Vicki Peters, owner of Vitality Laser Clinic in Saanich, recently joined Shawn O’Hara on the True North Compliance Podcast to talk about how she built her clinic, how laser treatments are regulated in BC, and what clients should ask before booking with any practitioner. Here’s a link to the podcast.
From Dental Hygiene to Laser Clinic
Before opening Vitality Laser Clinic in 2021, Vicki spent 15 years as a registered dental hygienist. A stressful stretch of life had left her looking in the mirror and not recognizing the person looking back. She saved for cosmetic treatment, but when COVID cancelled her appointment, she spent the money renovating her house instead. While finishing the floors, she had a thought: if she owned a laser, she could treat herself whenever she wanted.
That idea grew into a new career. Her healthcare background in anatomy, pharmacology, infection prevention, and patient care carried over well, and she named the clinic after what she was looking for: vitality. Her goal isn’t to make anyone look like someone else. It’s to help people feel good about who they see in the mirror.
A Confusing Regulatory Landscape
Vicki explained that laser aesthetics in BC is “kind of regulated and kind of not.” Health Canada licenses the devices themselves. As of April 1, 2026, BC’s Health Professions and Occupations Act restricts certain laser uses to authorized health professionals, but different regulatory colleges can interpret those rules differently. No regulatory college oversees laser technicians, and provincial safety guidelines for laser hair removal aren’t enforced.
As a result, much of the responsibility falls on the practitioner. For Vicki, that means using Health Canada-licensed equipment, following manufacturer protocols, knowing when not to treat, and consulting her mentors on complex cases. She’ll also refer clients elsewhere when another clinic is a better fit, even if it means losing the booking.
Marketing Without the Hype
Vicki is clear about what she won’t do in her marketing: no airbrushed images, no “best laser in town” claims, and no promises of guaranteed results. Every person responds to treatment differently, and she believes advertising should reflect that.
She’s also wary of deep-discount offers designed to get people in the chair and upsell them later. She would rather build lasting relationships with clients who return over the years and refer their friends and family. When she added a new microneedling-with-radiofrequency device, she offered it to existing clients at a discount while she built her confidence, before advertising it to the public.
What to Ask Before You Book
Vicki’s advice for anyone considering laser or skin treatment, wherever they live, is to ask a lot of questions. A certificate on the wall only shows that someone completed a course. Ask how much training and hands-on experience your practitioner has, how often they perform the treatment you want, and whether they can explain what they’re doing and why. Check reviews, and ask whether their equipment is Health Canada licensed.
At Vitality Laser Clinic, every treatment follows a written protocol, consultation checklist, and detailed charting, so nothing is left to memory.
Visit Vitality Laser Clinic
📍 4204 Morris Drive, Saanich (near Lake Hill School, with free parking)
🌐 vitalitylaserclinic.ca
📸 Instagram: @vitalitylaserclinic.yyj
👍 Facebook: Vitality Laser Clinic YYJ