Aaron D'Andrea

Murder at 'erotic' North York spa prompts safety cries from advocates

Group wants bylaw forcing unlocked doors in rooms to be changed

A group advocating for sex workers wants the City of Toronto to change a "crazy" bylaw regulation that prohibits rooms where body rubs are performed from being locked.

The call for change from Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Network comes after a woman was murdered in a machete attack at an "erotic" massage parlour in North York on Feb. 24.

Furthermore, the bylaw states no one may perform a body rub or provide any other service in a room with a door, or other means of access, that's equipped with a locking device.

"That's crazy," said Elene Lam, executive director of the advocacy group, which provides support to, and advocates for, the rights of Asian and migrant sex workers.

"If they're allowed to lock the door when they wait for the clients, they can screen the clients," she said. "They can see if people have weapons."

Lam said that with a locking mechanism, workers would be able to stop more than one person from entering the room at a time, adding that changing the bylaw could help spas implement lockdown or similar procedures in the event of a violent incident.

While the motive of the attack and how it played out are unclear, Toronto police said they received a call for a stabbing at 12:45 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Crown Spa, which is described as an "erotic massage" parlour on its website.

When officers arrived at 3598 Dufferin St., they located two people outside the parlour: a male lying on the street and a female, both suffering from multiple stab wounds.

Inside, officers found a woman who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the weapon, a machete, was found.

Ashley Noell Arzaga, 24, a "loving mother" to a five-year-old girl, was identified as the murder victim. A 17-year-old boy is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Toronto.com has not been able to verify if Arzaga and the other victim were employees at the spa, or if they had any relations with the suspect.

However, Lam said the bylaw is a "huge issue" for sex workers at spas.

Lam said they've heard from workers who've had their privacy infringed while changing and showering. She's also heard of other crimes being committed.

"We have received more than 25 reports in three months for robbery, assault or other kinds of crime," she said. "This is the real concern they face every day. Whether assault, robbery or sexual assault, this is an important issue."

City of Toronto spokesperson Naomi Ahmad said by email the regulation about unlocked doors is a "long standing requirement" that was "originally put in place as a safety measure for workers in body rub parlours." Ahmad did not elaborate further.

However, that bylaw is under review after receiving direction from city council in May "to modernize regulations, provide effective oversight and enforcement, and promote public health and safety."

"As per committee direction, staff will conduct additional research and further report on body rub parlours and holistic centres. This is scheduled for 2021," Ahmad said.

Lawvin Hadisi, spokesperson for Mayor John Tory, said in an email he looks forward to the report being "thoroughly reviewed" by the general government and licensing standards committee.

The committee's chair, Coun. Paul Ainslie (Ward 24, Scarborough-Guildwood), said by email he does not support the operation of body rub parlours "in any shape, or form" but he would be willing to "support making the screening process more stringent."

"For her to die like this, it's outrageous," said Mohini Datta-Ray, executive director of North York Women's Shelter, an organization that provides services to women and children impacted by violence.

The crime, she said, points to a bigger issue.

"The way that women die at the hands of men, it's horrific and it's an epidemic," Datta-Ray said. "The dynamic of walking in and murdering women in their place of work where they're vulnerable is part of that larger picture of misogyny and violence against women."

For Lam, changes can't come soon enough.

"We don't want to see this (a murder) happen again," she said. "We want the people in Toronto to know that, and express that we care about the safety of the people. They're human."