On September 14, 2021, the BC Supreme Court granted an injunction prohibiting non-registrant Ashley Anne Legace from using reserved titles that only CMTBC registrants can legally use in BC.

Read the BC Supreme Court order (PDF)

CMTBC investigated Ms. Legace after receiving reports regarding her unauthorized use of a reserved title. As a result of the investigation, the College sent Ms. Legace a number of cease and desist letters. Ultimately, CMTBC petitioned the BC Supreme Court to order that Ms. Legace be permanently restrained and enjoined from using reserved titles.

The injunction ordered by the Court permanently restrains and enjoins Ms. Legace from using the reserved titles “massage therapist”, “registered massage therapist”, and “massage practitioner”, or any abbreviation of the titles, to describe her work, in association with or as part of another title describing her work, or in association with a description of her work, as long as she is not a CMTBC registrant. 

As outlined in the Massage Therapists Regulation, the titles “massage therapist”, “registered massage therapist”, “massage practitioner”, and “regulated massage practitioner” are reserved for exclusive use by registrants. Section 12.1 of the Health Professions Act prohibits the use of reserved titles by non-registrants.

CMTBC registrants have met rigorous registration requirements, passed a multi-component registration exam, are required to abide by standards of practice and a Code of Ethics, and must meet the College’s continuing competence requirement. They are the only individuals who can legally use the reserved titles in BC. When CMTBC receives a report of unauthorized title use and the individual does not voluntarily agree to cease using reserved titles, the College may seek an injunction in civil court.

Anyone who is aware of an unauthorized person using a reserved title can submit a report to the College using the secure Unauthorized Use of Reserved Titles Form.