A new provincial Bill undergoing second reading this week could have a profound effect on the outcomes of cardiac arrest and bystander CPR response in Ontario if it is passed.

If passed, Bill 41, The Defibrillator Access Act would be the first of its kind in Canada requiring Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) be installed in public spaces such as schools, fitness facilities and hockey arenas in the province. The Heart and Stroke Foundation has been advocating for this proposed law since 2006. "The introduction of Bill 41 has the potential to save countless lives across Ontario," said Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, who introduced the private member's Bill.

The Canadian commercial fitness industry appears to be recovering from the 2008 economic crisis. While many operators are still reporting lower guest traffic and higher than normal attrition, our industry appears to be rebuilding. While we are not recession proof, our industry has shown itself to be recession resilient.

You are invited to attend a number of events hosted by Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) at the annual Can-Fit-Pro, International Fitness and Club Business Conference and Trade Show. This is our opportunity as Canadian club owners and operators to address the issues that are threatening our industry, and review the opportunities that exist.

All FIC sessions are free. Trade Show passes are also available through FIC, plus there are excellent sessions at the Can-Fit-Pro conference for those who want to expand their knowledge of our industry. FIC strongly encourages all owners to attend Can-Fit-Pro’s club owner day, Friday August 13th 2010.

IHRSA announced today the release of the IHRSA 2010 First Quarter Index, which demonstrates the financial performance of a sample of the commercial health club industry. The survey of 22 leading U.S. health and sports club companies, representing a total of 549 facilities, showed improvements in key performance metrics in the first quarter of 2010 relative to the first quarter of 2009.

For the quarter ending March 31, 2010 relative to March 31, 2009, overall Index clubs posted consistent performance in total revenue, membership dues/revenue, and non-dues revenue. Total revenue declined by a marginal 0.3 percent, while membership dues held steady with no change (0 percent) and non-dues revenue increased slightly by 0.2 percent. All clubs demonstrated improvements in EBITDAR, evident by a median company percent change of 3.7 percent; the greatest Index improvement to date.

Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), will take part for the third consecutive year in the World Economic Forum’s Network of Global Agenda Councils. A visionary in active aging and aging-related issues, Milner established ICAA to support professionals who provide wellness and fitness facilities, programs and services for adults over 50. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge with the Network’s Global Agenda Council on Ageing 2010 in the coming year.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is an independent, nonprofit organization “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.” The Network of Global Agenda Councils is designed to further the Forum’s mission and strategic vision, and tackle global issues of vital importance.

by Brenda Abdilla
While most hiring managers have stopped asking people what their father did for a living and if they plan to marry soon (interview, circa 1950) there are many practices that might need updating-or at least closer examination-in today's world. The art of rejection is one of these practices.

When it comes to rejecting candidates, make sure that your ideals match your time reality. Perhaps in your ideal world each applicant would receive a personal call or note from someone in your organization explaining why they were not selected and encouraging them to apply again in the future. But, if this is simply not possible from a time or logistics perspective, you may find yourself spending time on something that is distracting you from other important tasks you should be attending to-like training the person you DID hire.

Legislation or certification of clubs needs to balance public safety and profitability.
There is currently no legislation in Canada that covers fitness clubs or the certification of fitness professionals. Should this change?

Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC), The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and several other international certifying and industry organizations all agree that any legislation must be fair and equitable.

However, FIC believes that the best scenario is one in which the industry polices itself. Government intervention and regulatory reform in any industry always creates widespread cost increases which would need to be passed on to consumers. This in turn would make access to health and fitness services more expensive at a time when the focus should be on making it more affordable.

Making fitness more accessible to Canadians could actually save billions in associated healthcare costs. With stringent policies and medical industry support, industry-led club certification could even lead to insurance coverage for memberships and personal training expenses, thereby increasing access to healthy lifestyles.

Scott Wildeman is the VP of Fitness Services for World Health Club, Brian Gilbank is the executive director of Fitness Industry Council of Canada.

Anytime Fitness, an international health club chain, has recently announced a master franchise agreement for Japan, which was a year in the making. The announcement comes on the heels of its plans to open clubs in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The master franchise group in Japan is comprised of several individuals with extensive experience in the international fitness industry. Fast Fitness Japan, Inc. will now do business as Anytime Fitness Japan. The consortium is led by Toru Yamazaki, former CEO of Megalos, the fifth largest health club chain in Japan (a subsidiary of Japanese corporate giant, Nomura Real Estate Group).

TORONTO – Canadians, especially women, are caught in a time crunch and the problem has been getting worse over the past 15 years, says a new report by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), Caught in the Time Crunch: Time Use, Leisure and Culture in Canada.

“People are struggling to meet the competing demands of a workplace that can reach out to them 24/7, caring for children and aging parents, and their own need to refresh body and mind. As individuals and as a society we are paying a steep price for this time crunch. We’re less healthy, both physically and mentally and we have less time for leisure and relaxation with family” said The Honourable Roy J. Romanow, Chair of the CIW Advisory Board.

Fitness Business Canada (FBC) is the trade magazine in Canada for owners, managers, directors and staff of health and fitness facilities. FBC is the primary trade publication for health and fitness facilities across Canada. FBC has earned outstanding reviews and respect from facility operators to its first issue in January 2000.

To get your copy, call our office at 888-920-6537 or email us at fbc@fitnet.ca