Pietro Abela

Pietro Abela, is the visionary and co-founder of The ARC Institute and the creator of ARC Bodywork. He has been an ARC Practitioner since 1990. Pietro is also a distinguished teacher, mentor and workshop leader and writer.

Following careers as a professional musician and school teacher, Pietro began an intensive two year training in nutrition in 1986. He later studied with renowned teachers throughout North America, such as Barbara Brennan, Rosalyn Bruyere and Ron Kurtz. Pietro's studies and research on stress, emotional issues and their connections to physical well-being led him to development of ARC's powerful self-healing methods.

Many of his clients wanted to learn his highly successful health care techniques. This led to the creation of the first ARC class in 1994. The classes grew in popularity and eventually developed into program. The ARC Institute was born in 2000, as a school of consciousness. 

Pietro travels internationally with his wife Melanie, teaching for The ARC Institute. He has recently completed his first book, A Return to Consciousness, and awaits a publishing date. 

Melanie Abela

Melanie Abela, M.A. is the co-founder, Spiritual Director and President of The ARC Institute. Her career encompasses 30 years in the healing arts. She has a B.A. in psychology from Ohio University, an M.A. in Art Therapy from Wright State University and a postgraduate diploma in Spiritual Direction from the Chalmers Institute in Vancouver, BC.

Melanie Abela combined art, creative expression, and healing for over thirty years. She has had internships in holistic health and intuitive training, and has worked as an art therapist both in private practice and in hospitals. She has also been an art therapist and creative arts workshop leader for various outreach programs specializing in serving emotionally, physically and mentally disabled individuals.  

Melanie currently has a private practice in spiritual and creative arts mentoring in Qualicum Beach, BC, and Seattle, Washington. Her work as an art therapist has received acclaim from the governor of North Carolina and Self magazine.

Glen Timbers

Glen is ARC's Executive Manager and brings thirty-two years of acclaimed experience in health management to the team. 

As President and CEO of the United Church Health Services Society, he was directly responsible for the establishment of the Health Services Society, stressing the importance of community ownership and holistic services in health-care. Glen was the founding Director of the Community Care Facilities Branch and Director of Licensing for the Ministry of Health in British Columbia. Additionally, he has worked extensively towards improving health and access to health services in First Nations communities. 

Glen is devoted to his own spiritual and personal growth work and enjoys traveling and spending retreat time in his cottage in British Columbia.

Heather Faris

Heather Faris, BFA, is an ARC Institute Instructor and a Certified ARC Health Practitioner. Heather brings to ARC a wealth of experience evolving out of a commitment to her own creative healing process and spiritual journey.  

Over the last sixteen years she has studied and explored various healing arts including Hakomi, Reiki, Chi Gong, Kabbalah, Authentic Movement, Creative Visualization and Journey Work.  Her role as instructor for The ARC Institute supports her commitment to facilitating ways for people to live more embodied, heart-centered lives.

Heather is passionate about working in circle and uses it as a creative vessel to offer workshops. She developed and facilitated Corporate Circle Workshops for lululemon athletica (Calgary) and is creator of the ARC Circle workshops.  She believes we all have rich inner worlds and recognizes the value in being acknowledged or witnessed in a deep respectful way. Heather has been meeting in and calling ceremonial circles for over 16 years and has been in private practice as an ARC Bodywork Therapist since 2003.

Heather has a degree in Visual Arts from the University of Victoria and is a graduate of ARC's Spiritual Deepening and Self Care Program.  She has a love of animals and the natural world and practices animal communication.  When Heather is not working she creates sculpture and 3D collage using stones, branches, bones, fabric and varied materials.

April Inness

April Inness is an ARC Instructor and a Certified ARC Health Practitioner. Her determination to pursue her personal healing journey brought April into the realm of many spiritual, self help and personal growth experiences. These have provided her with a broad foundation of knowledge, skill and insight.

In addition to her ARC studies, April is a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and has completed course work for Loving Presence, Hawaiian Huna, Therapeutic Touch, Energetic Anatomy and Physiology and, Developing Your Intuitive Mind. For nine years April has had an ARC practice in Powell River.

April discovered that improving awareness of her inner Self increased her personal empowerment as well as improved her parenting and relationship skills. This led her to become an ARC Instructor and also to develop and teach a course called "Who Am I?"

As a facilitator and teacher April is committed to helping others awaken to a stronger sense of Self, thereby assisting them to recognize and embrace the power in their own personal journey.

Her passion in teaching both for the ARC Institute and the "Who Am I" classes comes from her belief that we all have access to inner strength and personal power. April's heart is nourished by helping others to obtain the tools that support the journey of enhancing emotional and physical health.