Massage therapist wants regulated industry

Andrew de Souza

paNOW Staff

Massage therapists wants the city to give businesses licenses only to practitioners who have graduated from a recognized school.

A letter sent to the city Oct. 1 from Darlene McCoshen from the Massage Therapists Association of Saskatchewan requested that a bylaw be created that would require masseurs and masseuses to attend a recognized and accredited massage school before the city would give them a business license.

McCoshen said the association wanted to achieve to things with the new bylaw — higher professionalism and greater recognition.

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“If we can implement this in cities throughout Saskatchewan, and throughout other provinces — if we can do that and amalgamate throughout Canada, then our associations become a lot stronger and we become more professional,” she said.

She pointed to Saskatoon, which recently enacted a similar bylaw.

Iif Prince Albert enacted such a bylaw, it would protect residents by ensuring they receive services from peer-recognized practitioners, McCoshen said.

She said the goal of associations around the country were to get cities to create such bylaws. She said that with enough recognition, the status of massage therapy associations would be raised.
The city’s executive committee received McCoshen’s letter on Monday.

Counc. Martin Ring recommended the request go to the city’s economic development committee for review.

However, he added that he wasn’t completely comfortable with doing the work of professional organizations and regulating an industry —especially one with so many facets and educational institutions.

“It’s really hard to pin down accredited schools when you’re talking about massage therapy or wellness programs,” said Ring. “I’m curious where this one’s going to go.”

The economic development committee will review the proposal and report back to city council.

adesouza@rawlco.com