More than 80 people have come forward claiming sexual assault at Le Nordik spa in Chelsea, Quebec. CTV
More than 80 people have come forward alleging sexual assault at a popular spa in Chelsea, Quebec. The claims surfaced after a proposed class-action lawsuit was filed against Le Nordik on August 13 in Montreal. The lead plaintiff, identified only as A.B., shared her experience from a December 2024 visit for a massage.
“The first problem was he was applying way too much pressure and I had to ask him three times to stop pressing so hard,” A.B. said. “And then just other things happened that shouldn’t have happened throughout the massage.”
According to the lawsuit, the male massage therapist allegedly allowed A.B. to touch his genitals through his pants and kept eye contact when she was fully exposed. She also claims he threw a towel at her face and inappropriately touched her inner thigh.
“I was like, ‘Did I just feel that? Is that really happening?’” she said. “Unfortunately, I froze. It’s frustrating. I wish I would have jumped up and yelled or screamed or something, but I didn’t.”
Spa’s Response
Le Nordik has stated it cannot comment on the class-action lawsuit at this time but emphasized it cooperates with authorities in all allegations. A spokesperson said, “Le Nordik Spa Village Chelsea maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy with respect to any misconduct or inappropriate behaviour by massage therapists practising within its establishment.”
The spa added it performs rigorous screening for all therapists, including criminal background checks, and conducts audits during their employment.
Legal Proceedings
The proposed class action must still be certified, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
“She’s claiming that because the massage therapist committed the wrongs, committed the faults, the spa has to pay for those faults,” said Philippe Brault of Lambert Avocats, representing the claimant. “But she’s also going after the spa directly… alleging that the spa did not take the appropriate measures or enough measures to prevent these cases of sexual abuse from taking place.”
Since the filing, more than 80 alleged victims have contacted the law firm. A.B. said, “I want to be a voice for them, and I want to kind of share as much as I possibly can so that their suffering is not quite as bad and they get some compensation for what’s gone on.”
Concerns Over Management
The lawsuit claims Le Nordik failed to prevent these incidents. Brault added, “We realized that different massage therapists were involved and that many different victims had allegedly been assaulted while at the spa, which is why we believe there wasn’t just a problem with the massage therapists, but also a problem with the management.”
A.B. said she hopes victims receive compensation and that the spa improves its policies. The lawsuit also asks Le Nordik to mandate training on sexual violence and adopt stricter hiring criteria.
Unlike Ontario, Quebec has no provincial regulatory board for massage therapists, which A.B. says makes it easier for inappropriate behavior to occur. “With less training and no board to report to, it makes it easier for them to do things that are inappropriate,” she said.
