Nordik Spa tightens massage safety rules amid sexual assault class action
Nordik Spa Village in Chelsea, Que., has introduced new massage therapy safety measures as a class-action lawsuit involving nearly 150 claimants moves forward.
New consent protocols at Nordik Spa as class action over sexual assault allegations proceeds
Nordik Spa Village in Chelsea, Quebec, has rolled out a series of new safety measures for its massage therapy services, Global News Crime reports, as a class-action lawsuit involving allegations of sexual assault against multiple massage therapists advances through the courts.
The legal action was first filed by one woman in December 2024. A Quebec judge authorized it to proceed earlier this month, with close to 150 class members now involved — all linked to allegations against 36 massage therapists over two decades of operations.
One of the plaintiffs welcomed the changes but was clear about their limits. "It's good that they are taking measures. Is it enough? No," she told Global News on Wednesday.
Consent training, audio recording and mystery guests
Under the new protocols, massage therapists must complete training on consent and sexual violence prevention and remain in good standing with a recognized professional association.
Guests will be asked whether they consent to having sensitive areas massaged — including the buttocks, upper inner thighs and pectoral area — before a session begins. Therapists must obtain explicit verbal consent again before massaging those areas and conduct at least two verbal check-ins during each session regarding pressure, temperature and overall comfort. An electronic health form will also allow guests to indicate their preferences in advance.
Audio systems are being installed in massage treatment rooms with the guest's prior consent. The recordings will not be routinely reviewed but may be accessed when a complaint is filed.
"The difference really lies in consent training, (introducing) the audio recording, and mystery guests," Groupe Nordik chief operating officer Alexandre Cantin told Global News.
Security personnel will be present at all times on the floor dedicated to massage therapy services, and a mystery guest program has been introduced as part of the spa's prevention measures. Criminal background checks are conducted when massage therapists are first contracted and during each annual renewal.
Cantin described the company's stance as zero-tolerance. "What that means is whenever someone has a complaint, it is completely terminated for the massage therapist."
Groupe Nordik's published measures also state that it maintains a record of complaints, provides information and support to guests who wish to report an incident to authorities, and has overhauled its service agreements with massage therapists.
In a public statement, Groupe Nordik founder Martin Paquette said he was deeply shaken and angered by the allegations.
Industry calls for tighter regulation
The case has also prompted calls for broader reform of Quebec's massage therapy sector. Groupe Nordik is urging tighter provincial regulation, stating the status quo is no longer acceptable.
Maroine Bendaoud, president of the Quebec Massotherapists Federation, said roughly a dozen associations currently operate in the province under different standards. "They all have their different approaches and lists (of members), and many of those lists are not necessarily public," Bendaoud said.
Six major associations representing 95 per cent of the industry are pushing for legislative changes, including a bill that would protect the professional title of massage therapist. "We want to professionalize the discipline, so we are aiming to protect the title of massage therapists with a bill passed at the legislative assembly," Bendaoud said.
The proposed legislation would set minimum training requirements, mandatory criminal background checks, liability insurance and continuing education standards. It would also establish a single, publicly accessible registry. "We want to have one common list that is accessible on one website so the public and the employers can verify if this person is qualified to hold the title," Bendaoud said.
The proposed law would not prevent unlicensed individuals from offering massages under different titles, but proponents argue it would make the industry more accountable and better protect clients.
"Too little, too late," says plaintiff
For at least one of the plaintiffs, the reforms do not address what she says she experienced before they were put in place.
"(Does it come) when I needed it? No. And was it when 143 other women needed it? No," she said. "They knew it was going on and they brushed it under the rug. So it's a little too late."
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Support is available for anyone who has experienced sexual assault or abuse. Crisis lines and local services can be found through the Department of Justice's Victim Services Directory.
Source: Global News Crime