Ontario spa at centre of $5-million lawsuit following staph contamination to reopen Thursday
A spa village east of Toronto that made headlines last month after it was forced to close some of its facilities due to a ‘health hazard’ will reopen its pools on Thursday.
In a post to social media Wednesday evening, the team behind Thermëa Spa Village in Whitby, Ont. provided the public with an update on the work it says it’s been doing behind the scenes to reopen.
“Thank you for your patience as we introduce an unprecedented level of safety for pools in North America,” the post read. “As a wellness creator, we remain committed to the health and safety of our [sic] everyone who uses our facilities.”
Thermëa closed its pools on Oct. 21 after opening just two weeks earlier following an inspection by Durham Public Health which found pseudomonas and staphylococcus (staph) in its Källa saltwater pool.
More than two dozen guests told CTV News Toronto that they contracted some type of staph infection in the days that followed their exposure to that saltwater pool.
At least 72 people have since been named as plaintiffs in a $5-million civil claim against 11 various defendants, including Groupe Nordik which runs operations at Thermëa.
Since the October closure of the pools, which Thermëa said was done “out of an abundance of caution,” the spa says it has implemented new safety protocols that “exceed anything required by health bodies provincially, and across North America.”
The spa said that Durham Public Health has since performed new tests and given them the green light to open as early as Dec.1. The Källa pool, however, remains closed as it continues to undergo tests and upgrades, the spa said.
With files from Alex Arsenych
An aerial view of Thermea Spa Village in Whitby, Ont. (Thermëa spa village Whitby/Facebook)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.