The B.C.-based gym Fitness World Canada is lunging into new partnerships, bringing more fitness opportunities to the local community—particularly among marginalized and underserved groups, says President and CEO, Chris Smith.
“We’ve always been very, very actively involved. We kind of define it as our mission — to offer accessible fitness opportunities for all,” Smith says.
Fitness World grounds itself in its core philosophy of helping to create a healthy and thriving community, rather than a drive to increase paid membership. With new collaborations and activities for youth experiencing homelessness and older Canadians living in retirement homes, Fitness World lives up to its motto of “a gym for everyone.”
Nastasia Liavas, Vice President of Fitness Services explains, “We believe that fitness and wellness should be accessible to all, and having access to the tools to live a healthy life is a fundamental right.”
Smith, has sought to create an inclusive gym that provides a sense of community to those across all walks of life, especially marginalized individuals. He and his team seek opportunities to bring fitness, health, and nutrition information to anyone who needs it.
This year, the 17-location gym launched a four-week pilot program in collaboration with Retirement Concepts in April 2024 for seniors residing at Rosemary Heights Seniors Village. This partnership was Fitness World’s first collaborative program of its Active Community Initiative – an initiative dedicated to delivering accessible fitness opportunities to underserved communities. This particular program addressed the importance of fitness and health at all stages of life, but especially during the senior stages as it plays a key role in improving quality of life by improving cognition, emotion, and sleep quality.
Liavas says the program consisted of four weeks of a simple, seated daily fitness class for residents. While many older adults do not meet the recommended 2.5 hours of vigorous activity per week, those who exercise regularly are found to reap many benefits, from reducing the risk of dementia and heart disease to decreasing stress and anxiety. Liavas also notes that elderly persons often have a lower range of motion, less stamina, and higher health risks, “so it is important to create a fitness program that accommodates these needs.”
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In addition to boosting the physical and mental health of residents, says Liavas, the program also created “a sense of belonging and accomplishment” because the workouts took place in a group setting. She describes the pilot project as a “great success” and says there are plans to expand and continue such collaborations.
For Liavas, there was also a personal connection to these classes.
“Senior living hits close to home for me because my dad was in an assisted living facility for years. The senior community is vastly underserved when it comes to recreational activities, and we know that exercise keeps our seniors mobile, active and living abundant lives longer.”
She adds, “I love that we partner with such causes because I saw how it greatly helped my dad and I’m proud to work somewhere that prioritizes giving back.”
Another collaboration with a community group that has limited access to gym facilities was also launched this year. Fitness World collaborated with Covenant House Vancouver to provide four weeks of free fitness classes to local vulnerable youth. With the noted decrease in childhood cardiovascular health in Canada, Fitness World worked in partnership with Covenant House to develop a program that introduced regular movement and exercise to their youth.
Each week, a Fitness World trainer worked with a group of young people to introduce them to weight training and healthy exercise routines. Similar to the senior living partnership, Fitness World brought the trainer and resources to the youth, holding classes at the Covenant House’s weight room, which lowered the barriers to access for the youth. It’s another example of meeting members of the community where they are at, Smith says.
The program was launched, Liavas says, because marginalized youth face many barriers to developing healthy lifestyles, including financial hardship, poor access to nutrition, and mental health issues.
“We see the value in developing these kinds of youth-focused programs as they open the doors for youth to develop skills and build confidence in themselves, both of which contribute to creating healthier lives and communities,” she says. “Teaching marginalized youth about fitness is vital for breaking cycles of health inequities and fostering lifelong healthy habits.”
Smith notes that there have been many other initiatives in which Fitness World ensures it is acting out its role as an organization that cares about members of its local communities.
For example, Fitness World has supported local Indigenous communities and women’s shelters by donating equipment and providing memberships.
The company also connects with causes that its team is passionate about, including diseases such as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
Smith says he’s been personally inspired by Augie’s Quest, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for the disease. Augie’s Quest was begun by a fitness leader who was stricken with the disease in 2005 and began raising awareness and funds for a cure for what was at the time a lesser-known disease.
During the month of September 2024, Fitness World launched several events with proceeds going to Augie’s Quest, including a train-the-trainer event and 90-minute high energy classes for a $25 donation. Smith says the Lower Mainland should expect to see many more of these types of impactful initiatives soon, with some already planned for next winter and spring.
The hope is to expand the business, and its community health philosophy, across the country.
“We want to be successful in giving back to those local communities as we look to expand our footprint,” Smith says.
Fitness World currently has 17 locations across British Columbia. For more information, visit https://www.fitnessworld.ca/.