A Metro Vancouver massage therapist and acupuncturist with ties to New Westminster has been suspended from practising massage after criminal charges of sexual assault and a parallel regulatory inquiry were launched.
Interim professional suspension in place
The College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC issued an interim order, effective Aug. 11, that suspends Chao (Rex) Yang from practising massage pending completion of the college’s investigation. The action follows a charge laid in February alleging a sexual assault in New Westminster on Dec. 3, 2025.
The college said Yang self-reported the criminal investigation to the regulator on Dec. 11, 2025 and provided a copy of an undertaking he entered into with the New Westminster Police Department. The undertaking includes restrictions designed to limit contact with massage clients during the criminal proceedings.
“The respondent provided the college with a copy of an undertaking that he entered into with the New Westminster Police Department in relation to that charge,”
Restrictions and ongoing enquiries
Under the police undertaking Yang is legally prohibited from going to any massage parlour, massage clinic or massage school and from participating in the practice of massage therapy. The college’s interim order states the panel found reasonable grounds to believe Yang’s continued, unrestricted practice posed a significant risk of harm.
“The panel applied the applicable statutory test and, without deciding the merits of the allegations, was satisfied there are reasonable grounds to believe that the respondent’s continued, unrestricted practice as a massage therapist poses a significant risk of harm,”
Yang’s acupuncture practice is not currently affected by the college’s order, which notes the regulatory investigation is separate from the criminal proceedings.
Local practice history and court schedule
The college’s online directory indicates Yang became a registered massage therapist in May 2025. The order says he has practised in New Westminster, Burnaby and Vancouver, and has been employed at Marpole Chiropractic in Vancouver and Panda Clinic in Burnaby.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alleged incident | Dec. 3, 2025 (New Westminster) |
| Self-report to college | Dec. 11, 2025 |
| Interim order effective | Aug. 11, 2026 |
| Court pre-trial | April 13, 2027 |
| Trial dates | June 2027 |
Community implications and next steps
For residents who use regulated massage services, the college’s interim suspension signals heightened regulatory scrutiny and an attempt to reduce risk while investigations continue. The college has initiated its own inquiry separate from the criminal court process; outcomes from either process could lead to further regulatory or legal sanctions.
- The respondent is barred from massage clinics, parlours and schools while the police undertaking is in effect.
- Massage suspension does not currently extend to acupuncture, though the college’s investigation remains ongoing.
- Legal proceedings continue with a pre-trial scheduled for April 13, 2027 and trial dates set for June 2027.
The college’s interim order emphasises it reached its decision without determining the truth of the allegations, applying instead the statutory threshold for immediate action to protect the public. The matter will continue through both the criminal justice system and the college’s regulatory process.
Updates on the case and any further actions by the college or by police will be relevant to New Westminster residents who rely on local regulated health services and for employers who engage massage and complementary health practitioners in the region.
