July 25, 2003
Affordable fitness centre in the works
Iqaluit Fitness Society
proposing low-maintenance, cheap workout facility
CHARLOTTE
PETRIE
A small group of recreation advocates are working at establishing an Iqaluit
fitness society and anti-establishment gym.
New resident Peter Shultz, who works for the federal government, and Simon
Adams, recreation facility and operations manager for the city, are spearheading
the effort.
"We're not looking at doing the racquet ball club," Adams said.
"Just something about 1,000 to 2,000 square feet with a treadmill and
weights with no shower facility where people can work out for a reasonable cost."
Iqaluit's only fitness centre, the Frobisher Bay Racquet Club, requires an
initiation fee of $535 on top of a monthly fee of $107. New members must pay
the initiation plus first and last month fees for a total of $749 an
amount beyond the means of many local residents.
Although Shultz and Adams are still in the preliminary stages of establishing
the non-profit society and finding available space for a gym, they are hoping
to offer the service for about $25 to $50 a month.
Shultz anticipates a membership of one-thirtieth of the population, based on
research, which translates into about 250 local residents. If and when the city
builds its own recreation facility, Shultz suggested that it the IFS equipment
be absorbed by the new facility, with the dissolution of the society to follow.
For now, council expressed its support of the project in principle, and is
awaiting further details.
The society would be run by volunteers with a start-up cost of between $90,000
and $110,000, depending on the variety and quantity of equipment ordered.
Shultz intends to present the final business plan to a variety of federal and
territorial funding agencies by the end of August.
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