GoodLife Fitness

Goodlife Fitness Centers, Inc. is the largest health club company in Canada with over 300 locations across the country.^[1]

Partnerships

GoodLife and Les Mills International

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.^[2]

Jillian Michaels Bodyshred

In February 2013 GoodLife Fitness announced a partnership to become the exclusive provider of Jillian Michaels BODYSHRED in Canada.^[3]

GoodLife Grows

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.^[4] In 2009, GoodLife Fitness expanded into Eastern Canada by acquiring Nubody's family of clubs.^[5] GoodLife Fitness also partnered with Energie Cardio in Quebec in that same year.^[6]

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 exercise 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 Exercise classes.^[7]

GoodLife Acquires Seven Gold's Gym Locations

In December 2012, seven independently operated Gold's Gym locations in Canada. The locations include three clubs in Calgary and one in Airdrie, Alberta, as well as locations in Peterborough, Vaughan and Scarborough in Ontario. This made GoodLife largest fitness club chain in the Calgary Region with 13 locations. The total number of GoodLife Clubs in Alberta increases to 16, spanning from Calgary to Lethbridge to Edmonton.^[8]

GoodLife Purchases Toronto-Based Extreme Fitness

On April 1, 2013, GoodLife Fitness, announced the acquisition of Extreme Fitness Inc., a leading operator of fitness clubs in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding region.^[9] This acquisition brings the total number of GoodLife Fitness Clubs in Canada to over 300, with 82 in the Greater Toronto Area.^[10]

GoodLife Kids Foundation

GoodLife Kids Foundation is a Canadian private foundation that envisions a Canada where all kids have the opportunity to benefit from an active life.

GoodLife Marathons

GoodLife Fitness is the title sponsor of 2 Marathons. One taking place in Victoria British Columbia and the other in Toronto Ontario.

GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon

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.^[11]

GoodLife on Reality TV

Undercover Boss Canada

On January 26, 2012, Corus Entertainment's W Network announced that 2 new Canadian companies were selected for the first season of Alliance Films'Undercover Boss Canada, GoodLife Fitness and Skyline International Development.

GoodLife's C.O.O Jane Ridell, will join the ranks of previously announced undercover companies including The Toronto Zoo ( John Tracogna, CEO ), Pizza Pizza (Paul Goddard, CEO), 1- 800 -GOT-JUNK? ( Brian Scudamore, Founder and CEO), Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) ( Karen Stintz, City Councillor and TTC Chair ), Cineplex Entertainment (Ellis Jacob, CEO), Molson Coors Canada (Kelly Brown, Chief Legal Officer), Second Cup (Stacey Mowbray, CEO) and FedEx Express Canada (Lisa Lisson, CEO).

About the Episode

"COO of GoodLife Fitness Jane Riddell enjoys making a difference in people’s lives through fitness. From coast to coast, one in every 45 Canadians is a GoodLife member. Creativity and new programs for member and employee retention are necessary to be competitive in the gym crowd. Without this, profitability could flounder. Jane immerses herself in the gym scene to gain new insight. As an undercover boss, she works as a Zumba instructor trainee, a maintenance worker and salesperson, whose competitive skills may not be up to snuff. Later, when she witnesses employee dedication wavering, she must exercise her covert operation skills." ^[12]

Canada Sings

GoodLife Fitness participated in Season 1 of the TV series Canada Sings on Global TV.^[13]

Criticism and Controversy

Controversy over Misleading Ads

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.^[14]

Great Big Gym Ripoff Survey

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.^[15] 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.

Controversy over Sales Tactics

In January 2011, GoodLife Fitness was caught in a media-backlash,^[16][17][18] after one customer who was attempting to cancel his membership was roughed-up by security guards 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] The incidents drew attention to strong armed-sales tactics reported by employees and clients.^[17]

Controversy over Telemarketing Practices

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]

References