Gym receives thousands in donations following ceiling collapse

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This article was published 07/11/2023 (789 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A downtown Winnipeg gym received more than $8,000 in donations within a day — through a fundraiser a neighbouring business started — following a ceiling collapse halting their operations.

“It’s really overwhelming and wonderful,” Amie Seier, founder of The Community Gym, said of the support.

Last week, the popular Main Street hub had to unexpectedly close its doors after part of its ceiling collapsed between fitness classes.

No one was inside at the time. Now, the local business is in limbo and unsure of when it will reopen.

“They put a lot of their heart and soul into the place,” said Connor Vogt, owner of neighbouring business Parlour Coffee.

The two share a main floor at 468 Main St., a 122-year-old heritage building that has been inspected regularly, Seier said. Parlour Coffee’s facility was not affected by the ceiling collapse.

The Exchange District requires people to take risks and invest in businesses, Vogt stated.

“It’s sort of, I feel, a responsibility for the owners in the area to help take care of each other when things go sideways,” he said. “Especially something as unexpected as this.”

His coffee house launched a GoFundMe for The Community Gym Sunday. By Monday afternoon, the pot had surpassed $8,500. The fundraiser has a $10,000 goal.

“It goes to show how important (the gym) is,” Vogt said of the response, adding the gym has “created a sense of camaraderie among the people that go there.”

He called it a value-add to Winnipeg. People become friends there; it’s a gathering place amid the exercise and music, he described.

Pamela Hardman was the first to donate. She’s attended boxing and spin classes, watching the business grow from a sequence of pop-up classes to a recognized locale.

She also graduated from college with Seier.

“I felt compelled to give because of how much Amie herself gives to (the) community and just how much she cares,” Hardman said.

She recalled stationary bikes being unloaded at pop-up classes. The Community Gym opened downtown in 2019 and switched to online classes during the pandemic (a pivot it has taken up again while its physical space is closed).

Upwards of 200 people would show up to the gym daily over the past year, according to Seier.

“It’s just a really special atmosphere,” Hardman said. “She’s a fantastic cheerleader, not only for her business and what she offers, but for the city too.”

The GoFundMe shows people “want to give back,” Hardman added.

The Community Gym has 12 coaches. Donations will be put towards paying staff, Seier said.

She hadn’t learned of the ceiling collapse’s cause by Monday. She’s been back inside to clean up, but a reopening timeline isn’t set.

Engineers are looking at the site, Seier said.

Parlour Coffee had its ceiling checked; there are no concerns, Vogt said. The incident occurred on his first day as owner.

The Community Gym’s temporary closure might affect business at the coffee shop, Seier noted — plenty of gym-goers would stop for a drink after.

“Businesses downtown, we need each other. When they thrive, we thrive,” she said, encouraging people to order from Parlour.

As for The Community Gym donations, “every little bit matters,” she said.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com