A Richmond registered massage therapist who has previously been suspended by his professional organization now faces two charges of sexual assault in an upcoming trial.
Gordon Hall is charged with one count of sex assault allegedly occurring in 2008, and a second count allegedly occurring between 2008 and 2011.
Court registry documents show that Gordon Hall will appear in Richmond Provincial court for a trial confirmation hearing on Oct. 25. There is a publication ban on the names of all complainants and witnesses in the case.
According to a notice from the College of Massage Therapists of B.C., a woman alleged that during a June, 2008 massage therapy session, Gordon Hall failed to respect patient therapist boundaries [so that his patient] perceived that he made contact for sexual rather than therapeutic purposes.
Hall admitted to professional misconduct, the notice says, and agreed to a 60-day suspension and a fine of $5,000. Part of the fine was to be applied to counselling for the former patient, and Hall agreed to undergo twelve counselling sessions with a psychologist at his own expense.
In another public warning, the colleges inquiry committee says that in February, 2011 it issued a notice prohibiting Gordon Hall, also known as Gord Hall, from providing massage therapy to female patients, pending a complaint made by a former patient that month.
Hall did not return calls for comment on Monday.
A video clip posted to the online site Vimeo in January 2011 by a Gord Hall advertises massage services at West Richmond Massage Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic in Steveston.
The short video shows photos of smiling women and men undergoing massage, while soft New Age music plays in the background.
Another advertisement online says that Gord Hall has practised as a professional in the massage field since 1996, and he also makes an effort to give his clients the skills they need to build a healthy lifestyle outside of the massage clinic.
On Monday calls to West Richmond Massage Therapy clinic and the College of Massage Therapists of B.C. were not returned.
For more stories, go to www.theprovince.com.
