An esthetician who claimed she was fired from a day spa in Truro, Nova Scotia, because she was pregnant has been awarded CAN$8,000 (US$7,250, £3,800, 5,650 euro) by an independent human rights board of enquiry.

Coralyn Fleck had been working for Ashton's Salon and Day Spa for two years when she was fired in June 2004.

According to the enquiry chair, David McDonald, in May 2004, Fleck informed her colleagues that she was pregnant and would need to take regular breaks as part of her schedule. She expressed concern about her bookings after this because time was not being allowed for the breaks.

On 7 June, 2004, Fleck suffered a miscarriage, after which her doctor placed her on bed rest for a week. After informing her supervisor of the doctor's instructions, she received a letter terminating her employment at the spa on 9 June, 2004.

McDonald also said that the reasons given in Fleck's letter of termination did not hold up under cross examination of the salon's owner at the inquiry and that there was little, if any, factual support for the spa’s reasons for Fleck’s dismissal.

The owner of Ashton’s Salon and Day Spa – Pam Dean – was ordered to pay the general damages on or before 31 August. Details: www.gov.ns.ca