GoodLife Fitness

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

GoodLife Fitness Centres Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryHealth club
Founded1979
FounderDavid Patchell-Evans
Headquarters
London, Ontario
,
Canada
Number of locations
300+ clubs
Area served
NL, PE, NS, NB, ON, MB, SK, AB, BC
Key people
David Patchell-Evans (CEO)
Websitegoodlifefitness.com
GoodLife Fitness in Toronto
GoodLife Fitness in Markham

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]

24 Hour Fitness (U.S.)

In September 2015, GoodLife Fitness announced a partnership with 24 Hour Fitness in the United States.[4] Now GoodLife Fitness members can use over 400 locations with their Canada-Wide membership across the U.S. and vice versa.

GoodLife Acquisitions

GoodLife purchased the 'Alliance' and 'Family Fitness' club chains in 2007–2008. As of October 2011, they have over 275 clubs across Canada.[5] In 2009, GoodLife Fitness expanded into Eastern Canada by acquiring Nubody's family of clubs.[6] GoodLife Fitness also partnered with Energie Cardio in Quebec in that same year.[7] GoodLife Fitness has been rumored to be taking over the Target Canada locations, that are currently abandoned.[8]

GoodLife Acquires Seven Gold's Gym Locations

In December 2012, Goodlife acquired 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 the largest fitness club chain in the Calgary Region with 13 locations. The total number of GoodLife Clubs in Alberta increased to 16, spanning from Calgary to Lethbridge to Edmonton.[9]

GoodLife Purchases Toronto-Based Extreme Fitness

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

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 two 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.

GoodLife on reality TV

GoodLife Fitness has taken part in Undercover Boss Canada and Canada Sings.[11][12]

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 $75,000 penalty and agreeing not to make false/misleading representations in future marketing.[13]

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.[14]

Controversy over sales tactics

In January 2011, GoodLife Fitness was caught in a media backlash,[15][16][17] after one customer who was attempting to cancel his membership was roughed-up by security guards at its Rideau Centre location;[18] And after another, at its Orleans location, was chastised and banned for chatting about the benefits of other fitness clubs.[19] The incidents drew attention to strong armed-sales tactics reported by employees and clients.[16]

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.[20]

Class action over compensation practices

In October 2016, a class action lawsuit was launched against Goodlife Fitness alleging that it had failed to pay certain employees of its Ontario gyms some of the wages they were owed under Ontario law. The members of the proposed class would have included all non-managerial employees for a period beginning October 14, 2014. In July 2018, the court approved a $7.5 million settlement of the proposed class action.[21]

References
  1. Canadian Business Magazine August 2011 Issue.
  2. LesMills International, additional text.
  3. "Jillian's gonna make GoodLife sweat". Canoe Blogs.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-06-28.
  4. "You are being redirected..." www.athleticbusiness.com. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  5. "GoodLife buys rival Extreme Fitness, expands to over 300 Canadian locations". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  6. Progress Media (August 13, 2009). "Nubody's founder to step down - GoodLife to acquire chain". Progress Media. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  7. CNW Group. "ENERGIE CARDIO New partnership between Energie Cardio and GoodLife Fitness". Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  8. Hollie Shaw, Financial Post."Goodlife Fitness first to stake out Target Canada locations as it aims to hedge against competition." January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2915.
  9. "GoodLife Fitness acquires Seven Gold's Gym locations across Canada".
  10. "GoodLife Buys Extreme Fitness". Pehub. PEHUB.ca. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2012-02-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Watch Video". GlobalTV. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29.
  13. "GoodLife Fitness Clubs pays $75,000 over misleading ads". CBC News. 2005-02-09.
  14. "The gyms we heard most about in our survey". CBC News. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012.
  15. "Gym Guards Beat Man To Pulp When He Tried To Cancel". Consumerist.
  16. "Strong-arm tactics leave a bad taste". Canada.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26.
  17. "Attempt to cancel gym membership turned violent, client says". CBC News. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  18. "Attempt to cancel gym membership turned violent, client says". CBC News. 2011-01-12.
  19. "GoodLife loses a member over 'policy'". Canada.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  20. "GoodLife Fitness fined over robocalls". CBC News. 2011-08-23.
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022133809/http://goodlifeclassaction.com/
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