractic techniques, depending on the patient’s needs and tolerance.  Dr. O’Neil sees patients of all age ranges, from newborns to 90+.  A wide range of health issues may be helped by chiropractic, including osteoarthritis, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, as well as issues of the spine, hip and extremities.  Her goal is to alleviate and prevent pain by educating patients regarding ergonomics and lifestyle.

Dr. O’Neil resides in New Westminster and enjoys gardening, walking, painting and assisting retired people in the area.

Dr. O’Neil’s Hours:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 3:00-7:00pm

Rick has been practicing massage therapy since 1990. Rick practices deep tissue therapy and earned his ART (Active Release Technique) Provider certification in 2002. He has always had an interest in working with athletes and sports teams, and has been the massage therapist for the Canadian Wrestling Team since 2000. Rick has travelled with the team to many competitions, including the Olympics in Athens and Beijing, the Commonwealth Games in India, as well as the World Championships in Moscow. Rick is also the massage therapist for several nationally ranked track and distance runners.

Rick has completed 14 Ironman triathlons, and over 100 triathlons of varied distance. He has also completed 12 marathons. Rick’s many years of training for triathlons and marathons has given him a wisdom and insight that can only come with experience. Friends and acquaintances wishing to compete in triathlons began contacting Rick for training advice. Rick’s motto of quality over quantity has proven its effectiveness in not only getting his athletes to the starting line, but also has guided several of them to their best times.

Rick still trains for triathlons, and now occasionally competes in sprint or Olympic distance races. Rick also enjoys downhill and cross-country skiing, reading mystery novels, and spending time with his family.

Royal City Health warmly welcomes Intern Massage Therapist Olena Sydoriuk to our team!  Olena arrived from the Ukraine 6 years ago with her family, and is now pursuing her dream of becoming a RMT.  Olena has experience as a dedicated bodyworker with a passion for promoting wellness and healing through the power of touch. Currently in her final term at West Coast College of Massage Therapy, she has over 300 hours of practical clinical experience, working with various populations and challenging conditions. 

Whether you’re seeking relaxation, pain relief, or rejuvenation, Olena is here to assist you on your journey to better health.  Olena’s mission is to create a peaceful and nurturing environment where you can unwind, release tension, and restore balance to your body and mind.

Outside the clinic Olena loves hiking, running and dancing, as well as spending time in the kitchen experimenting with various recipes.   Olena is also fluent in Russian and Ukrainian.

Jeanie Bezdan, RMT graduated from West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 1995.  Over the years Jeanie’s continuing education has included numerous courses such as neuromuscular therapy, muscle energy, and craniosacral therapy.  She has most recently completed the 162 hour Integrated Fascial Therapy program, a series of 9 modules focusing on various types of fascial therapies.  Jeanie is also an infant massage instructor.

Jeanie’s therapeutic treatment approach incorporates a variety of techniques customized to her clients’ needs.  Her ongoing professional education goals include pursuing more advanced skills with craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation, as well as post-graduate courses in Integrated Fascial Therapies.

Jeanie divides her time at the clinic between managing operations and helping clients.  Outside of clinic hours Jeanie enjoys time with her family, and as a hobby attends Rally Obedience classes with her dog Charlie.

Mike had started his post secondary career with an Associates degree in Sciences. He was completing his 3rd year of the Bachelor of Kinesiology program at the Simon Fraser University, when he was first introduced to massage therapy and has sparked his interest. He then attended West Coast College of Massage Therapy in New Westminster, from where he graduated and has been practicing as a Registered Massage Therapist since 2009.

His treatments consist of fascial work, muscle energy technique, Swedish deep tissue massage techniques, joint mobilizations, passive & active muscle stretching, along with various other techniques. Mike’s focus is to help patients through assessment and treatment, along with preventative and rehabilitative goals.

Mike’s personal interests include volunteering his time with minor hockey, spending time with family and friends, refereeing and playing hockey, participating and watching many other sports. Mike also fluently speaks Punjabi.

Davina graduated from the Massage Therapy Program at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Victoria and is a member of the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia.  Davina is trained in a variety of massage therapy techniques, including: Deep Tissue Massage, Manual Lymph Drainage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Passive and Active stretching and strengthening, and Swedish Massage .

Davina pursued Massage Therapy because she wanted to help people and assist them with the opportunity to heal in a natural way.  Davina has a passion for using her hands and energy to assist her clients in the healing process.

Rebekah is a young vibrant new grad from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy. She has experience working with a multitude of conditions varying from spinal cord injuries, stress, pregnancy, athletes, and many orthopedic conditions. She has a passion for working with others and looks to help patients get back to their best selves and doing what they love best with comfort and ease.

Rebekah pursued becoming a RMT after seeing how much Massage Therapy helped a family member heal after suffering trauma from being involved in a car accident. She saw how beneficial massage therapy can be for one’s not only physical, but also mental well-being, and knew that she wanted to help others through the benefits of massage as well. She believes strongly in the power of patient education along with the importance of a treatment plan based on assessment for the fastest recovery, injury prevention, and overall mental and physical health.

In her spare time Rebekah loves to stay active by hiking, biking and swimming and is a self proclaimed ‘foodie’ that loves to travel and spend time with her family and friends.

Ernesto is the latest graduate from West Coast College of Massage Therapy.  He is mindful of utilizing the variety of modalities in order to find the one that best fits his patient’s needs.  After all, he feels that the treatment must fit the person, not the textbook.

Ernesto has worked with the BC Women’s Hospital maternity ward, UBC & Douglas College varsity athletes, multiple sclerosis patients, as well as patients with disabilities.  He desires to play a part in his patients’ well-being and recovery, using a variety of applications with a focus on home care and remedial exercises.  Ernesto believes that true healing does not start or end with the clock on the wall.  His services may boost the healing process, but ultimately it is the body itself that does the repair.

Ernesto currently provides relaxation massages to help with tension relief, tired and achy muscles, general fatigue, sports or work-related posture, and more.

Not to sound all serious, Ernesto (or “just call me Ernie” he says) also likes to kick back and just take it easy most of the time. He has an interest in classic films, automobiles, traveling… the normal people stuff. Oh, and pro-wrestling. Ernie loves his pro-wrestling.

Hanah was training to become a physiotherapist in the Philippines before moving to Canada.  Shortly after arriving in Vancouver, she decided to pursue massage therapy and studied at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy.  Throughout her years of schooling Hanah has acquired valuable experience treating neurological and musculoskeletal conditions such as sprain, plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder, headaches/migraine, fibromyalgia, thoracic outlet syndrome, gastrointestinal concerns such as constipation, geriatric and general day-to-day muscle tensions.  She believes that effective treatment and optimum healing requires open and clear communication and a team-oriented approach.  Hanah adheres to the motto “teamwork makes the dream work!”  As a Registered Massage Therapist, her goal is to provide relaxation treatments and customized homecare plans for her patients on their journey towards a pain-free lifestyle!

In her spare time, Hanah enjoys working out, biking, jogging, hiking and going on “food adventures” with friends and family.

Braden passed his board exams in the spring of 2023 and enjoys welcoming new clients as he builds a busy practice. Braden believes that taking care of your body is a lifelong process and massage therapy helps support this belief. He enjoys using a range of techniques including, trigger point release, fascial release, and joint mobilizations.

Braden has been involved with multiple sports as a child such as gymnastics, swimming, baseball, and soccer, and since then has had an interest in a career working with the human body, but didn’t know exactly where to turn his attention. He first went to Douglas College where he achieved a diploma in sports science, then afterwards went to the West Coast College of Massage Therapy after seeing all the advertisements on the Skytrain.

In his spare time, he is a computer enthusiast and an avid gamer who loves to game with his friends. When he’s not gaming, he likes to relax quite a bit, or on the opposite side of the spectrum, learn a new hobby such as photography or revisit old skills such as polishing his Japanese and exploring other new languages.

In 2006 Nick completed his BSc in Kinesiology and received his health and fitness certificate at SFU. In 2009 Nick completed his Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of Alberta. Post graduate training includes level I orthopaedic manual therapy, Mulligan mobilization training, completing the sports first responder course, and completing his certificate in myofascial trigger point and proprioceptive therapy.  Nick has attained his certification in Vestibular Rehabilitation, TMJ dysfunction, and Musculoskeletal Acupuncture. He has also fully certified in Gunn IMS needling.

Nick is very interested in sports physiotherapy and has worked with various sports teams at the high school, provincial, and college levels, including Douglas College soccer, New West Hyacks football, and BC Soccer and BC Field Hockey. Nick was a member of the Simon Fraser University soccer team from 2000-2002 and currently plays for the Norvan soccer club of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League. He has run several marathons and recently completed his first Triathlon.

Nick was selected, two years in a row, as one of the Top 3 Physical Therapists in New Westminster.

Meet Pramod Johar, a highly skilled and experienced physiotherapist with over 10 years of practice in the field. Pramod completed his MSc. Kinesiology (exercise and work physiology) in 2012 from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy, which he earned in 2009 from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) in Delhi, India. Pramod is a registered member of the College of Physiotherapists of British Columbia. 

Pramod specializes in musculoskeletal and sports injuries, helping patients of all ages and fitness levels to recover from injuries, surgeries, and chronic pain. He uses evidence-based treatments, such as manual therapy, exercise therapy, and dry needling, to help patients achieve their goals and return to their daily activities. Pramod’s focus on orthopedic and sports injury rehabilitation is reflected in his post-graduate Level 2 Orthopedic Manual Therapy certification. Additionally, he is certified in Mulligan Techniques for upper quadrant, Dry Needling, and TMJ Dysfunction.

In addition to his clinical practice, Pramod is passionate about staying up-to-date with the latest research and techniques in his field. He regularly attends conferences and workshops. Pramod’s extensive experience in the field of physiotherapy also includes acute care, gained through his work at Vancouver General Hospital. He is also an accomplished researcher, with two research papers published in reputed international journals. 

When not working, Pramod enjoys spending time at the gym, playing sports, and staying outdoors. At Royal City Health & Manual Therapy Inc., you can trust that you’ll receive personalized and compassionate care from Pramod. He will work with you to create a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or seeking to optimize your athletic performance, Pramod will be there to support you every step of the way.

Victor recently completed his Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of British Columbia and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. He has experience in the health and fitness industry, where he worked as a personal trainer at Fitness World. In this setting he was able to apply his knowledge of nutrition and passion for physical activity to help clients achieve their health and fitness goals. Victor has an interest in sports/orthopaedic injuries and promoting optimal health. He believes in not only treating the injury but also improving performance so that a second injury is less likely to occur.

Victor has completed post-graduate education in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Level 1 and Soft Tissue Release.  His interests outside of physiotherapy include basketball, weight lifting and martial arts. He is also able to speak basic conversational Cantonese.

• Certified Gunn IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation) provider
• American Balance Institute Certified in Vestibular Rehabilitation
• American Balance Institute Certified in Concussion Assessment and Management

Mandeep graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2002 from the University of Bangalore, India.  Since then Mandeep has pursued many continuing education courses with a special interest in orthopaedic rehabilitation and manual therapy.   These include TMJ, knee and hip complex as well as IMS and acupuncture. Mandeep uses his skills in effectively evaluating and treating different acute, degenerative, traumatic non-traumatic and neurological conditions.

Mandeep finds personal fulfillment in being able to make a difference in the lives and physical well-being of his patients, through understanding his clients’ needs and assisting them with attaining their goals.   Mandeep enjoys playing Badminton and Cricket and spending leisure time with his family.   Mandeep is currently accepting new patients and is available 3 days a week with late appointments available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Reshma completed her Bachelors in Physiotherapy in 2003 and later pursued a Masters degree in Musculoskeletal sciences from Mumbai, India.

Reshma has completed manual therapy courses including Mulligan and Maitland techniques.
She is a certified Mulligan Practitioner and applies her skills for rapid results in regaining joint mobility, correcting positional faults, and altered joint mechanics. Reshma uses hands-on techniques such as mobilizations applied at various joints in the body including the shoulder, elbow, hand, hip, knee, ankle and the spinal joints. Her patients have benefitted immensely from these treatments, receiving rapid and sustained results in improving movement along with pain management.
Reshma has also acquired certifications in Vestibular Rehabilitation as well as dry needling.

Reshma also has an interest in neurology and has completed several workshops in Neuro-Developmental Techniques and Motor Control which adds to her extensive skills in dealing with various neurological cases.

Educating and promoting independence are important to Reshma, and she has attended lectures regarding geriatric age groups from the Arthritis Society of Canada.

Reshma is always pleased to give advice on good ergonomics and pain reduction, including information on conditions that can affect posture. This includes tailoring home exercise protocols for each patient to prevent future recurrences.

Reshma applies her clinical skills and practical experience as part of a holistic approach towards improving the overall functional status of her patients.

Apart from work Reshma enjoys listening to music and cooking in her leisure time.

Royal City Health warmly welcomes to our team Shital Kanadiya, Physiotherapist
Shital completed her Bachelors of Physiotherapy from S.N.D.T. University, Mumbai, India in 2011. Shital moved to Canada in 2012 and pursued an Exercise and Wellness certificate on Vancouver Island. In Canada, Shital has helped clients with orthopaedic injuries, post-surgery rehabilitation, as well as vestibular/concussion rehabilitation.

Shital chose physiotherapy because she wanted to play a key role in assisting people to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life. Shital is passionate in helping individuals conquer their pain by applying the techniques of physical therapy that are neither invasive nor pharmacological. By utilizing these skills Shital has helped many people improve their strength and function, enabling them to embrace their best life. Shital feels truly privileged to have the skills to make a small but significant difference in her clients’ lives. Shital is fluent in: English, Hindi, Gujrati and Punjabi. Shital welcomes Private clients or WCB claimants.

To book an appointment with Shital please call 604-524-4446.

Samantha completed her Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of British Columbia and holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from UBC Okanagan.

Samantha is a competitive athlete and competes for Team Canada as a member of the Gymnastics Trampoline Team. She was the alternate for the 2012 Olympics, and hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games.

Samantha strives to promote health and pain-free movement, and is passionate about sports and orthopedic rehabilitation. She believes in addressing the root cause of your injuries, and her treatment approach includes manual therapy, patient education and personalized functional exercise programs.

In addition to gymnastics, Samantha enjoys any activity that takes her outside such as skiing, mountain biking, and paddling.

Samantha is now accepting new patients and looks forward sharing her passion for lifelong active living with you!

Kevin is a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA).  He approaches counselling from a compassionate client centred approach helping people to see their situation in a different light and providing a space to change.  Kevin utilizes a number of therapeutic approaches catered to the needs of his clients including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Regression Therapy and mindfulness.

Kevin also helps men who are struggling with anger, relationships, depression and anxiety.  This is a passion of his since he has been on a number of men’s retreats, has benefited greatly from it, and recognizes the need to give back and help other men in his community.

Maggie Callander is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor RTC with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). As well as her experience and work helping clients cope with anxiety, grief and change, Maggie is currently focused on building and healing communities through her experience working as a crisis counsellor with the homeless and disadvantaged population in Whalley, BC, where she continues to work as a counsellor with Nightshift Street Ministries and facilitates a successful, weekly art therapy class in this community. Maggie loves the balance of volunteer community work, clinical counselling and working as a counsellor in the school setting.

Sonika is a recent graduate in administrative science, with a specialization in global health and human services administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver campus. She also has her undergraduate degree in dentistry from south India. Sonika is a new addition to the front desk team since October 2019, and her experience working as an allied medical office admin inspired her to be a part of the administrative team at Royal City Health & Manual Therapy. She looks forward to pursuing her dental licensure exam in the upcoming years, and aspires to practice dentistry in Canada.

Sonika spends her free time volunteering to help cerebral palsy patients at the Residence For Independent Living Society. She has enjoyed her time there for the past two years and has gained valuable experience in elder care. This involvement has been helpful when assisting seniors at the clinic. Sonika also enjoys pencil sketching, watching movies and reading books, with a goal of eventually completing a book she has been working on. She has also created a blog to assist in her writing endeavors.

Sonika believes that hard work will never go in vain, and will always be paid off with beautiful results.

Sheila graduated from the Medical Office Assistant program from CDI College in November, 2021.

Sheila completed her practicum with Royal City health & Manual Therapy, after which we were very pleased to have her join our team as a staff member.

During her spare time Sheila enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling and walking her dog.

Maria (Malou) graduated from the Medical Office Assistant program at Douglas College in June 2016. Working in a health related field is one of her interests and passions. She enjoys helping and assisting patients of all ages.

In her spare time, Malou loves to cook, creating new recipes in the kitchen; as she’s inspired by celebrity chefs. She likes to read and go shopping as well. She also enjoys travelling with her husband while capturing great moments and scenery with her camera.

Sheena took the Medical Office Assistant Program at Vancouver Career College and graduated May 2015. Sheena completed the practicum part of the program with Royal City Health & Manual Therapy, and soon after joined the team!
Prior to working with Royal City Health & Manual Therapy, Sheena also has experience in working with nursing homes and thoroughly enjoys helping others.

In her free time, Sheena loves to go out to dinner, movies and outdoor activities such as trekking, wakeboarding and snowboarding with her family and friends. Sheena also has a passion for travel and loves to capture every moment with mobile photography.

Wini completed her bachelors of Physiotherapy in Delhi, India, and after moving to Toronto as a student earned her post graduate in Health System Management. Wini arrived in Vancouver in 2017 and fell in love with the city. Wini is preparing to challenge her Physiotherapy Licensing exam later this year and begin practicing as a Physiotherapist. Previously, Wini worked as a Lab Assistant in an Environmental Lab dealing with water chemistry, and also did some volunteer work as a Physiotherapy Assistant. Wini looks forward to pursuing her career in the field of Health.

Away from work, Wini enjoys travelling and hanging out with friends. She also loves to read thriller and romance novels and is always in search of trying something new and exciting.

Last but not the least, “Dream big, stay positive, work hard and enjoy the journey.”

Safiya Dina joined Royal City Health and Manual Therapy last October, at the age of 16. She is currently an Honours student at Cariboo Hill Secondary School. Safiya’s aspiration is to work in the medical industry when she graduates. She enjoys her various employment facets, such as communication, organization, scheduling, all while maintaining a positive attitude.

In her spare time, Safiya enjoys dancing, reading, listening to music and playing tennis & netball. She participates in many aspects of volunteering within the community, working with all types of people on the age spectrum. She is also fluent in French.

Royal City Health warmly welcomes to our team Kailey Toth, Registered Social Worker

Kailey is a registered social worker with over twenty years’ experience working in a variety of health care and social service settings. Kailey understands that we all experience challenges, both large and small at various times in our lives.  She is passionate about working with people who strive to explore their life experiences more deeply, and aim to be more present and mindful in their lives and relationships.  She provides a compassionate and non-judgmental space to do this complicated and rewarding work.

Kailey provides expertise in solution focused, supportive counselling, with specialties in illness and injury, as well as end of life, grief and bereavement.  Kailey also has extensive experience working with MVA and other physical injuries, having worked at GF Strong for 11 years with people with spinal cord injury, brain injury and amputations, frequently as the result of MVAs.

Kailey believes that we all have the capacity to thrive in our lives.  Her goal is to work with you to explore the aspects of your life you would like to work on, and support you as you work together to find meaningful ways for you to reach your goals.

Currently booking Thursdays from 10-2pm starting January 19, 2023

Jill’s love for food and its impact on our lives and our health led her to complete her Bachelor’s of Science in Dietetics. She graduated from UBC in 2012 following a one-year internship with Fraser Health. Jill’s experience ranges from hospital based acute and intensive care of both pediatric and adult populations to providing family-based education and one on one counseling.

Jill believes in empowering her clients with the knowledge and skills to make lifestyle modifications to meet their personal health goals. Should your focus be on general nutrition and overall health, chronic disease management, food intolerance, weight management, or beyond, Jill believes that food should always be delicious and most often nourishing…which includes those intended to nourish the soul! (insert favourite chocolate here).

Particular interests of Jill’s include infant and family feeding, building positive relationships with food, and diabetes. Jill is a Certified Diabetes Educator and has five years experience helping clients of all ages learn how to continue to enjoy food as part of their diabetes care.

Outside of the office, Jill is likely exploring the mountains with her four-legged best friend or creating something new in the kitchen.