Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness
byThis morning Chuck Lawson, owner of the She’s Fit health clubs, announced a partnership with former Vancouver Canucks captain Trevor Linden. The result is Club 16 – Trevor Linden Fitness.
Lawson has over 20 years of experience in the local health club business and will ensure that Club 16 is affordable and comfortable for both men and women. Trevor Linden, one who doesn’t lend his name easily to events, promotions, or businesses, said he feels really good about this venture. “I realized that our values were very much aligned and we could be a really good partnership.”
Linden noted that physical fitness is mental fitness and it’s something he’s very passionate about. “It’s something that I feel is very important for everyone and important for me. So that really fit.”
The first location will be in Coquitlam, launching in January of 2011. The starting base price point is $15 a month and Lawson does not anticipate that that will go up.
Lawson noted that only 16% of the population in North America works out and by bringing more value to the fitness club experience, they hope that Club 16 will be a part of a bigger movement. “We really want to appeal to a wide variety of people in an intimidating atmosphere,” said Linden.
Club 16 will be 20,000 square feet of fitness space including 100 cardio machines, free weights, strength machines, circuit training, and a retail space for Trevor Linden branded apparel. “We’re going to keep it with the basics and give people a lot of it,” added Lawson who said they want to make sure there is an abundance of machines (elliptical etc.) to reduce wait times.
Linden also hopes this opportunity can also boost and revive the Trevor Linden Foundation, generating some funds for the charity through this business. Linden said he will be very involved with Club 16, stating “I don’t just want to have my name there and have nothing to do with it.”
When it comes to local sports stars lending their names to fitness clubs, Linden is not the first. It was announced earlier this year that Fitness World would now be Steve Nash Fitness World, named after NBA MVP Steve Nash. “Steve is a guy that I respect and admire a lot,” said Linden. “I don’t see us competing, I think we’re offering different products… …Steve offers a larger variety of services and I think that our clubs will be a little more simplified.”
You can start signing up for your Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness membership this October on the second floor of Coquitlam Centre.
25 Comments — Comments Are Closed
Perhaps fitness club-owning athletes Linden and Steve Nash will have, I don’t know, a treadmill-powered dance-off to determine supremacy?
First glance, it appears to be a head-to-head showdown between local “nice-guys” sports icons but it sounds like Linden’s new venture is trying to differentiate from Nash’s. But given the economy, will either be around in 5 years?
great idea about the $15 but I hope Trevor did his homework before partnering up with Mr. Chuck Lawson of She’s Fit previously Jadies Ladies Fitness. Pretty shady business dealings that have resulted in many unsatisfied customers over the years which explains the F grades with the BBB. I hope that this new venture doesn’t taint Trevor’s image.
I hope Mr Linden will think twice about doing business with Chuck. We wired a She’s Fit in early 2007 for Chuck. Chuck was very easy to get along with untill it came to paying the bill. We were forced by Chuck to reduce our invoice by 25 percent or go to court!! Chuck has a reputation of not paying trades people in full. Chuck likes to get rich on the backs of small business people like myself. If you are bidding or going to work on any of Chuck’s projects – watch your back!! If you are using the any of the equipment at the fleetwood store, please let it known that over $10,000 dollars of the electrical work was not pay for in full and we were forced to accept his strong arm tactics.
Trevor, please think twice aout you venture and protect your good name and reputation.
Hans Owner of a small electrical firm in Surrey.
I couldn’t agree more with Sarah’s comment above and I am not surprised by Hans’ past dealings! Sadly, Trevor Linden couldn’t have chosen a worse partnership with the owner of former JFL and She’s Fit. Over the years, Chuck Lawson has operated these companies terribly and never made decisions that would benefit his members….only himself and his OWN pocketbook! She’s Fit was simply a re-marketing scheme to avoid the poor reputation he had created at his Just Ladies Fitness Chains.
Hope it’s not too late for a nice guy like Trevor to change his mind!!!
Hm, yeah it’s too bad Trevor didn’t go with a more reputable fitness club. Then again I can’t think of any of the big chain gyms that have a great reputation? Personally I have mainly worked at smaller, privately owned gyms so I can’t speak from experience.
MMMmmm….. Quite interesting post. Definitely given me some food for thought. Much appreciated, hope to see more like this.
I agree with most of you. Hate to see Trvor getting involved with the likes of Chuck Lawson, who seems to be a shady character. We have been waiting 3 months for him to reimburse my daughter the fees he illegally (plus nsf bank charges he caused) took out of her account after she had given a month notice of quiting She’s
Fit. The head office even acknowledged they were in the wrong. We have called and been in contact with She’s Fit numerous times and nothing is being done. They even hung up on us at one time. BBB also tried but received no response.
sorry but i already think this a joke. to work out in a non-intimidating atmosphere???? depending on your age or your size…the staff at coquitlam centre look through anyone of age or size. i have stood there..and not a word was said to me…and i have heard the same thing over and over again. the staff are young, head -neck optional types who are buffed up and DO NOT LOOK AT OLDER OR OVERWEIGHT CLIENTS!!!!!! thats intimidating!!!!! the men are also complaining….the young men do not help them or ask if they are interested…..so here we are again…..the baby boombers who are the majority of the population right now are feeling intimidated by your staff and you havent even opened yet. so much for being over 40 and finding a comfortable place to start to deal with your weight and health issues. shame on you already!!! i am so very dissapointed!!!
I am sorry that Trevor Lindon got mixed up with a creep like Chuck Lawson. I used to be a member of Just Ladies’ Fitness, and have had negative dealings with Mr. Lawson. Just Ladies Fitness is now SheFit, and I would not join if it was the last club in the world. People beware of She’s Fit or any affiliation of Chuck Lawson.
If any one needs to write him with problems, head office is in Surrey: #15, 15531 – 24th Avenue.
P.S. He obviously is not using his fitness equipment by the looks of him.
I can not agree more with these comments about this partnership.Trevor is a great guy and will be ripped off and cheated. Chuck has under handed tactics and self motivated business practices. I speak from experience! Check out BBB
Hello
I am a high school Psychology teacher at Chilliwack Secondary. I am wondering if there is a possibility of arranging for Trevor to speak to my students (lots of them) about the role that psychology plays in professional sport (hockey) from his perspective. A yes or no would be a great place to start. Thanks … Steve
This sucks! I just recently started working out @ Club 16 and so far it’s been a good experience. I am however, really discouraged from what I’ve read here. I hope Chucky’s NOT the majority owner so that Trevor calls most of the shots! Guess we’ll see…….
I visited Club 16 today on their Special Preview Opening. The gym is quite impressive.
Kimberly I couldnt disagree with you more. Im 49 and the staff treated me no differently than my younger counterparts. I guess some people like to complain about nothing worthwhhile or are too sensitive to approach staff if they are not approached personally.
I have to say that the staff at Club 16 are fabulous. I’m an overweight (+30lbs) woman in my mid 40’s, and they have treated me wonderfully!
As for their accounting department – that’s another story. Just stay on top of your accounts with them. Since March, I’ve already been accused of bouncing a cheque – (no transaction went through my account – I signed up late, and they didn’t get my banking information in on time – instead of realising the mistake, they sent me a very snotty letter demanding payment of both the fee and a $38 charge!). And in May, they took out, not one, not two, but three yearly dues of $30+, causing my 15-year-old son bounced banking fees and a mark against his credit rating!! Of course their response was indignant, it wasn’t their fault, and it was out of their hands! Oh well…
I was at the South Burnaby location today and was waiting to get my card back to leave when I noticed something. The girl at the counter was helping a man who signed up online and was getting his pass. She told him he had to do a fitness test, to which I did not have to. He was a bit overweight. In my opinion, that is unfair and discriminating if a person has been profiled and then told to do a fitness test after he/she has paid and signed everything to be a member of the center. If they are trying to cover their butts in terms of liability, they need to have a medical history section when people sign so those who have history or a current problem need to get medical clearance. I personally thought it was bullshift. I told the man what I knew since I have taken my BCRPA Fitness Theory class.
Sun. the fitness test is a scam, they charge you $30 to measure you muscle and fat % which most gyms do for free. Also know about the $30 a year you have to shell out to maintain the club? never heard of that one before. Bait and switch with the $15 dues that they advertise.
What’s with the people complaining about NSF cheques? Do you not leave any money in your chequing account, and not bother with overdraft protection? Of course it’s their fault for taking money that isn’t theirs, but at the very least you should have overdraft protection, which is generally free save the interest you pay in the event that you have to actually use it.
And yes, I’m quite disappointed with all the fees at Club 16. $15/mo (they should have made it $16 to fit with the name) sounds great, so I dropped in to see whether or not it would be month to month or I had to enter a long-term contract. If it ends up being too crowded or otherwise unusable, I’d like to have the option to quit. Turns out it is month to month, but it’s still an absurd commitment. There is:
1. Initiation fee
Fine, this is pretty common.
2. A card fee
IMO this should be a deposit since you have to return it when you quit.
3. Annual “club enhancement fee”
Wtf? This doesn’t make any sense, and I sincerely doubt this money will specifically be used for “club enhancement”. Generally you maintain and upgrade machinery from members’ club dues. This might as well be worked into the monthly rate. That said, at least if you join and quit before next May, you won’t have to pay it.
4. Mandatory fitness assessment
Isn’t this free at most gyms, particularly the first time? And Sun, perhaps it wasn’t mandatory at first? I’m not overweight, and I was told that it was mandatory. I was also told that you don’t pay until you actually do the assessment, and it’s possible to never do it by ignoring the employees’ pestering when you come in.
Fred, I agree with all the fees crap. It should have been worked into the monthly fee.
I figure that if I get a year out of the place, I still get my money’s worth. I’ve asked for a straight bar attachment for the cables (which every other gym has) and nothing yet. How hard is it to go get or buy an attachment which is commonly used for tricep push-downs and bicep curls on the cables.
As for the mandatory fitness assessment, I signed up near the end of July. I started working out right when August rolled around. I never heard of it at all. I have to say communication there needs to improved immediately. The website needs to be updated ASAP with more accurate information and information about each location.
My opinion so far of the place is that, it is dead during the day when I work out. I see the usual faces. All the staff hover and stand around the front desk. They all seem to know nothing about fitness. When I asked about the straight bar attachment, the girl went off and started off showing me 2 other exercises I can do, to which I already know. I went and found out they finally got permanent plastic ID cards only since I asked about it. The staff seem to be too busy hovering around like sales people rather than be part of the gym.
I’ll post more of my opinions and so forth as I continue to work out there.
Relax, these comments about Chuck are so blown out of context it’s not even funny.
Trevor and Chuck are very member focused first. The company model is
TEAM
Chill out , you’ll love the places
I’ve never heard any gym make pay for fitness assessment. Can anyone confirm that it is really mandatory?
I just cancelled my membership after a number of years. I understand that I have to pay for May because of the 30 Day notice of cancellation requirement. But it sounds like a cash grab to also want the annual fee paid for the year starting May 1st when I am cancelling. What am I prepaying for?
Do not sign up for direct debit. Club 16 is ripping me off for unauthorised charges that i paid up front
Been a member of Club 16 in Burnaby for four months. love the facility/equipment/staff – excellent. I pay ($15) monthly and have experienced no problems. I have no problem with a fitness assessment charge, but the assessment they gave me (heart rate) was nonsense, but that was either a staff or equipment problem – I have my own heart rate monitor.
My wife and i joined up online. I have no issues with all the extra costs as they are described and explained online. We both paid approx $90. Nowhere on their website, or in the section where we pay, is there stated that you have to take a compulsory fitness assessment. I also have no issues with this service being paid for (as poor as the test is). If people want the assessment, then that should be up to them. Having it mandatory and then being dinged for an additional charge is absurd. I feel like I have been scammed!