While community centres have closed and many large fitness chains have shut down, World Championship Gym on No. 5 Road remains open, albeit in a very limited capacity due to restrictions placed by provincial health orders.
The Richmond gym has closed its martial arts area - about half its operation - because no physical contact is allowed. And the gym is only allowing 10 to 15 people in to work out at a time – members come by appointment.
On top of that, they’ve implemented strict hygiene routines, wiping down equipment after every workout and doing thorough after-hours cleaning.
Their measures seem to have satisfied Richmond city bylaw officers who have dropped by on numerous occasions to make sure they are complying with provincial health orders after complaints were made by community members about them still operating.
Bylaw officers will check how many people are in the gym as well as other health-related protocols.
“We know they’re just doing their job,” said general manager Trevor Carroll about the city checkups.
The City of Richmond has a dedicated team of bylaw officers patrolling businesses to make sure they are complying with provincial health orders during the COVID-19 outbreak.
If businesses are found to be breaking provincial health orders, they can be shut down after just one warning.
The provincial health officer, Bonnie Henry, ordered many types of businesses to close - pubs, bars, and personal service businesses like hair and nail salons - but there are many, like gyms, that can continue to operate.
The province has instructed municipal bylaw officers to help enforce health orders, but the city can’t issue fines for any infractions.
But for illegally selling merchandise like masks, however, the city can issue a ticket for $1,000.
“It is difficult to be in the right place to catch these, but it is a priority,” the city said in a statement to the Richmond News.
Despite the limitations and strict rules in place, World Championship Gym wanted to stay open because fitness routines like walking or running aren’t the same as lifting weights, Carroll explained.
Many of their members compete in the fitness world and, although competitions have been cancelled, they have to keep training for future competitions.
“They can’t stop working out or they’ll lose their physique,” Carroll said.
