Get To Know Our Piercing Team
KELLY "THE WESTCOAST PIERCING GUY"
President/Piercer
He was one of those caught up the in the boom of piercing, trying to become mainstream, while remaining risqué in the 90's.
With the popularity of piercings escalating during the mid 90's, brought on more cases of infections due to improper aftercare, inappropriate jewelry or poor piercing techniques. There seemed to be more inconsistent information on these three things than any other personal service out there and Kelly wanted to know why. Lets face it, don't you want to know that anyone working on your body knows what he/she is talking about.
Kelly saw that many people were being hurt by simple lack of information. Many of these were teens that didn't know there were other options and too naive to ask questions through there excitement. This was the time of infamous infected navels, nostrils and ears. While working two part time jobs and raising two young boys on his own, he thought maybe this was his new calling where he could make a difference and help the next generation to best protect themselves. What a grand idea, only three minor problems. He didn't like blood, didn't like needles and he didn't like to hurt people. He quickly worked through his dislikes, while chasing his dream. Because of his own beliefs and wanting to promote a safe and healthy practice, he extensively researched the body piercing industry through the mid 90's and was certified as a piercer in 1999. He provided free info sessions to assist people to better understand the industry with respect to health, safety and aftercare while working in a few select B.C. Locations.
Kelly enjoyed helping people celebrate their bodys' in a safe way and wanted to take it one step further by being the first person to work hand in hand with the local health authorities to obtain their approval, opening a fully licensed mobile body piercing studio in 1999. It is with this studio that he started attending special events, exhibitions and concerts. He did many a contest for 104.9XFM and 99.3 THEFOX and even pierced some special guests: Offspring, Big Wreck, Slaves on Dope and Swollen Members, just to name a few. He was always there to offer his expertise in a sanitary environment and provide you with a comprehensive aftercare form so you knew exactly what to do, or not to do and leaving you with full access to himself at all times.
In 2001 he opened a full showroom boasting the largest selection of body jewelery in Canada. With the large amount of public exposure and praise it wasn't long before his quaint showroom in Surrey, B. C. to become a known name and hotspot in which people have traveled many a mile to come to.
Kelly knew there was a key element missing in his showroom.......Tattoos! At the end of 2003 he introduced the inevitable, “The Ink Den” . This is where tattoos would be done within the showroom. Being that he had a creative mind and eye for art, but couldn't draw worth a damn, he brought in artists that could. In 2011, changed the name to Westcoast Piercing and Ink.
In 2014 Kelly opened a NEW larger state of the art Piercing and Tattoo studio, where he continues to provide his clients with the best service and care under aseptic conditions. He continues his education by attending numerous courses, including Fakir Intensives. Kelly is now a proud member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and attends the APP Conferences annually, taking numerous courses.
In 2019, after 20 years of excellent service, Kelly returned Westcoast Piercing and Ink back to its roots of his passion, body piercing. Due to overwhelming demand he has expanded the piercing department and team and closed the Tattoo department after 12 years. Kelly now focuses on elaborate custom design jewelry and specializes in male and female intimate piercings and ear projects. Let Kelly put your mind to ease and help make your dreams a reality.
JULIE "JEWELS"
Manager/Piercer
Julie “Jewels” is the Manager and Piercer with Westcoast Piercing
Julie has a background in Makeup Artistry, Hair styling, Modelling, First Aid Training and Body Piercing.
After starting her own successful business in Beauty Consulting, she began teaching various courses on Makeup Artistry, Exotic Hair Braiding techniques and Self Improvement.
Julie was also a Qualified Level One First Aid Instructor and held her Level 3 in Occupational First Aid, which also helps in providing the best care for her clients.
Drawing on over 35 years experience, Julie now focuses on the art of Body Piercing.
She joined Westcoast Piercing as a Piercing Apprentice under Kelly Brookes and has continued her training by attending several Fakir Intensives Body Piercing courses in San Francisco.
She has being piercing for approximately 16 years and is now a proud member of the Association of Professional Piercers. (APP) where she attends the APP Conferences annually and continues her piercing education.
Julie continues to help others to become a “Better version of themselves”, through the adornment of their bodies. She is known for her calming influence and demeanor and has clients traveling distances to perform all body piercing procedures, including intimate piercings on both female and male clients.
Let Julie make you feel comfortable and put your mind at ease with her knowledge and natural kind and professional manner.
CALEB
Piercer
Caleb has been with us since March 2019. He is a born and raised Alberta boy and has found a home at Westcoast Piercing.
Caleb Has Been an App Member since 2020 and has graduated from the Fakir Basic piercing course in October 2019.
He is a Queer artist and has always found a home within the body modification community. He is forever modifying and improving his earthy form.
Caleb's younger self has been using body modification as a form of self expression, exploration and acceptance. Ask him and he is happy to share his profound journey of expression, Queerness, Art and Love he has found.
Having such life changing experiences himself, he wishes to share that with the lovely clients of Westcoast Piercing.
Outside of work he enjoys Camping, Gardening, Activism and Vegan cooking.
Pyper
Apprentice Piercer
While Pyper is a new addition to the Westcoast team, her journey with body piercing is nothing new. Through her teen years, she used piercing as a way to express her neurodivergent inner self and "decorate her avatar", if you will.
Growing into adulthood and in discovering her queerness, she was able to fully embrace her desire to shine outwardly in the ways she felt inside. At 26, she decided she wanted to be able to help others feel at home in their own skin as she'd come to feel, and began pursuing her career in body piercing
Beginning with a 3 day course in September 2022, she quickly realized that she had so much left to learn and a roaring desire to go out and learn it.
In October, she found herself nervously walking through the front doors of Westcoast Piercing in hopes this would be the thing she'd felt was missing throughout her life. She began her apprentiship in November, and by December confidently knew she had finally found her calling.
Spending the following months absorbing every minute detail her AuDHD head could handle, in March 2023 she jetted off to San Fransisco to continue her education at the Fakir Intensive Basics in Body Piercing course. This experience made her fall even more in love with the art of body piercing.
Passing with flying colours and returning home, she is excited each day to learn everything possible to help others feel as comfortable and confident in themselves & their "avatars" as she has come to. While her journey is still just beginning, it's one she truly hopes never ends, and is so thankful to have found somewhere to call home at Westcoast Piercing.
Kennedy
Apprentice Piercer
Kennedy is our newest addition to Westcoast Piercing. She has a background in makeup artistry, and has always loved educating and helping her clients find ways to express themselves. This is one of they many reasons Kennedy has started her career in body piercing.
Kennedy has attended and completed a Fakir Intensives Course in San Francisco, giving her a well educated start into the industry.
In her free time, Kennedy loves camping outdoors, travelling when she can, and is a huge book worm. Kennedy is known for her bright bubbly personality and is excited to share with all her Westcoast Piercing client family!