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'{{advert|date=January 2012}} {{Infobox company | name = GoodLife Fitness Centres Inc. | logo = | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | genre = | foundation = 1979 | founder = David Patchell-Evans | location_city = [[London, Ontario]] | location_country = [[Canada]] | locations = 300+ clubs | origins = | key_people = David Patchell-Evans (CEO) | area_served = NL, PE, NS, NB, ON, MB, SK, AB, BC | industry = [[Health club]] | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | owner = | company_slogan = | homepage = [http://www.goodlifefitness.com goodlifefitness.com] | dissolved = | footnotes = | intl = yes }} [[File:GoodLifeFitness137Yonge.jpg|thumb|GoodLife Fitness in Toronto]] '''Goodlife Fitness Centres Inc.''' is the largest health club company in [[Canada]] with over 300 locations across the country.<ref name="Canadian Business Magazine">[http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/33629--the-sweat-smell-of-success Canadian Business Magazine August 2011 Issue].</ref> ==Partnerships== === GoodLife and Les Mills International === In June 2005, GoodLife became the official Canadian Agent of [[Les Mills International]] programs, the world's largest provider of choreographed exercise-to-music group fitness classes.<ref name="LesMills ">[http://www.lesmills.com/global/clubs-and-facilities/facilities-and-health-clubs.aspx LesMills International], additional text.</ref> === Jillian Michaels Bodyshred === In February 2013, GoodLife Fitness announced a partnership to become the exclusive provider of [[Jillian Michaels]] BODYSHRED in Canada.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jillian's gonna make GoodLife sweat|url=http://blogs.canoe.ca/keepingfit/general/jillians-gonna-make-goodlife-sweat/|newspaper=Canoe Blogs.ca|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130628045800/http://blogs.canoe.ca/keepingfit/general/jillians-gonna-make-goodlife-sweat/|archivedate=2013-06-28|df=}}</ref> === 24 Hour Fitness (U.S.) === In September 2015, GoodLife Fitness announced a partnership with 24 Hour Fitness in the United States. Now GoodLife Fitness members can use over 400 locations with their Canada-Wide membership across the U.S. and vice versa. ==GoodLife Acquisitions== GoodLife purchased the 'Alliance' and 'Family Fitness' club chains in 2007-2008. As of October 2011, they have over 275 clubs across Canada. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/goodlife-buys-rival-extreme-fitness-expands-to-over-300-canadian-locations/article10603180/|title=GoodLife buys rival Extreme Fitness, expands to over 300 Canadian locations|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2016-04-07}}</ref> In 2009, GoodLife Fitness expanded into Eastern Canada by acquiring Nubody's family of clubs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Progress Media|title=Nubody's founder to step down - GoodLife to acquire chain|url=http://www.progressmedia.ca/article/2009/08/nubodys-founder-step-down-goodlife-acquire-chain|accessdate=December 24, 2014|agency=Progress Media|date=August 13, 2009}}</ref> GoodLife Fitness also partnered with Energie Cardio in Quebec in that same year.<ref>{{cite web | last = [[CNW Group]] | first = | title = ENERGIE CARDIO New partnership between Energie Cardio and GoodLife Fitness | url = http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2009/16/c6065.html | accessdate = 2010-03-04}}</ref> GoodLife Fitness has been rumored to be taking over the Target Canada locations, that will soon be up for grabs. <ref>Hollie Shaw, Financial Post."[http://business.financialpost.com/2015/01/20/goodlife-fitness-eyes-former-target-canada-locations-to-help-fuel-growth/?__lsa=fd36-963d Goodlife Fitness first to stake out [[Target Canada]] locations as it aims to hedge against competition.]" January 20,2015. Retrieved January 27, 2915.</ref> === GoodLife Acquires Seven Gold's Gym Locations === In December 2012, Goodlife acquired seven independently operated Gold's Gym locations in Canada. The locations include three clubs in Calgary and one in Airdrie, Alberta, as well as locations in Peterborough, Vaughan and Scarborough in Ontario. This made GoodLife the largest fitness club chain in the Calgary Region with 13 locations. The total number of GoodLife Clubs in Alberta increased to 16, spanning from Calgary to Lethbridge to Edmonton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/975642|title=GoodLife Fitness acquires Seven Gold's Gym locations across Canada|publisher=}}</ref> === GoodLife Purchases Toronto-Based Extreme Fitness === On April 1, 2013, GoodLife Fitness announced its acquisition of Extreme Fitness Inc., a leading operator of fitness clubs in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding region.<ref>{{cite web|title=GoodLife Buys Extreme Fitness|url=http://www.pehub.com/194045/pe-backed-goodlife-fitness-buys-extreme-fitness/|publisher=PEHUB.ca}}</ref> This acquisition brought the total number of GoodLife Fitness Clubs in Canada to over 300, with 82 in the Greater [[Toronto]] Area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/975642|title=GoodLife Fitness acquires Seven Gold's Gym locations across Canada|publisher=}}</ref> == GoodLife Kids Foundation == GoodLife Kids Foundation is a Canadian private foundation that envisions a Canada where all kids have the opportunity to benefit from an active life. == GoodLife Marathons == GoodLife Fitness is the title sponsor of two marathons, one taking place in Victoria, British Columbia and the other in Toronto, Ontario. === GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon === The [[GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon]], formerly known as the Royal Victoria Marathon or RVM, is a marathon race held on Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada every October. It was first held in 1980. In 2006, the full marathon saw 1863 participants. The event also features a half marathon, 8K and 1.2K kids run and attracts nearly 10,000 competitors annually in all races. The full marathon is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier. ==GoodLife on reality TV== GoodLife Fitness has taken part in ''[[Undercover Boss (Canadian TV series)|Undercover Boss Canada]]'' and ''[[Canada Sings]]''. <ref> http://www.wnetwork.com/Shows/Undercover-Boss-Canada/Episodes/Season-1/Goodlife.aspx#top</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globaltv.com/canadasings/video/season+one/goodlife+fitness+vs+hamilton+police/video.html?v=2104941927 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130629103028/http://www.globaltv.com/canadasings/video/season+one/goodlife+fitness+vs+hamilton+police/video.html?v=2104941927 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2013-06-29 |title=Watch Video |work=GlobalTV }}</ref> == Criticism and Controversy == === Controversy over Misleading Ads === In 2005, a federal Competition Bureau investigation found that GoodLife Fitness clubs had published misleading ads. In a settlement, Goodlife Fitness published a corrective notice in newspapers throughout central Canada and on its website, paying a $75,000 penalty and agreeing not to make false/misleading representations in future marketing.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2005/02/09/goodlife-050209.html | work=CBC News | title=GoodLife Fitness Clubs pays $75,000 over misleading ads | date=2005-02-09}}</ref> === Great Big Gym Ripoff Survey === In January 2011, GoodLife Fitness came in second place in the CBC Big Gym Ripoff survey ranking gyms with the most problems with over-billing and cancellations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/biggymripoff/gyms.html |work=CBC News |title=The gyms we heard most about in our survey |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106054132/http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/biggymripoff/gyms.html |archivedate=January 6, 2012 }}</ref> === Controversy over Sales Tactics === In January 2011, GoodLife Fitness was caught in a media-backlash,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://consumerist.com/2011/01/gym-guards-beat-man-to-pulp-when-he-tried-to-cancel.html|title=Gym Guards Beat Man To Pulp When He Tried To Cancel|work=Consumerist}}</ref><ref name="www2.canada.com">{{cite web|url=http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=5a39b665-d85a-4d19-917b-364530ed6707 |title=Strong-arm tactics leave a bad taste |website=Canada.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120119/http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=5a39b665-d85a-4d19-917b-364530ed6707 |archivedate=2014-08-26 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/attempt-to-cancel-gym-membership-turned-violent-client-says-1.1026212|title=Attempt to cancel gym membership turned violent, client says|website=CBC News |accessdate=February 11, 2017 }}</ref> after one customer who was attempting to cancel his membership was roughed-up by security guards at its Rideau Centre location;<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/01/12/ottawa-gym-membership.html | work=CBC News | title=Attempt to cancel gym membership turned violent, client says | date=2011-01-12}}</ref> And after another, at its Orleans location, was chastised and banned for chatting about the benefits of other fitness clubs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=ff4c50b1-ec5d-4d7d-a3b9-eb7f6273d9ac | title=GoodLife loses a member over 'policy' | accessdate=December 22, 2014 | website=Canada.com}}</ref> The incidents drew attention to strong armed-sales tactics reported by employees and clients.<ref name="www2.canada.com"/> === Controversy over Telemarketing Practices === In 2011, GoodLife Fitness was fined $300,000 for illegally using automated calling devices, known as robocalls, to contact its members, without their prior consent, to advertise the opening of a new club . As part of a settlement with the CRTC, Goodlife Fitness published notices about the violation in newspapers and on its website.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/goodlife-fitness-fined-over-robocalls-1.1023608 | work=CBC News | title=GoodLife Fitness fined over robocalls | date=2011-08-23}}</ref> === Class Action over Compensation Practices === In October 2016, a class action lawsuit was launched by Goldblatt Partners LLP. against Goodlife Fitness alleging that it failed to pay certain employees of its Ontario gyms the wages they were owed under Ontario law, including overtime. The members of the class include all non-managerial employees in Ontario and covers the period beginning October 14, 2014. Excluded are personal trainers in Toronto for the period after July 7, 2016 who are members of the Workers United Canada Council, and employees of Fit4Less and franchise clubs. In January 2017, the proposed class action was expanded to include Goodlife clubs across Canada.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20161022133809/http://goodlifeclassaction.com/</ref> ===Nelk=== The YouTube Channel, Nelk, released a prank video of them pretending to be Goodlife employee's. They made absurd remarks and asked them customers to do weird acts. After these pranks they would tell them they were filming and that it was just a prank. While they were leaving the gym, two real employees came over and harassed Kyle, Jesse, Lucas and 905, the pranksters and cameraman, trying to steal their equipment and ask for their ID's. Goodlife responded by trying to sue Nelk, presumably because they made their employees look bad. The channel has done many of these videos at other large chains such as [[McDonald's]] and [[Walmart]] and they had never had legal action taken. The charges were later dropped. #FullSend. ==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Goodlife Fitness}} [[Category:Health clubs in Canada]] [[Category:Privately held companies of Canada]] [[Category:Companies based in London, Ontario]]'