September 15, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Healing River Acupuncture Centre celebrates a decade and a half at its 3571 Chatham Street location in Steveston Village with a continued focus on traditional Chinese medicine
Healing River Acupuncture Centre, a Richmond acupuncture clinic at 3571 Chatham St in Steveston Village, is commemorating 15 years of providing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services in the community. Established in 2009 and operated since 2018 by Doctor of TCM Chrystal Malapas (R.Ac, B.Sc.), the clinic offers acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and cosmetic facial rejuvenation. The clinic is among the longer-standing complementary health practices in Richmond’s Steveston neighbourhood and occupies Suite 105 at the corner of Chatham Street and Third Avenue, in the heart of the historic Steveston Village shopping district with free on-site parking available for patients. The location is also accessible via public transit along the Vancouver-Richmond corridor.
Healing River Acupuncture Centre first opened its doors in Steveston Village in 2009 under founder Bobbi Hayashi and has operated from the same 3571 Chatham Street location throughout its 15-year history. The practice was transferred to Malapas in 2018. Malapas holds a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine degree from PCU College of Holistic Medicine in Burnaby and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. She also pursued additional training in Japanese Meridian Therapy with Ikeda Masakazu sensei and Edward Obaidey sensei, and has been registered as an acupuncturist in British Columbia for more than seven years. The clinic operates Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and provides detailed receipts for insurance claims to patients whose extended health benefit plans cover registered acupuncture services and related TCM treatments. According to the British Columbia Association of Acupuncturists and TCM Practitioners, the number of registered practitioners in the province has grown steadily over the past decade and a half, reflecting broader public interest in TCM as a complement to conventional medical care across British Columbia.
“Reaching 15 years in the same location means a great deal to us,” said Chrystal Malapas, owner and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Healing River Acupuncture Centre. “Steveston Village is a close-knit community, and we have had the privilege of serving the same neighbourhood for all these years. Many of our patients have been coming to us for years, and we have watched this community grow and change. That continuity and the trust that comes with it is something we are truly proud of.” Malapas originally decided to pursue TCM after taking an elective course in traditional Chinese medicine during her final year of university, a choice that shifted her career direction. Her educational background combining a Bachelor of Science with TCM training allows her to integrate evidence-informed approaches with traditional diagnostic methods.
The clinic accepts patients covered by extended health benefits plans and ICBC auto insurance policies that include acupuncture coverage, and provides MSP premium assistance billing for eligible residents with itemized receipts for direct submission to benefit providers. In addition to the Richmond Steveston location where Malapas works Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, she also sees patients at a second clinic in Vancouver’s Kitsilano area. Patients can book appointments online through the clinic’s scheduling system or contact the clinic directly at (604) 277-5550 for more information about available services, treatment options, and appointment availability. The clinic is located at 3571 Chatham St, Suite 105, Richmond, BC V7E 2Z1, in the historic Steveston Village district steps from the Fraser River waterfront.
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For more information about Healing River Acupuncture Centre, contact the company here:
Healing River Acupuncture Centre
Contact Details:
(604) 277-5550
info@healingriveracupuncture.ca
3571 Chatham St #105, Richmond, BC V7E 2Z1
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