What Is a Collective? | Comox Valley’s Medical Day Spa
How a women-owned beauty collective in Courtenay, BC is redefining small-business collaboration, elevating aesthetic care, and bringing big-city services to the Comox Valley.
The Story of Clinic 5 Collective
When Clinic 5 Collective opened its doors in Courtenay in 2017, the intention was never to be “just another beauty clinic.” The vision was deeper, more intentional, rooted in a desire to create a space where women could build independent businesses without the isolation that so often accompanies small-town entrepreneurship. In the Comox Valley, talent runs deep, but opportunities can feel limited. A group of female business owners recognized that limitation not as a barrier but as an invitation to innovate, and from that, the idea of the Collective was born.
The beauty industry has always been shaped by individual expertise, whether through highly trained nurses, skilled laser technicians, cosmetic injectors or hair artists. But what happens when these independent strengths come together under one roof? What happens when women stop competing and start collaborating? Clinic 5 Collective was created to answer those questions through action. The women who built it believed that by combining their unique talents, they could deliver a level of service typically found in larger centres like Vancouver; only here, rooted in the culture, pace, and warmth of Courtenay.
Their shared values formed the foundation: safety, education, professionalism, ethical care, and a commitment to delivering advanced aesthetic treatments with honesty and clarity. Each business inside the Collective operates independently, but all contribute to a unified mission; to give clients in the Comox Valley the highest level of care, delivered through multiple small businesses working together in one modern, supportive space.
Not Your Average Comox Valley Spa & Wellness Center
The Collective model is still rare in the beauty and wellness world, especially in smaller communities. Most clinics operate as single-owner entities with one brand, one business model, and a singular scope of services. Clinic 5 Collective chose a different path, and that difference is felt from the moment someone steps into the Courtenay space. Instead of encountering a single service menu or one stylistic approach, clients enter a women-owned hub of professionals, each bringing depth in their individual specialties.
Why does this matter for you, as the client? When you are choosing Clinic 5 Collective, you aren’t choosing a sole provider with experience across a plethora of modalities. You are choosing a hyperspecialized expert for the particular treatment you desire. Each business owner inside the Collective brings her own education, perspective, and approach. This creates a depth of knowledge that ensures clients receive nuanced guidance tailored to their individual goals. Instead of one provider attempting to specialize in everything, the Collective empowers each woman to stay within her zone of mastery, while still offering clients a diversified range of beauty and wellness services inside one location. This is the advantage of multiple small businesses working together. It is more than convenience, it is expertise multiplied.
With that, each provider within Clinic 5 Collective operates her business, providing our clients treatments on their own schedule. That’s why we operate on an appointment only basis, the provider you book with will be the one spearheading your entire experience at Clinic 5 Collective, from opening the door and reception, to the treatment and aftercare instructions. That’s why we do not have hours posted—they vary immensely from provider to provider. You may see our clinic lights on at 7pm at night or doors opening at 8am, it really depends on the client demand and how each Collective member operates. Each of our providers are independent and doing their best to accommodate their clients while working around growing families and childcare—we are so grateful for the understanding and support of our clients on this.
For those of you who have already been in, you’ll know we have a beautiful boutique shop in our reception area, curated with 95% Canadian products, mostly female and family owned. With our varied business hours, we make shopping this beautiful collection easier by offering private shopping times where our team will open the door for you and offer you a personalized experience with no interruptions. You can also browse our shop online anytime here. We also offer local same-day deliveries at no charge.
Beyond the Collective difference, Clinic 5 Collective is elevating your traditional Courtenay day spa experience by being home to some of the most advanced technology and medical-grade equipment on the market. While there is a time and a place for relaxing treatments (and we are no stranger to them), our team focuses on in-spa treatments that actually work. Noticeable improvements with every treatment or session.
While Courtenay may be a small city, the standards here reflect big-city expectations: VIHA-inspected treatment rooms, highly trained nurses and technicians, and devices selected for their safety profiles and clinical effectiveness. The Collective model allows multiple independent providers to invest in shared access to higher-end devices: lasers, photorejuvenation systems, microneedling platforms; making results-driven treatments more accessible to the Comox Valley.
Women-Owned, Community-Driven
Kristie, owner and operator of Clinic 5 Collective, strives to elevate the obstacles in the way of other female entrepreneurs in Comox Valley through the Collective.
The women at Clinic 5 Collective share a lived understanding of what it means to build a business in a small town. They know the challenges of overhead, space, marketing, licensing, and the pressure to scale quickly. The Collective addresses these realities by giving each entrepreneur a professional, modern environment without the isolation of operating alone. Collaboration becomes an everyday practice: sharing knowledge, sharing clients when appropriate, supporting growth, and uplifting one another through the ebb and flow of business ownership.
For clients, this translates into an environment built on trust rather than sales pressure. When a space is filled with independently owned women-led businesses, credibility increases because decisions are guided by experience rather than quotas. Providers are not working for the same brand, they are working for themselves and for their clients. That independence fosters honesty, transparency, and a level of care people immediately feel when they enter the clinic.
This spirit of shared growth is part of what makes Clinic 5 Collective unique in the Comox Valley. While Courtenay has several respected day spas, medical spas and wellness centres, Clinic 5 Collective stands apart as one of the only true collectives, where the collaboration is part of the business model, not simply a work environment. And because the Collective is women-owned, the experience carries an added sense of connection, empowerment, and community strength.
Meet the Collective | Clinic 5 Collective Team
For a client walking through the doors, the experience is noticeably different from a traditional beauty clinic. The Collective’s atmosphere feels warm but elevated, modern without being intimidating, clinical yet deeply personal. Instead of speaking to a single receptionist representing one business, clients interact with individual providers who manage their own schedules, services, and relationships. Here are some of the friendly faces you’ll get to know and love at Clinic 5 Collective:
Kristie – Owner & Operator, Clinic 5 Collective
Kristie is the owner and operator with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She is deeply hands-on with client care while also curating a team of trusted experts who share her standards for results, safety, and experience. Kristie works closely alongside the Clinic 5 team to deliver advanced services including body contouring, advanced facials and chemical peels, IPL skin rejuvenation, laser hair removal, and microneedling.
Kate – Certified Laser Technician
Kate is a key member of the Clinic 5 Laser team, working closely with Kristie to deliver high-quality aesthetic treatments in a welcoming, professional environment. With a strong focus on education and personalized care, Kate offers a range of services including body contouring, facials and chemical peels, IPL skin rejuvenation, laser hair removal, microneedling, and skin tightening.
Katie – Certified Laser Technician
Katie works alongside Kristie as part of the core Clinic 5 Laser team, offering results-driven aesthetic treatments tailored to each client’s goals. Known for her attention to detail and thoughtful approach, Katie provides services including body contouring, facials and chemical peels, IPL skin rejuvenation, laser hair removal, microneedling, and skin tightening, always prioritizing skin health and long-term results.
Keegan – Laser Technician & Licensed Practical Nurse
Keegan brings a calm, client-focused approach to advanced aesthetic treatments at Clinic 5 Laser on a limited basis when her nursing job allows spare time. Working alongside Kristie, Keegan provides services such as body contouring, facials and chemical peels, IPL skin rejuvenation, laser hair removal, microneedling, and skin tightening, with an emphasis on comfort, precision, and natural-looking outcomes.
Dr. Heather Iverson, ND – Cosmetic Injectables Provider
Dr. Heather Iverson, ND offers cosmetic injection out of Clinic 5 Collective, specializing in neuromodulators and dermal fillers with a natural, balanced approach. Known for helping clients feel at ease—especially those new to injectables—Dr. Heather focuses on subtle enhancements that respect facial anatomy and individual goals.
Ginnessa – Owner & Lash Artist, GEM Lashes
Ginnessa is the owner of GEM Lashes and provides professional lash services within Clinic 5 Collective. Her work is known for precision, customization, and enhancing natural features, offering clients everything from classic to more defined lash looks in a polished, relaxing setting.
Bree – Owner & Waxing Specialist, Your Nooks & Crannies
Bree is the owner of Your Nooks & Crannies and offers expert waxing services as part of the Clinic 5 Collective. With over a decade of experience, Bree is known for her fast, meticulous technique and her ability to make clients feel completely comfortable, safe, and cared for during every appointment.
Lauryn – Owner & Hairstylist, Hair by Lauryn
Lauryn is the owner of Hair by Lauryn and provides hair artistry within the Clinic 5 Collective, specializing in balayage, lived-in colour, and men’s cuts. Her work blends technical skill with an effortless, modern aesthetic, creating hair that grows out beautifully and fits each client’s lifestyle.
Book Now | Courtenay Day Spa
Courtenay’s day spa, Courtenay’s medical spa, Courtenay’s beauty and laser clinic—whatever you call Clinic 5 Collective, know this is a place where client experience standards are high and you come first. We look forward to seeing you soon.