Le Nordik Spa massage therapist arrested for sexual assault
Updated: Apr 21
A former massage therapist from Le Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea has been arrested for an alleged sexual assault of a client in December of last year, police say.
MRC des Collines Police say they believe 45-year-old Gatineau resident Francisco Cordoba Eguis may have assaulted other victims, as he worked at the Chelsea spa from June 2019 to December 2022.
“The assault occurred in December 2022 in the context of his work,” said police in a statement on April 20. “The investigative evidence gathered leads us to believe that there may have been other victims.”
Police urge other victims to come forward by contacting Detective Sergeant Melanie Tremblay at 819-459-2422 - ext. 3244 or 1-877-459-2422 - ext. 3244.
Le Nordik stated that it is fully cooperating with police and noted that Eguis was a self-employed massage therapist who, like all massage therapists at the spa, underwent a police criminal background check. The company said it fired Eguis as soon as the complaint was filed. Le Nordik Spa-Nature general manager Isabelle Mathieu condemned the behaviour in a statement April 20 and said the spa has a “rigorous selection process for massage therapy professionals.”
“These behaviours are not tolerated in our company,” she wrote. ‘’Nordik Spa-Nature also wishes to express its empathy and is sincerely saddened by Mr. Cordoba Eguis' alleged actions towards the victim. Providing a safe and healthy environment for our visitors, employees, and contractors will always be a priority, and we will continue to actively collaborate with the authorities in this matter.”
Eguis is also a staff member at a school with the Centre de Services Scolaire Des Portages-De-L'Outaouais (CSSPO), the French school board in West Quebec, the Low Down has learned. One parent confirmed that Eguis was a staff member at Au Coeur Des Collines elementary school in Masham.
"Although this individual worked at your child's school, he did not work in direct support of the students," wrote CSSPO Director-general Nadine Peterson in an email to parents and obtained by the Low Down. "We would like to advise you that this individual is now suspended from duty while the investigation is conducted."
Anyone with information is urged to contact police immediately.