Rooted in Excellence: The Blackriver Health Story

A New Standard for Burnaby Healthcare Founded by Omer Karacay, an esteemed Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and healthcare educator, Blackriver Health & Therapy was established to bring a sophisticated level of clinical care to the Burnaby and Coquitlam communities. Located at the crossroads of North Road, our clinic is a modern sanctuary designed for professional recovery and long-term wellness.

The Foundation of Expertise With a career defined by a deep-rooted commitment to human movement, Omer has dedicated decades to both clinical practice and mentoring the next generation of therapists. Through his global educational platform, BlackriverBootsmaEducation, he shares advanced clinical techniques with practitioners worldwide. This culture of expertise is infused into every treatment at Blackriver; we don't just provide a service, we empower you with the knowledge to manage your own recovery.

The Blackriver Philosophy The name Blackriver symbolizes the resilient, restorative flow of health. Much like a river shapes the landscape around it, our goal is to help you navigate the obstacles—whether chronic pain, complex sports injuries, or ICBC recovery—that hinder your natural mobility.

Synergy in Care We believe peak health is achieved through collaboration. By integrating Registered Massage Therapy, Chiropractic Care, and Traditional Chinese Medicine under one roof, we provide a seamless, whole-body solution. Our integrated team is uniquely equipped to address both the symptom and the source of your discomfort simultaneously.

Your Partner in Wellness From our intuitive online booking via JaneApp to comprehensive direct billing for major insurance providers, every detail of Blackriver Health is refined for your convenience. Experience the difference that education-rooted, expert-led care can make in your life.

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Omer Karacay, RMT

Hi, I’m Omer, a Registered Massage Therapist, educator, and the founder and owner of Blackriver Health & Therapy. I graduated from West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2015, where I built strong clinical skills through hands on experience treating a wide range of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, ankylosing spondylitis, muscle strains, and ligament sprains. In 2015, I also worked with the University of British Columbia Track and Field team for an entire season, providing pre and post race care to support performance and recovery. I was honored to be the Valedictorian of my graduating class and to receive the Joe Koscak Leadership Award from WCCMT for exemplifying integrity, passion, perseverance, and a caring commitment to others. Since 2017, I have served as a Principal Teacher and Clinical Instructor at WCCMT, mentoring future massage therapists with a focus on clinical reasoning, professional standards, and real world results. In addition to my RMT practice, I have been a Spa Practitioner and Foot Reflexologist since 2010. My approach combines therapeutic precision with a calm, supportive experience, whether your goal is injury recovery, improved function, athletic performance, or deep relaxation. I’m proud to lead Blackriver Health & Therapy and even more proud of what truly matters, helping people feel better in their bodies and more confident in their lives.

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Andrea Stothard, RMT

Andrea graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy. With over 13 years in the fitness world, she’s all about movement from powerlifting and calisthenics to rock climbing. Her own experience with chronic injuries sparked a deep interest in how the body works and inspired her passion for helping others stay strong, mobile, and pain-free. She loves supporting people on their journey to feeling good in their bodies. Andrea gravitates toward deep tissue work and helping people recover from sport related injuries. When not in the clinic, you’ll find her baking treats for friends, exploring the outdoors, or upside down practicing her handstands.

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Mark Ramos, RMT

I am a Registered Massage Therapist with a strong focus on musculoskeletal health, movement, and performance-based care. Outside the treatment room, I’m deeply involved in basketball, boxing, and strength training, which shapes how I assess, treat, and understand the body under real-world physical demands. My approach blends thorough assessment with hands-on, results-driven treatment. I work with individuals managing neck, shoulder, and back pain, recovering from injury, or looking to stay resilient through sport and training. Treatments are tailored to each person and may include Swedish massage, deep tissue techniques, myofascial therapy, and targeted therapeutic work to restore movement and reduce pain. I’m passionate about helping people move better, feel stronger, and return confidently to their daily activities, training, and sport. Whether you’re rehabbing an injury or pushing your physical limits, my goal is to support long-term recovery, performance, and resilience.

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Baiba Antonovica, RMT

Baiba graduated from West Coast College of Massage Therapy in April 2022 and became an RMT in November 2022. During her time at the college and during practice since, she has had the opportunity to treat a variety of conditions such as pre/post-natal clients, challenging systemic and neurological issues, as well as orthopedic conditions like sprains, strains, and joint replacements. Baiba strives to help her clients further through homecare education that is fitting their individual habits, needs, and goals. Her approach incorporates a variety of modalities aiming to help reduce pain, improve function, and promote relaxation. She is fluent in English, Russian, and Latvian. In her spare time, Baiba enjoys camping, baking and travelling, as well as nerding out over anatomy and history.

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Julia Kellahan, RMT

Julia is a graduate of the West Coast College of Massage Therapy, where she gained experience treating patients with a wide range of conditions, including neurological, systemic and orthopedic conditions. Driven by a passion for helping others, Julia became a Registered Massage Therapist to help patients recover from injuries, enhance movement, and live pain-free. Her top priority as a therapist is to help each patient improve mobility and restore functional range of motion. Julia’s treatment approach incorporates modalities such as deep tissue massage, trigger-point release, PNF stretching, and myofascial release to best support each patient’s individual goals. Having grown up playing sports and enjoying exercise, Julia prioritizes maintaining an active lifestyle. Outside the clinic, she enjoys snowboarding, Pilates and playing soccer.

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Dr. Micaela (Dickhof) Bremne , Chiropractor

Hi, I’m Dr. Micaela (Dickhof) Bremner. I'm a Canadian-trained chiropractor who believes great care should be thoughtful, evidence-based, and tailored to real life. I graduated with honours from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2022, after completing my Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia—because understanding how the body moves (and sometimes misbehaves) has always fascinated me. I work with people of all ages and activity levels—from kids and teens to parents and grandparents, runners and those training for half marathons, desk workers, and outdoor enthusiasts who love to stay active. My treatment style blends hands-on care like manual soft tissue release, joint mobilizations, and cupping, with rehabilitation exercises designed to help you move better, recover faster, and stay active long-term. Every body is different, and I love helping patients feel stronger, more confident, and more comfortable doing the things that matter most to them—whether that’s training for a race, spending time outdoors, working at a desk, or keeping up with family life. While I enjoy treating a wide variety of conditions, my favourite people to work with include women’s health care (pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause), shoulder injuries, hip pain, and lower back pain.

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Hye Lim (Floria) Lee, R.Ac

Hi, I’m Hye Lim (Floria) Lee, your Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)." I truly believe that authentic healing happens when we integrate the body, the mind, and the way we nourish ourselves. My path to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been a unique journey of blending science with holistic care. Before practicing as an acupuncturist in Canada, I spent many years in South Korea as a Clinical Dietitian, specializing in therapeutic nutrition. My passion for health then led me to become a Food Product Developer here in Canada, where I innovated plant-based solutions like vegan foods and yogurts. Beyond my clinical background, my personal life is deeply rooted in physical discipline. Earning my Taekwondo Black Belt after the age of 40 taught me the profound connection between resilience, vitality, and the body’s incredible ability to restore itself. Today, I bring all these experiences—clinical nutrition, food science, and martial arts discipline—into my TCM practice. I don’t just treat symptoms; I focus on you as a whole person. Whether through specialized facial acupuncture, pain management, or lifestyle integration, my goal is to empower you to achieve long-term wellness and a better quality of life. I look forward to being a partner in your healing journey! • Facial Acupuncture • Nutritional & Lifestyle Integration • Stress & Pain Management • Patient-Centered Holistic Wellness. Fluent in English and Korean. ​

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Luke Wang, R.Ac

Hi, I’m Luke Wang, a Registered Acupuncturist at Blackriver Health & Therapy. My work focuses on chronic pain and long-standing tension; especially neck/shoulder tightness, back pain, headaches, and stress-related patterns that keep the body stuck in a loop. I practice evidence-informed Traditional Chinese Medicine, combining modern clinical reasoning with classic TCM pattern assessment. In my experience, pain is rarely “just local.” Many people living with persistent pain also notice anxiety, low mood, poor sleep, or digestive issues; and in TCM this often reflects an imbalance of internal energy (Qi), Blood, and the nervous system’s ability to regulate. Treatments may include acupuncture, and when appropriate cupping and gua sha to release muscle guarding and improve circulation. I aim to keep sessions calm, clear, and results-focused; so you understand what we’re working on, why it matters, and what you can do between visits. If you’re dealing with ongoing pain or stress that won’t fully resolve, I’d be glad to support you with a practical plan.

YouTube Channel

Our YouTube channel is for RMT students, new grads, and working massage therapists who want practical, real clinic focused learning. You will find technique demos, step by step assessment walk throughs, orthopedic tests, and treatment planning ideas you can actually use in school and in practice.

We also cover common problem areas like neck, shoulders, low back, hips, and TMJ, along with the fundamentals that matter: palpation, range of motion testing, special tests, clinical reasoning, and simple home care tips.

These videos are made for massage therapy education and are not personal medical advice for patients.

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