Quebec Court Authorizes Class-Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Assaults at Nordik Spa

A Quebec Superior Court judge authorized a class-action lawsuit on Oct. 2, against Nordik Spa Village in Chelsea, Que., alleging a longstanding pattern of sexual assault and misconduct involving at least 36 massage therapists between 2007 and 2026. Court documents show that 143 people joined the proposed class action between August 13, 2025, and July 3, 2026. The lawsuit asserts institutional negligence, claiming the spa failed to implement adequate safeguards to prevent assaults and offered gift cards to some complainants.

Nordik Spa Village stated that the court’s authorization does not rule on the merits of the allegations and that it will present its defense at a later stage. The spa added that it has taken all necessary measures to ensure a safe and trustworthy environment.

Court Certifies Class Action over Sexual Assault Allegations

Quebec Superior Court Justice Enrico Forlini certified the class action following a filing by Montreal law firm Lambert Avocats. The case was initially launched in August 2025 by a woman identified in court documents as A.B., who alleges she was sexually assaulted during a $152 treatment by a male massage therapist in December 2024. According to court filings cited by the Montreal Gazette, the complainant stated the therapist did not explain which body parts would be treated, failed to offer the option of remaining partially clothed, placed a towel over her face, and touched her inappropriately while she froze in shock. Global News reported that the woman subsequently reported the incident to police.

Brault, a lawyer with Lambert Avocats representing the plaintiffs, told Global News that the volume of claimants demonstrates a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents. The lawsuit alleges that multiple complainants who reported misconduct to management were offered gift cards to return to the facility, and that accused therapists were not dismissed. CTV News and the Montreal Gazette noted that the filing also references previous criminal cases at the facility, including the 2021 conviction of massage therapist Maxime Bédard, who was sentenced to six months in prison for assaulting two clients, and the January 2026 conviction of therapist Adam Leroux for sexual assault.

Industry Response and Calls for Tighter Regulation

The class-action proceedings have renewed pressure on the provincial government to increase oversight of the wellness industry. CBC News reported that while Quebec has no government regulator for massage therapists—meaning anyone can practice unless barred by a court—six professional associations representing 90 percent of the profession created an expulsion registry earlier this year.

Étienne Durand, executive director of the Réseau des massothérapeutes professionnels du Québec, told CBC News that regulatory gaps persist because practitioners can continue working independently even if expelled from an association. Industry representatives are calling on the provincial government to establish mandatory minimum training standards and reserve the legal title of massage therapist exclusively for qualified individuals, ensuring that expelled practitioners are barred from the profession entirely.

Nordik Spa Village Moves Proceedings to Gatineau

Nordik Spa Village did not oppose the authorization of the class action, though it successfully requested that the proceedings be transferred from Montreal to Gatineau, as noted by the Montreal Gazette. In its statement to Global News and CTV News, the spa reiterated that the court’s decision is strictly procedural and does not evaluate the substance of the claims.

We wish to reiterate that we have taken and continue to take all necessary measures to ensure a respectful, safe and trustworthy environment at our establishment, the spa stated, declining further comment while the litigation is active.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, reimbursement of treatment costs, and an acknowledgment of responsibility.