Groupe Nordik, the Canadian spa company behind the Thermea Spa Village brand, is distancing itself from the Ontario Place redevelopment project scandal.

The effort comes after after a New York Times investigation raised concerns about Austria-based Therme’s credentials. Therme is developing a spa project at provincially owned Ontario Place.

Groupe Nordik operates spas in Chelsea, Que., near Ottawa; Winnipeg, and Whitby, Ont. Since the Times article was published, Groupe Nordik has received an increase in enquiries about its association with the overseas firm.

“We are a proudly Canadian company that has operated the Thermea Spa banner for over 10 years,” said Martin Paquette, founder of Gatineau, Que.-based Groupe Nordik and Thermea Spas. “We are deeply disappointed by the continued confusion linking us to the foreign-led spa proposal at Ontario Place. We have no ties to the Ontario Place project. We have no affiliation whatsoever with Therme.”

Groupe Nordik has owned the Thermea trademark since 2015 and has been addressing confusion over the name on an ongoing basis.

In February 2023, the company filed legal action against Therme in Federal Court. In a decision issued in November 2024, the court found that the use of the names “Therme” and “Therme Group” could mislead consumers into thinking there is an affiliation. Therme has appealed the ruling.

“We’ve been battling with Therme for many years now, but it’s time to speak up,” said Paquette. “We must protect homegrown businesses—it’s more important now than ever.”

The Times reported that Therme allegedly exaggerated its track record and financial resources while securing a deal with the Ontario government, and provincial auditors found that the process had been unfair and opaque.

The Times also reported that Therme allegedly misrepresented itself, misleading the Ontario government while advancing plans for a multi-billion-dollar expansion to other major markets in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Under the terms of its 95-year lease with Therme, the Ontario government is responsible for the upfront costs of hundreds of millions of dollars, the Times reported.

The Times investigation found that Therme only operates one spa in Romania, outside Bucharest. But the company allegedly presented itself as an industry player that operated as many as six spas in Europe, according to the Times.

The Ontario NDP has called for the province to scrap the spa project in wake of the Times’ findings.

Pictured: A Groupe Nordik Thermea Village spa.

Photo: Courtesy of Groupe Nordik

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