Big plans for Bridgwater gym

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This article was published 21/09/2018 (2852 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new entry to Winnipeg’s fitness market is counting on a multi-million dollar investment in Bridgwater to pay off in the long run.

The final plans for the new $30-million, 80,000-square-foot Altea Active Club were approved by Riel community committee on Sept. 12 and owners hope to break ground on the project at 100 South Town Road by the end of October.

The long list of services set to be offered by the three-storey club includes a skating lab; rock climbing gym; Himalayan salt inhalation room; ninja obstacle course; boutique group classes and training studios; hot yoga; childminding; a 25-metre saltwater family pool and splash pad; 160 pieces of cardio equipment; and a private women’s-only centre with a saltwater aquafit pool and strength and training area.

The startup venture is the creation of David Wu and Mike Nolan, and Winnipeg will be the first location for the new brand.

Wu, who co-founded the Ontario-based fitness chain Movati Athletic in 1997 but left the company last July, said there were a lot of factors that persuaded him to choose Winnipeg as the launch for the new business over places like Toronto or Vancouver.

“We looked at certain areas and demographics and we really felt that (Winnipeg) was such a strong growth potential market,” Wu said.

“Before we invest money, we literally walk and look at every fitness operator in the market, whether big or small, national or single local operators. We look at everybody and how they run their business and their pricing,” he explained.

“We felt that the pricing in the market was higher than we even expected for a comparable product. We just thought it was a great opportunity for us to put something that was best-in-class and keep it at a great value proposition.”  

Wu said Altea Active will provide a “leading edge” fitness experience for people in Winnipeg with programs that are not part of the standard offering at local clubs.

When the club opens in late 2019, at least 95 group fitness classes (included in membership) will be offered weekly, and a cafe, smoothie bar, and outdoor terrace will round out the lifestyle amenities. Community meeting rooms are also said to be available on-site and offered free to non-profit health-related organizations.

Altea Active will also use a “female-centric” operational model in its full service women’s-only club. Wu said that part of the facility will be exclusively attended to by female janitors, lifeguards, instructors, and trainers.

“A lot of women, the first time they try out fitness can be intimidated by the atmosphere,” he said. “So what we’re trying to do is create a more comfortable separate facility area, and that alleviates a lot of the anxiety and stress for first-time fitness users.”

The centre will employ over 150 people in part-time and full-time positions at opening and the facility’s fee schedule will be released in the spring.

With $30 million being invested in the community from out of province, Wu said it was important for the partners to choose local firms to work with in the club’s early phases. The centre was designed by Raymond SC Wan Architects and initial site work is being handled by Concord Projects. Construction bids will go out to tender the last week of September and building will begin by the end of October.

“For our new company we wanted to take that very local focus and we wanted to hire local professionals,” he said. “I think that’s part of the new flavour, the new investment, that’s how we want to do things.”