A wide shot of the treatment room. three masked patients leaning back with closed eyes in recliners covered in yellow sheets. To the right, someone's lower body covered in blankets is visible. A practitioner wearing a surgical mask and a red hoodie sits by of the patients, turning towards the camera. In the background, a large white wall with three wooden shelves, holding potted plants.

One common pandemic stressor is the shift in social expectations in many places—arriving someplace that was once familiar and finding that you don’t know all the new rules can be really unsettling. Another common stressor is the uneven application of COVID-19 safety policies in various places. Here’s where we address some frequently asked questions from GCA patients who haven’t been in for treatment since before March 2020.

What are you doing to make GCA as safe as possible?

Screening, masking, distancing and cleaning. You can read about this in detail here.

Do I need to be vaccinated in order to visit GCA?

No. At this time you don’t need proof of vaccination to access our clinic.

Are GCA staff members vaccinated for COVID-19?

Yes. Lisa, the clinic owner and only staff member at GCA, is fully vaxxed and boosted and is committed to receiving boosters as recommended by public health.

Do I have to wear a mask?

Yes. Everyone who comes to GCA must wear a medical mask or N95 or N99 (no masks with valves) in order to enter the clinic. If you don’t have one, you’ll receive one at the front door when you enter. Cloth masks are not enough, but you’re welcome to layer the medical mask with a cloth mask. Everyone wears their mask over their mouth and nose the entire time. A faceshield alone is not enough.

Do you allow mask exemptions?

Never.

How do I enter the health centre building?

Through the front doors. You’ll be greeted by health centre staff who’ll ask you where you’re going today and make sure you have a mask. EXCEPT for if your appointment is at 5pm or later on a Monday evening, in which case you’ll have to come in through the back doors (facing the Baker St parking lot) as the rest of the building closes on Mondays at 5pm.

Is social distancing happening at GCA?

Yes, the chairs are all six feet apart. There’s lots of room to give each other six feet of space or more.

I forgot to do the online screening! Is that bad??

No, it’s fine, Lisa can screen you on arrival.

Can I still do drop-in appointments?

You can, but it’d be best to make sure the clinic is open when you’re wanting to drop in. Sometimes the clinic is closed because Lisa doesn’t have childcare that day. If there are appointments available on the online booking page, then the clinic is open.

What’s the best way of contacting the clinic these days?

Now that the clinic is a one-woman show with no receptionists anymore, the quickest way to get in touch is to text the clinic number: (519)829-3000. Phone calls and emails will be returned, but probably not as quickly.

Have prices gone up?

Yes, the fee for new patients is $30-$60, and for returning patients it’s $25-$50. If the new fees present a barrier to you, please talk to Lisa about this. Note that while you can still pay cash, we no longer offer change.

Are there any other changes?

Yes, there are more plants now and they’re happier than they’ve ever been!

What’s stayed the same?

Well, the music hasn’t changed (did you miss Brian Eno?? He’s still here!) and the afternoon light is still gorgeous. People still snore. People still come for acupuncture with their families. People are still getting better and we’re still learning new wow things that acupuncture can do. It’s a weird, weird time to be a human on this planet but this clinic is still … what this clinic has always been.

If you’d like to have a conversation with Lisa before booking an appointment, please get in touch.