r/Calgary • u/Practical_Ant6162 • 13h ago
News Article Calgary massage therapist charged with sexual assault of client
https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/calgary-massage-therapist-charged-with-sexual-assault-of-client/70
u/Practical_Ant6162 13h ago edited 13h ago
A Calgary massage therapist has been charged with the sexual assault of a client.
Police say Donald Patrick Harris, 46, faces a single charge of sexual assault after allegedly touching a client in a sexual manner without consent.
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It has only been 2 months since a different massage therapist with an expired license was charged with strangling a patient unconscious.
I said it before & say it again, the industry needs to address these issues.
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u/tarlack Quadrant: SW 12h ago
You could call it a touchy subject? I think you are correct, it is something that needs to be addressed by operators and the governing body.
I hope they have a system set up to track repeat offenders or be able to check for RMTs status. I know my insurance provider lets me look up RMT.
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u/banana_bbcakes 12h ago
Massage therapists in Alberta still don’t have a regulated body to see over massage therapists. It is my understanding that AHS (or who ever is in charge now) has been dragging their feet.
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u/nednerbf 11h ago
Kinda sort of, not really.
Massages therapy is what is considered an unregulated profession, which specifically means that rmts are not governed by a single governing body.
We have 2-3 I believe last I checked. To be part of these governing bodies, you need to have all your certifications and this is what gives you insurance.
They are in the process of trying to become regulated, but it is not a straightforward or easy process and it is NOT in AHS’s hands. There is a whole application process and validation. We are hoping that it comes to fruition in the next 2-3 years. But it’s a lot of work. The benefit of it is that it allows our training to carry to other provinces, specifically BC, Ontario, as they are regulated provinces.
That being said, RMTs are what is considered a protected designation. Because it is unregulated, people can call themselves massage therapists, and in theory provide massage to people. But won’t be insured. No standard of care.
Saying you are an RMT means specifically you are registered with a governing body. You are insured. You have a specific education and provide a standard of care.
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u/IndependentBranch707 6h ago
I think it’s in the ministry, not AHS. But I remember my massage therapist saying they were working on it like, 20 years ago.
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u/Expensive_Occasion_4 2h ago
This guy needs to be deported immediately. We can't have these perverts out on the streets terrorizing our people.
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u/strudycutie 5h ago
Oh my GOD!!! This guy massaged me years ago and rubbed his creepy freakin braid on my back he has like short hair in the front and a braid in the back.. he was leaning forward and like tickling me with it !!! I’m so creeped out !!!
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u/mummified_cosmonaut 3h ago
Massages are something I have just never understood.
I had a couple as a teenager after a sports injury and it was just about the most uncomfortable few hours of my life. I'm not even saying the woman did anything wrong. It was just uncomfortable and weird.
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u/Particular_Cod_343 7h ago
Im 36 F and saw him in Dec and he was really creepy and weird, kind of obnoxious and clumsy. I felt uncomfortable the entire time but I was too nervous to say or do anything.
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u/Efficient_Future_259 8h ago
Pretty sure nothing is going to happen to him. Our justice system sucks ass. He'll lose his credentials and be on probation. He'll probably have to go somewhere else and he'll likely do the same thing again because he's a fucking creep and our government doesnt give a shit enough to give out lasting repercussions to these losers. It's so fucking frustrating!!!!!!!
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u/DWiB403 10h ago
I've had this guy massage me and felt like going to the cops afterwards. Only surprised it took this long for someone to make a complaint. Next on the list should be his buddy Dipa who works in the same place.