| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Health Club |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder(s) | David Patchell-Evans "Patch" |
| Headquarters | London, Ontario, Canada |
| Number of locations | 275 clubs |
| Website | goodlifefitness.com |
Goodlife Fitness is the largest health club company in Canada with nearly 300 outlets across the country[1]
The company is 100% Canadian, and was founded in London, Ontario, in 1979 by David Patchell-Evans. GoodLife has also been one of "Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies" for 7 straight years.[2]
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GoodLife Fitness founder and owner David Patchell-Evans’ vision — to give all Canadians the opportunity to live a healthy and fit good life. The company was founded in 1979 while ‘Patch’, as he likes to be called, was still a university student with a single fitness club.
Patch is a five-time Canadian rowing champion and a Boston marathoner, triathelete, avid skier and former hockey player.[3] In 2009 Patch accepted the position of Chair of IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association), the world's leading health and fitness association representing 110 million fitness club members in 78 countries.[4] The extensive list of his company and personal awards includes: induction into the Entrepreneur of the Year Institute in the United States; Platnum Club member-Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies 2003-2010;[5] Consumer Choice Award 2001-2009; and Canadian Business magazine's Most Innovative CEO.
The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research group, named in honour Patch's 15 year-old autistic daughter Kilee, was founded at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) following a generous donation from Mr. David Patchell-Evans. The overall mandate of the group is to create a multi-disciplinary research group whose combined efforts would focus on the development of novel research methods in the study of autism spectrum disorders.[6] According to an article in the Times Colonist, "since 2003, Patchell-Evans has given $4 million to the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, and has raised millions more through his friends and contacts in the business world"[7]
The National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada named MacFabe's university team and its research as one of the top 50 scientific discoveries in Canada in 2007[6]
On December 8th, 2011, Dr. Derrick MacFabe, Director of Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, at University of Western Ontario, was featured, along with a group of other international researchers, on The Nature of Things with David Suzuki. The episode, titled The Autism Enigma, "looked at the progress of an international group of scientists who are studying the gut's amazingly diverse and powerful microbial ecosystem for clues to the baffling disorder." [8]
In June 2005 GoodLife became the official Canadian Agent of Les Mills International programs, the world's largest provider of choreographed exercise-to-music group fitness classes.[9]
GoodLife continues to expand rapidly, purchasing the 'Alliance' and 'Family Fitness' club chains in 2007-2008. As of October 2011, they have over 275 clubs across Canada.[10] In 2009, GoodLife Fitness expanded into Eastern Canada by acquiring Nubody's family of clubs.[11] GoodLife Fitness also partnered with Energie Cardio in Quebec in that same year.[12]
In September 2011 GoodLife opened its newest club in Bedford, Nova Scotia. The newest club represents GoodLife's commitment to expand its personal training and group excercise classes to adapt to the 45 per cent of the population that is, according to the 2006 Canadian Census between the ages of 35 and 64. The club offers up-to-date cardio equipment with personal viewing monitors, a group cycling studio, a cardio theatre with plasma TVS, a lounge with massage chairs along with personal training and Group Excercise classes.[13]
GoodLife Kids Foundation is a Canadian private foundation that envisions a Canada where all kids have the opportunity to benefit from an active life. The Foundation strives to inspire parents, role models, mentors, leaders and individuals to deliver the message to kids, that being active is not only good for their body and mind but also a lot of fun.[14]
In order to provide a greater impact, The GoodLife Kids Foundation partners with other organizations that have a similar focus. The granting program primarily focuses on initiatives which provide the opportunity for sustainable behavioural change in the area of physical activity.
There most recent grant was given to the Boys and Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria for their Rite of Me program and Central Saanich Adventure Program
GoodLife Fitness is the title sponsor of 2 Marathons. One taking place in Victoria British Columbia and the other in Toronto Ontario.
The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, formerly known as the Royal Victoria Marathon or RVM, is a marathon race held on Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada every October. It was first held in 1980.
In 2006, the full marathon saw 1863 participants. The event also features a half marathon, 8K and 1.2K kids run and attracts nearly 10,000 competitors annually in all races. The full marathon is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier.
Two course records were set at the 2011 edition of the race: Thomas Omwenga ran a men's record of 2:14:33 hours and Lucy Njeri Muhami improved the women's record to 2:37:56 hours. Canada's Cindy Rhodes is the most successful athlete historically at the race, having won six times between 1991 and 2000. Kelvin Broad is a five-time winner, having taken consecutive wins from 1994 to 1998. Thomas Howard, Phil Nicholls, Steve Osaduik and Suzanne Evans have each won the Victoria Marathon on three separate occasions.[15]
In 2005, a federal Competition Bureau investigation found that GoodLife Fitness clubs had published misleading ads. In a settlement, Goodlife Fitness published a corrective notice in newspapers throughout central Canada and on its website, paying a $75000 penalty and agreeing not to make false/misleading representations in future marketing.[16]
In January 2011, GoodLife Fitness came in second place in the CBC Big Gym Ripoff survey ranking gyms with the most problems with over-billing and cancellations.[17] However, according to the same survey, the number of GoodLife clubs in Canada is more than quadruple the number of fitness clubs owned by the other companies singled-out in the survey.
In January 2011, the Ottawa Citizen ran an editorial and subsequently an investigative report questioning and criticizing the sales tactics of GoodLife Fitness[18] after one customer who wanted to cancel his membership, was handcuffed and detained at its Rideau Centre location;[19] And after another at its Orleans location, was chastised and banned for chatting about the benefits of other fitness clubs.[20]
In 2011, GoodLife Fitness was fined $300,000 for illegally using automated calling devices, known as robocalls, to contact its members, without their prior consent, to advertise the opening of a new club . As part of a settlement with the CRTC, Goodlife Fitness published notices about the violation in newspapers and on its website.[21]