GYMS ARE ESSENTIAL CHARTER CHALLENGE

My name is Shane Miller and I'm the owner of CrossFit 819, located in Gatineau, QC, Canada. Throughout the pandemic each time we have been locked down, I've witnessed a serious decline in the health, both physical and mental of a great number of our members. The first thing doctors do when people's physical and/or mental health is declining is to suggest they engage in physical exercise. While we have been shut down, a large number of our members train at home following our zoom sessions. However, for many, the lack of social interaction when training at home, does not give them what's needed to keep them going. I see the results. When we are re-opened, many have gained significant amounts of weight. Some slip back into substance abuse again. Some never come back to us. These folks have significantly elevated health risks following the lockdowns that keep their gym closed. For the many who suffer from mental health challenges, it is feeling like they are part of something, part of a caring community that shares similar health goals, a community that chases those goals together is what makes a gym ESSENTIAL to their physical and mental health.

 

I tried to fight this myself by staying open against the mandates, but have since been closed by court order. So my gym is closed, but I am going to fight to prevent this from happening again to us or any gym in Canada. We have filed a motion for a charter challenge to the illegal decrets in the province of Quebec, and if we win, the goal will be to take our victory and use it to get gyms considered as an Essential Service. This would have a huge impact for gyms in Quebec and across Canada, and for Quebecers and all Canadians alike.

 

Please help support our fight by giving what you can, and sharing this as widely and frequently as possible.