More re-opening updates!

As many of you may have heard already, the Alberta government has extended the restrictions currently in place for another two weeks. Which means that the little list below is in effect until then! Folks will need referrals to receive massage therapy treatments until the 21st of January. If you already had an appointment booked I have emailed you with the details. If you haven’t booked yet, but are hoping to, don’t forget to send in your referral or prescription to me when you book your appointment.

If you have any questions, please give me a call (780 235 8050) or email me at katherine@composemassage.com!

As per the update provided by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, massage therapists are able to resume immediately providing services under the following guidelines:

  1. All clients must have either a written prescription from a Medical Doctor, or a written referral from a regulated health professional (https://www.alberta.ca/regulated-health-professions.aspx)

    1. An existing written prescription is only valid if issued within the last 12 months.

    2. An existing written referral is only valid if issued within the last 12 months.

    3. A copy of the original written prescription or written referral is acceptable.

    4. The written prescription or written referral must be provided prior to receiving treatment.

    5. A copy of the written prescription or written referral must be kept in the client's file.

Clinic Re-opening Update (January 2021)

UPDATE! So I’ve just received an email from the NHPC regarding the new requirements. While there are still some things undecided they did note that there will be new PPE requirements coming into effect on January 4th, 2021. This will require that I purchase new PPE and I will be updating on my site as new information arises. As of right now, I am working under the impression that I will be going back to work on January 5th (enough time for supplies to arrive and folks to get their prescriptions/referrals in order). The booking site will reflect this by January 1st, 2021.


Yesterday the Alberta government announced the reopening of Massage Therapy with the new restriction that you must have a referral/letter from either a Doctor, Chiropractor, or Physiotherapist. The details have not been added to the Alberta Government's website and our associations are diligently working on the extended protocols so there are still many questions. However I thought it would be a good idea to bring this up now so that folks have time to acquire the appropriate prescription or referral from a physician or other regulated health professional. I’m under the impression that I will need to add a copy of the note/letter to your file, thankfully a photo or pdf scan of it is very easy for me to upload to your JaneApp account.

Unfortunately, with the lack of other information right now I won’t be opening up my schedule immediately. The first available appointments will be in early January with the caveat that I may still need to cancel these appointments if the situation changes. If you were one of the clients who’s appointment I had to cancel in January and you have a doctors note, please send an email with a photo/pdf of the note and I will add it to your file and put your appointment back into the schedule.

I do want to assure everyone that, as far as we know, there have been no cases of Covid-19 transmitted via massage therapy appointments. While we are in close contact, everyone at Placare is diligent about cleaning and PPE protocols. Massage therapists were initially included in this shutdown because we are still in the process of forming a regulatory college (unlike physiotherapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic who already have this body formed). My fingers are crossed that in the years to come a regulatory college will be formed and massage therapy can have more clearly stated regulations and protocols for situations like this.

I have a great deal of respect for the health team in Alberta for their hard work in figuring out how to keep us safe. I’m also very thankful for all of my clients and their understanding in how unpredictable this year has been.

I hope you’re all enjoying your holiday time with your family and that the next year brings us all a bit more stability and joy.