Spas that offer authentic treatments performed by staff with top-notch training. (Comstock Complete)

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A trip to the spa may be considered a needless luxury, but it's one that many are willing to indulge in--especially in Canada.

In fact, one in four Canadian adults aged 18 years and older is a spa-goer, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission, a government-run marketing organization. The trend is likely driven in part by the fact that Canada's spas, which rang up sales of more than $1.5 billion in 2007, use the country's natural resources to enhance their treatments. But there are also stringent regulations on every spa employee, from the aesthetician to--in some cases--the physician, more or less guaranteeing the safest and most effective treatments possible.

In Depth: Canada's Top Spas

When it comes to utilizing local resources, the proprietors of Ste. Anne's Country Inn and Spa in Grafton, Ontario, might be considered among the more innovative. The spa uses the region's famous maple syrup to create new facials and body scrubs.

The Maple Showers hydrotherapy treatment, designed by a team of Ste. Anne's therapists, begins with a maple sugar scrub, continues with a full-body massage and ends with a cooling, hydrating maple spritz. Before leaving, guests receive a maple treat and hear an Iroquois legend about the discovery of maple syrup.

And at the Temple Garden Mineral Springs in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, water is the coveted resource. Spa-lovers travel from around the world to experience the healing properties of the Canadian geothermal waters pumped into Temple Garden's pools. Benefits are said to include increased metabolism, expedited healing and improved blood circulation.

Even those administering treatments not indigenous to Canada are looking to offer guests an authentic experience. Marie Picton, executive manager at the Elmwood urban day spa in Toronto, says that before her aestheticians began using LI'YA treatments (which incorporate aboriginal medicines and methods such as rhythmic massage), she invited experts from Australia to come train the staff. Now Elmwood is the exclusive provider of LI'YA treatment methods and products in Canada.

"Authenticity is very important," says Pictorn. "Bringing another element to the experience provides the guest with more than just a massage."

Another important element of the Canadian spa is the high level of education each employee must complete. Unlike the U.S., where some aestheticians receive just 200 hours of training, aestheticians in Canada must undergo an average of 2,200 hours. They must then take a written board exam.

"Once they've graduated, massage therapists are regulated as closely as doctors and nurses," says Jack Morrison, managing director of the School of Applied Health Sciences and Spa Management at Elmcrest College in Toronto.

And some medical spas even employ doctors and nurses to perform more challenging procedures and treatments. One of the first medical spas in Canada, Santé, offers three types of services: spa, medical aesthetics and lifestyle-management courses. The spa has distinguished itself by ensuring that all injections--which include Botox and Restylane--are performed by a doctor. Any other medical treatments, such as a chemical peel or laser hair removal, are done by a registered nurse.

Although Santé does offer less-invasive massages and facials performed by aestheticians, Wendy Love, director of operations for the spa, says that Santé requires extra medical training for more complicated treatments because "it's in guest's best interest, even if it's not the most cost-effective way of doing things." In return for the extra expense of using highly qualified workers, Santé has been able to maintain a loyal following over the past decade.

Therein lies the attraction of Canada's spas in general: Not only do they try to provide a unique experience, they ensure that it's the safest and most effective one available. Unlike so many other spa experiences, in Canada you truly get what you pay for.

In Depth: Canada's Top Spas