Morfit gyms shut down for defying public health orders

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/10/2021 (1210 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province has shuttered a downtown gym for allegedly defying public health orders.

The door to Morfit Training Centre in Cityplace bore a closure notice dated Oct. 8. The company didn’t comply with COVID-19 prevention orders, according to the notice.

Morfit Training Centre has two locations — one downtown, and one in St. Boniface. Officials hit both sites with $5,000 fines the weeks of Sept. 20 and 27, adding up to a total of $20,000 for the business.

The gym had previously stated on its website it wouldn’t ask for COVID-19 vaccination status despite a provincial mandate that all gym-goers must show proof of double vaccination.

In a recent online letter to patrons, the company’s owner noted changes.

“Since September 3rd we have kept our doors open to anyone that is looking for a place to train,” said the website’s post, signed by Stuart Klassen and his team.

“We knew by holding this position publicly that we it (sic) would just be a matter of time before we would be shut down. That time is upon us.”

Morfit Training Centre did not respond to interview requests by print deadline.

Its St. Boniface location, at 255 Tache Ave., closed Thursday and will reopen under a new name and ownership Monday, the online letter reads.

Morfit memberships will be honoured at White Lion Athletics, the new brand, the letter said.

“Please note that White Lion Athletics will be following the public health orders,” it said, adding there will be online training for people who can’t visit the gym in person.

Since April 9, 2020, the province has issued 2,186 tickets to businesses and individuals for defying pubic health orders, resulting in $3,119,190 in fines. Officials have given 5,498 warnings.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com