Nordik Spa Village in Chelsea, Que., has announced a set of safety measures for its massage services in response to a class action lawsuit alleging sexual assault that names 36 massage therapists over a 19-year period, according to CBC.
The spa published the changes on its website. They include criminal background checks for massage therapists and mandatory training on consent and the prevention of sexual violence.
Groupe Nordik founder Martin Paquette addressed the allegations in a statement posted to social media, writing that he felt "deeply shaken" and "angry" when he learned of them, CBC reports.
Why it matters
The lawsuit covers alleged misconduct spanning nearly two decades and involves dozens of therapists, making it one of the more significant cases to hit Quebec's wellness sector. The measures at Nordik arrive as massage therapy associations in the province have been pressing for tighter regulation, a push CBC has reported on in connection with the suit.
Paquette's statement went further than his own business, calling for stronger government oversight of the massage therapy industry in Quebec. He said what happened at his establishment is not unique to Nordik — a claim that shifts part of the discussion toward how the sector as a whole is governed.
What the new rules require
Under the changes, therapists must pass a criminal background check before working at the spa. They must also complete instruction on consent and on preventing sexual violence.
The spa is additionally requiring that therapists remain in good standing with a recognized professional association.
Massage services will be moved to a dedicated floor staffed with security personnel, separating them from the rest of the facility.
Clients will be asked to sign an electronic consent form, which they can revise at any point during a session. Therapists must seek consent before working on what the spa describes as sensitive areas, defined as the buttocks, the upper inner thighs and the pectoral area.
Two further options are being introduced. Clients may request that the audio of their session be recorded, and the spa is putting in place a new process for lodging complaints.
Pressure on a wider industry
The Nordik case has already drawn attention from professional bodies. CBC has reported that massage therapy associations in Quebec have used the lawsuit as an occasion to argue for stricter rules across the field.
Paquette's public comments align him with that position, though his statement did not detail what specific regulatory changes he is seeking.
The spa has not indicated a timeline for when each measure will take effect, and it is not clear from the published list whether the recording option applies to all massage services or only some.
What to watch: whether Quebec regulators respond to calls for tighter oversight of massage therapy, and how the class action proceeds through the courts.
