B.C. gyms hope to reopen Tuesday, frustrated with province’s communication

As gyms in B.C. prepare to hopefully reopen next week, one industry professional is frustrated health officials didn’t provide more information as they inch closer to the potential return.

She’s not alone. Many people working in the fitness industry feel like they’re playing a waiting game while anticipating more guidance from the province.

“The frustrating side of it too is we don’t know anything yet. They had their modelling conference on Friday, and you couldn’t even touch on what was going to happen?” says gym manager of Richmond Fitness Courtney Dickson.

As gyms and fitness facilities in BC sit in limbo waiting on updated PHO. Courtney Dickson, GM Richmond Fitness, says the lack of notice and communication on both ends is disheartening and at some points, feels like a slap in the face. More @CityNewsVAN

— Michael Williams (@MikeWillsTake) January 15, 2022

Not knowing what comes next puts them in a precarious situation, she explains.

“We’re planning to go ahead opening and see what happens. Hopefully Monday we hear,” she said.

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Once it’s open again, Dickson’s facility will operate the same way it did before.

“If they give us restrictions like you have to operate at this capacity, you have to do this, we’ll go into that when it happens, but for right now, what we are doing seems to be working because it’s been a safe environment and there has been no transmission,” said Dickson.

Folks working in boxing facilities expressed similar frustration with the province’s communication in the first week of January. Some opened under an exemption for sports, while others remained closed due to confusion about restrictions.

Confusion over whether boxing facilities are exempt from gym closure order continues. Health Ministry tells me order “includes any fitness centre in B.C., including boxing fitness centres.” Some boxing facilities reopened this week, citing “sport” exemption. #bcpoli @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/M5JBrsDDOh Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) January 7, 2022

The Provincial Health Authority is addressing the public on Tuesday in regard to the potential of gyms reopening.