I stepped into Heavenly Nails on Bridge Street yesterday, not as a client but as a reporter. The small salon in Carleton Place was unusually quiet – a stark contrast to its typical bustle of weekend customers chatting while getting manicures and pedicures. The emptiness wasn’t coincidental. Just 48 hours earlier, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit issued an urgent warning: clients who received services between April 1 and May 27 might have been exposed to infection.
“We’re cooperating fully with health officials,” said salon owner Anh Nguyen, visibly distressed as she spoke with me beside the reception desk. “The safety of our customers has always been our priority.”
The public health alert, which has sent ripples of concern through this community of 12,000 just west of Ottawa, advises anyone who visited during the specified period to monitor for symptoms of skin, fungal, or bacterial infections. More concerning is the recommendation that clients contact their healthcare provider about potential bloodborne infection testing.
Dr. Linna Li, Medical Officer of Health for the region, explained to me that the alert came after inspectors found infection control lapses during a routine inspection. “The risk of transmission is likely low, but we’re taking the precautionary approach to protect public health,” she said during our phone interview.
The health unit hasn’t disclosed specific details about the nature of the lapses, citing ongoing investigation. However, Public Health Ontario guidelines for personal service settings like nail salons require strict protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of tools and equipment to prevent transmission of infections ranging from minor skin conditions to serious bloodborne pathogens like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
In the town’s local coffee shop, The Good Food Company, I overheard conversations buzzing with concern. Melissa Kennedy, a regular client of the salon, sat at a corner table with her untouched latte, scrolling through her calendar to check when she last visited.
“I’ve been going there for years,” she told me, allowing me to join her. “They always seemed clean. Now I’m worried about my last pedicure in early May.” Kennedy has already called her family doctor to discuss testing options.
According to Statistics Canada data, there are over 14,000 nail salons operating across Canada, with the industry growing approximately 5% annually. Yet oversight varies widely by province and municipality. In Ontario, personal service settings like nail salons fall under provincial regulations and local public health unit supervision, with inspections typically occurring annually.
Dr. Anna Banerji, infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto, wasn’t involved in this specific case but explained to me that the infection control challenges in nail salons are multifaceted. “These establishments use various tools that contact skin and sometimes blood if there are minor nicks or cuts,” she said. “Without proper sterilization between clients, there’s potential for transmitting infections.”
The warning has left many wondering about broader salon safety. When I visited three other nail salons in Carleton Place, each was keen to demonstrate their sterilization practices. At Polished, owner Sarah Chen proudly showed me their autoclave sterilizer – a hospital-grade machine that uses high-pressure steam to eliminate pathogens.
“People are calling to ask about our protocols,” Chen said. “We’re showing them everything – how we sterilize tools, disinfect foot baths, and use disposable items whenever possible.”
Back at Heavenly Nails, Nguyen showed me the changes they’ve implemented since the inspection: new sterilization equipment, additional staff training documentation, and revised cleaning protocols. The salon remains open but with noticeably fewer customers.
The health unit has been offering consultation services to help the salon address the identified issues. “Our goal isn’t to shut down businesses but to ensure public safety,” said Dr. Li. “We’re working collaboratively with the salon owners to implement proper infection control measures.”
For residents wondering how to select safe salons in the future, Ottawa Public Health’s website offers a checklist that includes ensuring tools are properly sterilized, observing whether staff wash hands between clients, and checking if foot baths are thoroughly cleaned between uses.
Community health advocate Patricia Morton, who leads the Lanark County Community Health Coalition, believes this incident highlights the need for more transparent inspection systems. “In restaurants, we have color-coded inspection notices visible to all customers. Why not the same for personal service settings?” she asked during our meeting at her downtown office.
As afternoon turned to evening in Carleton Place, I watched Nguyen carefully cleaning each station before closing. The health alert has shaken both her business and clients’ confidence, but it also opened conversations about infection control standards in everyday services we often take for granted.
“I’m scared for my business, but more scared that someone could get sick,” Nguyen admitted. “We’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”
The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has established a dedicated phone line for concerned clients of the salon and encourages anyone who notices unusual symptoms to seek medical attention promptly. They expect to complete their full investigation within two weeks.
As I walked along Bridge Street under the setting sun, past the mix of century-old buildings and newer shops that define this growing community, the salon situation served as a reminder of the invisible connections between public health, small businesses, and community trust – connections that, much like the Mississippi River flowing through town, run deeper than what we see on the surface.
