THUNDER BAY – To be honest, she couldn’t believe it.
When veteran Thunder Bay gym operator Jenn Bisignano heard on Monday that the province’s fitness markets were closing, she couldn’t believe her business was in limbo again.
“I was just shocked by this announcement,” said Bisignano on Tuesday. “I thought they were going to put some restrictions on but still allow me to make some income.”
Instead, gyms across Ontario were closed starting Wednesday until at least January 26 as health officials assess the impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and an expected increase in hospital stays due to the virus.
Bisignano, who had to close its doors for almost 320 days during the pandemic before the announcement on Monday, said she was holding her breath.
She recalled that when gyms were ordered to close in late December 2020, they could not reopen until July of the following year, except for a brief period in February.
A bitter irony for operators is the widely accepted recognition that fitness and a healthy weight are great ways to fight off a wide variety of diseases, including COVID-19.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has spoken openly about his own struggles with obesity, urged fellow British compatriots to get in shape in spring 2020 after barely surviving a severe COVID-19 attack in a hospital.
Thunder Bay fitness trainer and gym operator Paul Hemsworth said he does not intend to downplay the seriousness of the rising Covid cases. But he said he had problems with the province’s “logic” as it applies to fitness centers, many of which are small businesses.
For one thing, Hemsworth said, small businesses are in a good position versus large retailers to keep customers under control – like making sure masks are worn and proper spacing is maintained.
When gyms close, the habit of walking may be slow to return once restrictions wear off.
“If you haven’t had a haircut in a while, go out and get one at the first opportunity,” said Hemsworth. “Exercise may not be the first thing you will do.”
He added, “I don’t think the damage from a lockdown is fully understood.”
The lack of private gyms in Thunder Bay suggests a population worried about their health. Bisignano, who brings a background in kinesiology to her company, said she was concerned about the recently opened gyms which are still fraught with high startup costs.
It is not yet clear whether small businesses will be able to access government grants if the current lockdown continues.
Bisignano says government aid helped with the last lockdown, but it was “bittersweet” as the government had to borrow to provide it.
“You know this is having a negative impact on our future economy,” she said.
Troy Labarge, another veteran gym operator in Thunder Bay, said it wasn’t surprised by the lockdown announcement, but claims gyms aren’t the Covid hotspots the province seems to think they are.
“Why are we closed when most of the people who aren’t feeling well aren’t going to exercise?” Said Labarge.
Customers were frustrated with losing a routine that helped maintain their mental health during the pandemic, he said.
Labarge said it was forced to close for half the duration of the pandemic, which apparently put a heavy strain on memberships.
“We have been in this business for 15 years,” said Labarge. “Sometimes you ask yourself whether it is still worth pursuing.”
The Canada Games Complex in Thunder Bay is also affected by the temporary ban on indoor recreational facilities that goes into effect today.
Prior to Monday’s announcement, traffic on the complex had recovered to near normal levels last fall, “but we weren’t up to our 2019 prime,” said Kelly Robertson, city council’s general manager.
Robertson said she was sure people will miss being able to walk into the complex while it is closed.
“I think that’s fair to say,” she said. “But as much as we’re all fed up with it, I think people want to do what they can” to stop the virus from spreading.
