Calgary
Local Gym Goes Online Amid COVID-19 Ushering In New Ways To Stay Fit At Home
As COVID-19 regulations persist into the month of May, Canadians are being advised to remain in self-isolation and small businesses across the country are struggling to stay positive. However, local business owner Ryan Graham at Chestermere Lake CrossFit (CLC) is determined to look on the bright side.
Chestermere Lake CrossFit opened in September 2019, just months before COVID-19 swept the business landscape across the globe. Unfortunately, as a fitness centre, Chestermere Lake CrossFit falls under the non-essential service category.
Alberta has released information for small business owners and has made a number of subsidies available to provide aid for non-essential businesses. However, Graham says if they are required to stay closed for another four to six months, it is unlikely they will be able to stay afloat, even with the government’s offer of small business loans.
CLC has been shut down since March 18th, causing all in-house events to be cancelled. In order to stay connected with their clientele, Graham and his coaching staff have been offering full online automated classes through ZOOM. “We only really have a couple [of coaches] that are leading [the classes],” says Graham, “and there have been about 25% of the members that utilize them.”
With the gym being closed down, Graham offered coaching staff first pick at taking equipment home and launched a rental program for members, as a way to keep the community physically healthy and allow clients to continue working out from home. When Chestermere Lake CrossFit is allowed to reopen, Graham says they will continue to offer online classes for a period of time for clients who might still be concerned about public spaces.
According to Graham, year-round cleanliness has always been a top priority for CLC. “[CLC] made sure all members cleaned their equipment before and after classes,” he says, “and coaches then did another cleaning at the end of each day.”
Like most businesses, Graham feels like major steps will need to be taken in order to return to business as usual. “Months and months of promotions and discount attempts [will be needed] to bring back any business and revenue that was lost in the months of closure.”
Chestermere Lake CrossFit is looking to ensure all members receive money back on their contracts for continuing to support and pay their fees during the closure. According to Graham, only a small percentage of members have decided to cancel their memberships.
CrossFit Inc. is launching a fundraiser in order to help local CrossFit gyms reopen in the future by releasing a different workout every week for a three-week period. Participants in the Support Your Local Box Fundraiser can complete the workout, and their voluntary donation can be given to a local CrossFit gym of their choice.
While CLC athletes are participating in the fundraiser, Graham says no new business plans are in the works yet, but he feels it is still too early for any major changes or decisions to be made.
For more information on Chestermere Lake Crossfit and how to support local, visit https://www.chestermerelakecrossfit.com
For more stories, visit Todayville Calgary.
The Scotiabank Saddledome is shown with Calgary’s downtown area in the background on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. A city official says a $1.2-billion deal to replace Calgary’s aging Saddledome with a new NHL arena would come with a 35-year lease that includes a commitment from the owners of the Calgary Flames to stay in the city. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Calgary
A city official says a $1.2-billion deal to replace Calgary’s aging Saddledome with a new National Hockey League arena would come with a 35-year lease that includes a commitment from the owners of the Calgary Flames to stay in the city.
The City of Calgary, Alberta government, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp., and Calgary Stampede reached an agreement in principle in late April.
City council’s event centre committee met this morning and asked administration some of the questions that have come up since the deal was announced.
Coun. Andre Chabot says there are concerns from some Calgarians that the lease could be terminated.
Calgary’s general manager of infrastructure services, Michael Thompson, says the city has a commitment from Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. that it would stay in the city for the 35-year term of the lease.
No one from the company could immediately be reached for comment.
CSEC owns the Flames in the National Hockey League, the Wranglers in the American Hockey League, the Hitmen in the Western Hockey League and the National Lacrosse League’s Roughnecks.
The $1.2-billion price tag for the event centre project includes $800 million for the new arena, as well as parking, transit improvements, a new community rink and an enclosed plaza.
The Alberta government is not contributing directly to the arena, but has said it plans to fund up to $300 million on public transit and road improvements, site utilities, reclamation and other supportive infrastructure.
The province would also contribute $30 million to cover half the cost of the 1,000-seat community rink if the deal is approved by provincial cabinet and the Treasury Board before the end of summer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2023.
Calgary police say a father and his son have been arrested and charged after multiple teenage girls were sexually exploited, assaulted and extorted for several months. A Calgary Police Service officer is seen in Calgary on April 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Calgary
Calgary police say a father and his son have been arrested and charged after multiple teenage girls were sexually exploited, assaulted and extorted for several months.
Police say in a statement that they found a 13-year-old girl in April who had previously been reported missing.
They say the girl told police she was in a relationship with a 24-year-old man who gave her alcohol, drugs and vapes in exchange for sex.
Police say the man and his 56-year-old father own Haddon Convenience Store, which is located next door to a liquor store where the assaults allegedly took place.
Police allege the pair was providing drugs and alcohol to multiple other teenage girls, who were also sexually assaulted, from December to May.
They say the girls were unable to consent, because they were not 16.
Police arrested both men Thursday and executed search warrants at a home and the two businesses, where they say officers seized a computer with child pornography.
Sumrit Walia, 24, faces about 20 charges — including sexual interference with a minor, sexual exploitation as well as possessing, accessing and creating child pornography.
His 56-year-old father, Gurpartap Singh Walia, is also charged with sexual assault, sexual interference with a minor and selling contraband tobacco.
“These are incredibly serious charges, where vulnerable youths were being targeted, exploited and forced to enter a dangerous lifestyle,” said Staff Sgt. Darren Smith of the child abuse unit.
“Thankfully, with the support of Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Commission, and the City of Calgary, we have been able to stop the continued exploitation of these young girls.”
The girls, he said, are being supported by Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. It provides support for children, youth and families who have been affected by severe and complex abuse.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2023.
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