Opened upstairs off Corydon in 2017, and named for the tree in the back lane.
Joanne Pruden spent nine years as a nurse in a Winnipeg dermatology practice, the last three of them injecting. What she noticed most was how often people left a consult without knowing what anything would cost or how long it would take to settle. When she opened her own clinic, the plan sheet came first: every treatment written down, with its units, its price and its downtime, before anything happens.
The clinic is two treatment rooms and a consult room at the top of a fir staircase. Out the back window there’s a tamarack, the only conifer around here that turns gold and drops its needles. It turns in the second week of October, which is when we open laser and IPL season, so the name was easy.
Dr. Ruth Achterberg, a family physician, is our medical director. Mai Nguyen joined in 2019 and runs the lasers. Corinne Lavallée answers the phone, and she’ll tell you honestly if what you’re asking about isn’t something we do well.
- 2014
- Joanne starts injecting at the dermatology practice.
- 2017
- Tamarack opens with one treatment room.
- 2019
- Mai joins; the first laser arrives (755 nm).
- 2022
- Second room, and a 1064 nm laser for deeper skin tones.
- 2025
- Corinne takes over the front desk and the plan sheets go digital, printed on request.
Who you’ll meet, and who does what
Four people, one staircase. The person at your consult is the person who treats you, and they’ll tell you their designation if you ask (or before you do).
Joanne Pruden, RN
Registered nurse injector and owner
Injections, filler, medium peels and microneedling deeper than 1 mm. Writes every injectable plan.
Doesn’t do laser or IPL. That’s Mai’s, every time.
Mai Nguyen
Medical aesthetician and laser technician
Laser hair removal, IPL, light peels, facials and microneedling to 1 mm. Does every patch test.
Doesn’t inject, and hands anything deeper than 1 mm to Joanne.
Dr. Ruth Achterberg
Family physician, medical director
Writes the medical directives our nurses work under and sees anyone whose assessment needs a doctor. Not on site every day.
Isn’t at the clinic every day. Ask for her and we’ll book it.
Corinne Lavallée
Clinic coordinator
Answers the phone and the form, books consults and sends your written plan.
Doesn’t give medical advice. She’ll book you in with someone who can.
From 214 Google reviewsA sample rating for this demo. We don’t quote reviews here: Manitoba’s nursing and physician colleges restrict testimonials for cosmetic treatments.
What you take home from a consult. A sample plan, for frown lines:
- Day 0Consult30 minutes with Joanne. $50, credited below.
- Day 0Written planFrown lines, 20 units at $12. Settles by day 14. Nothing added on the day.
- Day 0TreatmentAbout 20 minutes. Upright for four hours, no workout tonight.
- Day 14CheckIncluded. A top-up, if one side needs it, is $12 a unit.
- Month 3 or 4Next visitWhen movement comes back. No reminder calls unless you want them.