Affordable fitness centre in the works

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.