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Dr. Michael Muzzin
Chiropractor
Dr. Michael Muzzin
Chiropractor
Through his experience and passion for helping people achieve active and healthy lifestyles, Dr. Muzzin has identified Five Key Aspects for Optimal Health: Exercise, Nutrition, Rest, Mental Health, and Spinal Health. The human body (infant to senior) has an amazing ability to heal itself when just given the chance. Each of the five aspects of optimal health is like a vital link that forms a strong chain; and of course a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Dr. Muzzin first started practice in Whitby Ontario just outside of Toronto in 1988. While there he completed an additional three-year post Doctorate in Sports Injuries and earned the Specialty Fellowship of the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Science (Canada), RCCSS(C). In 1994 he moved back to B.C. and settled in Kelowna where he founded Active Care Health.
Dr. Michael Muzzin has an established brand identity with a well-respected reputation in the community for over 20 years. He is the past president of the Canadian Cancer Society (Kelowna), the Kelowna Chiropractic Association, the official Chiropractor for the Canadian Junior Hockey Championship’s Memorial Cup, the World Junior Hockey Championships, and one of the first Chiropractor’s in history to be an Official Medical Staff Member of the Olympic Games (Vancouver 2010).
Dr. Muzzin has also worked with Kelowna Falcons Semi-Pro Baseball Team, Okanagan Sun Junior Football Team, Ogopogo Triathlon Club, and is currently the Team Chiropractor for both the Kelowna Chiefs Junior B Hockey Club & the Kelowna Rockets WHL Junior Hockey Club.
When he’s not at the office, Dr. Muzzin can be found skiing with his daughter Jenna on either the lakes or slopes (depending on the season) in the beautiful Okanagan Valley.
Dr. Ryan Blouin
Chiropractor
Dr. Ryan Blouin
Chiropractor
Dr. Blouin’s passion for the profession began at a young age when he experienced first hand the effects chiropractic care can have on the entire body. He completed his honors degree in Science and Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo and spent four years in the fitness industry helping people lead more active lives.
He was privileged to complete his Doctor of Chiropractic training in beautiful New Zealand where he spent time honing his craft. He focuses in manual NeuroStructural Corrective adjusting techniques to improve bodily function from a movement and neurological perspective. By improving the alignment and motion of the spinal and extremity joints, the brain is better able to communicate and coordinate all bodily functions thus resulting in a healthier individual from a well-being and performance level.
In 2013, Dr. Blouin worked with the National New Zealand Hockey Program and travelled with their Men’s and U18’s hockey teams to the IIHF World Hockey Championships as the team’s official chiropractor. Following season’s end he moved to the Gold Coast in Australia and spent a year practicing and treating families and athletes of all ages as well as learning to live the beach life!
Dr. Blouin has always had a strong interest in health, exercise, sport, travel and working with people. He has been privileged to have had the chance to travel the world doing what he loves to do.
Settling in Kelowna in late 2014 and now calling it home, Dr. Blouin looks forward to doing what he loves most: teaching and practicing a healthy lifestyle and sharing his passion for chiropractic and healthy living with the amazing people of the Okanagan!
Janelle Balardo
Registered Massage Therapist
Janelle Balardo
Registered Massage Therapist
Janelle is a graduate from the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy. Her empathy, and understanding of clients’ aches and pains makes patient well-being her priority.
Janelle first developed an interest in therapeutic practice via her own experience with injury. Through her personal experience with rehabilitation she developed a passion for how the body functions and heals. Her wide range of techniques include myofascial release, trigger point release, joint mobilizations and Swedish massage. She can relate to her patients through her own experience, and her professional and easy going attitude sets her patients’ minds at ease.
Her love for physical fitness allowed her to complete her personal training certification as well as her Neuro-proprioceptive taping course. Janelle understands the importance of proper musculoskeletal function and maintaining health of the joints and surrounding tissues.
Janelle looks forward to expanding her skill base and knowledge through her passion for healing. Whether the pain is caused from an overuse injury, soft tissue damage from motor vehicle accidents , athletic/sports injury, or just overall chronic pain, her focus will always be client care first.
Dr. Walter Neeser
Chiropractor
Dr. Walter Neeser
Chiropractor
Originally from Alberta, Dr. Neeser started practice in Toronto, Ontario in 1996. He began as a diversified Chiropractor utilizing a variety of manual (adjusting by hand) techniques. Shortly after graduating, he became certified and registered in Homeopathy and a year later, in Acupuncture. These contemporary approaches in the energetic aspects of healing led him to pursue a softer adjustment style based on digital impulse frequencies that deliver a specific force to spinal areas and soft tissues. Postural, emotional and dietary stresses can lead to inefficient neurological patterns that become accepted as normal in the body. These patterns become obvious in patients who have had a motor vehicle accident, or who have suffered a concussion. Over the past decade, Dr. Neeser has been developing a variety of interventions that help patients with mild to moderate concussions and postural imbalances using low force impulse techniques.
These low force impulse techniques can create new patterns of feedback that help the brain and nervous system restore a more efficient balance in the distorted patterns in our tissues. As our nervous system develops better habits, internal inflammatory processes start to recover their equilibrium and healthy new patterns develop.
Recovery usually follows a stepwise progression. Injured or inflamed tissue disrupts normal feedback information. The brain receives disrupted feedback and produces inefficient neural responses. These can persist long after tissues have apparently healed. Dysfunctional responses can be corrected by introducing balanced neural feedback with impulse frequencies. Improved feedback to the brain prompts higher quality control patterns and relives neurological stress.
Dr. Neeser is married and has been living happily in Kelowna since 2016. He can frequently be found playing pickleball or walking some of the beautiful pathways with his wife Jacqie.
Dr. Jason Boxtart
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Jason Boxtart
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Boxtart has been in private practice since 2002 and co-founded the Northern Centre for Integrative Medicine, a multidisciplinary practice; the largest of its kind in northern BC. Dr Boxtart’s practice focus here at Active Care Health is chronic musculoskeletal pain and sports injury. Dr. Boxtart utilizes PRP and Prolotherapy in the treatment of acute and chronic injuries, coordinating patient care with active rehabilitation in the community.
Dr. Boxtart has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors for 6 years, 3 of those years as the Chairman of the Board. During that position he chaired both the Canadian Naturopathic Coordinating Council and the Canadian Naturopathic Foundation. As a component of these posts, he has been involved in bylaw review under the Canada Not-For-Profit Act and regulatory review and implementation of the Regulated Health Practitioners Act in both BC and Ontario. He received the Dr. Verna Hunt Award for his service to the profession.
He held Adjunct Faculty of Medicine positions with the University of Northern British Columbia in the Northern Medical Program for 9 years, working with new students in the Undergraduate Medical Program, introducing them to medical sociology and Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Boxtart remains a guest speaker at the UNBC Northern Medical Program discussing the challenges and merits of the integration of complementary medicine into the mainstream.
In addition to private practice, Dr. Boxtart was the Team Lead for British Columbia for the Pure North S’Energy Foundation between 2012 to 2016. Pure North is a unique health care not-for-profit organization that provides primary prevention medical services focused on nutritional and lifestyle interventions to vulnerable populations throughout western Canada. In this capacity, Dr. Boxtart supervised the work of medical, para-medical and support staff providing care for over 20,000 patients in multiple centres across British Columbia.
Jillian Underwood
Massage Specialist
Jillian Underwood
Massage Specialist
Bio coming soon!
Jenny Large
Registered Massage Therapist
Jenny Large
Registered Massage Therapist
Jenny was born and raised in Kelowna – which is hard to find these days! She loves the Kelowna lifestyle and has a very strong community presence. When she’s not massaging at Active Care you can find her teaching dance at The Canadian School of Ballet, teaching barre and fitness classes at Oranj Fitness, teaching and performing with the Femme Fatale dance group, playing a game of softball or riding her bike downtown.
Jenny has a very kind, loving nature to her and it shows during her massages. She is currently taking clients and would love to meet you and help get you feeling better, faster!
Jas Digpal
Registered Kinesiologist and Certified Cold Laser Therapist
Jas Digpal
Registered Kinesiologist and Certified Cold Laser Therapist
Jas grew up in Kelowna and graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics/ Kinesiology degree. Her studies focused on Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Health Promotion. Jas is passionate about using her knowledge to improve lives through communication, engagement, and physical activity.
She joined Active Care Health in January 2019. Jas feels that it is an absolute pleasure being part of such an awesome team that takes pride in giving their patients the best experiences possible! Her role is to provide our patients with a good understanding of the clinic and treatments provided, performing BIOFLEX Cold Laser Therapy treatments, and greeting clients with a warm welcome!
When Jas is not at the clinic, you can find her enjoying the many activities the Okanagan has to offer. You can find her playing soccer, running through Mission Creek or walking her two dogs! Passionate about health and fitness, you will also find her at the gym year-round!
Chipaka Bwali
Patient Care Coordinator
Chipaka Bwali
Patient Care Coordinator
Chipaka was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. After completing high school, she relocated to Canada for post-secondary education at UBCO. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and she is currently completing a Business Management diploma program. During the summer months, when not working or studying, you can find Chipaka hiking, playing tennis, running, biking, golfing, camping and at the lake. In the winter, she spends most of her free time on the slopes snowboarding. Chipaka joined Active Care Health in August of 2023, and loves working with and being part of the amazing team! She always strives to ensure clients receive the best care and are happy when they leave the office.
Rebekah Kuchma
Patient Care Coordinator
Rebekah Kuchma
Patient Care Coordinator
Rebekah moved to Kelowna when she was 10 years old and has fallen in love with everything the Okanagan has to offer. She used to manage high volume retail stores before she took a break to set in some roots of her own here and raise her family. She's back at work and is passionate about customer service and genuinely loves meeting new people.
When she's not at work you can find her enjoying the lakes, mountains and all things outdoors with her 3 kids and dog. She loves camping, all adventures, going on tropical vacations and having coffee with her husband and friends.
She is so excited to be a part of the team and to make Active Care Health her home away from home.
She hopes that everyone who walks through those doors feels welcomed and important!
Jenna Muzzin
Patient Care Coordinator
Jenna Muzzin
Patient Care Coordinator
Jenna was born and raised in Kelowna, BC and graduated from Rutland Senior Secondary. She is currently attending the University of the Fraser Valley located down in Abbotsford, where she is working toward her Criminal Justice and Criminology degree. Jenna’s responsibility is to help ensure that each patient who comes into the office feels welcomed and accompanied throughout their journey toward an active living lifestyle.
Jenna is Dr. Michael Muzzin’s daughter. So, she has been involved within the office since she could walk. However, she started working as a patient care coordinator at the front desk in April of 2020. Jenna could not be happier to be part of such a fun and inclusive team of practitioners. She feels so lucky that her work environment is never a dull place and is always filled with such positivity!
When Jenna is not working in the clinic, you will most likely find her out on the lake with Dr. Muzzin either waterskiing or surfing! She also enjoys soaking in the sunshine with her friends or puppy, Maggie (our office dog!). Being passionate about the study of crime and criminal behaviour, it is not unusual to also find her at home with her eyes glued to the latest crime documentary’s!