Maple Ridge massage therapist ‘engaged in acts of retribution’ after negative Google review: CMTBC

A former Maple Ridge massage therapist has been found to have “engaged in unjustified acts of retribution or harassment” against a potential client after he received a negative Google review of his services online.

Jeremy Jakobsze was a registered massage therapist (RMT) in B.C. at the time of the alleged incidents in 2020, the College of Massage Therapists of B.C. (CMTBC) says. It notes he resigned in 2022.

In a ruling by the college’s discipline committee on July 24, the college found Jakobsze “committed professional misconduct.”

After meeting Jakobsze for the first time on June 3, 2020, the woman posted claims online that Jakobsze was aggressive in his “tone and demeanour,” after she came to the appointment unmasked.

The following day, Jakobsze submitted a complaint to the woman’s professional board, claiming she had “engaged in ‘fraudulent’ acts, ‘theft’ and ‘gender-based harassment’ against him and implying that [she] had violated the Criminal Code [of Canada.]”

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Four days later, after that professional body had dismissed Jakobsze’s claims, the college says he emailed the woman’s employer and claimed she had “mental health” issues, and may pose a risk to others.

Jakobsze then alleged the woman made acts of “hate speech and should be held accountable for ‘provenly (sic) false accusations,’ in a second email to her professional board.

The CMTBC found all allegations Jakobsze made against the woman were false and unjustified.

Once the college’s disciplinary committee began its investigation into the unjustified acts, the college found Jakobsze then engaged in further misconduct through his behaviour towards college staff during the investigation.

Jakobsze called one investigator “unprofessional,” and characterized someone as having a “mental delay,” the college says.

According to the CMTBC, Jakobsze wrote an email to a college member during the investigation, saying, “I don’t know who touched you when you were 12 or what boy didn’t like you in high school, but it is not my fault that someone hurt you previously in life.

“It is absolutely clear that you have a vendetta against me for unjustified or unclarified reasons. You need to stop harassing me and my family to suit your own sexist motives. You are unfit to carry out your duties. I will see to it that you are removed from your position,” the email continued.

The college also found Jakobsze in violation of its Code of Ethics. Jakobsze’s penalty will be revealed after the college has determined the appropriate consequence, the CMTBC says.